PSC golf Bunker Boys @ The Ranch
Monday, Dec. 2, Bangpra – Stableford
Glorious golfing weather today as our five groups of golfers set off from The Ranch for our visit to the popular “monkey course”.
The first group tee’d off slightly ahead of schedule with a fresh breeze keeping the temperature down to non-sweating levels for the first time this year. With no groups in sight ahead of them the leaders soon opened a significant gap ahead of the second group, and the round progressed smoothly until they caught up to a three-ball ahead of them on the 17th green, eventually completing the round in under four hours – millionaires golf indeed!
Tony Scambler (centre) receives the November Golfer of the Month trophy, congratulated by Gordon Melia (right) – the golfer of the week!
The course was in great condition but the difficult greens took their toll again and no player managed to better his handicap on the day. Keith Smithson won the A Flight (20 points on the back nine), beating John Graham on the count back, with Tim Winder one point behind.
Gordon Melia took the honours in the B Flight (despite having his handicap cut by one shot) ahead of Daryl Whyte who was playing his first game since his return from Canada. John Hughes took third place in the B Flight, but managed to arrive back at The Ranch too late for the presentation and generously donated his prize to the club funds! Today’s prizes were generously sponsored by KPK Foods.
A Flight
1st Keith Smithson (2) 35pts
2nd John Graham (10) 35pts
3rd Tim Winder (15) 34pts
B Flight
1st Gordon Melia (19) 33pts
2nd Daryl Whyte (23) 31pts
3rd John Hughes (16) 29pts
Near Pins: Keith Smithson, Geoff Parker, Mike Corner and Paul Smith.
Wednesday, Dec. 4, Khao Kheow C & A – Stableford
Another bright sunny morning with a cool breeze provided almost perfect golfing conditions for the second game in a row. We were allocated to play on the C and A courses and the first group tee’d off on schedule on the tricky par five opening hole on the C course.
The course was generally in good condition although the greens on the A nine were slower and bumpier than those on the outward nine, being in the process of recovering from recently having been cored.
Gordon Melia showed why Khaow Kheow is one of his favourite courses and romped home to win the honours on the day with an impressive score of 40 points. Geoff Cox produced his best round for quite some time to take second place in the B Flight one point ahead of Mike Corner.
Colin Greig and Geoff Parker had a nip and tuck battle in the A flight and were tied on thirty three points on the 18th tee, Colin going on to par the hole whilst Geoff came unstuck in the greenside bunker to record his only “blob” of the day.
Following the presentation back at The Ranch, Tony Scambler was presented with the November Golfer of the Month trophy and generously rang the bell for his fellow competitors.
A Flight
1st Colin Greig (8) 36pts
2nd Geoff Parker (13) 33pts
3rd Tony Scambler (9) 32pts
B Flight
1st Gordon Melia (19) 40pts
2nd Geoff Cox (16) 37pts
3rd Mike Corner (20) 36pts
Near Pins: Richard Baldotto, Keith Norman, Colin Greig and Rab McDonald.
Friday, Dec. 6, Mountain Shadow – Stableford
The weather today was once again bright and cool to wind up a week of almost perfect golfing weather, although the breeze today was considerably stronger and would prove to be a major influence on the scoring.
The course was busy and the first few holes were played at a snail’s pace, but fortunately the pace of play picked up as the round progressed. The breeze was causing difficulties for all the golfers and some of the pin positions on the day were verging on the ridiculous. In particular the hole on the 10th green was cut on the front slope of the green and any putt missing the hole, even putting uphill from the front of the green, rolled back down the slope and off the front.
Gordon Melia produced another fine performance to win the B Flight for the third consecutive game, seven points clear of second placed Reg Smart. It can only be a matter of time before Gordon’s handicap gets cut down to his previous level and he returns to the A Flight, to give someone else a chance in the higher handicap division.
November’s Golfer of the Month, Tony Scambler won the A Flight one point ahead of Gerry Cooney.
A Flight
1st Tony Scambler (9) 33pts
2nd Gerry Cooney (12) 32pts
3rd Colin Greig (8) 31pts
B Flight
1st Gordon Melia (18) 35pts
2nd Reg Smart (27) 28pts
3rd Peter Habgood (17) 27pts
Near Pins: Keith Norman, Gerry Cooney, Rab McDonald and Tony Scambler.
Note: The Bunker Boys are a PSC affiliated golf society, who now play out of The Ranch bar on Pattaya 3rd Road (in front of the fire station, and almost opposite the Buffalo Bar). We play three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, so if you enjoy a fun day out, and a friendly but competitive golf competition why not come and join us.
We meet at The Ranch at 9 a.m. for breakfast and transportation, and new players are always welcome. Contact “Buff” on 086 046 5091 or 080 605 5663 for all enquiries. You can find all the news, schedules and results on our website at www.bunkersociety.com.
