PSC Golf from the Billabong Bar
Monday, March 28, Phoenix – Stableford
There were few cars in the car park when we arrived and not many more when we left after completing our round. There is, however, some good news and some bad news. The good news is that low season rates start on April 1 but the bad news is, and maybe a contributory factor for the car park being half empty, the Ocean Course will be closed for the next four months. The Kings Cup will be held at Phoenix over the Ocean and Mountain Courses on July 21/24, which is also the reason the latter is experiencing a lot of maintenance.
2016 medal champion Jittina ‘Orn’ Tinprance (2nd left front) poses with fellow medal winners and tournament sponsors.
Reaching the hole with your putt on the Mountain was difficult and there was evidence of some golfers tearing their hair out in frustration as their ball stopped on the lip of the hole – again. But the slow greens seem to have suited many Billabong golfers for there were many scores of 30 points or more.
Fourth place went to Dave Buchanan with 36 points, winning on a count back from Phil Blanchard who recorded 22 points on the front nine only to limp home with 14 points on the inward half. Howard Marson took third with 37 points, just losing out to Freddy Starbeck with 38, but Alan Robertson had a steady front and back nine to scoop the pool with 40 points.
There are never many 2s at Phoenix for none of the par-3s are easy and they present their own individual challenges, but there was some compensation for Phil Blanchard who had a 2 as did Capt. Bob Philp.
Apart from the new par-5 on the Lake there were few complaints about the condition of the course but that hole seems to eat golf balls with a landing area very small if you don’t know or have the ability of someone like Capt Bob, who always seems to blob this hole.
Wednesday, March 30, Green Valley – Monthly Medal
The excitement has been growing in the last month for this visit to Green Valley which was the culmination of 12 months of medal competition to determine the overall champion sponsored by Globaleye Financial Consultants. To complicate matters a little, today was also the start of 2 new yearly competitions, but due to some global regionalization, Globaleye will no longer be the sponsors, for the competition will now be sponsored by Brian Chapman of the newly formed Haven Consultants based in Nern Plubwan.
Billabong golfers line up at Green Valley.
To increase his support of the Billabong Golf Bar, Brian suggested that the present monthly competition have a separate event for the ladies and men, both sponsored by Haven Consultants, which has been welcomed by everyone.
The weather was hot and overcast today with a debilitating humidity which sapped the energy from all who played. We had very different results today between the men and ladies for although the pins, with the exception of two greens, were placed within a few centimeters of those we have witnessed in recent weeks, what the powers that be at Green Valley did was to extend the white tees as far as they would go, almost merging with the blue tees in some cases which increased the overall length by some 250/300 yards. The ladies tees were, of course unaffected hence the differential.
We had three separate competitions today with the first event for the new annual medal competitions which for the 18 ladies attracted some great scores. Miss Da (manager of the Billabong) came 3rd with a net 67 losing, on a count back to Miss Liz, but all 18 ladies were overwhelmed by Miss Karn who shot an amazing 62 net to win the day.
The 34 men lagged well behind these scores with a count back needed to determine the minor placings; Tony Oakes 4th, Bill Marsden 3rd and Gentry Harrington 2nd all handing in scores of net 74. But the recently returned Lloyd Shuttleworth proved a month’s absence was no hindrance to him by winning the day with a net 73.
This year’s medal champion, for the second year running, was Jittina Tinprance (Miss Orn) with a net 66.
Bob Newell, who celebrated his 60th birthday, put up prizes for near pins and the longest drive but, due to some misunderstanding only 2 near pins were won, both by Tim Knight. The longest drive was won by Lloyd Shuttleworth, which was so long that if those on the green were watching they must have been a little concerned for their safety some 390 yards away.
The ladies had four 2s today with Miss Eng having two and Miss Am and Miss Karn having one each. Tim Knight, having a good day on the par 3s, had two 2s with Colin Brook having another.
Back at the Billabong the bar was buzzing and celebrations went well into the night for Miss Noodle provided a magnificent buffet for those present and was happy to let everyone know that she was 50 years old today.
Friday, April 1, Burapha – Stableford
It hot and humid at Burapha today with little wind to cool things down, even in a cart the heat was stifling. The course was in great condition and the greens have had a little work on them, which made them a little slower than in recent weeks but still good to putt on.
With six groups playing we away a little early and finished in just under 4 hours. The scoring was good even though Capt Bob stuffed up the presentation by missing out one of the winners, but the problem was quickly solved.
We had a three-way count back for 4th place on 38 points, with Chris Playforth edging it over his rivals. There was also a count back for the top three places, all on 39 points, with Kevin Wild taking 3rd prize, Helmut Hebstreit 2nd and top spot going to Alistair Gall with 21 on the back nine.
There was only one ‘2’, coming from Freddy Starbeck.
Just a note we will be alternating our monthly scramble to play Burapha one month and the Navy the other, such was the response from last month when we couldn’t get on Plutaluang, this month though will be at the Navy.
