PSC golf from The Outback Golf Bar
Monday, August 6, Burapha – Stableford
We had twenty-three players for Burapha on an overcast and windy day. Again nobody on the course and we teed off at 9.30 instead of 10 and everybody was finished and showered by 1.45, which left all afternoon for Bernie to finish his business.
B and D again, a strange combination, but all players had a day out playing from the white markers. The B nine was in good condition but looked a little scruffy around the greens, while D course has recovered well from the recent renovations although the areas where the greens have been enlarged have still have a little way to go, but overall the course was in good condition.
Tuesday winners (from left) Ike Ward, Kathy Doody, Chad Campbell, Nuan Keddie and Sugar Ray Handford.
A few newcomers for the day so welcome to Paul Bray, Graeme Hiscock, Paul Cohen and Peter Henshaw and welcome back to Ed Delaney, Laurie McBride and Colin Goon.
Some good scores but the best for the day was John O’Keefe with 39 points to win Div B from Peter Henshaw on 37 and also from Rosco Langoulant (Div A winner) and Paul Bray both on 38 points.
There were only three ‘2’s – from Andy Makara and Ken Young on B3 and Paul Bray on B8.
Div A (0–14)
1st Rosco Langoulant (13) 38pts
2nd Paul Bray (5) 38pts
3rd Stephen Mann (9) 36pts
Div B (15+)
1st John O’Keefe (17) 39pts
2nd Peter Henshaw (20) 37pts
3rd Greg Hill (20) 35pts
Monday, August 6, Khao Kheow – Stableford
There were 8 Outbackers today playing A & C at Khao Kheow. Starting on A gives us all a gentle warm-up hole with no water to capture our balls or OB before being kicked hard on the second, third, and fourth. Both loops were in good condition and the caddies are working on the fairways as they do on most courses when the numbers are down, so the course has improved since last month.
The greens were generally very quick and in great condition and the only hole where the fairway was GUR was C4, but that wasn’t an issue for the likes of some of us (i.e. John Lawton who’s always in the rough).
Welcome to Kissy’s friends who played with us for the first time, Denis, Richard & David and well done Denis for the win with 35pts.
There were two ‘2’s from Suzi (5th) and David Fletcher (17th).
1st Denis Steel (16) 35pts
2nd Keith Buchanan (13) 34pts
3rd Phil Waite (13) 34pts
Tuesday, August 7, Pattaya C.C. – Stroke-play
A very special day for 42 Outbackers at Pattaya Country Club, special enough for many who wouldn’t normally play here; but why today? Because it was Chad’s 70th birthday! This is Chad’s course; this is where he is a member and plays most of his golf (three times per week) as well as being the regular Tuesday organiser here for the Outback.
Well, today was his day off from normal duties, as Capt’ Steve and Suzi got everybody away and General Jack processed all the scores into three divisions, which included a separate ladies division and of course an overall winner; just to give us all a bit of a challenge. He (Chad) also elected that the format should be medal (stroke-play).
Pattaya C.C. had done a good job in preparing the course and the greens were running pretty good. Perhaps a couple of items of more modern machinery would have enabled them to cut a few more fairways but all in all it was the best it’s been for some time. Well done PCC.
The prediction was that the scores would be low but with the exception of the overall winner the scores were about right, with the competition standard score being set at 72 for both the ladies and the men.
Nuan Keddie was the surprise winner with a fantastic net 65 and bearing in mind that the girls played the first loop off the reds and the second of the regular men’s tee (whites), Nuan had done really well. One of her playing partners, Sugar Ray, also did well to win Div A with a net 71 from the wily Bobby Driggs (73) and Paul Greenaway, also with 73 and the best low gross round of the day, 82.
Div B, was won by a newcomer to the Outback but known to members at Pattaya C.C., Ike Ward, with a net 69, from the surprise runner-up and one of Chad’s playing partners, John (the tosspot) Lawton. Playing with John is an experience in itself; starting off on the first tee with a beer in your hand at 8.45 in the morning is perhaps not many people’s idea of the most ideal way to start a round of golf, but if you’re going to play with John, you just know it’s going to happen.
Chad often plays well on this course and today was no exception for the first nine holes, as he hit fairway after fairway followed by putt after putt to reach the turn in 42 gross. However, as the round progressed and the beers kicked in Chad could only return a 54 on the back and the dream was shattered whilst John just soaked up the beer, to score an amazing net 70, to take second place; made even more remarkable by the fact he could only manage 20pts in 18 holes the previous day at Khao Kheow.
The best of the ladies, other than Nuan, was Kathy Doody on net 78.
Back at the bar there was food all round courtesy of Chad and many of the Pattaya C.C. caddies also came to the bar to join in the fun, something which many of them are getting well used to, as it seems to be becoming a regular occurrence here at the Outback.
Chad also sponsored four near pins which were won by Bob St. Aubin, Jim Payne, Bobby Driggs and Pottsy.
Thanks for the day Chad and Happy Birthday mate!
Overall
1st Nuan Keddie (19) net 65
Division 1 (0-17)
1st Sugar Ray Handford (16) net 71
2nd Bobby Driggs (14) net 73
3rd Paul Greenaway (9) net 73
Division 2 (18+)
1st Ike Ward (23) net 69
2nd John Lawton (21) net 70
3rd Billy Gray (28) net 71
Ladies
1st Kathy Doody (16) net 78
2nd Orn Kanasaengsri (13) net 78
3rd On Lloyd (27) net 84
Best Aggregate Scores
Front Nine – 39 (+3) Paul Greenaway, Nuan Keddie; Back Nine – 41 (+5) Bobby Driggs; Par 5’s – 21 (+1) David Earthrowl, John Stafford; Par 4’s -43 (+3) Paul Greenaway; Par 3’s – 12 (Level) Bobby Driggs, Jack Moseley; Most Holes Under Par – 3 Bobby Driggs.
Wednesday, August 8, Siam Plantation – Stableford
Another great day at a great course and as per usual it was in good condition with everything presented perfectly from a golfer’s perspective: Great fairways, good bunkers, even though they have had some recent heavy rain, and flat, fast greens. Good weather for golf also as it was overcast and threatening to rain but never actually did.
Fast play and all groups finished in under four hours, just a great pace of play and the scores I think reflect that; the course inspires golfers to play better even if they are not in great shape.
No ‘2’s, so paid down to fifth position with the round of the day being recorded by Andre Coetzee with 39 points on his 7 handicap from Bobby Driggs with 38 points on his 14 handicap, good golf from both players.
For the record we played the B & C nines from the white tees and there were 13 players (welcome back to Mark Gagliardi).
1st Andre Coetzee (7) 39pts
2nd Bobby Driggs (14) 38pts
3rd Steve Poznanski (14) 35pts
4th Rosco Langoulant (12) 34pts
5th Chris Davisson (11) 34pts
Friday, August 10, Green Valley – Stableford
Thirty-four players at Green Valley for our regular Friday competition; the course was in good condition and the greens have been quickened up as well but have remained reasonably receptive. Over the last couple of weeks, flags have appeared on the fairways and tees where areas needed to be repaired; that is now being implemented, and the course just gets better as a result.
A good day for golf, a light breeze, slightly overcast and cool conditions and that made for some great scoring especially from the Div A golfers with those on 36 points or less not getting a mention. Great pace of play with very few hold-ups and the 9.30 tee time proves to be working.
The quality line-up of golfers in Div A (0–11), were led in by Graeme Hiscock, playing off 8 with an excellent 39pts, followed home by course specialist, Paul Greenaway (9), on the same score with third place going to Colin Goon, a 4 handicapper, with 38.
Sel Wegner, having his first came back here for a few weeks, had already made it clear that he was playing well, ahead of the big Hua Hin trip just two weeks away; as he proved it today with a fine 39pts to win Div B. Both the second and third placed guys, Bernie (37pts) and David (36pts) will also be fancying their chances a bit on the same trip.
Welcome back to Shin Akatani, here for a few rounds and well done to Paul Rodgers for his Div C win with 35pts and also to Jingjo (Martin O’Neill) for his second with the same 35.
There was only one ‘2’ today, on the fourth hole, coming from Andre Coetzee.
Div A (0-11)
1st Graeme Hiscock (8) 39pts
2nd Paul Greenaway (9) 39pts
3rd Colin Goon (4) 38pts
Div B (12-16)
1st Sel Wegner (12) 39pts
2nd Bernie Stafford (13) 37pts
3rd David Day (16) 36pts
Div C (17+)
1st Paul Rodgers (17) 35pts
2nd Martin O’Neill (29) 35pts
3rd Ricky Poe (28) 30pts
Note: The Outback Golf Bar is situated about 6km from Sukhumvit Road along Soi Siam Country. All are welcome to come and join us for a beer and a hit. Just call in and put your name down on the list or call Jack on 087 941 2474.
