PSC Golf Bunker Boys at The Ranch
Monday, Nov. 9, Greenwood A & C – Stableford
Not a real auspicious beginning for a day out on the golf course: stuck in a traffic jam in a car full of non-smokers biting my nails watching the black clouds roll overhead. Are we ever going to get there, is it going to rain, will my bladder hold out? The tracks out on this side of town are some of my favorite; but I won’t be coming this way again until the roadworks are finished. They could easily rename Rt. 331 Rt 3331, as in three thousand three hundred thirty one minutes it takes to get from Pattaya to the golf courses.
We arrived at the beautiful Greenwood golf course – and it was especially green and lush due to the recent rains – to find about twenty members of another society gathered at the starter’s gate. Back-up on the highway equals back-up on the golf course. In addition, it seemed that the caddie shack had already been emptied. Like I said, not a real auspicious beginning for a day out on the golf course.
Gordon Melia.
Finally underway, we found the course in its typically good condition even considering the soggy fairways. Only the big hitters had any chance of getting on in regulation as no bounce, no roll, equals no chance for the average bloke. This was reflected in the average stableford score of a mere 29.
A Flight
1st Geoff Cox (15) 39pts
2nd Les Cobban (8) 37pts
3rd Tony Scambler (13) 32pts
B Flight
1st Mike Corner (21) 34pts
2nd Gordon Melia (17) 34pts
3rd Stuart Tinkler (17) 31pts
Near Pins: Petur Petursen, Les Cobban, Gordon Melia (2)
Wednesday, Nov. 11, Pattaya C.C. – Stableford
A beautiful day for golf at the soon to be lovely Pattaya C.C. Well, maybe not that soon as we’ve been waiting for what seems an eternity for the greens – especially on the back nine – to come around. They absolutely have to be the slowest greens of any course in the world. The clubhouse is nice; and the fairways and bunkers were up to scratch.
The highlight of the day was the welcome return of our favorite Yank, Barry Murnin. This not so soft-spoken American hails from an area where there are more golf courses than bus stops – Myrtle Beach. Why he would come all the way over on this side of the pond to play Pattaya C.C. is, well, hard to understand. There must be something else luring him here; I wonder what it could be?
Our B flight guys had it all over the big boys today, outscoring them in every position. The best they could do was 33 points – 33 for first, second, and third. The lowest score in B flight was 34 by, yes, you guessed it, Mr. Myrtle beach.
A Flight
1st Jimmy Carr (16) 33pts
2nd Niall Glover (14) 33pts
3rd Steve Durey (19) 33pts
B Flight
1st Ken Young (27) 36pts
2nd Peter Allen (30) 36pts
3rd Barry Murnin (21) 34pts
Near Pins: Steve Durey (2), Stuart Tinkler
Friday, Nov. 13, Pattavia – Stableford
If they sold Tiger beer here this would be the best golf course in Pattaya. After a couple Chang’s, it’s not easy to keep it in the fairway – just ask Neil. All kidding aside, this really is a lovely track: great layout, well-maintained fairways, good bunkers, excellent greens (the greenskeeper at Pattaya C.C. should apprentice here), and beautiful flowering scrubs and trees a plenty.
Our spirits were dampened a bit by the downpour midway through the front nine, but after a twenty minute delay the sun came out and it was a glorious day of golf, even considering the angst incurred creeping along Rt.3331.
A Flight
1st Gordon Melia (17) 40pts
2nd Colin Greig (10) 38pts
3rd Stuart Tinkler (17) 38pts
B Flight
1st Tore Eliassen (18) 39pts
2nd Neil Griffin (24) 34pts
3rd Lee Butler (17) 33pts
Near Pins: Jimmy Carr, Gordon Melia, Tony Scambler, Trevor Priestly.
Note: The Bunker Boys is a PSC affiliated golf society that plays out of The Ranch bar on Pattaya 3rd Road (in front of the fire station, and almost opposite the Buffalo Bar). We play on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and meet at The Ranch at 9 a.m. for breakfast and transportation. New players are always welcome. Contact “Buff” on 086 046 5091 or 080 605 5663 for all enquiries or go to website: www.bunkersociety.com.
