PSC Golf from the Tropical Golf Group
Tuesday, March 15, Pattana – Stableford
We thought with an early start time we would be able to zip around and get back before the rush started in Pattaya. We lived in hope but unfortunately it was a false hope.
Have you ever had a round where you waited for every shot and even taking long breaks at the rest stops does not do any good as after a couple of shots you are up behind the group ahead? Even having a chat with the starters did not clear the situation. They offered to let our group go off the third nine but when they realised we had 7 groups they quickly withdrew that offer. Waiting on every shot is not fun.
John Hackett (left) and Paul Weatherley (right) with one of BJ Lodge’s finest.
The back nine just seemed to get more frustrating as the five-ball ahead of us lost contact with the groups in front until after great frustration we finished in over five and a half hours, and did not see one course marshall!
Whilst we have met with some frustrations in the past this just seemed more annoying as the course itself was in great condition and what golf we played was enjoyed by all. The fairways were in fine condition and the greens were fast and true and I suppose you have to take the rough with the smooth and we have been very lucky over a long period of time, but it is really annoying. We found out later that a group of 60 golfers had turned up and no sensible course is going to turn that group away.
Brian Parish.
So we got back late when we expected to get back early and the results were quickly declared. In the A Flight, 0 to 18, the winner was John Hackett with 38 points ahead of Mashi Kaneta in second with 36 and John Davis third with 35.
In the B Flight the winner was Paul Weatherly with 39 points ahead of a count back on 37 points that saw Nigel Perry in second ahead of Daryl Evans in third.
Near Pins: Bob Britton, Doug Maiko, Richard Kubicki, Mick Coghlan.
Long Putts: Buckers, Doug Maiko.
Friday, March 18, Pattavia – Stableford
1st Brian Parish (12) 39pts
2nd Paul Weatherley(19) 39pts
3rd John Davis (14) 37pts
4th Carole Kubicki(20) 36pts
Near Pins: John Davis (2), Landis Brooks, Paul Weatherley
It was the starting day of the Pattaya Music Festival and luckily an early tee time was booked. Quite by accident but welcome just the same as the extra time would be needed for all to get back into Pattaya before the traffic woes brought on by the road closures and the crowds. Maybe due to this and maybe just the fact that Pattavia is not the favorite of quite a few, we had a small number show up at BJ’s for breakfast and transport arrangements.
We had not been to this course in more than a month so all were wondering how it was faring with the lack of rain and how slick the greens would be. Not to worry, off we were. The drive up the 331 has improved a bit and within an hour we arrived to a very empty parking lot. Quick check-in at an excellent value and our first group was soon on the 1st tee a bit before our scheduled 0930 tee time.
Off we went under warm sunny skies with a nice breeze blowing just to keep us a bit cool and having to think more about club selection. Fairways were green with a good covering of grass and the greens not as slick as we have seen them in the past. Still best to stay below the hole and avoid those dreaded down-hillers though. Also, like most of the courses we have played recently, once you get out of the area covered by the sprinkler systems the ground gets hard and barren. More than one errant shot went whizzing through the hardpan and into the dense rough. Fairways and greens is the order of the day in these conditions.
With no one in front of our groups we were around in good time and all assembled in the fine clubhouse restaurant overlooking the 18th green, a great view and a good place to do our presentation.
Congratulations to Brian and Paul for turning in the best scores of 39 points and to John and Carole for playing well enough to usually win on this tract. Well done! Based on scores like this and the fact that a couple of regulars were absent, there is bound to be some changes at the top of the GOM leader board heading into the final week.
