Parker tops the charts

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Geoff Parker.
Geoff Parker.

PSC Golf from The Bunker Boys

Monday, April 23, Crystal Bay – Stableford

1st Peter Allen (31) 34pts

2nd Geoff Cox (18) 32pts

3rd Les Hall (25) 30pts

A reasonable field for the low season of eleven turned up to play at the Crystal Bay course.  The weather was once again hot and humid and dark clouds on the horizon thankfully stayed away.

The course, particularly the C nine, is showing a lot of wear with many bare patches on the fairways and greens, the B nine was much better.  It may be time to reopen the A nine which has been closed for over a year.

Unusually for this course scoring was low with only two players managing to top thirty points.  Top of the heap today was Peter Allen with a score of thirty-four points while Geoff Cox was second with a score of thirty-two. Geoff missed at least six putts from within eighteen inches and really should have scored much better.  Les Hall rounded out the winner’s list with thirty points.

Near pins went to Michael Brett, Geoff Cox, and two to Colin Greig.

Golf courses are full of health hazards e.g. snakes, angry birds etc but today Neil Carter encountered a new one on his way from the eight green to the ninth tee when he got stung by an angry bee, some people will use any excuse for a low score.

Wednesday, April 25, Treasure Hill – Stableford

1st Les Cobban (7) 37pts

2nd Jimmy Carr (18) 36pts

3rd Geoff Parker (14) 35pts

Treasure Hill is a challenging course by any measure, today was something else.  By the time our lead group approached the first green the rain was tumbling down and when it came time to putt the green was waterlogged.

The rain abated for a short time only to return with renewed intensity.  Simultaneous lightning strikes and thunder claps meant that the center of the storm was right above us.  After a scary period in a small shelter all braved the elements and returned to the clubhouse where it was expected that the game would be abandoned.  Fairways and greens were flooded and many trees were split asunder by lightning strikes, bunkers were washed out or filled with water.

After about forty minutes the rain stopped, fairways and greens drained rapidly and play was resumed. Naturally the pick, clean and place rule was applied and by the end of play the course was in such remarkably good condition it was unnecessary.

The star of the day was Les Cobban with a score of thirty-seven, not only did Les win he also took three near pins as well.  Second place went to Jimmy Carr with thirty-six points while Geoff Parker brought up the rear with thirty-five points.  The remaining near pin went to Peter Allen.

Friday April 27, Pleasant Valley – Stableford

1st Geoff Parker (14) 39pts

2nd Colin Greig (8) 35pts

3rd Jimmy Carr (18) 32pts

Pleasant Valley is a course that has come a long way from the days some people disparagingly referred to it as ‘unpleasant valley’.  Today the course was in superb condition, with lush well grassed fairways and greens that ran true and were very good for putting. The sand in the bunkers was a bit compacted due to recent heavy rain so it was unavoidable.

The day was oppressively hot and humid but the rain that threatened all day never eventuated. Speed of play was excellent and the round was completed in less than three and a half hours. Pick, clean and place rule was applied due to the recent downpours.

Geoff Parker was the shining light today with a very good score of thirty-nine points; Geoff is now showing signs of recapturing his best golfing form again and showing greater consistency.  Playing his last game for the time being, Colin Greig took second place with thirty-five, while Jimmy Carr took third with thirty-two.

Near pins went to Colin Greig and Geoff Parker with two.