PSC Golf Bunkers Boys at The Ranch
Monday, July 20, Pattana A & B – Stableford
Playing from the white tees at nearly 6,900 yards against a strong wind and fairways with little to no roll, the Bunker Boys could only manage an average stableford score of 28. Rab McDonald clinched first place with a mere 33 points, and Geoff Parker took second place on count back over Les Hall with 32. Tough day. Unforgiving course.
We were pleasantly surprised to be able to play the A-course for the first time in ages. For whatever reason, this nine has been off-limits on numerous past visits and we were thinking/hoping that the word, which seems to be missing from the local vocabulary – maintenance – was the reason. In fact, there didn’t seem to be any apparent changes.
Rab McDonald.
The par-3’s on this course are quite challenging, especially from the white tees, and there were only two near pins claimed, both by Geoff Parker.
1st Rab McDonald (17) 33pts
2nd Geoff Parker (13) 32pts
3rd Les Hall (24) 32pts
Wednesday, July 22, Eastern Star – Stableford
It was a perfect day for golf at the ever so brown Eastern Star G.C. If Trent Jones Jr. could see the place now he’d be screaming for water. Hardpan fairways were the order of the day, and “roll baby roll” could be heard echoing from the tee-boxes. If truth be known, watering at this point would probably prove futile and re-sodding / re-seeding would be the more appropriate course of action.
Surprisingly, the greens were in pretty good nick and were more green than brown. Standing on the mostly green greens gazing back at the mostly brown fairways, one could only hope to entice the golf gods to provide some relief.
1st Jimmy Carr (18) 37pts
2nd Colin Greig (8) 36pts
3rd Ken Young (27) 33pts
Near Pins: Takeshi Hakozaki (2), Ken Young.
Friday, July 26, Phoenix (Mountain & Ocean) – Medal
Management has inserted “Gold” in the name Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club as that’s what you need to hire a buggy at this track – 700 baht! All in for 2,000 baht in low season is a bit pricey but in all fairness, you can ride for free on Tuesdays. Dear scheduling committee, please book Phoenix Gold on a Tuesday.
The course was in perfectly adequate condition and looked like a verdant jungle compared to Eastern Star. The Bunker Boys were not on top of their game however and managed to post a net average of 82. Raleigh Gosney most likely had the best turn-around, making the turn at an ungodly 20 over, and finishing just 27 over.
1st Ken Young (27) net 74
2nd Les Cobban (8) net 75
3rd Frank Quinlan (27) net 79
Near Pins: Ken Young, Colin Greig.
Note: The Bunker Boys, a PSC affiliated golf society, 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 9am for breakfast and transport. Contact Buff on 0860465091 or 0806055663 for all enquiries or check website: www. bunkersociety.com.
