Monday, April 4th
Green Valley Country Club
1st Robbie Watts (10) 42 points
2nd Jay Babin (24) 37 points
3rd Kob Glover (22) 37 points
4th Geoff Atwell (24) 35 points
5th Mike Lloyd (14) 35 points
Near pins Mike Lloyd, Kob Glover, Paul Smith, & Robbie Watts.
Finally, we had a really nice day for golf after the recent prolonged wet spell. The Green Valley course was in excellent condition, but the greens were very slick indeed and proved a real challenge for most in holding approach shots on them. Also downhill puts were treacherous, even the best putters were challenged. Some said the greens were faster than either Bangpra or Pattavia at their fastest, so only the best putters prevailed.
Playing his last game of this trip, Mike Lloyd signaled his intention to sign off in style with a remarkable twenty-four points on the front nine which included an eagle on the first. However, he was overcome with pressure on the back nine only to end up in fifth place on thirty-five points. Clearly, Mike’s game is in great shape, he just needs to control his emotions a bit better to become a real force in the game. It was remarkable to watch someone going from cruise mode to struggle street.
Geoff Atwell took fourth place on countback from Mike. After an absence from the winner’s circle for some time, Kob Glover made a return with a score of thirty-seven, losing second place on countback to Jay Babin. In his first game back after more than two years due to Covid, Robbie Watts got straight down to business to take first place with a well compiled forty-two points. No problems putting there for Robbie. He also managed to snag a near pin. Paul Smith as usual got one, whilst Mike Lloyd and Kob Glover got the remaining two. Monday was also the last game for Neil Griffin who returns to the UK and generously signed off by ringing the bell back at the bar.
We had an unusual incident today when a dog took a shine to Jimmy Carr and rode around in his cart for several holes until an irate marshal came along with a slingshot and spent a couple of hours chasing it around the course. One had to ask why? It was one of the nicest and friendliest dogs one could see on a golf course.
Wednesday, April 6th
Pattaya Country Club
1st Herbert Felder (11) 40 points
2nd Perry Seehoo (2) 38 points
3rd Bobbie Watts (7) 37 points
4th Niall Glover (16) 35 points
Near pins Perry Seehoo, Paul Smith, & Hubert Stiefenhoffhl
Thankfully normal Pattaya weather has returned with another bright sunny day, although very hot at times for Wednesday’s game at Pattaya Country Club. Despite all the recent rain, within a matter of days, the course was again firm underfoot and starting to look less green than a week ago.
A decent rollup of sixteen, not bad for the time of year and with several locals missing. Herbert Felder, who plays with a bit of an up and down game, put it all together with a very good score of forty points to take first place. We had the pleasure to welcome a new member, Peter Seehoo, who announced his arrival with a very stylish thirty-eight points off a handicap of two, taking second place.
Once again Robbie Watts was in the frame, taking third place with thirty-seven points, whilst Niall Glover rounded out the winner’s list with thirty-five points in fourth place.
Three near pins were taken by Peter Seehoo, Paul Smith of course, and Hubert Stiefenhoffhl. Today’s bell ringers were Peter Seehoo and Herbert Felder, well-done guys.
With only one dog on the course today and nobody chasing it, we had none of the drama of Monday at Green Valley.
Friday, April 8th
Pattavia Century Golf Club
1st Paul Smith (2) 37 points
2nd Robbie Watts (7) 36 points
3rd Herbert Felder (11) 35 points
4th Tony Robbins (26) 35 points
Near pins Kevin LeBar, Robbie Watts, & Paul Smith X 2.
Another nice day for golf at Pattavia with no prospect of rain. The wind was up on the front nine but abated on the back. The consequence of this was the fruit flies from the local pineapple plantations were out in force to the extent that they became a major distraction. It’s very hard to play golf with plagues of tiny flies massing around your face, in your eyes and ears and even up your nose. Today the greens were not as fast as we have come to expect, certainly nothing like Green Valley on Monday.
Even at this early stage of the month, the race for golfer of the month is developing into a two-horse race between Paul Smith and Robbie Watts, both going toe to toe on every outing. On Friday, Paul Smith prevailed by one stroke to win with thirty-seven points ahead of Robbie in second place. Another who has his game in good shape is Herbert Felder who took third with thirty-five beating Tony Robbins into fourth place on countback. Tony departs to Australia this weekend for a long-awaited holiday and family reunion so will be missing for the next couple of weeks. Near pins went to Kevin LeBar, & Robbie Watts with Paul Smith getting his usual two.
One week to go before our away Songkran trip to Nakon Nayok playing Cascata on the way, Watermill on the way back, and two games in between at Royal Hills, a much-anticipated trip to some new venues we haven’t played previously.