PSC Pattaya Links Golf Society
Wed. Dec. 18 Khao Kheow C+A Stableford
The pleasant surprises keep coming. Upon arrival at Khao Kheow our forty golfers found they were paying a lot less than expected, receiving a nice discount on the golf carts. Who would want to walk? Then, a few paces further on, a lovely lady handed each player a free bottle of water.
Thank you Khao Kheow, very much appreciated by all of our players.
The starter gave us the all clear to start when ready, so our first group got away about 10 minutes early.
Like many courses now, with the lack of recent rain and most days with steady breezes blowing, the fairways are getting a brown tinge, matching the rough. Even the dams are so low that the rocks are appearing.
However, the renovated tee boxes and those great Khao Kheow greens, which are green, playing truly and with pace, are having water kept up to them and looking good.
The B flight turned into a one-two for the Lindbergs as Mikael scored 37 points to get the better of Helene who came second with 35 points. Good scoring both (and, no, they didn’t mark each other’s card).
Third and fourth went to the countback with Peter Allen, once again in the mix, winning third spot over a rejuvenated Iain Jones. Both had 34 points.
Peter Lacey has now played five games with Links and all he wanted to do was win a Green Jacket. A short career so far, but he got the Jacket with the best score of the day, a very handy 39 points to win the A flight.
Colin Smith, still riding high from his hole-in-one a couple of days ago, scored 38 points to bag second spot. The other Smith, Paul, as usual found himself in the placings, taking third with 37 points.
Rana Gurnam filled the final podium place, surviving a three-way countback at the 34 points mark.
When we have this many players, we put out extra “near pins’. Today there were four for each flight plus a long putt on the 18th hole.
Near pins: A flight, Michael Wright (x2), Colin Smith, and Barry Wellings. B flight, John Hughes, Gavin McDonald, Helene Lindberg, and Peter Allen.
Longest first putt (on hole 18) Mike Kaps.
A Flight (0-17)
1st Place – Peter Lacey (16) – 39 pts
2nd Place – Colin Smith (15) – 38 pts c/back
3rd Place – Paul Smith (4) – 37 pts
4th Place – Rana Gurnam (12) – 34 pts c/back
B Flight (18+)
1st Place – Mikael Lindberg (23) – 37 pts
2nd Place – Helene Lindberg (21) – 35 pts
3rd Place – Peter Allen (28) – 34 pts c/back
4th Place – Iain Jones (20) – 34 pts
Best Front Nine “C” (non-winners) Colm O’Donovan 20 pts
Best Back Nine “A” (non-winners) Glen Elsworth 20 pts
We don’t know what happened to him, but Mike Ehlert managed just 4 points on the front nine so was well prepared for the ‘silly hat’.
Michael Wright had a mixed day. He collected two near pins, of which one of them became a 2. Then managed to score not many more and finished up with the ‘wig’ for lowest score of the day.
Thanks again Khao Kheow, we will return in a little over two weeks.