Travellers Rest Golf Group
Another glorious week of wall to wall sunshine with a pleasant cooling breeze most days, which became a stiff in your face two/three club wind on Friday. This did make those 180-yard plus carries to clear the water at Silky Oaks almost a lottery, except for the longest hitters. We average guys were always looking for bail out areas and found none.
Bill Reid.
The golf ball manufacturers were having a very profitable day with just about everybody requiring a restock by the time we finished the round. Perhaps the sadist who had us teeing off the yellow tees (third tee back) may perchance think again when we next visit Silky Oaks on a windy day. We can live in hope.
Monday, March 14, Pattana – Stableford
It was off to Pattana (A & C courses) on Monday to commence the week’s competitions. In Division 1 Scotsman Alan Gibb, who has been a regular visitor to the top of the charts this last month or so, had another good day and recorded yet another win, shooting his handicap. In second place the ever reliable Alan Thomas was at the top table once again and Seil Peter also gets another mention by coming in third.
In Division 2 it was came down to power plays and it was the aptly named Terry Power whose light shone the brightest. He managed to get the better of Joe Nagle in second and Richard Kawagoye in third.
Div.1 (0-12)
1st Alan Gibb (9) 36pts
2nd Alan Thomas (5) 33pts
3rd Seil Peter (6) 30pts
Div.2 (13+)
1st Terry Power (14) 36 pts
2nd Joe Nagle (15) 34 pts
3rd Richard Kawagoye (15) 32pts
Tuesday, March 15, Burapha – Stableford
Burapha (B and A courses) was the venue on Tuesday and once again it required 40+ points to finish in the winner’s circle.
Nino Dinardo.
In Division 1 Walter Pinichi, a two-handicapper, must have played like a Pro to have accumulated his winning 41 points. Mick Abbott was only a point behind in second place and that man Alan Gibb was at the party once again in third place.
In Division 2 Aussie Bill Reid won the day with another 40 points. Yours truly, Andy Rich, found my way back from last week’s trip on the road to oblivion to register a second place finish. The lights were still burning brightly for Terry Power who finished third.
Div. 1 (0-13)
1st Walter Pinichi (2) 41pts
2nd Mick Abbott (10) 40pts
3rd Alan Gibb (9) 37pts
Div. 2 (14+)
1st Bill Reid (14) 40 pts
2nd Andy Rich (18) 36 pts
3rd Terry Power (14) 33 pts
Wednesday, March 16, Bangpra – Stableford
On Wednesday the TRGG headed off to a late two-tee start at Bangpra. Half the field started on the first tee and the other half started on the tenth so it was treated as two competitions so as not to get confused with who had the best back nine score for count back purposes. Confusing I know, but it seemed to work out in the end.
Trevor Oliver and Ged Higgins.
In the division that started on the first tee it was once again Alan Thomas, the man you would bet on if your life depended on it, who showed what a fine golfer he is by finishing in first place but this time with an unusually low 31 points. Perhaps the monkeys (Bangpra is the monkey course) had been messing about with the distance markers again. Dave Maw finished a point behind in second place and a further point back was Joe Nagle in third.
In the division that played the course in reverse, i.e. 10-18 first 1-9 second, it was a different story for one person. Ally Walker seemed to like playing backwards and finished way out on his own with 41 points. For all the rest it was again a low scoring affair. Alan Gibb could only register 31 points on the day to take second place and then only after a count back from Billy Allan who finished on the same score.
Course A (1-18)
1st Alan Thomas (6) 31pts
2nd Dave Maw (14) 30pts
3rd Joe Nagle (15) 29pts
Course B (10-18, 1-9)
1st Ally Walker (14) 41pts
2nd Alan Gibb (9) 31pts
3rd Billy Allan (15) 31pts
Thursday, March 17, Green Valley – Stableford
On Thursday it was St Patrick’s Day so it seemed appropriate to being playing Green Valley. Mind you, looking at the day’s eventual winners the Irish nation was notable by its absence. Perhaps they started hitting the sauce at breakfast and were way past their best by lunch time.
In Division 1 it was a case of déjà vu and yet again I am writing that familiar sentence “Alan Thomas finished in first place”. Neil Wilkinson had a battle royal with Alan Gibb for second and third places and it took a count back to separate them. Neil just pipped Alan at the post.
In Division 2, a true gentleman, Nino Dinardo was a popular winner but again it took a count back before we found out he had just got the better of Alan McLeod who happens to be another of the good guys. Billy Allan, a good Evertonian, finished a shot behind in third place.
Div.1 (0-12)
1st Alan Thomas (6) 36pts
2nd Neil Wilkinson (12) 35pts
3rd Alan Gibb (9) 35pts
Div.2 (13+)
1st Nino Dinardo (17) 35pts
2nd Alan Mcleod (30) 35pts
3rd Billy Allan (16) 34pts
Friday, March 18, Pattaya – Stableford
We left Pattaya with hardly a breath of wind on Friday and arrived at Silky Oak in what sailors would describe as good sailing weather with plenty of wind to fill the sails. Unfortunately it proved to be straight in our faces on all the holes requiring a long carry to get over the water. There was a lot of shaking of the head and even more tut tutting amongst the assembled throng.
In Division 1 they still managed to post some decent scores with Trevor Oliver bettering his handicap taking first prize. Big Paul Hansberry used all his power to take second and wily old Dave Palmer sailed off with third place.
Down in Division 2 Ged Higgins made the most of playing off the silver tees but could still only register 32 points to win the day. Bob Creswick found himself in a three-way fight for second and third places on just 28 points. He just finished ahead of Billy Allan on count back, with Kim Scadden being the unlucky one out.
Div.1 (0-14)
1st Trevor Oliver (11) 37pts
2nd Paul Hansberry (9) 35pts
3rd Dave Palmer (7) 34pts
Div. 2 (15+)
1st Ged Higgins (19) 32pts
2nd Bob Creswick (15) 28pts
3rd Billy Allan (16) 28pts
Good luck to all you golfers for the coming week and if you would like to play a round of golf with the TRGG, please phone Derek Thorogood on 080 673 3118 or pop into the Valentines Guest House (Restaurant and Bar) in Soi Lengkee and add your name to the weekly lists which are posted on the notice board.
