PSC Golf from the Tropical Golf Group
Tuesday, July 21, Green Valley – Stableford
I like this course, always have and I have been playing it for a long time. It is like an old item of clothing that one’s wife wants to throw out, but you keep wearing it. We have been playing here for many a year and it is honest and a great day out.
Over the years there have been many a change here, usually to allow the players to play from the new clubhouse, and it is still a real walk around and it always seems windy. I remember when what is the second hole now used to be the first and we used to clump down to the start in real spikes. With a downhill drive and the fairway lined with lemon grass it was a bit of a terror: off line and you were in a very dodgy situation as what was in the lemon grass could be a bit nasty.
Two-time monthly mug winner Gerd Riedler (left) celebrates with Don Carmody.
Also the 18th hole, now a par 4, used to be a par 5 and tested you on your second shot that, if you hit a big drive, was a very testing carry over water. Also the tenth, that is now a par 5, stroke index 18, used to be a very tough par 4. Changes had to be made I suppose but memories are still there for the old timers.
Back to the golf, and on the day and the course was in good but wet condition. It was noted that the greens were a bit soggy and slow but the rest of it, apart from being windblown in places, played really well. That was if you could keep the ball straight. The early holes played into a strong wind, but at least you got some with the wind behind in the follow on and on the last hole the wind was directly behind. All in all a great day!
In the A Flight, 0 to 18, the winner was Landis Brooks with 36 points while taking second was Mashi Kaneta with 35 and in third was Paul Sharples with 34.
The winner in the B Flight was Frank Pilkington with 37 points ahead of George King in second on 35 and Dick Warberg in third with 33.
Near Pins: Paul Sharples, Kurt Ebentheuer, Tom Cotton, Gary Bingham.
Friday, July 24, Pattaya C.C. – Monthly Mug
Once again it was time for the Tropical Golf Group to head to Pattaya Country Club to try to win the coveted Monthly Mug, which takes place, hm mm, let’s see – monthly. Coming on the heels of the British Open this was our own version of the event but instead of winning US$2 million the winner got a beer mug, which all agree is preferable to the claret jug, or at least more useful.
Landis Brooks (left) with Frank Pilkington.
Arriving at PCC in fair weather we were able to tee off on time. It seemed the Tropical Golfers were the first of several groups waiting to go out that day, and why not? The course is in good condition and represents good value. Just wondering if any course in the area gives serious combat to the nests of biting red ants? PCC has no more (but no less) of these things, so be careful when you sit down or search for a ball in the tree line. Eighteen golfers were hopeful for the mug, but only one can win!
The winner’s name goes first, and so without further ado it was Gerd Riedler (h/cap 9) who took the trophy with a stunning net 69, and is also our first double mug winner. A big toast to Gerd! Second place went to Don Carmody (27) with a net 73, winning on count-back over Kurt “Mr. Course Management” Ebentheuer (32) who had the trophy in the bag before some very questionable decisions late in his round. In fourth place was Alan Sullivan (12) with a net 74. For the rest there is always next month.
Near Pins: Tom Herrington, Dick Warberg, Takeshi Hakozaki, Franck Martineau.
