Riedler rules the roost

Pattaya Links Golf Society

Monday, April 17, Treasure Hill – Stableford

A Flight

1^st Gerd Riedler (8) 38pts

2^nd Adam Barton (13) 37pts

B Flight

1^st John Anderson (27) 34pts

2^nd New Satita (16) 31pts

Best front-9 (non-winner): Huw Philips

Best back-9 (non-winner): Christian Boysen

When we say we are going to Treasure Hill many seasoned golfers start to play mind games with themselves.  Many believe it is one of those courses that can’t be beaten.

Mostly it’s the crab grass that worries them, and the high index on the difficult and challenging “crocodile hole”, or the narrow fairways.  Forgetting all that, this course is always presented in great condition with plenty of grass under the ball but still good roll on the fairways for that extra couple of yards.

It was agreed that today the greens were a little slower than the norm but it still got to the hole if you hit the line.

Being into the Songkran week, today the green fees were an extra 200 baht bringing G/F, caddy and cart to 1350 baht.  Still the best value around.

Gerd Riedler knew none of the mind games as he played terrific golf to score 38 points (78 gross), thereby getting the chance to wear the green jacket for the first time.  Very close behind with yet another consistent game, Adam Barton made 37 points to put the A Flight scores way ahead of B Flight for a change.

John Anderson scrambled his way to 34 points to take the honours in B Flight ahead of New Satita making “only’ 31, but still enough to again be in the money.

Near pins were placed on Hole 2 for A Flight and won by Adam Barton.  Good day out for Adam.  The other pin was on Hole 6 for B Flight where Iian Jones hit closest.

Friday, April 21, Crystal Bay – Stableford

1^st Stuart Thompson (19) 37pts

2^nd Christian Boysen (8) 36pts

3^rd Jesper Hansen (17) 36pts

Best front-9 (non-winner) Andy Fraser (19)

Best back-9 (non-winner) Mike Wisher (18)

Hot! Hot! And damn hot was the weather today at Crystal Bay.  A teasing breeze from time to time made conditions just bearable.  Thank goodness for the cart.

The fairways are changing colour from a luscious green to more of a white and some smattering of brown.  No course has enough sprinklers to prevent that. Come on the rain, maybe we should hold Songkran at golf courses and put the water to good use.

Having said all that, the B and C nines played well today.  B course greens were not as quick as when the renovations were done some months ago, so those who remembered were caught out initially.  Fairways of course had plenty of run.

Stuart Thompson arrived from Australia, signed up on the start sheet late, and then came back from Crystal Bay with a first up win, putting together a handy 37 points.

Second place was a tight affair with Christian Boysen sneaking over the line on a count back from the consistent Jesper Hansen, both on 36 points.

We had a number of other good scores in the 30s.  Andy Fraser had noted how each round his score was going upwards, so today he was determined to get at least 30 points and he did it!  33 points gave Andy a memorable finish to his current visit, with a promise to get back here soon.

In some societies here it is always known on which greens the near pin markers will be placed.  When we only have two for the day, we are kept guessing where the first group will place them.  Jesper Hansen found one on B6 to claim it and Gerner Lykke found the other on C7.

Dan Green made the comment during the game “I think I feel a wig coming on”.  He had no need to worry as he was well beaten for that position.  As Phil was away today the “wig” did not appear, so we’ll never know!