PSC Golf from The Bunker Boys
Monday, Oct. 29, Pattana B & C – Stableford
1st Geoff Cox (16) 37pts
2nd Geoff Parker (15) 35pts
3rd Paul Lanzetta (7) 34pts
A field of twelve fronted up for the first game of the week at the beautiful Pattana Country Club. In the past, we have only played this course rarely and always in low season. If current fees stay comparable with other venues then, without doubt, we will play this course more often. Today we were allocated B & C nines and as is often the case many found themselves in the water on this intimidating starting hole. The course was in beautiful condition but despite that, we had a mix of scores from good to mediocre.
Geoff Cox’s motto in golf is “keep hanging in”, this attitude certainly paid dividends today. Having started his round in mediocre fashion he suddenly sprung into life with a birdie on the seventh hole and continued on in the same vein to the end amassing thirty-seven points to take first place. Second, went to Geoff Parker with a steady thirty-five points while Paul Lanzetta took third with thirty-four points. Paul also snared two near pins with Keith Norman and Geoff Parker taking one each.
Wednesday, Oct. 31, Eastern Star – Stableford
1st Jimmy Carr (15) 34pts
2nd Takeshi Hakozaki (12) 33pts
3rd Tony Robbins (22) 33pts
The last game of the month was played at Eastern Star. This is a course that has undergone a massive transformation in recent months and the clubhouse renovations are now completed and are brilliant. The change rooms and showers are amongst the best anywhere, bright, spacious, and with piped music. The course was also in tip-top condition and the bunkers have recently been re-sanded and well groomed. If there was a criticism it would be that the bunkers are extremely difficult to play from with dry fluffy sand and almost always leaving a fried egg lie. Cart paths have been installed around the course and it’s fair to say that this is now an excellent golf venue.
Today the wind was strong making a challenging course even more difficult, so scores were modest at best. Jimmy Carr took first place with thirty-four points whilst Takeshi Hakozaki took second edging out Tony Robbins on countback. Near pins went to Takeshi, Neil Carter, and Michael Brett.
As it was the last game of the month it was time to decide the golfer of the month. Michael Brett put together six consecutive rounds of thirty-five plus to set the pace early and say to the rest of the team catch me if you can. A few such as Geoff Parker, Geoff Cox, and Neil Carter gave valiant chase but in the end, only Neil Carter was in a position to overtake him which he looked like doing with two birdies in the first five holes only to mess up with a couple of wipes and fade out of contention needing a score of thirty-nine to tie, a score that was out of reach.
Friday, Nov. 2, Pattavia – Stableford
1st Tony Robbins (22) 40pts
2nd Geoff Parker (15) 37pts
3rd Neil Carter (11) 36pts
4th Neil Griffin (26) 36pts
The Pattavia course was up to its usual standard but the greens had not fully recovered from recent coring and sanding and were a bit bumpy with occasional pebbles still on the surface, sometimes deviating putts offline. The speed of play was average at best with a few delays on the par threes.
Having been in hibernation since his forty-seven a month ago, Tony Robbins sprung back to life today with forty points to take first place with a display of chipping and putting that had his playing partners scratching their heads. Geoff Parker came second with a very creditable thirty-seven points with Neil Carter a stroke back on thirty-six. Neil Griffin in his first game since returning took fourth place losing on countback to Neil Carter.
Only three of the four near pins were taken, one each going to Brendan Harnett, Alan Sullivan, and Geoff Cox.
