Travellers Rest Golf Group
In my experience I have found that the Irish are a very superstitious race. They believe in luck both good and bad and carry round lucky heather and rabbit paws (not so lucky for the rabbit) and they go looking for lucky leprechauns and four leaf clovers. So when I tell you of an incident this week you will probably agree with me that Seamus Farrell, bachelor of this parish, has only seven years bad luck to look forward to, because this week Seamus inadvertently broke a mirror.
On Thursday we were just arriving outside Green Valley clubhouse in our golf van with Seamus seated in the front beside the driver. We, in the back, had just alighted from the vehicle and were busy removing our golf bags stored at the rear of the vehicle. Seamus for some reason did not get out immediately but chose to open the passenger’s door just as another golf bus pulled up alongside ours. There was an almighty crash as Seamus’s door caught the other vehicles wing mirror and tore it off the other vehicle and we all watched as it flew off down the road with glass going everywhere.
Roger Wilkinson.
A complete accident of course but the other van driver was not amused, although it was he who was passing our stationary van on the inside lane and was probably driving too close to our vehicle. Anyway, we got on with our day’s golf whilst the two Thai van drivers discussed who should pay for a new wing mirror and we found them still discussing it five hours later when we all returned to the vehicles.
Why is it that one week you can play some of the best golf you have ever played and the next week you can have a complete nightmare, and be about as predictable as the weather?
In my case it is because I lack consistency, but in Seamus Farrell’s case it is obviously because it is the start of his seven years bad luck. He rounded off his golfing day by paying out for losing all of the “sixes.”
Monday, Jan. 11, Phoenix – Stableford
The TRGG week got off to a happier start on Monday with a visit over to Phoenix where our patrons got the opportunity to play the newly designed “Lakes” course together with Ocean. The general consensus was favourable, especially from the two division winners.
In Division 1, Roger Wilkinson managed to get the hang of it very quickly and returned to the clubhouse with 37 points. Right behind him were four golfers all finishing with 35 points and it took a lengthy count back before it was discovered that Mike Rushant had finished in second place and Kevin Smith third.
Brendon McEvoy roared away with first place in Division 2 and Seamus Farrell, probably for the last time in the foreseeable future, finished second while Tony Buerki took third spot. On this occasion Seamus got lucky and won his second place on count back. Never again I fear.
Div.1 (0-16)
1st Roger Wilkinson (13) 37pts
2nd Mike Rushant (9) 35pts
3rd Kevin Smith (13) 35pts
Div.2 (17+)
1st Brendon McEvoy (18) 39pts
2nd Seamus Farrell (25) 35pts
3rd Tony Buerki (23) 35pts
Tuesday, Jan. 12, Burapha – Stableford
On Tuesday it was back to Burapha (A and B courses) for the TRGG faithful. Ian Hunt had a good day and finished in first place with 39 points. Two points behind came the consistent Lawrence Lee, with the left to right hitter Ken Brehm keeping it on the short stuff in third.
1st Ian Hunt (17) 39pts
2nd Lawrence Lee (19) 37pts
3rd Ken Brehm (19) 36pts
Wednesday, Jan. 13, Pattavia – Stableford
It was the turn of Pattavia Century to provide the challenge on Wednesday. Now normally this is a very tricky course with electrically fast greens. It had however been raining quite a bit during the week and looking at the scores it would appear that the greens had slowed up, giving the golfers an even chance.
Ian Bell shot an excellent 40 points to take top spot, with Anthony Atherton just a point behind in second place and a further point back came John Dean. I cannot ever remember posting three winning scores before that were all better than normal handicap. A good day for all concerned.
1st Ian Bell (5) 40pts
2nd Anthony Atherton (14) 39pts
3rd Jon Dean (9) 38pts
Thursday, Jan. 14, Green Valley – Stableford
And so on to the fateful Thursday at Green Valley. In Division 1, four-handicapper Paul Colfar didn’t require any luck to rattle up 37 points to take home the spoils. A point behind it took a count back to sort out that Garry Blackborne had luckily just got the better of Mike Rushant.
Paul Colfar
In Division 2 Reg Glass proved that Green Valley is his lucky course by winning for the second week running. Welshman Alun Webber was ramming in putts from all over the place to finish second and Tim Dalton couldn’t believe his luck in finishing third on only 32 points.
Div.1 (0-15)
1st Paul Colfar (4) 37pts
2nd Garry Blackbourne (8) 36pts
3rd Mike Rushant (9) 36pts
Div. 2 (16+)
1st Reg Glass (16) 36pts
2nd Alun Webber (21) 35pts
3rd Tim Dalton (19) 32pts
Friday, Jan. 15, Bangpra – Stableford
Friday saw another large turnout head off to play Bangpra. In Division 1 the top five golfers all finished on 33 points and it took ages to discover that Victor Ko had the best count back score, with Mike Smith in second and Ian Bell third.
In Division 2, Richard Kawagoye ran away with first place with an amazing 42 points. Reg Glass had another good day by finishing second and Derek Thorogood joined the party by finishing third.
Div.1 (0-13)
Victor Ko (12) 33pts
Mike Smith (7) 33pts
Ian Bell (5) 33pts
Div.2 (14+)
1st Richard Kawagoye (17) 42pts
2nd Reg Glass (16) 35pts
3rd Derek Thorogood (15) 33pts
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 Ned Kelly Bar in Soi Lengkee and add your name to the weekly lists which are posted on the notice board.
