PSC Golf from the Billabong Golf Bar
Monday, June 13th Phoenix GC – Stableford
Perfect weather conditions, a half empty car park that gives the impression, quite rightly, that the course is more or less empty. The course is being prepared for the King’s Trophy in July and there are a large number, we assume unemployed caddies, removing foreign grass and weeds from around the greens which are being top dressed but the course is still in good condition.
Various items of interest among the Billabong regulars today with George Barrie experiencing what we have all experienced in the past, and that is following many below par rounds golf has the last word and brings us all crashing back to earth.
Graham Beaumont discovered areas around the course which were largely uninhabited, or at least by snakes and other wildlife. Alan Barclay tried a new grip but forgot that he has more moving parts than a combine harvester. Bob Philp and Lloyd Shuttleworth obviously had an early night, felt good and are big enough hitters to perturb those on the green of a par four which they did on two occasions.
A mixed bag of scores today with big hitting Kevin Wild, a very apt surname for not every shot goes straight, lost out to Keith Allen for 2nd place both with 36 points. Gerrard Lambert was by far the best of the day with 39 points. Alan Beck was unlucky not to hit the pin for a hole in one but settled for the only 2 on the day.
Wednesday, June 15th Green Valley – Stableford
Walking around the Green Valley clubhouse last week it was obvious that it did not take too long – probably overnight – for the management to revert to the much despised lay out of the course from that demanded by the professionals in their recent competition. Why are the professionals any different from those golfers that support Green Valley on a regular basis and, very often, on a weekly basis?
But credit where credit is due, the fairways are recovering nicely following the recent rains and the greens are slowly returning to their best. The only situation that requires attention is the inconsistency of the bunkers.
Not many ladies for many of the regulars played in the Ladies Tournament on Tuesday but Miss Pin came second with 35 points, well short of the performance by Miss Eng who had a magnificent 42 points.
Kevin Wild showed his Jekyll and Hyde personalities today with, what is probably the lowest score ever recorded for nine holes – 4 points on the front nine. He was obviously embarrassed by this score and the ribbing that he will receive back at the Billabong – surely not? Was it the Dr. Jekyll or the Mr. Hyde in him that surfaced to be able to score 24 points on the back nine? Mr. Robert L Stevenson would have been proud of him.
Sel Wegner could not match the back nine of Ted Gardner who had 24 points on the back nine to take third place. Jeff North made a welcome return to form with 38 points but not quite good enough to unseat Bill Eyles winning the day with 39 points.
Three 2s went to Miss Orn, Andrew Woodall and Gary Hogg.
Having played golf for many years, Bob Philp, Tony Oakes, Allen Beck and William Macey, 200 years between us, experienced something for the first time ever in a game of golf. They say the fastest way to get to know someone on a golf course is to play their ball. Bob, Tony and Allen played their second shots then their chip onto the green ready to putt before they realized that they had each played the wrong ball way back on the fairway. William wondered why he had been left out of this pantomime.
Friday, June 17th Burapha – Stableford
Burapha at its best, playing the A and B loops in perfect weather conditions, apart from the brief stop at the end of the 10th when the skies opened up but only for 10 minutes or so, then it threatened but never eventuated. The course is in great condition with greens that are as fast and true as you would want. We had 6 groups playing and were away about half an hour before our tee time and were all in around 3 and ½ hours later.
The birthday boy Ramsay Smith managed to get another two along with Vincent Smyth, those being the only twos of the day.
You had to better your handicap today to be in the prizes, and there were only 3 players that managed to do that. Kevin Wild worked out what he was doing wrong after his first tee shot and fired a fine 37 points to take third place, being beaten by Vincent Smyth with 37 also but with 23 points on the back nine very hard to beat, First place went to Jeff North with 38 points.
