Pattaya Links Golf Society
Monday, May 8, Treasure Hill – Stableford
1st Tip Briney (23) 35pts
2nd Lee Lepper (9) 31pts
3rd John Anderson (27) 30pts
It was another trip to the challenging Treasure Hill Golf Course by an intrepid few. After withdrawals and no-shows we numbered only 10 players, but all were determined to beat this course at its own game.
Treasure Hill however was at its teeth bearing best (or worst) and did not allow anyone to play to handicap. Tip Briney came closest with a modest, but good enough, score to win the day with 35 points.
This course was as green as ever but as with most golf clubs at this time, the greens had been recently cored and sanded, the green-keeper hoping for rain. Therefore things became a little tricky when it came to making putts. Apart from speed, or lack of, it seemed the ball would deviate at the last inch just when it looked “in”. We thought it was only our group, but others reported the same concerns.
Fairways were in their usual good condition, but there is still the usual lamenting over the crabgrass in the rough. As one player said, “it grabs your club and turns it sideways”. Somehow we need to play it – hence the challenge.
Tip’s total was way in front of the next best, Lee Lepper’s 31 points, and John Anderson rounded out the podium on 30.
Tip was quite chuffed that the green jacket fitted so well while visitor Simon Niven was happy to accept the “wig” but once again it was Niels-Peter who stepped up for the photo.
Wednesday, May 10, Mt. Shadow – Stableford
1st Garry Hookey (19) 40pts
2nd Steve Truelove (8) 34pts
Many around town are asking, “Where are all the golfers?” As with many of the golf societies in Pattaya at the moment, we are recording a large slump in numbers turning out for a game. It seems only a couple of weeks ago we had 2 days of 44 or so starters.
Today we managed to round up just 8 players to try out the testing Mt. Shadow course. Quality not quantity was the order of the day – well, that’s how it looked on the start sheet. The reality was somewhat different with only two golfers fitting that description on the day, and of those two, only Garry Hookey with a wonderful 40 points managed to better handicap. Garry was 6 points clear of Steve Truelove who once again gained a placing with his 34.
Not long ago we had some critical words about this course, but in the past couple of visits much work has been done and now it is in very good condition. The rough has been trimmed to a playable level, the fairways well grassed and the greens are playing well. A couple of visiting friends, one for the first time, complimented the course and were more than happy with the greens. So well done, Mt. Shadow management! Oh, must also mention they have brand new towels in the locker room.
The caddies forecast a number of times “rain coming”, and just like the weather bureau they eventually got it right. As we sat in the restaurant the heavens opened and kept up a heavy downpour until we neared Pattaya. Lucky!
With only two places to pay, presentations were quick and easy. Garry deservedly got to wear the green jacket for the photo op, while there was no doubt about yours truly donning the “wig” for the first, and hopefully, the last time.
Friday, May 12, Bangpra – Stableford
1st Ken Hole (20) 36pts
2nd Adam Barton (13) 34pts
What better way to end the golfing week than a short run up the Motorway to the Bangpra Golf Course.
The current price of 1550 baht for G/F, caddy and cart after 9.30 am is great value for this course, which seems to get better each time we visit there. As most courses are now receiving much needed rain, we are able to see just how good they can be. And this one can be very good. The greens are coming along nicely and a downhill putt needs to be done carefully or the ball will roll much further than intended.
On the subject of rain, yes, this day we did manage to get caught out, hence the excuses for poor scoring. Our first group stopped only for the heaviest and decided to push on. A Thai four-ball also sheltering allowed us to go ahead of them. In the end the round took us just 3.5 hours.
Ken Hole let the rain get to him: “ I would have had 45 if not for the rain”. However, after 22 points on the front nine and a miserable 14 on the back, he still managed to come out ahead of the pack. Adam Barton, just returned for his two week break from work, continued the form from last trip and scored a credible 34 points for second place.
