Monday, September 1, Burapha – Stableford
An overcast day with a cool breeze greeted the five groups who played A and B; but due to the recent rain, buggies were restricted to the cart path, so lift clean and place came into action playing from the shorter white tees. However, the fairways were remarkably dry after a week of rain and there was still a surprising amount of run that showed in the scoring with three players all hitting 40pts in Div A. Geoff Stimpson celebrated his return to golf in Thailand with a win in Div A and his fantastic 25pts on the back nine easily saw off the other two, namely Jim Brackett and Martin Kingswood, although Martin was very happy about the way he played and was content with his third place.
Pete Stonebridge bounced back from his poor form in Hua Hin to win Div B with 38pts from Tim Knight (36) and John O’Keefe third with 33 beating Bob Lindborg and Ivan Plunkett on c/b.
John O’Keefe had two ‘2s (A3 & B3), and Pete Stonebridge (B3), Geoff Stimpson (B8) and Rusty Hannah (A3) one each.
Div A (0 – 14)
1st Stimpson, Geoff 40 pts (09)
2nd Brackett, Jim 40 pts (07)
3rd Kingswood, Martin 40 pts (13)
Div B (15+)
1st Stonebridge, Pete 38 pts (16)
2nd Knight, Tim 36 pts (25)
3rd O’Keefe, John 33 pts (17)
Tuesday, September 2, Khao Kheow – Stableford
We had a turn-out of 9 players today as we managed to drag the General out who has been busy trying to recover the website. This is my favourite course in Pattaya and I was really looking forward to playing the loops A & B; however, unfortunately A did not impress at all as the fairways were patchy and bald and although we had preferred lies this did not really help us as it was often difficult to find a piece of grass to prefer.
Wally Panichi (left) with Kim Danboise, the day’s two runner-ups at Laem Chabang.
After we stopped at the half way house we were not looking forward to the back nine (B) but I am pleased to report that this nine was completely different. Chalk and Cheese as one would say. The fairways had grass on them and although they have had heavy rain over the last few days preferred lies didn’t seem necessary. The greens had recovered from July after what seemed a water disease and were a pleasure to putt on.
With a couple of other PSC bars playing right behind us making the most of the reduced rate green fee vouchers available from the PSC office, one has to wonder the wisdom of the management who are obviously quite happy to stick two 5 balls out just a couple of groups in front and unnecessarily slow up the entire field.
The winner for the day was Norm Cheetham with 37pts from Brad Jordison with 35. Norm had the only ‘2’ on a par 3 whereas Wally (Walter Panichi) chipped in his second on the opening hole for an eagle – Well done mate!
1st Cheetham, Norm 37 pts (14)
2nd Jordison, Brad 35 pts (06)
3rd Panichi, Walter 33 pts (02)
Wednesday, September 3, Laem Chabang C&B – Stableford
Six groups played the tough C and B nines on a bright sunny day with all the ponds full and the creeks in full flow due to recent rain, but luckily the rain stayed away whilst we were playing. However, the fairways on C were wet.
Just a reminder to all that under PSC rules if the course is cart path only (obviously with the exception of the Siams) then lift, clean and place comes into play automatically, even if the organiser forgets to tell the field.
With three 14 handicappers, the two Divs split a little unevenly but that did not stop John O’Keefe from continuing to recover his old form, posting the day’s top score and winning the second division with 37pts from Kim Danboise (36) and Tim Knight third with 34. Martin Kingswood followed up his 40pts third place at Burapha on Monday with 34pts here to win the top division on c/b from 2 handicapper Walter Panichi, with Geoff Stimpson in third on 33.
Jim Brackett and John Fitzgerald got the ‘2’s, on C5 and C8 respectively.
Div A (0 – 13)
1st Kingswood, Martin 34 pts (13)
2nd Panichi, Walter 34 pts (02)
3rd Stimpson, Geoff 33 pts (09)
Div B (14+)
1st O’Keefe, John 37 pts (17)
2nd Danboise, Kim 34 pts (15)
3rd Knight, Tim 34 pts (25)
Friday, September 5, Silky Oak – Stableford
Without usual Friday course Green Valley unavailable due to a member’s tournament, the seven Outback groups played Silky Oak. The course was OK but the greens and bunkers are not up to the standard of Green Valley.
Norm Cheetham, playing his last competition round this trip as he heads home tomorrow, registered his second win of the week by winning the top division with the day’s best score of 38pts from Rod Crosswell who beat both Peter Nixon and Bob Finley on c/b after all three had 36pts.
Division two was won by the consistent Kim Danboise with 37pts from Hua Hin champion John Stafford (36), with Greg Hill (35) third and Bob Lindborg next with 34. Kim also had the only ‘2’ to complete a good week for him.
This Friday we are back at Green Valley for the DeVere Monthly Medal which will also count as the first day of the two day “7th anniversary of the Outback Golf Bar” tournament. The second round will be at Burapha on Mon 15th with food and live music from the “Band of Smiles” in the early evening.
Div A (0 – 14)
1st Cheetham, Norm 38 pts (14)
2nd Crosswell, Rod 36 pts (14)
3rd Nixon, Peter 36 pts (11)
Div B (15+)
1st Danboise, Kim 37 pts (15)
2nd Stafford, John 36 pts (16)
3rd Hill, Greg 35 pts (16)
