PSC golf from Tropical Bert’s
Tuesday, Oct. 2, Khao Kheow – Stableford
Well didn’t it rain Noah! It seems that this year is as bad as I can remember for games being affected by the rain. Today the test was to be Khao Kheow, where Poppy Golf’ is to be played next month. I remember that at this time last year the course was just about washed away and was in very poor condition, but still recovered for Poppy Golf. With all the rain of late I wondered as we drove up there how the course was holding up.
Having booked in it was a quick change and out to the cart area where, as suspected, we found that carts were not allowed on the fairways but the rough was fine, and we were to play the B & C Nines.
Friday winners with one of ‘Bert’s finest’.
Teeing off it was noticed that the sky was most ominous and as we walked up the first fairway we found that the ground underfoot was wet and soggy. However a day out is a day out and as we walked it was obvious that the course, while saturated, would only need a few days with the sun out to come back to its normal fine condition. However would the rain hold off on this day?
The rough was also very wet, however we ploughed on until, after about 5 holes, we had our first downpour and took cover. After about 10 minutes we continued and it brightened up a bit. All was well for a while but around about the end of the first nine the rain got heavy again and the siren went off. Fortunately we were all in the vicinity of the central break spot, near the clubhouse, so were all quickly there when it got really rough.
Then the heavens really opened and for about 1 hour it absolutely bucketed down; the paths became rivers and the fairways were ponds. You could have bathed in the bunkers.
As all good things do, the rain stopped and it was notable how cool it had become. Before the rain it had become uncomfortably humid, but now it was really pleasant. However, we gave it some time and the floods subsided and we went to C1 to begin play. The fairway was still very wet but even with all the casual water we were able to find somewhere to put the ball. We finished the round and suffice to say it was a good couple of hours despite a fair bit of water.
Being very late when we finished, it was soon into cars and back to Bert’s, wetter but no wiser.
The results were declared as fast as possible and we had a tie for the winner. With 37 points the winner was Brian Parrish on count back from Mark West in second. In third was Mike Gaussa with 35 points in a three-way count back that saw Barry Elphick in fourth and Mashi just losing out.
Near Pins: Mike Gaussa, Brian Parish, Bob Watson, Mashi Kaneta
Friday, Oct. 5, Plutaluang – Stableford
This is a difficult write-up to do as last time I played here I said “never again!” I do not mind the East and South Nines when they are in reasonable condition, but I have to say West and North drive me round the bend. I turn up there not wanting to play and already beaten. Weird really because they hold regional tournaments on this West and North and many players say they think it is a great 18 holes. Me?, as soon as I start on this 18 holes it reminds me of being on the farm when I was a child! We have some long discussions after golf on my refusal to class this 18 holes as anything but torture and rural. I am usually in the minority.
At the last minute I decided to join the players and my luck held as we played the East and South. Now to me this 18 holes looks like a golf course, even though on this day you could not take your cart on the fairway, or on many holes – not even the rough. But it has been raining heavily all over the area for weeks and on first viewing the course seemed to have held up.
The fairways were soggy and the rough in places quite nasty, also on the South course the greens had been cored and the ball went where it wanted to. Still, the day was quite pleasant despite Walter coming dressed like a harlequin and changing half way around into another form of radiance – John Daly beware!
Soon over we sat in the restaurant, where the beer and food is cheap and the views are great. Then it was time to brave the trip back on a Friday night. The journey entailed much waiting in queues, but we finally got back. Then it was into the results.
The A Flight, 0 to 17, the winner was Takeshi Hakozaki with 38 points on count back over Bob Watson in second. Incidentally, Bob’s 38 points related to a gross 73, eat your heart out! In third we had another count back on 33 points that saw Alan Sullivan in third with Mike Gaussa just losing out.
In the B Flight the winner was Max Matthews with 33 points on count back over Dick Warberg in second. We then had a many-way count back on 30 points that saw John Hadden in third and Walter Baechli, Graham Buckingham and A.V.D. just losing out.
We also had the final of the ‘Match play’ that saw Mike Gaussa as the winner. T.T.F.N.
Near Pins: Bob Watson, Walter Baechli, Derek Brook(2)
