Monday, August 3rd
Pattana B & C
1st Michael Brett (17) 37 points
2nd Les Cobban (11) 35 points
3 Mick McMahon (8) 29 points
Near pins Mick McMahon, Les Cobban & Michael Brett X 2
A beautiful bright sunny day to start a new week of golf at Pattana where we were allocated the B & C nines. It was remarkable how quiet the course was, we barely saw any other players on the course all day and enjoyed a relaxed game with no hold-ups anywhere. One could argue that the lack of people playing was brought about by the lack of good P R on the part of the management, often difficult to deal with, overpricing, tees constantly moved, and carts not allowed on the fairways much of the time.
Today the course was a bit damp in places, so we played pick, clean, and place, otherwise it was in good condition. With Rob Folland away for the month it was time for somebody else to step up and that’s what Michael Brett did albeit on one leg, one feels a knee replacement isn’t far away. Les Cobban took second place with a mix of excellent golf coupled with a few wipes. Back in the Bunker Boys for a week Mick McMahon took third place. All the near pins were taken as listed.
Wednesday, August 5th
Mountain Shadow
1st Michael Brett (18) 31 points
2nd Mick McMahon (8) 29 points
3rd Raleigh Gosney (25) 28 points
Near pins.Raleigh Gosney and Mick McMahon
Always a difficult course Mountain Shadow was made even more so today by strong wind, and as is often the case the wind rarely favoured us, its peculiar that happens so often. An all-in fee of twelve hundred and fifty baht was excellent value, the course was in very good condition apart from the bunkers which is also the case at neighbouring Crystal Bay. The round was reasonably fast except for a few occasions when lost balls held us up, so nobody to blame but ourselves.
Back to back wins for Michael Brett although today’s score was much less than it promised midway through the back nine and six less than Mondays score. Mick McMahon was in a similar position but a couple of uncharacteristic errors let him down. In his first game of this trip with the Bunker Boys Raleigh Gosney did the opposite with a slow start but a strong finish in third place. A very bad day in the near pin competition with only two taken as listed
Friday 7th
Pleasant Valley
1st Les Cobban (11) 38 points
2nd Anders Nielsen (25) 38 points
3rd Mick McMahon (8) 37 points
Near pins Les Cobban & Luc Albert X 2.
There is something very peculiar about Pleasant Valley, despite so many disparagingly referring to it as Unpleasant Valley it is very popular and always crowded as it was again today. We thought we had dodged a bullet today by getting away ahead of a big group from the Samitivej Hospital Group, however our joy was short lived as we very quickly ran up against the fourball from hell so play ground to a slow drag.
Despite recent rain the course was in excellent condition with no need for pick, clean, and place. For the third game in a row the wind was up but not as bad as the previous two days
Les Cobban was in sparkling form again today with three birdies in a round of thirty-eight points. Having arrived at Suvarnabhumi at six am from Denmark Anders Nielsen also was bang on target also with thirty-eight points, losing on countback to Les. In imperious form lately Mick McMahon was unlucky to only make third place, again a few crucial errors cost him dearly. Luc Albert dominated the near pins taking two with one to Les Cobban and one unclaimed.
Following a month in Oz and a two week bout of pneumonia Tony Robbins is just about ready to resume golf, Frazer Davy has another week of recovery from an arm injury, we also loose Uwe Jurgensen for a few weeks holidaying in Sri Lanka. Next week’s roster is an attractive one with games at Burapha, Bangpra and finishing at Navy on Friday.
Winner at Pattana & Mountain Shadow Michael Brett.
Les Cobban, winner at Pleasant Valley.