Monday January 5th
Bangpra
1st Colin Greig (17) 39 points
2nd Hubert Stiefenhofer (19) 36 points
3rd Paul Smith (4) 34 points
Near Colin Greig X 2
The Bunker Boys have become regular visitors to Bangpra in recent months and the trend is set to continue for the remainder of the high season. A quality course with reasonable pricing holds an attraction over some of the lesser courses similarly priced. The biggest issue is vouchers which have to be purchased in books of ten which means there are always varying amounts left over for our next visit.
Despite not having rain for some months now the course is holding up well and yet to go brown. Luckily today it was not as busy as previous visits so we were able to complete the round in reasonable time. Always in the winners circle of late Colin Greig took the honours with thirty-nine points, off a handicap of seventeen, generous for someone of his ability. Hubert Stiefenhofer has now got in the groove and is playing consistently well, today he took second place with thirty-six points while Paul Smith brought up the rear in what was a low turnout for this time of year. For some reason two near pins remained unclaimed on holes two and eight, neither of which would be described as particularly difficult, Colin Greig got the remaining two, both of which had several players contesting.
Wednesday, January 7th
Pattavia
1st Hubert Stiefenhofer (20) 40 points
2nd Alan Howard (19) 39 points
3rd Craig Dows (6) 38 points
4th Michael Brett (18) 37 points
Near pins, Raleigh Gosney, Murray Greig, & Paul Smith X 2
Having heard the greens at Pattavia were in bad shape we cancelled and booked Crystal Bay instead, however after further research we were advised that the greens were not that bad after all so it was back to Pattavia again, and as it turned out the second information was more accurate than the first with only a couple of green in bad shape. With no rain for some time the course is starting to look a bit shabby, fairways were rock hard and bare in places with just about all the grass very brown and leaf litter everywhere. Without rain shortly the course will become virtually unplayable.
Despite the state of the course, scores today were good, none better than Hubert Stiefenhofer who top scored with forty points. Alan Howard who is in the best form since joining the Bunker Boys a few years ago was on again today taking second place one stroke adrift. Craig Dows is now back to playing the type of golf we expect from a six handicapper and took third place with thirty-eight points whilst an up and down round from Michael Brett saw him take the final spot in the winners circle with thirty-seven points. All the near pins were taken as listed.
Despite a few members playing away today’s number was decent if not fully up to the level we expect this time of year. We have a number of regular visitors due in the coming weeks and with the memorial just a month away we expect bigger numbers in the coming weeks.
Friday January 9th
Khao Kheow C & A
1st Colin Greig (16) 35 points
2nd Stuart Tinkler (20) 33 points
3rd Daryl Vernon (19) 31 points
4th Paul Smith (4) 31 points
Near pins Hubert Stiefenhofer, Colin Greig, & Alan Sullivan.
It’s a long time since we have seen Khao Kheow in such poor shape as it was today, bone dry, and hard as a rock. The greens were lightning fast and coupled with a very strong wind most found it very difficult indeed. At two thousand one hundred baht represented very poor value.
Enjoying the shorter distance from the forward tees, Colin Greig took first place for the second time this week with a score of thirty five points. Stuart Tinkler got himself in the winners circle for the first time this visit taking second place with a modest thirty three points. In his last game of this visit Daryl Vernon got third place with thirty-one points beating Paul Smith on countback. One near pin on C3 was unclaimed, the rest as listed. Last game today also for Les Humphrey who flies back to freezing UK later tonight. Hard to believe but most courses could do with a good drenching.
We are pleased to report that a regular visitor this time of year Eddie Kelly is recovering well from pre Christmas knee surgery, with a bit of luck we may see him sometime later in .the year
Colin Greig, winner at Bangpra, and Khao Kheow.
Hubert Stiefenhofer, winner at Pattavia.
