Monday, August 17th
Bangpakong Riverside
1st Anders Nielsen (25) 36 points
2nd Walter Baechli (20) 34 points
3rd Les Cobban (10) 33 points
Near pins. Les Cobban, & Michael Brett X 2.
A particularly windy day today at Bangpakong Riverside for the first game of the week. We were advised when confirming our booking that the greens had recently been cored and sanded but we decided to keep the booking anyway. As it turned out the greens were a far lesser impediment to good scoring than the wind, today’s scores were low compared to recent visits. The greens were a bit slow for most people’s liking.
A long way back from his previous best score at this course of forty-four points, Anders Nielsen took first place with thirty-six. Regular visitor and member Walter Baechli took second two back with Les Cobban a further stroke back in third. The first par three was problematic for everybody with no one able to hit the green. The next long par three was taken by Les Cobban with the remaining two going to Michael Brett.
With plenty of people on the course but none in front of us we were able to get around smartly and be back in the clubhouse by two p m. Perhaps another month like this before we start seeing the beginnings of high season
Wednesday August 19th
Greenwood
1st Michael Brett (16) 41 points
2nd Bil Richardson (20) 38 points
3rd Alan Sullivan (17) 32 points
Near pins Anders Nielsen, Luc Albert, & Michael Brett.
Renovations to the C nine continue and now look like it may be ready for play in about six weeks plus. The old clubhouse may take way longer as progress is much slower on that part of the project.
The A & B nines were in great shape today. Despite being out behind some obvious holiday golfers with a boombox in one cart and alcohol in all of them they never held us up which was a pleasant surprise. Even when searching for errand golf balls they seemed more eager to get back to drinking which suited us just fine.
Scoring was not bad today with the winner Michael Brett compiling a round of forty-one, unlike Monday the putter worked today. Another to score well was second placed Bil Richardson with thirty-eight points. Alan Sullivan brought up the rear with thirty-two points. Only three near pins taken as listed, of late we struggle to get all four.
Given how much is being spent on the renovations at this course it’s reasonable to expect high season pricing will probably be a shock to many but as yet no indication to what they may be.
Friday, August 21st
Crystal Bay C & A.
1st Les Cobban (10) 40 points
2nd Michael Brett (15) 38 points
3rd Alan Sullivan (17) 37 points
Near pins Alan Sullivan, & Les Cobban X 2.
A very pleasant day for golf at Crystal Bay today with mild comfortable temperatures and a little wind, it seems every time we play lately the wind plays a part.
As has been the case all year the course was in decent condition with well grassed fairways and greens that were ok if a bit variable in speed, as usual the tees were substandard and the bunkers very poor.
With just about nobody else on the course we had a very comfortable round with no delays.
Les Cobban set out on fire with two birdies and two near misses in the first six holes to amass a front nine score of twenty-three. The second nine was not up to the standard of the first, still good enough to take first place with a total of forty points. Michael Brett took second two back with Alan Sullivan a further stroke back.
A trend we would like to shed is taking only three near pins, one to Alan and two not surprisingly to Les today.
We had a late cryoff today with Bil Richardson opting out with an eye infection.
Last game of this tour for Anders Nielsen who returns to Denmark and Luc Albert who returns to Canada.
Winner at Bangpakong Riverside Anders Nielsen.
Winner at Greenwood, Michael Brett
Winner at Crystal Bay, Les Cobban