Monday, August 4th
Burapha A & B.
1st Kevin LaBar (16) 38 points
2nd Dean Nelson (13) 37 points
3rd Les Cobban (11) 35 points
Near pins, Dean Nelson, Kevin LaBar and Alan Sullivan
The first game of the week was played at the Burapha course on the A & B nines. Sports day pricing of 2050 baht is the most expensive for the month on our roster, with so few golfers around one might expect more competitive pricing but Burapha is known for going its own way. Last week we listed all those injured forgetting Rob Folland who is also out with a wrist problem and Colin Greig who is back in Scotland recovering from knee replacement surgery.. Rob is a bit prone to injury so we are thinking of running a lottery to see who can guess what his next injury will be.
The course was in very fine condition with no complaints at all. The day was very hot and humid so it was important to stay hydrated.
Scores were quite decent, a top score of thirty-eight from Kevin LaBar was very acceptable, no doubt relieved as he has had a few mediocre rounds lately. Being jaidee mak Kevin rang the bell back at the bar. One stroke back and with his best round so far on this trip Dean Nelson took second with Les Cobban a further two strokes back. Only three near pins were taken as listed.
We were pleased today to welcome Evan and Wan Millar, as well as Sam Gershon on one of his regular flying visits, Hubert Stiefenhofer was also back for a month-long visit.
We are pleased to report that Jimmy Carr is making very good post-op recovery following his back surgery. There is singing and dancing in Soi 6 in anticipation of his return although there is doubt that they will recognise him as he now stands about six inches taller than before
Wednesday, August 9th
Mountain Shadow
1st Gerry Cooney (20) 34 points
2nd Sam Gershon (19) 32 points
3rd Robbie Watts (14) 30 points
4th Les Cobban (11) 30 points.
Near pins Les Cobban, Robbie Watts, & Richard Baldotto X 2.
It seems that of late golf has been gripped by hole in one fever. Just last week on the LPGA an Australian lady got one and claimed responsibility for another when her playing partners ball struck her ball already close to the hole and went in, not sure how much credit she can take. On the Tipperary town golf course in Ireland two people got a hole in one on the same day on different holes, is golf getting easier? no holes in one for our group today unfortunately.
The Mountain Shadow course was in great condition today but the greens left a bit to be desired, they were incredibly slow for some reason.
Like a fine wine Gerry Cooney gets better with age and at eighty-four can still compete with the best, today he took top position on the winners list with thirty-four points, a very good effort on a difficult course off the blue tees. Sam Gershon got in the winners circle taking second place with thirty-two points. A fourway countback to decide the remaining positions with Robbie Watts and Les Cobban just getting in ahead of Greg Berry and Witt Mann. All the near pins were taken as listed with Richard Baldotto taking a pair.
Anybody who didn’t leave the bar shortly after the presentation was trapped there for hours as the rain hit unexpectedly and hammered down for a considerable time, after such a hot humid day it was not entirely unwelcome as it cooled everything down.
Friday, August 8th
Plutaluang N & W.
1st Gerry Cooney (20) 36 points
2nd Steve Downes (5) 36 points
Alan Sullivan (14) 31 points
Near pins Alan Sullivan, Steve Downes, & Gerry Cooney X 2.
The first of our two scheduled visits for the month to the Navy course was played on the North and West nines. All four nines at the Navy are in their best condition at present so we will have an opportunity to compare next week when we play East and South.
Some people find the weakest excuses to skip golf, today we had the opposite when Anders Nielsen came straight off a flight from Copenhagen landing in Bangkok in the early hours, came straight to the Sports Lounge to fit in a game, what a Trojan?
Anybody worried about getting old just take a look at Gerry Cooney, eighty-four years old and playing golf like a champion, winner for the second time this week beating the whipper-snapper Steve Downes on countback. Alan Sullivan was a distant third on thirty-one points. Not only did Gerry win the day he also dominated the near pins taking two, Alan Sulliva and Steve Downes
After several months away we make a return to Pleasant Valley next Monday, hopefully it won’t be too wet, even at the best of times the ninth and eighteenth fairways can get a bit soggy, that is followed by the very popular Bangpra on Wednesday and back to Navy again on Friday.
Winner at Burapha, Kevin Labar.
Winner at Mountain Shadow & Plutaluang Gerry Cooney.
