Today the Mountain Shadow course could best be described as being in average condition, which is a surprise as it normally is in very good condition. In particular the greens were disappointing being slow and bumpy, it’s hard to understand how greens which are normally good can become bumpy. The weather was perfect for golf, moderate temperature with no wind.
Back to back wins to Robbie Watts having won last Wednesday before not playing on Friday. As always Steve Downes was in the frame taking second place, it’s going to become more difficult for Steve with his handicap coming down all the time, no doubt he will cope. In one of his rare visits to the Bunker Billy Shepley took third with twenty-nine points. A walk off on the tenth hole where Frank Dartford decided he had had enough, no doubt some stick coming his way on his next visit.
All the near pins were taken with Steve Downes taking two again, the other two went to Rob Folland and Robbie Watts.
Last game of this visit for John Webb who has to return to Melbourne before planning his next visit in a few months, no doubt a few of the fairer sex will be looking forward to that.
Some good news on the medical front with Jimmy Carr now out of hospital following back surgery, well wishes are flooding in from all corners for a speedy recovery, even the bars in Soi 6 are hanging out bunting in anticipation of his return.
Wednesday, July 9th
Greenwood A & B.
1st Craig Dows (8) 36 points
2nd Steve Downes (6) 36 points
3rd Bob Innes (22) 34 points
Near pins Craig Dows, Steve Downes, & Greg Berry.
One of those rare occasions at Greenwood when there was absolutely nothing to complain about, the rough was not too deep as it sometimes is at Greenwood, the fairways were nicely mown, and the greens were not too slow, just even paced and consistent through both nines, even the all-in fee of fourteen hundred baht was very good value. There was one huge surprise waiting when we got to the course to find a complete new clubhouse is under construction, the reason escapes me as the current clubhouse is very satisfactory by any measure and better than most on our roster.This was a major surprise to everyone as there was never any mention of this development.
Steve Downes set out like a steam train today with twenty-three points on the front nine, however for some inexplicable reason he fell away on the back nine allowing Craig Dows to steal first place on countback. Bob Innes was just two strokes back in third. One of the fastest rounds ever, completed in about three hours and twenty minutes, could people be listening to Charlie Hull and Brooks Koepka? Three out of the four near pins were taken as listed. To mark his win Craig generously rang the bell as he does most times when he wins.
Two wins to the Aussies so far this week, can they make it three in the medal round at Pattavia?
Back at the bar for the presentation there were so many distractions it was hard to know where to look, British & Irish Lions on some screens, State of Origin on others, as if that was not enough there was also a delightful young lady serving beers, enough to keep people in the bar much longer than they might otherwise stay.
We had a flying visit from Lewis Greig today who got in a quick round before embarking on an island hopping tour, we expect Murray in the coming weeks, it will be his first visit since being exiled to the antipodes.
Friday, July 11th
Pattavia, Medal round.
1st Robbie Watts (16) Net 65
2nd Craig Dows (8) Net 70
3rd Steve Downes (6) Net 74
Near pins.Gerry Cooney, Steve Downes, Kevin LaBar, & Robbie Watts
Since the departure of Colin Greig we are back to one medal round per month, while medal is considered by the purists to be “proper golf”, stableford is more to most people’s liking as you can still have one or two bad holes without totally ruining your round. If ever we needed proof of that we got it recently where Gerry Cooney who despite two wipes still managed to accumulate forty-four points. So today we had a round of proper golf at Pattavia to end the week before a much anticipated trip to Kabin Buri next week.
For the first time in weeks we found a course that was in average condition, however the greens were very slippery with a few four puts scattered throughout the round.
The question was asked earlier in the week” could the Aussies do a clean sweep”? the answer was in the affirmative. Today Robbie Watts made it three wins in three games off a very questionable handicap of sixteen, with a net sixty-five, one wonders where that handicap came from. The other Aussie Craig Dows was second with net seventy, so no matter how you cut it the Aussies got a clean sweep, hopefully that kind of result won’t be repeated back in Oz for the Lions tests. As always the Welsh wizard was in the frame taking third place as well as his customary near pin. Gerry Cooney, Robbie Watts and Kevin LaBar got the other three
Robbie Watts, winner at Mountain Shadow. & Pattavia.
Craig Dows, winner at Greenwood