Monday, June 30th
Treasure Hill
1st Steve Downes (7) 36 points
The last game of this month was played at Treasure Hill where we seemed to be the only ones on the course, we as in (wee) being the smallest group in a very long time. With three out injured, some only playing two games in a week, Treasure Hill being a difficult track, and just few people around we are scratching for numbers. We expect a much bigger field on Wednesday at the popular Bangpra course.
The Treasure Hill Course was in top condition but difficult as ever, nobody ever burns up this course.
Due to lack of numbers it was decided that we would play a winner take all who turned out to be Steve Downes with thirty-six points.
Being the last game of the month it was time to find the golfer of the month. After a neck and neck battle between Rob Folland and Steve Downs all month it was Steve who finally prevailed taking his third trophy this year, no doubt there will be singing and dancing in the valleys, no picture of camera shy Steve
Wednesday July 2nd
Bangpra
1st Robbie Watts (15) 29 points
2nd Richard Baldotto (24) 29 points
3rd Steve Downes (7) 29 points
Near pins Robbie Watts, & Richard Baldotto X 2.
The first game of July was played at the monkey course where happily we had a much better turnout than Monday. Torrential rain fell overnight flooding Pattaya, however the Bangpra course was in very good condition, the greens were back to being quick as they ever were.
Nobody can explain why scores were so low today, perhaps the lowest we have ever seen at this course, nobody managed to breach thirty points which is both surprising and disappointing. At least three players didn’t even make it to twenty points, one is tempted to suggest they played like the monkeys. Let’s hope things improve for the rest of the month. The first two places were decided on the last three holes. The seventeenth hole proved too much for everybody as nobody could hit the green, the other three near pins are as listed.
Friday, July 4th
Plutaluang North & West
1st Steve Downes (6) 37 points
2nd Ross Schiffke (24) 33 points
3rd Alan Sullivan (14) 28 points
Near pins, John Webb, Les Cobban, Steve Downes, & Ross Schiffke.
One has to wonder what they are thinking about at the Navy course? Fifteen hundred baht all in is way above what this course is worth given that courses like Greenwood, Pattavia, and Bangpra are all cheaper. It feels like the Thai way, when business is poor, prices are put up to compensate, today’s prices are akin to high season. That said, today the course was as good as it’s possible for this course to be, with well grassed fairways and greens that were surprisingly quick, best not to go into the bunkers.
A humid hot day with a flukey wind blowing was not conducive to good scoring, however it doesn’t explain why scores were so poor today. Steve Downes was the only one to show some form taking first place with thirty-seven points, having won on Monday as well as golfer of the month he has his sights set on making up a full set of whiskey glasses.
Ross Schiffke, off a very generous handicap took second place with thirty-three points. Alan Sullivan took third with twenty-eight points but didn’t get his customary near pin, they went to those listed above with John Webb now becoming a regular near pin getter.
At times today the Navy course resembled Bangpra with hoards of monkeys all over the place, but a different breed, bigger and stockier than Bangpra, also much shyer. It also seemed that there is much more harmony with the dogs than at Bangpra.
Winner at Bangpra Robbie Watts.