Bangpra
1st Steve Downes (6) 37 points
2nd Dave Galvin (24) 36 points
3rd Alan Sullivan (16) 33 points
4th Jimmy Carr (22) 33 points
Near pins, Steve Downes, Dave Galvin, Chris Delamare, & Alan Sullivan.
A beautiful day in paradise for the first game of the week at Bangpra, even if slightly warm, a cool breeze moderated temperatures somewhat. The course was being readied for a competition this week so it was in even better condition than normal. The monkeys were out in force again as were several dogs although they seemed much more agreeable with each other than our last visit, perhaps they managed to keep distance between themselves.
Scores were decent again with Steve Downes topping the list with thirty-seven points. Some may wonder why there is never a mugshot of Steve even though he keeps winning, he keeps a low profile managing to do his best intersonation of Dr Richard Kimble, who is he hiding from? Dave Galvin was just one stroke back in second place and a better day with the putter would have seen him take the chocolates with several three putts. Alan Sullivan nudged Jimmy Carr out of third on countback, aided by two four point birdies on the back nine.
As is regularly the case those in the winners circle also manage to dominate the near pins with Chris Delamare being the exception today, back in the Bunker after an absence of over five years.
Wednesday, March 24th
Plutaluang N & W.
1st Travis Kim (16) 39 points
2nd John Sykes (15) 37 points
3rd Dave Galvin (24) 35 points
4th Chris Delamare (1) 34 points
5th Uwe Jurgensen (29) 33 points
Near pins. Dave Galvin, Uli Muller, Travis Kim, & Hubert Stiefenhofer.
Once again a decent rollup for the midweek game at Plutaluang where we found the N & W nines in ok condition. It seems for the past few months the wind is always blowing on golf courses as it was again today, strong at times.
After a slight delay at the start of the round we got away on time and experienced no hold ups throughout the round which was nice, we could get used to that. Travis Kim took the honours today with thirty-nine points, a very decent score on this course. I believe it’s the first time in the winners circle for second placed John Sykes with thirty-seven points. Almost unnoticed Dave Galvin quietly slips in a good round, today’s thirty-five found him in third place, could he be making a run for another golfer of the month trophy before he departs early next month? Playing off a one handicap Chris Delamare probably had the round of the day in fourth place with thirty-four, it takes some consistent good play to compile that score off a one handicap. Uwe Jurgensen outpointed Steve Downes on countback for the last place in the winners circle, strange not to see Steve somewhere on the winners list. Becoming a master of the near pins Dave Galvin got yet another today, Uli Muller, Travis Kim and Hubert Stiefenhofer got the other three.
Two of our regular seasonal visitors Neil Griffin, and Dave Ashman played their last games of this tour today and both generously rang the bell back at the bar. By now just about all our seasonal visitors have departed, hopefully all returning for next high season.
Friday March 28th
Khao Kheow B & C
1st Rob Folland (14) Net 71
2nd Alan Sullivan (16) Net 72
3rd Uli Muller (13) Net 73
4th Bil Richardson (16) Net 73
Near pins Steve Downes, Uli Muller, & Michael Brett X 2.
Following our last washed game at Khao Kheow we received a rain check so that on our next visit the all-in fee would be twelve hundred and fifty baht to be used this month so today we availed of the lower price and changed from our scheduled game at Greenwood. We were allocated the C & C nines and were able to tee off ahead of schedule. We were advised today that from next month on Mondays and Thursdays the all-in fee will be seventeen hundred- and fifty-baht, other days of the week will be nineteen hundred and fifty, in other words high season pricing, not sure that strategy is going to get hordes of people flocking to the course.
Today’s game was the second medal round of the month, not everybody’s favourite format, one person in particular could easily have won the day had he not had eleven on one disaster hole, such is golf.
A mixed day for many with greens troublesome, nevertheless some good scores were returned. Beware the injured golfer was the motto today with Rob Folland returning following a curious injury to take first place with a very fine score of net seventy-one. One point separated the second from third as listed. Fourth lost on countback, a case of what could have been for so many. Never out of the frame Steve Downes took one near pin, Uli Muller took another to go with his third place and Michael Brett took two.
With one game left to play, who will take out the golfer of the month? will Dave Galvin slip in on the blind side or will Steve Downes do it again, Monday at Eastern Star will reveal all.
Travis Kim, winner at Plutaluang.
Rob Folland, winner at Khao Kheow.