Monday, March 3rd
Treasure Hill
1st Raleigh Gosney (23) 33 points
2nd Michael Brett (17) 33 points
3rd Roger Tuohy (13) 33 points
4th Greg Berry (16) 32 points
5th Steve Downes (6) 31 points
Near pins Steve Downes, Sam Reid, Les Cobban, Paul McDonald.
We began a new month of golf with a game at Treasure Hill, arguably our most challenging course. Not only was the course a challenge , the whole day itself was equally challenging. With an unexpectedly big number turning up to play, a lack of transport with at least six cars normally available not turning up, and no mini bus available at short notice it became a real challenge to get everybody to the course. In fact two people missed out and seven had to take a baht bus to the course, a totally unacceptable situation. Luckily most were very understanding and accommodating.
Slow play also became an issue with the fifth group being very tardy and frustrating for the group following them, losing at least two holes on the group in front of them.
A big contingent were playing their last game of this tour today including Roger Tuohy, Keith Hemmings and Ian Flanigan, we may finally be seeing the end of high season groups, within a few weeks we should be back to low season numbers and pricing again.
As is usually the case, scoring at Treasure Hill was mediocre with nobody coming to grips with the course, still it was a tight struggle at the top with only two points separating the top five players as listed. The near pins were shared around and nobody really dominated.
Things should get a bit easier on Wednesday when we play Emerald, normally a high scoring course.
Wednesday, March 5th
Emerald
1st Tony Robbins (26) 39 points
2nd Frazer Davy (12) 37 points
3rd Paul McDonald (19) 35 points
4th Danny Miller (11) 34 points
5th Alan Sullivan (15) 33 points
Near pins.Peter McDonald, Paul McDonald, & Keith Smithson X 2.
After the chaos of Monday, a sense of normalcy returned to the Bunker today with lower numbers and adequate transport available stress levels were reduced significantly.
A field of twenty was on hand for the mid-week game at The Emerald where we found an almost deserted course so we were able to tee off immediately on arrival and finish in a good time. The course was pretty much what we expect at Emerald, however mud-balls were commonplace, and chipping onto the greens proved a real challenge. With most if not all greens elevated and the run-up to them very soft, one was forced to chip onto the greens, running the ball up was not an option particularly if the grain was against you. A strong wind bled all day adding to the difficulty.
As predicted after Monday’s low scores today was a bit different. Just to prove there is life in the old dog yet, Tony Robbins swept all before him with thirty-nine points, even a wipe on the seventeenth couldn’t stop him, one can only wonder what he would do if fully fit. Frazer Davy was very solid with thirty-seven in second place. A bit of Jamaican monopoly with Paul McDonald edging out Danny Miller by a stroke for third and fourth. Alan Sullivan completed the winners circle. Peter and Paul McDonald, (no relations) got near pins with ” I haven’t played golf for months” Keith Smithson taking two.
After twenty years visiting Thailand and playing golf here Ray Banks decided his time here was done and would not be returning. In a remarkable gesture of kindness Ray donated his clubs to the Bunker Boys as well as a couple of sleeves of golf balls to the organiser for his work. We wish Ray good health in his retirement from Thailand.
Friday, March 7th
Khao Kheow
Play abandoned after four holes.
Light rain began to fall just as we were about to tee off and continued for four holes until it came down in buckets, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled all around. The sky was dark as all sheltered at a drinks station. After about forty minutes with skies still filled in and no prospect of a break in the clouds it was decided to pull up stumps and retire for the day.
After some serious negotiations we were able to secure not a rain check, but a discounted rate for our next round at the course within a month, not two weeks as originally suggested.
With a musical festival in Pattaya and roads flooded the drive back home was slow and tedious taking almost two hours, not the best way to finish a week of golf.
Winner at Treasure Hill, Raleigh Gosney.
Winner at The Emerald Tony Robbins.