Monday May 12th
Crystal Bay C & A
1st Michael Brett (14) 34 points
2nd Jimmy Carr (22) 32 points
3rd Lout Kuijten (32) 28 points
Near pins Les Humphrey & Michael Brett.
A most unpleasant day for golf for the first game of the week at Crystal Bay. Heavy rain fell through the night and into the morning keeping our numbers down, we are still a fair weather golf society.. On arrival at the course we were greeted with blue skies, however they didn’t last long and soon the rain came again, never enough to stop play, just enough to make everything more difficult with wet gear.
The Crystal Bay course was just about as good as it’s possible for it to be without major renovations, The fairways were just fine, tee boxes were rough, and the bunkers had compacted wet sand in them, no chance of a fried egg today.
Scoring was mediocre at best due to the rain and wind as well.At this course, higher scores are the norm here. Michael Brett took top spot with only thirty-four, his achilles heel being the putter which didn’t work today. Jimmy Carr was two adrift in second, and Louk Kuijten in his first appearance in the winners circle took third. Once again a bad day in the near pins with only Les Humphrey and Michael Brett taking one each.
The Bunker Boys are pleased to announce that one of our longstanding members and regular visitors Patrick Kelly has achieved PGA accreditation as a golfing pro.. In his youth Patrick won the English under eighteen championship and also the Orange Bowl by a considerable margin with a score of nineteen under for the seventy-two holes. Congratulations to Patrick who now becomes the second teaching pro in the Bunker Boys ranks, the other being Keith Smithson.
Wednesday, May 14th
Plutaluang North & West.
1st Michael Brett (14) 34 points
2nd Steve Downes (6) 33 points
3rd Alan Sullivan (14) 31 points
Near pins Witt Mann, Steve Downes, Rob Folland, & Michael Brett.
As we drove down the highway seven extension to the course the sky in front of us was jet black in the distance and shortly it started bucketing down. Our hope was that by the time we reached the course it would have stopped and that’s exactly what happened. We got a light shower during the game but not enough to interrupt play.
If Bangpra can be called the monkey course then surely Plutaluang can rightfully claim to be the dogs course, they were all over the place today looking well looked after, a credit to the caddies and staff who care for them.
Another day of low scores, usually much better at this course. For the second game in a row Michael Brett took the honours with another thirty-four points, one ahead of Steve Downes who faltered on the last. Alan Sullivan took third with thirty-one points. After a run of misses in the near pin competition it is pleasing to report that all the near pins were taken today as listed.
We normally get rain this time of year but this year feels heavier and longer than previous seasons. The beneficiaries are of course the courses which are all in fine condition, nobody can remember Plutaluang looking as lush and green as it is right now
Friday, May 16th
Greenwood A & B.
1st Takeshi Hakozaki (15) 33 points
2nd Ross Schiffke (23) 30 points
3rd Steve Downes (6) 30 points
Near pins, Takeshi Hakozaki, & Michael Brett.
Lucks a fortune as they say, today we had it in spades. After we just finished the round and got inside the clubhouse the rain came pelting down and as we left after showers and drinks it had stopped again, we could not have organised it better.
Despite recent heavy rain, carts were allowed on the course in stark contrast with Plutaluang on Wednesday, this made life so much easier for an aging society.
Another early finish with no hold ups anywhere on the course. The air was heavy and with no run on the fairways the course played long, which might account for the low scores. On his first game of this visit Takeshi Hakozaki took the honours with thirty-three points. Ross Schiffke edged out Steve Downes on countback for second place. Disappointingly only two near pins were claimed going to Takeshi and Michael Brett.
Today was the last game for Les Humphrey and Louk Kuijten, all good things come to an end.
Patrick Kelly, PGA accredited teaching pro,
Michael Brett, winner at Crystal Bay and Plutaluang.
Takeshi Hakozaki, winner at Greenwood