Monday May 5th,
Treasure Hill
1st Alan Sullivan (14) 35 points
2nd Steve Downes (6) 34 points
3rd Les Humphreys (32) 29 points
Near pins, Alan Sullivan, Lee Hull, & Steve Downes X 2.
Treasure Hill was virtually empty for today’s game, played in steamy hot conditions. If there is a problem at any courses in this area it is usually fruit flies, today’s it was just regular flies that were in plague proportions and even more annoying than the fruit flies, even in the clubhouse after play.
A nice quick round today, welcome after Friday’s debacle at Bangpra, a course that was clearly overbooked. Scores were about average with only Alan Sullivan putting in a decent shift taking first place with thirty-five points. As ever Steve Downes was in the mix taking second place with thirty-three points, his playing partners witnessed history being made as he missed two putts in a row, normally deadly with the flatstick the two misses robbed him of first place. On debut for this term Les Humphreys sporting a new QI 10 driver took third place, could be money well spent, if we could only get him to speed up a bit on the course. Newcomer Lee Hull got a near pin as did Alan who never misses out, Steve got his usual pair.
Wednesday May 7th
Bangpakong Riverside Country Club.
1st Michael Brett (13) 38 points
2nd Tony Robbins (25) 34 points
3rd Les Humphrey (32) 28 points
Near pins Bil Richardson & Michael Brett.
After a very short interval we were back at Bangpakong Riverside again for our mid-week game. As has been said many times this course is not popular with the Bunker Boys, although it’s hard to fathom why as it’s always in lovely conditions, the fairways were well carpeted with grass and the greens were a real treat, beautifully even and a good speed. One of our illustrious members Gordon Melia once opined “it’s like playing golf in a big field”, a little unkind as there are plenty of places for people to slip up.The wind was up again today which probably accounted for the lower than usual scores.
Once again we were able to tee off immediately on arrival and play at a decent pace to the end.
After a run of mediocre scores Michael Brett took the honours today with thirty-eight points. It was not looking good until a run of pars and a birdie on the last four holes put some respectability on his score. On the other side of the ledger Tony Robbins looked set to win only to put two in the water on the last, a two shot hole for him only to wipe the hole and settle for second with thirty-four points, while Les Humphrey brought up the rear for the second day in a row.
It was looking like a day of shame when nobody got a near pin on the front nine, however Bil Richardson and Michael Brett saved us from total ignominy taking one each on the back nine.
Friday May 9th
Emerald
1st Witt Mann (14) 38 points
2nd Rob Folland (14) 37 points
3rd Ross Schiffke (23) 35 points
4th Jimmy Carr (22) 31 points
Near pins. Rob Folland, Frank Dartford, & Witt Mann X 2.
After a few games with low numbers we were back to more what we expect for today’s game at Emerald. It was a case of from the penthouse to the outhouse in terms of course quality with the Emerald course being what we have come to expect. The greens were particularly disappointing today, very slow, and having been cored recently but very poorly sanded they were a challenge for everybody.
We got away immediately on arrival again and finished in good time apart from the last group who were to put it kindly a bit tardy.
The heat was oppressive with several struggling in the high humidity.
A surprise visit today from Witt Man who continued with the surprises by taking first place with thirty-eight points, his rationale, ” the less I play, the better I play” and that was certainly true today. Another infrequent player Rob Folland took second place a stroke back, perhaps there is something in the theory that the less you play, the better you play. Ross Schiffke took third playing on his local course, and Jimmy Carr rounded out the scoring in fourth place on thirty-one points, beating Uwe Jurgensen and Les Humphrey on countback. Rob Folland and Frank Dartford took near pins with the winner Witt Mann taking two.
A big change of schedule for next week with the cancellation of Silky Oak and The Vintage due to lack of support, replaced with Crystal Bay and Plutaluang, a step down in pricing and quality. Monday is a big Buddha day so most courses will ratchet up pricing.
Alan Sullivan, winner at Treasure Hill.
Michael Brett, winner at Bangpakong Riverside.
Witt Mann, winner at Emerald.