Monday, October 28th
Khao Yai Trip
Day 1.
Sir James Country Club
1st Robby Watts (12) 36 points
2nd Paul Smith (3) 33 points
3rd Alan Sullivan (15) 31 points
4th Michael Brett (15) 30 points
Near pins Michael Brett & Paul Smith X 3
It had been at least five years since the Bunker Boys made the trip to Khao Yai with Sir James Country Club the first course on the schedule and today it was just as good as we remembered it. Despite heavy rain yesterday the course was in peak condition so the application of the pick, clean, and place was unnecessary. A couple of greens had what most consider worm castings all over them otherwise the course was close to perfect.
On the drive to Khao Yai the weather prospects didn’t look great with dull overcast conditions and the threat of rain, despite that it turned out to be a very nice day for golf and the fifteen players in attendance were very happy with the day.
Scoring was on the modest side with only Robby Watts making one of his rare appearances topping the scoring sheet with a decent thirty-six points, one might be forgiven for thinking that the annual club championship is just around the corner. Following a recent wrist operation Paul Smith seemed to be suffering no ill effects taking second place with thirty-three points. Alan Sullivan took third with thirty-one points one ahead of Michael Brett in fourth. Paul Smith looked set to join the all-four club taking the first three near pins and having his name on the fourth only to be denied by Michael Brett who got one very close for the first time in weeks.
Day 2.
Khao Yai Country Club
1st Bil Richardson (20) 40 points
2nd Rob Folland (14) 38 points
3rd Jimmy Carr (22) 37 points
4th Mike Milland (17) 35 points
Near pins Alan Sullivan, Gerry Cooney, Bil Richardson, & Michael Brett.
If Khao Yai Country Club is not the most picturesque golf course in Thailand then I would like to know which one is better? Bathed in brilliant sunshine today it looked a picture. Everything about the course was top notch which was reflected in the scoring which was of a very high standard, and at an all-in fee of sixteen hundred and fifty baht represented excellent value for money. Standing on the first tee Geoff Parker raised a very pertinent question, what must the Golden Bear have thought when asked to design a course in this location, he certainly excelled as this course is some of his finest work.
Today was the turn of Bil Richardson to shine with a sparkling round of forty points albeit off a most generous handicap of twenty, no doubt we will see that handicap get a serious haircut very shortly, Bil is more accustomed to playing off fourteen. Looking to his playing partners like he was cruising to victory Rob Folland had to settle for second place with an impressive score of thirty-eight points, Rob played some very impressive strokes, particularly his driving was something special. “There is life in the old dog yet” is an expression that could easily be applied to Jimmy Carr today who returned his best score of the month thirty-seven points, has he got his eye on the golfer of the month trophy? Completing the winners list was Mike Milland in fourth place with thirty-five points. Again all the near pins were taken as listed above, after his excesses of yesterday Paul Smith was nowhere to be seen. Tomorrow, to use yachting parlance is a lay day, on Thursday we return to golf to play the Bonanza course.
Thursday, October 31 st
Bonanza Golf Course
1st Tony Robbins (25) 39 points
2nd Mike Milland (17) 37 points
3rd Alan Sullivan (15) 36 points
4th Les Cobban (9) 36 points
Near pins, Alan Sullivan, Robby Watts, Bil Richardson, & Les Cobban
Bonanza was the venue for the third game of our Khao Yai trip and neither Hoss or little Joe were nowhere to be seen. We were blessed with the weather, it rained on our day off yesterday but today was bright sunshine until the two lead groups were in the clubhouse, the last two groups unfortunately were caught out in the rain.
A very strange beginning to today’s round for Bil Richardson who teed off on the first with a three iron, the clubhead detached from the shaft and went almost as far as his ball, this put Bil at a serious disadvantage as he couldn’t use his favourite driving iron for the rest of the game, nevertheless he remains in contention for the player of the tour.
Today Tony Robbins was the one to shine with a very good round of thirty-nine points. Second place went to Mike Milland with thirty-seven points, Mike is also in striking distance for the player of the tour. Alan Sullivan with a superior back nine took third on countback from Les Cobban. Competition for near pins was very keen with three players going very close on one hole ultimately taken by Bil Richardson, the others went to Alan Sullivan, Robby Watts,and Les Cobban.
A big disappointment for the day was the fact carts were not allowed on the fairways despite the course being perfectly dry, the reason given was that a particular group from the Northern Hemisphere abused the privilege so now everyone has to suffer. Another annoyance was that some caddies seemed completely unaware of their surroundings and talked or made other distracting noises when golfers were in the process of playing a shot.
Friday, November 1st
Day 4
Rancho Charnvee
1st Bil Richardson (20) 38 points
2nd Robby Watts (13) 38 points
3rd Les Cobban (9) 34 points
Near pins Paul Smith, Michael Brett, & Robby Watts X 2.
Tour Champion, Robby Watts, 2nd Bil Richardson, and 3rd Tony Robbins.
The last game of our tour to Khao Yai was played at the Rancho Charnvee Course starting out in fine dry conditions and finishing again with a shower of rain. The course was in fine condition, no need for pick, clean, and place as carts were allowed on the fairways. Skydivers were continually circling above us adding to the spectacle.
Our round started badly with two cryoffs, Jimmy Carr was too exhausted to play having walked most of Bonanza, and Geoff Parker who slipped and injured himself on the previous night, Geoff assured us excess alcohol had no part to play in his injury, only slippery conditions due to rain.
Champions thrive in adversity and so it was that Bil Richardson without his trusty three iron took first place on countback from Robby Watt, both with thirty-eight points. Les Cobban took third with thirty-four points. All the near pins were taken as listed.
The tour winner was Robby Watts with rounds of thirty-five, thirty-six, and a closing round of thirty-eight, kind of makes one feel he must now be favourite for the upcoming club championship if he can avoid his achilles heel, bunkers.
Nothing happens in a vacuum and a great deal of behind the scenes work went into planning and organising a successful trip without any hitches. Our thanks go to Geoff Parker for organising the hotel accommodation and booking courses. We would also like to thank Rob Folland and Tony Robbins for their respective contributions.
Robby Watts, winner at Sir James Country Club, and tour champ.
Bil Richardson, winner at Khao Yai Country Club.
Tony Robbins, winner at Bonanza.