Monday, September 2nd
Bangpra
1st Craig Dows (10) 34 points
2nd Dave Galvin (22) 34 points
3rd Rob Folland (14) 33 points
Near pins Rob Folland, Jimmy Carr, & Michael Brett
Last Friday’s report was inadvertently posted incomplete so we begin today’s report by bringing the record up to date. After months away from the game and recently deciding he was going to give golf away because he couldn’t play like he used to, Robby Watts got a new lease on life and took out last Friday’s game with a score of thirty-nine points off an eleven handicap. As reported Greg Berry took out the golfer of the month trophy and also took second place a stroke shy of Robby off a fifteen handicap. With a ridiculously generous handicap of ten Craig Dows took third place All five near pins were taken going to Colin Greig, Greg Berry, Dave Galvin, Gary Smith, and one to the departing Hubert Stiefenhofer who returns in about three months.
We were scheduled to play Eastern Star today but at the last minute we discovered that the greens were being cored and sanded so we rescheduled to Bangpra where the course was in excellent condition and with the all-in fee three hundred baht less, who would object to such a change of venue. One wonders if courses will ever offer a reduced green fee when greens are being cored and sanded? silly question.
Modest scoring today at Bangpra with Craig Dows taking first place on countback from Dave Galvin, both on thirty-four points. In his first game back after a three week layoff due to a thumb injury Rob Folland took third as well as a near pin on the second hole, the other near pins went to Jimmy Carr and Michael Brett with the difficult seventeenth unclaimed.
A miraculous escape again with the weather with rain falling on the way back from the course and into the night, safe to say we are now fully into monsoon season.
Wednesday, August 4th
The Vintage
1st Dave Galvin (22) 38 points
2nd Michael Brett (18) 36 points
3rd Les Cobban (9) 36 points
Near pins Dave Galvin, Uwe Jurgensen, & Colin Greig X 2.
The one and a half hour drive to Vintage is a bit of a grind and something people wouldn’t want to do every month but occasionally to play such a quality course it’s worth the effort. Today the course was in excellent condition but the enjoyment was diminished by a very slow group ahead of our first group who held up the whole field all day, stopping for a sit down at every drinks station and only scurrying away when they saw our first group about to overtake them. Course marshals seem reluctant to move people along lest they give offense, but in doing so they offend the rest of the field. Many of our group were very frustrated and lost interest long before the finish, giving rise to overall low scores.
One who remained calm about the whole thing was the winner Dave Galvin who compiled a very fine score of thirty-eight points, including a five point birdie on the last hole, putting in from off the green, he didn’t miss a put all day. The reverse was true for second placed Michael Brett who couldn’t buy a put, fortunate to take second place on countback from Les Cobban. Colin Greig had a good day with the near pins taking two, with Uwe Jurgensen and Dave Galvin taking the other two.
We are in debt to Dave for securing vouchers for the game which amounted to a five hundred baht discount off the all in fee, nice to have influence.
Friday, September 6th
Bangpakong Riverside
1st Dave Galvin (21) 41 points
2nd Craig Dows (10) 37 points
3rd Les Cobban (9) 35 points
4th Jimmy Carr ( 20) 35 points
Near pins. Craig Dows, Colin Greig, & Les Cobban X 2.
Within two weeks we were back at Bangpakong where on our last visit no fewer than eleven players had thirty-six points or better with Les Cobban topping the list with forty-four. A slightly different result today with a strong wind making conditions considerably more difficult.
On the way to the course Colin Greig had to make an emergency stop for one of his passengers near the service area, not sure if it was car sickness or the result of the previous night’s curry, happy to report said passenger recovered sufficiently to take second place on the scoresheet..
On Wednesday Dave Galvin had influence allowing us to receive a good discount, today I believe he had divine intervention with a score of forty-one points, he wants to take the golfer of the month trophy back to Dublin with him, at the current rate we will be able to award the trophy well ahead of the last game of the month. Craig Dows, suffering from the “ring of fire” recovered well and in time to take second place with thirty-seven points, perhaps now we will finally see his handicap heading in the right direction. Les Cobban couldn’t reach the dizzy heights of his last visit but still had enough to edge Jimmy Carr out of third place. All the near pins were taken as listed and curiously all were in the last group!!!!!.
Next week we return to a more normal schedule with games at Pattavia, Bangpra and a medal round at Greenwood.
Today was the last game for Colin who leaves for about six weeks to be replaced by Paul Smith. We scheduled a committee meeting for Saturday where we discuss an away trip for late October, the Club Championship, and shared responsibilities moving forward, stay tuned.
Craig Dows, winner at Bangpra.
Winner at The Vintage & Bangpakong Dave Galvin.
