Monday, September 30th
Pleasant Valley
1st Michael Brett (18) 38 points
2nd Stuart Stammers (12) 36 points
3rd Takeshai Hakozaki (17) 34 points
4th Alan Sullivan (15) 33 points
Near pins Alan Sullivan, Craig Dows, Mick McMahon, & Peter Bottrell.
The last game of September was played at the Pleasant Valley Course in bright sunshine, we may still have a little monsoon season left but not long. We are already seeing the first of our seasonal Northern Hemisphere visitors with the return of Paul Smith and a nonsmoking Richard Baldotto, who would have thought?
The course played long today off the blue tees and with no run on the fairways. This course can be wetter than most during monsoon season, however it was better than expected today with only the ninth and eighteenth fairways damp, once again pick, clean, and place was in operation.
Despite getting the jitters on the eighth and ninth holes with only one point Michael Brett did enough to accumulate a score of thirty-eight points to take first place. Stuart Stammers had a solid round of thirty-six points to take second place. Steady as ever Takeshi Hakozaki took third with thirty-four points with Alan Sullivan a stroke further back in fourth place. The near pins were all taken as listed.
In our new end of month competition sponsored by Again Bar on Soi Lengkee Steve Kilmer took both long puts on the ninth and eighteenth and duly rang the bell, well done Steve.
A most peculiar situation in the race for golfer of the month which was shared by Dave Galvin and Michael Brett. It was a first for Dave and no doubt the Ceann Comhairle will mention it in the Dail this week.
Wednesday, October 2nd
Pattaya Country Club
1st Jack Best (15) 37 points
2nd Gary Smith (10) 34 points
3rd Michael Brett (17) 34 points
4th Stuart Stammers (11) 32 points
Near pins Andy Winterburn, Jack Best, Steve Downs, & Stuart Stammers.
Our last game at Pattaya Country Club until after high season as three thousand baht all in fee is unrealistic for this course. For quite a long time this course has been in top condition, today it was showing a bit of wear which will only get worse during the dry season particularly with a lot of traffic during high season.
Today off the blue tees the course played long particularly when into the wind, hence some average scores. A big return to form for Jack Best who top scored with a very fine round of thirty-seven points. With twenty-one on the back Gary Smith took second on countback from Michael Brett, twenty on the back. A threeway countback for the final position with Stuart Stammers taking it from Sam Gershon and Alan Sullivan. All the near pins were taken as listed.
Numbers are starting to move in an upward direction and today with an absence of several car drivers we had to resort to booking a Bolt to take a final group to the course which didn’t work out well. The driver took one of the most circuitist ways to the course and then overcharged the passengers paying no heed to the price quoted on the app. Should we need a Bolt again it behoves passengers to be aware of the correct fare and not allow the driver to abscond without giving change or jacking up the price, fortunately most drivers are honest.
Friday, October 4th
Eastern Star
1st Stuart Stammers (12) 36 points
2nd Michael Brett (17) 35 points
3rd Mick McMahon (14) 35 points
Near pins, Greg Berry, Stuart Stammers, & Michael Brett
A most unpleasant day for golf at Ban Chang where we played the last game of the week at the Eastern Star course. Rain started falling shortly after the start of play and continued for a couple of holes before we got a real downpour. The skies went dark with thunder rumbling all around and lightning flashing regularly forcing everyone into shelter. After a twenty minute break play resumed in less than ideal conditions, bunkers were flooded, and greens waterlogged, the fairways held up remarkably well.
Despite the adverse conditions a couple battled manfully to return respectable scores. Having been in the winners circle all week Stuart Stammers was there again today taking first place with thirty-six points. Michael Brett once again had a poor front nine but recovered well on the back to take second on countback from Mick McMahon. Three near pins went to Stuart Stammers, Greg Berry, and Michael Brett.
A change of venue for next Monday’s game with a one off return to Pattana where we have not played in over a year. A special all in fee of two thousand baht is high for this course but we are lead to believe a number of changes and improvements have been made to the course so it’s a bit of a discovery mission, we will not be playing it again until next low season and even then it’s unlikely unless fee are reduced below current levels.
First time winner of golfer of the month Dave Galvin.
Winner at Pleasant Valley Michael Brett.
Jack Best, winner at Pattaya Country Club.
Stuart Stammers, winner at Eastern Star.