PSC Golf from Mulligans Lakeside

This week, with Songkran upon us and the regulars away or gone home, plus the courses putting up their prices to Holiday rates for the whole week, we decided to play just Monday at Royal Lakeside at the normal PSC weekday rate.

Ken Hole can still find plenty to smile about after winning 3 of the 4 Near Pins at Royal Lakeside.

All that said, we journeyed north, along varied routes, navigator Mike’s GPS failed, subsequently he did also. We arrived, after a small detour, to be warmly greeted by reception staff, paid our fees, and off we went.

Royal Lakeside was often regarded as one of the better playing courses, and it has not lost that mantle; smooth well grassed, tree lined fairways, with large greens, which can make putting a test.

On the day Jeff Wylie (6) coped best scoring 35 points and just edging Mike Pledger (21) via count back 18 to 17. Ken Hole, who had been in good form off 16, had a cut to 15 and missed the rundown, but he did manage to snare the first 3 Near Pins and was looking at the rare feat of 4 from 4, but alas the pressure told, dumping it in the front bunker.

Lucky was the beneficiary of Ken’s misfortune, picking up the pin shot, as her game shows continued improvement.

Unfortunately, for us, regulars Alex and Lucky are returning to the UK for 6 months, as have Tony and Wendy who have gone back to Spain as cursed work calls. We will look forward to their return.

Note: Mulligans Lakeside plays golf generally on Tuesday & Thursday (we sometimes change to accommodate a Thai Holiday). Presentations are made at the course on Tuesday, with Mulligans Lakeside hosting the Thursday presentation. For more details on scheduling etc, please call Jeff 089 094 1841 or Ray 081 935 8088. Hope to see you there, Cheers & good golfing!

Knox the class act at Burpaha

PSC golf from The Outback Golf Bar

Monday, April 12, Burapha - Stableford

Back on the more regular pairing of Cypress & Dunes, there was some solid scoring amongst the 35 Outbackers playing from the white tees. Gavin Knox headed Div A with an excellent 40 points to beat Kerry Beck (38pts), who appears to be getting a little bit too comfortable off his handicap of 9.

Div B went to one of the early starters, Steve Budrys with 37 points playing off 12, ahead of Bruce Milner, also off 12, with 36. In fact the top four places in Div B were all filled by 12 handicappers, with Andy Butterworth edging out Art O’Connor for third place, both on 35.

Burapha regular Paul Quinn, who took his first beer at the start of his round today instead of towards the end of it, as he usually does, put together one of his best scores for a long time and equalled the top score of the day of 40 points. That earned him first place in Div C and clear of Tony Shuett in second by 5. Good to see Paul and well played mate!

There was another “Roo Cup” challenge also today as the American pair of Bob Finley & Tom Fitzpatrick had a go at wresting the “Rogue Roo” away from the British pair of Mark Riggall and Andy Butterworth; but to no avail, going down by two holes.

A total of eight ‘2’s were amassed today from Shutts, Kerry Beck, Ron Dickie, Art O’Connor, Steve Budrys, Steve Mann & Tom Fitzpatrick had two.

Div A (0-11)
1st Gavin Knox (11) 40pts
2nd Kerry Beck (9) 38pts
3rd Robert Finley (11) 34pts
Div B (12-15)
1st Steven Budrys (12) 37pts
2nd Bruce Milner (12) 36pts
3rd Andy Butterworth (12) 35pts
Div C (16+)
1st Paul Quinn (18) 40pts
2nd Tony Shuett (17) 35pts
3rd Bob Lindborg (18) 33pts

Tuesday, April 13, Pattaya C.C. - Stableford

At the start of the Songkhran water week, it is to be expected that the golfing numbers will dip, as many of the local fraternity either lay low or go out of town to play. It wasn’t really the case today as buoyed by an attractive holiday rate on offer from PCC, 15 Outbackers tackled the local course.

Welcome to Ben Findon, who like many didn’t play his regular Monday slot after having been up most of the night watching Lee Westwood disappointingly losing out to Phil Mickelson in the Masters, and welcome also to Lennie, Alan (no surnames on scorecards!) and Charlie.

In a poor scoring Div A, the improving Suzi led the field with a mere 33 points, which was still enough to beat the rest of them by five. Div B fared better with Mike Perris picking up 40 points playing off 27 (now 25), ahead of the consistent Arthur Bailey (36pts) and Laong (34pts).

There were no ‘2’s which is why Chad managed to eke out two divisions from only 15 players, albeit if his split was a bit wonky.

Div A (0-20)
1st Suzi Lawton (14) 33pts
2nd Ben Findon (18) 28pts
3rd Frank O’Neill (17) 28pts
Div B (21+)
1st Mike Perris (27) 40pts
2nd Arthur Bailey (21) 36pts
3rd Laong (35) 34pts

Wednesday, April 14, Eastern Star - Stableford

Just a handful of Outbackers (13) playing in one division as the mass Songkhran exodus continued. Our guys were off to Kanchanaburi on Friday and returning on Monday.

Jean Guy and Barry McIntosh both scored excellent 38 point rounds here but Jean got the nod, while the Sugarman, the day’s organiser, was back in third with 35. Three shared 32 points vying for fourth, which went to Eddie Delaney.

There was a ‘jackpot 2’ bagged by Shutts.
1st Jean Guy Gaudet (16) 38pts
2nd Barry McIntosh (16) 38pts
3rd Sugar Ray Handford (18) 35pts
4th Eddie Delaney (32) 32pts

Friday, April 16, Khao Kheow – Stableford

The last day of this Songkhran week culminated with only 10 Outbackers at Khao Kheow playing the B & C loops. Generally the weather has changed, today the sunshine disappeared, the humidity intensified and rain looked increasingly more likely.

Two groups of hungry Koreans did their usual trick of eating during a round of golf; diving into the drink stop on B, after hole 4, and coming back out with total disregard, immediately before our last group, causing a delay for them of at least fifteen minutes. The siren, suspending play, sounded as the last group finished their sixteenth hole (B7), the other groups were home and dry. Thanks for disrupting our game!

After sitting in the shelter for at least half an hour as the storm passed through, Suzi came out in soggy conditions to complete her round, but failed to add to her sixteen hole total of 30 points. Tony Schuett, playing in the same group, who also had 30 points after sixteen, played well to collect 4 points after the rain to finish on 34 points and win the day. Jimmy Little got second with 31 and after the count back, Suzi still scraped into third with her 30 but she did pick up the only ‘2’ of the day.

1st Tony Schuett (17) 34pts
2nd James Little (14) 31pts
3rd Suzi Lawton (12) 30pts

Note: The Outback Golf Bar is situated about 6km from Sukhumvit Road along Soi Siam Country Club Road. All are welcome to come and join us for a beer and a hit. Just call in and put your name down on the list or give Bob a call on 087 941 2474.

Donkey Derby

PSC golf from Lewiinski’s

Sunday, April 11, Green Valley - Medal

A Flight
1st Marc Napier (6) net 70
2nd Chris Davisson (13) net 70
B Flight
1st Colin Davis (16) net 66
2nd Geoff Doody (23) net 76
Red Flight
1st Mike Craighead

Near Pins: No2 Bob Dibben, No9 Mike Craighead, No12 Jim Munns, and No16 Yui Bietry.

Colin Davis, left, collects his monthly medal from ‘one ball’ George.

Not the Donkey! Well I must say he deserved it. His 66 net return was four clear of the entire field, and an unbelievably ten shots clear of second placed Geoff Doody in B Flight. Geoff scrapped home by the skin of his teeth in a three-way tie with Don ‘the silent assassin’ and John ‘Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah’ Deardon. (Glad he changed his name, his other moniker was unprintable).

Marc Napier’s holiday ended with a win in A Flight after a hard fought battle with a rejuvenated Chris Davisson, as both were knotted on net 70’s.

Mike Craighead won the Red Flight Medal and for the umpteenth time goes forward to the gold later on in the year.

Lewiinski’s wish Marc and Andrew Byrne a safe trip home and look forward to playing with both of them again in the future.

Monday, April 12, Mountain Shadow – Stableford

1st Fergus Obrien (23) 31pts
2nd Peter Hynard (14) 30pts

Songkran week was upon us and several of the venues decided to just cancel their fixtures rather than fight the water and the exodus of Farangs. Because Lewiinski’s has always been a halfway house for lost souls, the society chose to provide a distraction for those that stayed behind.

Enter ‘the Irish Minstrel’ Fergus O’Brien who saw an opportunity to line his pockets, needing a mere 31 points. Peter ‘the right honorable’ Hynard was a shot back for second. Have I forgotten something? No you weren’t really expecting a ‘2’ were you?

Note: Lewiinski’s is situated on Pattaya Land Soi 1, Beach Road Soi 13/3 near to Walking Street. Anyone wishing to play with us just pop in and add your name to the list or call Colin on 089 826 0764. Transport is provided.

Double success for Voller

Jomtien Golf with the IPGC

Monday, April 12, Rayong Country Club – Stableford

The start of the Songkran holiday week saw a mass exodus of our players to various locations within Thailand. There were two late cancellations and three no shows at the course today so only 15 of us out in a two divisional competition.

Eastern Star winners: Chris Voller, left, Miss Tar and Glyn Evans.

An eagle on the par five second hole, and for the first time ever over here 5 points, went onto the scorecard of Chris Voller who won Division 1 with 37 points. Tom Breslin was second one point behind and in third place was ‘Count back’ Burnie who beat Georges Faber and Kari Kuparinen on a 15/14/12 back nine count back after they all came in with 34 points.

Forty points was the top score in Division 2 for David Phillips, with Miss Nang second on 34, and in third place was Alan Bissell one point behind.

After his ‘2’ on the par 4 third hole we told Kari the prizes are only awarded on the par three’s but he was all smiles at the presentation as he shared his win with Heikki Alanko and Georges Faber who birdied the 7th and 5th holes respectively.

Today it was goodbye to Josie and Cully Monks who return to the wonderful weather in Ireland; the bets are Cully will return in two weeks and Josie in eight.

Friday, April 16, Eastern Star – Stableford.

We had a pleasant surprise upon arrival with a lovely breeze coming off the coast; it has been so hot here for the last two weeks, becoming almost unbearable and with many taking buggies after nine holes.

After his 37 points on Monday, in form Chris Voller won Division 1 with 38 points today, beating Georges Faber into second place by six points. Meanwhile, in his last game with us before his flight to Tallin, and still playing off 6, Eero finished third with 29 points.

After nine months in the doldrums and only playing once a week and with a new caddie here at Eastern Star, the organizer and scribe, Glyn Evans, bounced back with 41 points for the Division 2 win. Sorry to Barry Rawlinson and Terry Cowell who finished second and third with 36 and 35 points respectively - the beers tasted lovely, thank you lads!

Miss Tar, whose other half is back from China, was a happy lady with another new outfit on and won the Ladies Division with 34 points, beating Miss Nom on a 18/16 back nine count back.

Georges Faber birdied the tough 13th to record the only ‘2’ in Division 1 while a rollover ensues in Division 2 to next Friday.

Note: Our 13th annual trip to Hua Hin has almost been finalized; as always it’s in the second week in May and with reports about bad conditions on three of the courses we have opted this year for Palm Hills, the new Banyan Tree, which we have never played, and two rounds at Black Mountain, which is everyone’s favourite.