Travellers Rest Golf Group
There are some phenomenally good golfers in Pattaya at the moment and I am not talking about the Pros appearing at Amata Springs in the Thailand Golf Championship the other week. I am talking about the guys who put in an appearance or two with the TRGG this past week playing off handicaps of plus 1 and shooting that handicap around tough courses they have probably never played before. With tales of 350 yard drives and their unbelievable short game they showed us mere mortals what is like to excel at the game we all love. Oh to be able to hit a golf ball 350 yards and to be twenty two years of age again. Perhaps I should get a letter off quick to Santa Claus.
Monday, Dec. 14, Phoenix – Stableford
On Monday the TRGG paid our weekly visit to Phoenix (Mountain and Ocean) and the numbers playing were just high enough for there to be two divisions.
Mike Rushant.
In Division 1 the redoubtable Mike Rushant was back to his brilliant best and took over the number one slot for the day. The 350 yard driver Llew Matthews hardly put a foot wrong and took the runners-up spot and the guy who knows this course like the back of his hand, Roger Wilkinson, made his experience count in finishing in third place.
In Division 2 Mint Siphardee, a name that always make me think of a bunch of flowers, came up smelling of roses and blossomed into the best bloom on the day, scoring a remarkable 40 points. Scotsman Ally Walker sang ‘Flower of Scotland’ on his way to second place and Seamus Farrell romped into third singing ‘Oh Danny Boy’ or was it ‘the Irish Rover’, you can never be sure with Seamus’s singing.
Div.1 (0-14)
1st Mike Rushant (8) 38pts
2nd Llew Matthews (-1) 35pts
3rd Roger Wilkinson (13) 33pts
Div.2 (15+)
1st Mint Siphardee (34) 40pts
2nd Ally Walker (15) 36pts
3rd Seamus Farrell (25) 33pts
Tuesday, Dec. 15, Burapha – Stableford
On Tuesday it was off to Burapha (C and D courses) and in Division 1 Giacomo Casanova, sorry I mean Tristan Gilbert, put aside his other pastime to play golf for the day and did very well. He amassed 38 points which was good enough to finish in first place and relegate both Alan Thomas and John Baxter into second and third places, although it took a count back to sort it out, Alan just getting the better of John.
Tim Dalton.
In Division 2 Tim Dalton, the bend it like Beckham golfer and Stoke City fanatic, got his slice under control for the day and scored a commendable 37 points to win his division. Ally Walker again walked off with second place and Ged Blairs, also a Stoke fan, took third spot.
Div.1 (0-14)
1st Tristan Gilbert (13) 38pts
2nd Alan Thomas (4) 36pts
3rd John Baxter (14) 36pts
Div. 2 (15+)
1st Tim Dalton (19) 37pts
2nd Ally Walker (15) 36pts
3rd Ged Blairs (28) 35pts
Wednesday, Dec. 16, Bangpakong – Stableford
Billy Allan.
A small but select band of golfers headed off to play Bangpakong on Wednesday. Billy Allan took advantage of the small field by just getting the better of Alan Thomas after a count back. Ally Walker for the third day running got his name up in lights by finishing third.
1st Billy Allan (17) 36pts
2nd Alan Thomas (0) 36pts
3rd Ally Walker (15) 33pts
Thursday, Dec. 17, Green Valley – Stableford
The numbers shot back up to two divisions on Thursday for the weekly visit to Green Valley.
In Division 1 ex caddie Rungratree Cox showed what a fine golfer she is by beating two of those plus 1 handicap golfers I mentioned earlier. Perhaps with her experience she can read the greens better. Rungratree’s 39 points led the way home and John Shin just pipped Llew Matthews for second place.
In Division 2 Billy Allan made it two wins on the trot by knocking in 39 points, which was much too good for Derek Thorogood in second and Richard Kawagoye in third.
Div. 1 (0-13)
1st Rungratree Cox (7) 39pts
2nd John Shin (-1) 36pts
3rd Llew Matthews (-1) 35pts
Div. 2 (14+)
1st Billy Allan (17) 39pts
2nd Derek Thorogood (14) 33pts
3rd Richard Kawagoye (17) 33pts
Friday, Dec. 18, Bangpra – Stableford
On Friday the TRGG made a welcome return to Bangpra, the monkey course. It must be a year or more since most of us last played it and we found it in fine condition and in the end we all agreed to return again at the beginning of 2016.
Ian Smith.
On a golf course that asks lots of questions it was Ian Smith who came up with most of the right answers to take first place and he was the only golfer on the day to play to his handicap. Derek Thorogood came, where else, in second place and Jim Groves slipped into third.
1st Ian Smith (10) 38pts
2nd Derek Thorogood (14) 35pts
3rd Jim Groves (13) 34pts
Good luck to all you golfers for the coming week and if you would like to play a round of golf with the TRGG please phone Derek Thorogood on 080 673 3118 or pop into the Ned Kelly Bar in Soi Lengkee and add your name to the weekly lists which are posted on the notice board.
