Truelove takes the treasure

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Colin Service (right) with Phil Davies.
Colin Service (right) with Phil Davies.

PSC Golf from The Pattaya Links Golf Society

Monday, June 4, Treasure Hill – Stableford

1st Steve Truelove (10) 38pts

2nd Colin Service (19) 35pts

3rd Petr Petursen (6) 32pts

4th Derek Phillips (20) 29pts

Now is the “low” of Low season, but we still managed to have a very respectable field of sixteen golfers to tackle this tricky course.

So many of the reports from Golf Societies heap praise on the presentation and condition of this course, and with good reason. Okay, because of the rain about the area recently, the fairways were a little soft, and the rough a little longer than usual, but carts were still allowed on the course. The caddies were cautious as to where they drove so as to not damage the course, well done to them and Management.

Quick word on the greens: As usual, very good condition and no excuses for not putting well.

Big hitting Steve Truelove was the only one to play to handicap or better with a well compiled 38 points. This is not a surprise, as his form in the past couple of months, apart from a blip at his last start at TH, has been excellent.

Currently in-form Colin Service was there again to take second spot with a fine 35 points, keeping his very good run going, while single figure handicapper, Petr Petursen took third spot with 32 points

Derek Phillips rounded out the podium in fourth with 29 points on a countback.

The rest fell away to show a field average of just 27 points. Next outing, a new day…

Tip Briney and John Anderson were calculating who would win the “wig”, on countback only to be thrown out of contention by someone we didn’t expect. So it came as a shock to John when he was awarded Best Back Nine for non-winners with 16 points. Let’s not mention his first nine! Livio Marrone had the Best Front Nine with 17 points.

Surprisingly, no-one managed to get on the green on the quite short 17th but elsewhere near pins were won by Steve Truelove (2 and 13), and Colin Service (6).

Wednesday, June 6, St. Andrews 2000 – Stableford

1st Colin Service (19) 39pts

2nd Steve Truelove (10) 37pts

3rd Nigel Harrison (20) 34pts

4th Phil Davies (12) 33pts

Colin Service is in red hot form at the moment, and today wore the Green Jacket yet again. He says he made a couple of “small” tweaks to his game and is reaping the benefits. In 11 starts since May 9, he has had 4 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds and one fourth.

St. Andrews is one of the more expensive courses in the area and, because golf societies need to cater to all players this course is not on the roster very often. However, we were able to take advantage of their Sports Day Wednesday at the very good price of 2050 baht all in (carts are compulsory). Not cheap, but a chance for a once a year treat.

Nineteen excited players arrived at the course, checked in and ready to go. But, what a disappointment to find many greens had recently been scarified and sanded so, consequently, not the usual good greens here. Putting became difficult.

Fairways are in good condition, and the weather, although humid for most of the distance, did not produce any rain.

We’ve talked about Colin Service and his great form and with 39 points stole the show. Two days previously it was Colin and Steve Truelove in a one two. Same again today, but in reverse, Steve in second place with another good score of 37 points. What might have been though, as Steve became ill during the last two holes, but toughed it out.

Nigel Harrison had an off day at Treasure Hill, but bounced back to take third here with 34 points, while Phil Davies in his first outing since his trip to Wales came up with 33 points for the remaining spot.

Mike Jeffreys had the Best Front Nine from non-winners with 20 points and Tommy Marshall had the best inward half with 19.

Near pins went to Colin Service, Gerry Conway and Ralph McConnell.