Travellers Rest Golf Group
I shall start with an amusing tale I received by email this week which is probably a lesson to us all in how to speak to your caddy. The story was about the golfer Raymond Floyd who was playing at Augusta in his first Masters back in the 1970’s. In those days the players could not bring their own caddies but had to use one of the locals. Floyd told the caddy master he wanted a big fellow who could handle his bag but who would also keep quiet, no advice was needed. The caddy who was assigned to Floyd said “Hello” and Floyd said “Hello” in return and that was followed with “That’s the last I want to hear from you is that understood?”
Derek Thorogood.
Everything went well until the 10th hole when Floyd pushed his drive into the trees on the right of the par-4 hole. After surveying the scene Floyd said out loud, “I’m going to hit a low fade out through that opening to carry and land on the green then roll over the crest down to the hole.”
Surprisingly he pulled it off exactly that and turned to his caddy and said “How’s that?”
The caddy spoke for the first time and said, “That wasn’t your ball”.
The motto of that story is obviously be nice to your caddy, they know the course better than you.
Monday, Feb. 1, Phoenix – Stableford
A very busy week for the good folk at the TRGG got underway on Monday with the usual short trip over to Phoenix (Mountain and Lakes courses).
In Division 1 Derek Thorogood did something he doesn’t do very often and that was win. Sorry I have to go and lay down to get over the shock. I shall repeat that, “Derek Thorogood won”. The guy who always comes second actually went and won. Well done Derek! In second place was the ever reliable Mike Rushant and Simon Tapster took third spot.
Mike Sanders.
In Division 2 the guy who always seems to win at Phoenix and most other places this last six weeks won again for the sixth time this trip. Yes, the Welsh druid (sorry I mean wizard) Alun Webber cleaned up once again and then headed off back to Wales with his pockets bulging from his ill gotten gains. In second place Suresh Mehta just managed to get the better of third placed Bjorn Werner.
Div.1 (0-15)
1st Derek Thorogood (12) 34pts
2nd Mike Rushant (8) 31pts
3rd Simon Tapster (15) 30pts
Div.2 (16+)
1st Alan Webber (21) 36pts
2nd Suresh Mehta (19) 33pts
3rd Bjorn Werner (17) 32pts
Tuesday, Feb. 2, Burapha – Stableford
On Tuesday the Burapha A and B courses provided the days entertainment.
In Division 1 the man you would bet your house proceeds on in a tight spot came up trumps once again. Mike Rushant is that man and the rest of us mortals can only stand back and applaud this metronome of a player. Yasuo Saikai and Martin Cooper fought it out for second and third and it was Yasuo who succeeded, but only after a count back.
Trevor Nash.
In Division 2 Larry Simpson showed you are never too old to win at golf and he rattled up 42 points off his 18 handicap. Not for much longer, I should hazard a guess, will he ever play off 18 again. Joe Stranks made it into second place and Reg Glass was third.
Div. 1 (0-12)
1st Mike Rushant (8) 38 pts
2nd Yasuo Saikai (12) 37 pts
3rd Martin Cooper (4) 37 pts
Div. 2 (13+)
1st Larry Simpson (18) 42pts
2nd Joe Stranks (12) 37pts
3rd Reg Glass (17) 36pts
Wednesday, Feb. 3, Pleasant Valley – Stableford
The TRGG made its first trip this decade to play Pleasant Valley on Wednesday. You would have to be pretty long in the tooth to remember our last visit. Everybody seemed to enjoy the experience of a new challenge and I suspect we shall return again in the new future.
In Division 1 Mike Sanders certainly enjoyed the visit because he won, but it took a count back before it was found he had just pipped Joe Stranks. Yuzuru Yamasaki took third place.
In Division 2 it took a lot of count backs to separate the top three who all finished with 33 points. Joan Murphy finished in first place, Billy Allan was second and Reg Glass was third for the second day running.
Div.1 (0-16)
1st Mike Sanders (6) 35pts
2nd Joe Stranks (13) 35pts
3rd Yuzuru Yamasaki (14) 34pts
Div. 2 (17+)
1st Joan Murphy (19) 33pts
2nd Billy Allan (17) 33pts
3rd Reg Glass (17) 33pts
Thursday, Feb. 4, Green Valley – Stableford
On Thursday it was off to Green Valley. In Division 1 Trevor Nash seemed to have acclimatized quite satisfactorily after a few days getting used to the higher temperatures and he rattled up 37 points to take top spot, with his mate Andy Halsey coming second. Mike Rushant had to settle for third place on this occasion.
In Division 2 Tim Dalton came to the party, he likes parties does Tim, and took home the prize money. Charlie Cox was second and Peter McGinty (minus his goat) was third.
Div.1 (0-13)
1st Trevor Nash (7) 37pts
2nd Andy Halsey (8) 36pts
3rd Mike Rushant (8) 35pts
Div. 2 (14+)
1st Tim Dalton (19) 36pts
2nd Charlie Cox (14) 36pts
3rd Peter McGinty (20) 34pts
Friday, Feb. 5, The Emerald – Stableford
The golfing week drew to a close on Friday with a trip over to Emerald, which by perusing the scores returned was playing very difficult.
Three Divisions were required on the day and in Division 1 Trevor Nash continued his good form from the day before and won once again, but this time it took a count back to find he had again relegated Andy Halsey into second place. Steve Carleton was third.
In Division 2 Roger Wilkinson, playing his favourite course, continued his love affair by finishing first. John Baxter was second and Larry Simpson was third. All three finished on 33 pts
In Division 3 Reg Glass won the day from Jack Mooney in second and Seamus Farrell in third.
A sobering thought to see that the highest score on the day was 33 points in a field of well over thirty players.
Div. 1 (0-10)
1st Trevor Nash (7) 33pts
2nd Andy Halsey (8) 33pts
3rd Steve Carleton (9) 31pts
Div. 2 (11–16)
1st Roger Wilkinson (14) 32pts
2nd John Baxter (14) 32pts
3rd Larry Simpson (16) 32pts
Div. 3 (17+)
1st Reg Glass (17) 33pts
2nd Jack Mooney (24) 32pts
3rd Seamus Farrell (25) 30pts
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 Valentines Guest House (Restaurant and Bar) in Soi Lengkee and add your name to the weekly lists which are posted on the notice board.
