Great Scores on a Wet Track

Heavy overnight rain eased to a drizzle as golfers made their way to Links Bar for our appointment at Khao Kheow Country Club.

As expected when there is the hint of rain about, there were the some late cancellations, although there was one message at 5.05 am.! Wake up call for Len.. This left a healthy field of 26 players.

A popular visitor from the UK, Ian Wilson, was to play his final game this trip and decided to make a donation to the Society to be used however we see fit. Maurice decided to add some extra novelty prizes to play for.

A phone call to the course before we departed confirmed our suspicions that carts were allowed only on the paths and, once we hit the fairways, it was certainly a no brainer by the KK management, as the course had also received overnight rain.

Considering this, Khao Kheow A and B nines were in very good condition, and the greens seemed to suffer no ill effects from the wet, as they played as good as ever here, perhaps a tad slower initially. Those worried about being rained on missed an excellent day out, as even the drizzle encountered on the Motorway had stopped as we teed off thirty minutes before our scheduled start time, overcast, hot, and no rain.

The field was split into two flights with the cut at 17 and, because the fairways were quite damp, we played from the shorter white tees. Normally the lower handicappers are not happy with playing so short, but there came some praise from them for the decision, as there was no run at all.

We might have expected some below average scores for today, but we would have been wrong, as there were some excellent scores turned in.

A” flight saw a bunch up at the top with Les Cobban and Colin Smith going to the countback to decide who had the better 40 points. Les managed 21 to Colin’s 17 back nine to take the win.

Third spot was won by Paul Smith scoring a sometimes winning score of 39 points, and fourth place was a surprised Wayne Peppernell on 37 points. After hearing the first three scores, he reckoned 37 was not good enough!

“B” flight didn’t make it to the heady 40 points mark, but we can certainly take nothing away from Len Jones and Ken Ishikawa who both had 36 points, with Len taking the win on countback.

.Third place went to Mike Firkin with a neat 33 points, while visitor, Andy Stormouth rounded out the podium with 32 points on a countback.

Near Pins ( on par 3s) Wayne Peppernell (A3), Peter Henshaw (A5), Sunny Khanna (B3),

Steve Mahoney (B8)

Long First Putt: Les Cobban (A9), Paul Smith (B9).

Near Pin in 3 on Par 5: Paul Smith (A2), Les Cobban (B2)

Winner …”A” flight………Les Cobban (9)………………40 pts c/back

2^nd Place…………………….Colin Smith (13)……………..40 pts

3^rd Place……………………..Paul Smith (4)……………….39 pts

4^th Place……………………..Wayne Peppernell (15)……37 pts

Winner…”B” flight……….Len Jones (29)……………..36 pts c/back

2^nd Place…………………….Ken Ishikawa (21)…………36 pts

3^rd Place……………………..Mike Firkin (24)…………..33 pts

4^th Place……………………..Andy Stormouth (18)…….32 pts

Best Front Nine (non winners)……Tommy Marshall…………..20 pts

Best Back Nine ( non winners)……John Pierrel…………………..17 pts

Frank Carnovale got his first look at the “wig” and his first wearing of it.

Bryan Barrell wore the “silly hat” because you can’t have both the “wig” and “silly hat”.

Finally, a Thank You to Ian Wilson, have a safe trip home and see you next time.

As always, an enjoyable and fun day of golf with Pattaya Links Golf Society at Khao Kheow.

Photo: Les didn’t return to the Bar, so Colin Smith was presented with the Green Jacket

SIGNUP

ATTENDEESLIST

LOCATION

Map Unavailable