Bunker Boys Society

Monday, February 6th

Treasure Hill

1st Kob Glover (16) 35 points

2nd Neil Jones (23) 32 points

3rd Sean Murphy (27) 31 points

4th Craig Dows (4) 30 points

5th John Hughes (21) 30 points

6th Daryl Vernon (20) 30 points

Near pins Paul Smith, Steve Evans, Les Cobban, & Graham Davis.

The first game of the week was played at Treasure Hill where it has to be said the winner on the day was the course, nobody once again came to grips with it, although the winner Kob Glover put in a decent effort to take first place with thirty-five points. It was also a day for the high handicappers to shine with the only low handicapper Craig Dows off a four-handicap the only one in the winner’s list in fourth place. Neil Jones and Sean Murphy were in second and third place respectively. John Hughes and Daryl Vernon rounded out the winners list both with thirty points.

Despite the number of times we play this course scores continue on the low side, perhaps we have to wait for Robby Watts to resume playing before we see a good score. Near pins went to Paul Smith, Steve Evans, Les Cobban, and Graham Davis.

With an eye to the future, we are already looking at venues for an away trip during Songkran, those who wish to participate should indicate their preferred option to Niall Glover as soon as possible. At this stage the preferred options seem to be either West Bangkok or Khao Yai, either one has multiple choices of courses and prices, so get your vote in early to Niall.

Wednesday, February 8th

Greenvalley

1st Geoff Parker (22) 39 points

2nd Bil Richardson (17) 38 points

3rd Mike Smith (19) 37 points

4th Neil Griffin (28) 37 points

5th Raleigh Gosney (21) 35 points

6th Daryl Vernon (20) 35 points

7th Les Cobban (12) 34 points

Near pins Ron McKinley, Craig Dows, Niall Glover, & Keith Hemmings.

An equal biggest field for the year of thirty-three for the mid-week game at Greenvalley. Just like last time we had a wait for caddies but this time nowhere near as long as last time. We thought we may have to share caddies again but they found sufficient for everybody.

The course was in quite good condition but the pace of play was pedestrian at best. Despite that, some very respectable scores were returned none better than Geoff Parker who rolled the clock back to post his best score for some time, thirty-nine points were enough for first place. one stroke back Bil Richardson took second place and looks like he is about to hit form again. Mike Smith took third on countback from Neil Griffin. Raleigh Gosney made another appearance on the winner’s list in fifth place beating Daryl Vernon on countback

Les Cobban rounded out the winner’s list in seventh place with thirty-four points. Near pins went to Craig Dows, Ron McKinley, Niall Glover, and an embarrassed Keith Hemmings who got the final one despite only barely being on the

green, still that’s all you need to do when nobody got any closer despite it being a relatively simple par three.

Friday, February 10th

Pattavia

1st Ken Davidson (25) 45 points

2nd Chris Whitehead (6) 38 points

3rd Craig Dows (4) 37 points

4th Geoff Parker (21) 36 points

5th Paul Smith (4) 35 points

6th Graham Davis (9) 35 points

Near pins Lena, Daryl Vernon, Roger Tuohy, Mike Smith

Another good turnout of thirty-two for the last game of the week at Pattavia where the standard of play was very high. A remarkable score of forty-five points saw Kan Davidson take first place. That is the highest score for a very long time and while Ken is doing his bit for Liverpool in these trying times he can look forward to a substantial cut in handicap. In his first game with the Bunker Boys visitor, Chris Whitehead took second place with thirty-eight points. In his second last game of this visit, Craig Dows took third with thirty-seven points. Once again Geoff Parker was in top form today and took fourth place with a tidy thirty-six points. Paul Smith and Graham Davis were locked together on thirty-five points and finished in that order on countback.

Another visitor only known as Lena took the first near pin with the other three going to Daryl Vernon, Roger Tuohy, and Mike Smith.

In feedback so far regarding our Songkran away trip, it looks like the preferred option is Kabin Buri, Royal Hills, and Watermill, nothing is set in concrete yet so still time to get in votes.

Monday, January 23rd

Khao Kheow

Club Championship 2022 1st round

1st Niall Glover (12) Net 72

2nd Gerry Cooney (25) Net 72

3rd Jay Babin (23) Net 73

4th Mike Smith (19) Net 76

5th Daryl Vernon (22) Net 76

6th Kevin LeBar (17) Net 76

7th Ken Davidson (27) Net 76

Near pins Gary Smith, Kob Glover, Craig Dows, and Mashi Kaneta.

The deferred 2022 Club Championship was played today at Khao Kheow C & A nines or at least the first round of it and what an unmitigated disaster it turned out to be. With golf bags piling up at the drop area on our arrival and no caddies anywhere to be seen the signs were ominous. Little did we know that it would be two hours and fifteen minutes later before we got the first couple of groups away followed by more waiting before the remaining groups could begin their rounds. By this stage most were too tired of waiting to care anymore.

Profuse apologies from course management rang hollow as we saw hoards of people from below the DMZ embarking on their second round of the day having stopped for lunch while we waited to get our round going. It was decided at the time that the club championship will never again be deferred to the following year as courses are too crowded and anyone wishing to participate should plan their trips from mid-December at the latest. The net effect of all the waiting was a very late finish with light fading and a very disgruntled group.

Unsurprisingly scores for the day were very low with only Niall Glover, Jay Babin, and Mike Smith putting in a decent shift. At least four others as listed found their way into the winner’s circle. All the near pins were taken again as listed above. Most found the course very difficult today, probably having more to do with mindset rather than the course itself.

In a break with tradition, the second round will be held on Friday at Greenwood with a midweek game in between at Emerald. We will be hoping for a much better day on Friday, hope springs eternal.

Wednesday, January 25th

Emerald

1st Stephen Lewis (24) 35 points

2nd Mike Lloyd (14) 34 points

3rd Niall Glover (12) 34 points

4th Stuart Tinkler (18) 34 points

5th Gerry Cooney (24) 33 points

Near pins Paul Smith, Dave Ashman, Gary Smith, & Michael Brett.

What a difference a change of venue makes compared to Monday. Today we had the course virtually to ourselves with no delays. Some of the joy of golf returned today, but only some, a very strong wind blew all day and the course played tough as evidenced by the low scoring. The greens were quick and most of the pin placements were about as difficult as it was possible to make them resulting in low scores by Emerald standard.

It was very tight on the leaderboard with only two points separating the first five players. A relative newcomer, Stephen Lewis took first place with thirty-five points. Mike Lloyd, Niall Glover, and Stuart Tinkler finished in that order all on thirty-four points, with Gerry Cooney bringing up the rear with thirty-three points. Competition for near pins was keen with a couple just edging in by narrow margins, the winners being Paul Smith, Dave Ashman, Gary Smith, and Michael Brett.

After two games of relatively low scoring this week, can someone raise the standard for the second round of the club championship on Friday? either way, a big night is expected at the bar.

Friday, January 27th

Greenwood

Club Championship round 2.

1st Jay Babin (23) Net 67

2nd Les Cobban (12) Net 68

3rd Daryl Vernon (22) Net 69

4th Michael Brett (18) Net 70

5th Steve Evans (13) Net 71

6th Gary Smith (10) Net 74

Near pins Kob Glover, Neil Hurst, Colin Greig, & Kevin LeBar.

Overall Club Champion 2022.

1st Jay Babin Net 140

2nd Daryl Vernon Net 145

3rd Niall Glover Net 147

A cool and windy day at Greenwood for the second round of the club championship where we were allocated the A & B nines.None of the horrendous delays of the first round with play starting on time and the round completed without any delays or holdups. As always the Greenwood course was in nice condition so apart from the wind conditions were perfect for golf.

A much higher standard than the first round where competition for places was fiercely contested with a couple very close. Having come very close in the second round at Pattaya Country Club last year, Jay Babin went all the way today with a very fine round of net sixty-seven to not only win the day but also the club championship. Les Cobban was only one stroke back in second place

with Daryl Vernon a further stroke back in third. Fourth place went to Michael Brett with a net seventy while Steve Evans took fifth with a net seventy-one. Gary Smith completed the winners list with a net seventy-four. Kob Glover, Neil Hurst, Kevin LeBar, and Colin Greig all got a near pin each.

Jay Babin was a full five points clear at the top of the club champion race with Daryl Vernon battling hard to take second place, Daryl looks likely to take out the first golfer of the month trophy with only one game left. Niall Glover conceding too many points on handicap had too much to do to make up the difference and finished third in the club championship, still a very worthy challenge.

Back at the Sports Lounge we almost had to move out the walls to fit everybody in, nevertheless, our host Terry and his staff did a splendid job catering to the hoards, Terry generously provided free dinnerof pie, chips, and peas which went down a treat. It looked like the biggest crowd ever in the Lounge and a testament to the value of our new home on main street where we continue to attract new golfers just about every day.

Monday, January 9th

Greenwood C & B

1st Neil Jones (27) 41 points

2nd Hubert Stiefenhofer (21) 36 points

3rd Sam Gershon (18) 36 points

4th Mark Hayward (20) 36 points

5th Kob Glover (16) 36 points

Near pins Kob Glover, Craig Dows, & Sam Gershon X 2.

The biggest group this year ( twenty-seven) played the first game of the week at Greenwood on the C & B nines. To our surprise, there were not enough caddies when we arrived at the course so a bit of a delay in getting sorted out so that at least the lead groups could get away while those at the back waited for caddies to become available.

The course was in nice condition as always at Greenwood, but a strong wind blew all-day making for some difficult shots depending on the direction of the wind.

Apart from Neil Jones who had a very strong game with forty-one points to win, the rest of the winner’s circle were all bunched together on thirty-six points and placed as listed above. No doubt Neil Jones and Mark Hayward will come to the attention of the handicapper after recent performances. Having dropped six strokes to handicap in the last year Kob Glover looks very comfortable with her current sixteen handicap and on this form looks like a real dark horse to take out the club championship in a few weeks’ time. Kob also took a near pin today with Craig Dows while Sam Gershon got two.

Wednesday, January 11th

St Andrews

1st Colin Greig (14) 38 points

2nd Craig Dows (4) 37 points

3rd Alan Harris (10) 36 points

4th Paul Smith (1) 35 points

5th Hubert Stiefenhofer (21) 34 points

Near pins Colin Greig, Hubert Stiefenhofer, John Turnbull, & Herbert Felder.

Having threatened all day the rain came tumbling down in torrents on the closing holes to such an extent that the course became flooded and the last two groups failed to finish, this is the first time in months that we have had a rain-affected game.

Another day when we had a delayed start due to a lack of caddies, had we not had to wait for then we would have probably missed the rain, many residents are longing for the low season when we don’t encounter those kinds of issues, and also lower pricing.

Once again we had a breakaway group of eight who for reasons best known to themselves decided to play elsewhere, henceforth they shall be known as LIV golf society, nevertheless, the bulk of the Bunker Boys in a group of twenty-four took up the challenge of St Andrews which some handled much better than others. Playing with a dodgy knee and an even more dodgy handicap Colin Greig took first place with thirty-eight points, does anyone see a pattern here leading into the club championship?, Colin confirmed the old adage “beware the injured golfer”. Craig Dows took second place a stroke back. Straight from a late arriving plane from the UK and with sleep in his eyes, Alan Harris was right on song with thirty-six points. Paul Smith no longer off scratch took fourth with thirty-five points. Despite missing the last two holes Hubert Stiefenhofer had done enough to take the final spot in the winner’s list with thirty-four points. Colin Greig, Hubert Stiefenhofer, John Turnbull, and Herbert Felder all got near pins.

Some fake news about new rule changes has been circulating recently, anyone who was compos mentis would have seen that it was all a stitch-up despite some of the proposed changes making a modicum of sense.

Due to the vast numbers of visiting golfers from varying locations and one in particular we have been forced to revise our schedule for the club championship. The new arrangements are as follows, 1st round at Khao Kheow on Monday, January 23rd with an 11.25 tee time, 2nd round at Greenwood on Friday, January 27th with an 11.00 tee time. A limit of thirty players had to be imposed as courses cannot accommodate a bigger number, although this may change again as it seems unacceptable to have to play five-balls and also unfair to bar people who put in a late entry. It is possible that we have to postpone the competition till we can find suitable courses that can accommodate the required number of players.

Friday, January 13th

Mountain Shadow

1st Kob Glover (16) 37 points

2nd Hubert Stiefenhofer (21) 35 points

3rd Craig Dows (4) 33points

4th Steve Evans (11) 33 points

5th Jimmy Carr (19) 33 points

6th Gerry Cooney (25) 32 points

Near pins Craig Dows, Les Cobban, Jay Babin, & Paul Smith

The Mountain Shadow Course is to be congratulated for having the most sensible and pragmatic approach to pricing during the high season. A three hundred baht fee for carts ensures that far more people use them providing greater revenue to the course, greater utility of carts, and faster rounds. More courses would do well to follow their lead. Also, there was no waiting for caddies today so we got away on time.

By Mountain Shadow standards scoring was as good or better than normal. Despite several Bunker Boys missing today we still had a good turnout with

thirty-one players listed to play. In a very rich vein of form recently Kob Glover took pride of place at the top of the results sheet with thirty-seven points. Another in good nick, Hubert Stiefenhofer took second with thirty-five points, his third time on the winners list this week. Craig Dows, Steve Evans, and Jimmy Carr were locked together on thirty-three and placed in that order on countback. The final place on the winner’s list went to the ageless Gerry Cooney with thirty-two points, Gerry is now officially the older Bunker Boy still playing at the ripe old age of eighty, long may he continue. All the near pins were won unsurprisingly in such a big field with one each going to Craig Dows, Les Cobban, Jay Babin, and Paul Smith.

A few more of our regular seasonal visitors turned up today in some cases after a three-year break, including Gordon Melia carrying an arm injury, Eddie Kelly, and others.