GOLF NEWS
Hua Hin Golf Society
Hua Hin Golf Society Congratulations: To Leif Wichlund (a guest) for a hole in one at Black Mountain golf course - hole no.11 on 15th May. Monthly Competition: This competition is being played funnily enough once a month, for those wishing to play from one tee box back from our normal tee boxes, (entrants are limited to group ‘A’ players), and on that day there is also a Stableford competition as well, off of the normal tee boxes. Summer Pairs: The summer pairs competition is under way now with 13 teams taking part, results are updated at Berny’s Inn and on the web Site. Pattaya Trip: By the time this copy of the Observer is being distributed we will be at Pattaya for our annual break. We have split hotels again this year, the New Nikon is for those golfers that like to have a group gathering beverage after golf, the Areca is for those golfers that would like to relax alone after their game of golf. The Golf Courses we are playing are Phoenix,
Laemchabang and Siam Plantation. There will be a report on the trip in next month’s Observer magazine. Autumn Trip: September (no date has been set as yet). Information and the application list will be on the Societies Notice Board in due course. Members again will be given priority. Toby’s Memorial Trophy: July 22nd 2 ball better ball Stableford competition August 3rd Berny’s Birthday: Khun Berny will be 70 years young on the 3rd August. He would like you to celebrate his birthday with a party at Berny’s Inn on that day. Matchplay: First/Preliminary Round 17th October
Strokeplay: 28th November & 2nd December Scratchplay: Open to Category 1 & 2
players (handicap 12 & under) 9th & 12th December Recent Results
13th June - Milford - 4 Ball Texas Scramble 1st Kari Matti - Neil Henderson - Steve (g) - Ian (g) - 59.2 pts 5.8 hcp. 2nd John Anstee - Phil Simmons-Alan Rawson - Kevin Dyer - 61.8 pts 7.2 hcp. 3rd Jim Dale - Richard Williams - Ian (g) – Daryl (g) 62.8 pts 6.2 hcp. 4th Colin Devonshire - Roger Perrin - Martin Swift - Enrico - 64.8 pts 6.2 hcp. see so many of our lady members and guests playing in both the stableford and scramble competitions.
Fit for Golf
The focus this month is going to be on strengthening the lower back muscles. A lot of golfers suffer from lower back pain, especially after playing. This can be avoided by simple and effective exercises that work in tandem with good flexibility. As mentioned in previous articles, if there is a history
of back trouble then go and get checked out by a back specialist before starting any exercise programme. That includes golf! The first exercise will target the lower back muscles that arch the back. When performing this movement don’t try to go too far. Start by lying on the floor on your front with the arms stretched over the head and the legs straight. Make sure you are comfortable by laying some towels out on the ground. Lift the knees and shoulders off of the ground simultaneously. Keep looking at the ground to make sure the neck doesn’t extend too much. Breathe out as the limbs lift from the floor and in as they return to the ground. Repeat 10-15 times. To make the exercise harder, hold onto a small bottle of water in each hand. This will increase the weight you have to lift. Arching the back but lifting alternate arms and legs adds rotation to the movement and this gives better control through the shot. Take up the same position as the last exercise. This time lift the right leg and left arm. Again make sure the limbs aren’t raised too much. Breathe out as the arm and leg lift and in as they return to the floor. Repeat on the other side. Always look at the floor so as to keep the neck in neutral. Perform 10 times on each side. For improved extension of the spine and a greater range of movement place the hands under the shoulders while
lying on your front. Drop the shoulder blades down to avoid hunching the shoulders. Push with the arms and bring the torso up as far as you can without the hips lifting off of the ground. Breathe out as the arms straighten. Hold the top position for up to 15 seconds and maintain breathing. Breathe in as the body return to the ground. Only perform this movement if there is no history of lower back or shoulder problems. To protect your back while playing golf call Terry on 081-0096588 or see what’s on offer at the website www.fit-foregolf.com
Butterfly Rock Golf Club
May and June have seen us enjoy better weather and the reappearance of the real Peter Fitzpatrick, refreshed by a short sojourn in the UK. Hitherto suffering from the “Yips on the Chips” he has obviously sorted it all out and has been playing exceptional golf since his return, as the results below will confirm. With Peter playing so well along with our Vice Captain, the ever-elegant Paul Williams (handicap now down to 2), it has been difficult to get among the prizes but
competition has still been fierce. Paul has also slipped back to England for a couple of weeks leading some of us to wonder what particular treatment or coaching Fitz has recommended to him?? Let’s see what returns to us. The Club tried something a little different by travelling to play Royal Ratchaburi, staying there overnight and playing Dragon Hills the next day. The trip was very well supported and will undoubtedly lead to repeat arrangements in the future. Both courses were in good condition and, in their quite different ways, gave
us two great days of golf. It was good tosee so many of our lady members and
guests playing in both the stableford and scramble competitions. The result of the competition for the Rhino Trophy will have to be given next month but the current holder, Klaus Kristensen, firmly intends to hold on to it.Fitz may have other ideas!
July will give us an opportunity to challenge again for the Jack Curran Trophy,
presented by Pat Curran and currently held by Paul Williams. Please ensure that you sign up as early as possible. We all hope that Pat will have sufficiently recovered from his motorcycle injuries to play on the day. Looking forward to August and the opening (we hope) of the Banyan Course for the August Festival, would all members stay in touch with the website to check venues and times. There may well be alterations to take advantage of the reduced green fees at several local courses. Please check with the online booking schedules at our website (www. brgc.biz) and be awareof these changes as they occur. Enjoy your golf. Brgc Results
19th May - Lake View (A+B) – Stableford
1st Mike Ford - 38 pts (13 hcp)
2nd Peter Tucker – 36 pts (10 hcp)
3rd Roger Towner - 35 pts (19 hcp)
4th Paul Williams – 34 pts (3 hcp)
21st May – Black Mountain – Medal Play
1st Paul Williams - 72 – 03 - 69
2nd Andy Bayes - 96 – 24 – 72
3rd Bill Henderson - 79 – 07 - 72
4th David Rawlings – 92 – 19 - 73
26th May – Lake View (A+B) - Stableford
1st Peter Fitzpatrick – 40 pts (8 hcp)
2nd David Rawlings – 39 pts – (19 hcp)
3rd Alan Rawson – 39 pts (18 hcp)
4th Tim Holland – 38 pts (22 hcp)
28th May – Sawang Resort – Stableford
1st Peter Fitzpatrick – 39 pts (8 hcp)
2nd Peter Newman – 39 pts (22 hcp)
3rd Doug Miller – 37 pts (11 hcp)
4th Robin Heath – 35 pts (15 hcp)
2nd June – Lake View (A+B) - Stableford
1st Doug Miller – 37 pts (11 hcp)
2nd David Rawlings – 36 pts (18 hcp)
3rd Peter Fitzpatrick – 35 pts (8 hcp)
4th Timo Ripatti – 35 pts (7 hcp)
4th June – Black Mountain – Stableford
1st Craig Miller – 36 pts (10 hcp)
2nd Paul Williams – 35 pts (3 hcp)
3rd Peter Fitzpatrick – 31 pts (8 hcp)
4th Timo Ripatti – 39 pts (7 hcp)
9th June – Lake View (A+B) – Stableford
1st Paul Williams – 41 pts (3 hcp)
2nd Brent O’Bell – 37 pts (15 hcp)
3rd Doug East – 35 pts (13 hcp)
4th Kevin Dwyer – 34 pts (15 hcp)
11th June – Royal Ratchaburi – Stableford
1st Peter Angus – 40 pts (16 hcp)
2nd Peter Fitzpatrick – 39 pts (8 hcp)
3rd Bill Henderson – 36 pts (7 hcp)
4th Doug East – 36 pts (13 hcp)
Brgc Fixtures For July 2008
2nd Majestic Creek – Stableford – 11:00
9th Kaeng Krachan - Bisque Bogey – 11:00
11th Black Mountain – Better Ball – 11:00
23rd Palm Hills (The Jack Curran Trophy) Stableford – 10:00
30th Majestic Creek – Medal – 11:00
On The Green
Nathawat Aksornchat (‘Nat’), aged 44, is the General Manager at Palm Hills Golf Resort and Country Club, some 10 kilometres out of town heading north along Petchkasem Road towards Cha- Am. The course (18 holes, par 72) was designed by Max Wexler and opened in 1991. On the day we visited, the Thailand PGA tournament was in progress, and the place was appropriately busy. The national junior (under 18) tournament will be held here in August. “We have very accurate yardage here”, says Khun Nat, “and we check the distances from tee-off points to the pin
on every hole every morning before play commences to allow for any slight variation. The signature hole is number 11, a par 3, and several people have scored a hole in one on holes 5, 8 and 11. The wind can be a big factor on the signature hole: when it blows strongly, players can get the impression that the drive is short, when really it is not. On a windless day, players really have to hit the ball pretty hard at tee-off.” He adds, “During the low season, we plan to enlarge the tee boxes on each
hole before action in the high season (December 2008 to March 2009) gets under way.” The Palm Hills course is hydrated every day by treated water pumped by Western Water in the city centre to the course around 10 kilometres away; quite a feat of engineering to keep the fairways lush and green. “We have a contract with the water authority in Hua Hin city for this, and laid the pipe at our own expense”,
explains Khun Nat. All caddies (most of them female) at Palm Hills undergo a one- month instruction course, including learning English, before they are allowed to work
with players. Khun Nat stressed that the company consider this to be very important, especially in high season when large groups of customers (players) from all over the world arrive here to enjoy their golfing holiday in the Royal resort of Hua Hin.
“We consider Palm Hills to be a friendly course with wide fairways and large and fast putting greens”, he says. “In fact, I think we have the largest practice putting green anywhere in Thailand – around 2,000 square metres. Many experienced players like to spend some time adjusting to the speed of the putting greens on the practice green before they go on to play for real on our course.” According to the Thailand Golf Pocket Guide by Paul Lees and Mike Staples (Sun Offa Beach Co. Ltd), the Palm Hills course ‘is not one of the most difficult in the region (but) is well laid out with lots of dog-legs and water hazards to toughen it up, whilst still maintaining its scenic
appeal. The course meanders around the property with very few holes side by side and offers pleasant views of the surroundings and from some elevated areas – the sea.’ Green fees start at 1,800 baht. The caddy fee is 200 baht and golf carts can
be hired for 650 baht for a day’s play. The Palm Hills complex includes condominiums and expensive houses quite close to the main highway (Petchkasem) and a well-equipped sports club. The clubhouse (19th hole) has an indoor air-conditioned restaurant and an outdoor patio with tables and umbrellas to provide shade for visitors wishing to sink a chilled beer or fresh lemon juice with soda whilst watching a tournament or just relaxing after playing 18 holes. Service staff are always friendly and very polite. Stamford Internationl University, with around 300 students, shares the plush location and some of the facilities. Palm Hills Golf Resort and CountryClub. Cha-Am office: 1444 Petchkasem Road, Cha-Am, Petchburi 76120. (O32) 520801-9. Fax: (032) 52080. Website: www.palmhills-golf.comGRASS BLUES: If you’re newly arrived for your golfing holiday,be prepared to face a course element common to most tracks in Asia: Bermuda grass. If you’re not accustomed to playing on this type of turf, you may be surprised at how it can affect your
game, both on the fairway and the putting surface. In the fairway, Bermuda’s inherent structure often will cause your ball to “sit up.” Despite the “fluffiness” of the lie, don’t approach the shot as if the ball is teed up and attempt to scoop the ball off the turf. Due to the nature of the lie and the scoop swing, the ball will fly high, but it also will float more than usual, making it more susceptible to wind. Make sure you play the ball back a few inches in your stance (being careful not to move your hands back as well). This small adjustment will help you achieve a more penetrating ballflight by encouraging the hands to lead the clubface into the hitting zone. On the putting green, the situation becomes even more dicey. Bermuda grass aggressively seeks out light and, therefore, tends to grow in the direction of the setting sun. This creates a crook in its growing pattern, which establishes the tremendous grain for which Bermuda putting surfaces are known. It’s imperative to have a clear read of the grain before any putt, even a twofooter. Before reading any putt on a Bermuda green, walk to the hole and give the sides of the cup a good look. One half will lookbrown and ragged; the other half will be green and cleanly cut. The brown side of the hole indicates the side opposite the grain of the grass. Your putt generally will tend to drift toward that side of the cup and green. For more information on how to improve your game: Visit PGA Pro John Wither at Mongkol Driving Range, Nong Plub Road. Or contact: 081 1426 216, johnwither@hotmail.co
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