This month's golf news and features
DOUBLE CHAMPION FOR 2001 - ULF SPARVMAN
The Swedish player, Ulf won both the match play and stroke play championships.
He beat fellow countryman Per Eriksson at the first extra hole in the
match play and beat Tony Scambler on countback for the stroke play.
The British Club beat the Society at Milford on the 10th December on aggregate
Stableford. A good day was had by all with a buffet laid on by Norman
at a very good price.
Results 19th October Springfield One grp 1st Tony Scambler 37 pts, 8 hcp.
23rd October Palm Hills. A grp 1st Boom 76 net 18 hcp, B grp 1st Craig
Morgan 36 pts, 31 hcp, 26th Oct Palm Hills one grp 1st Peter Gouldby 38
pts, 10 hcp. 30th Oct Royal Ratchaburi one grp 1st Per 37 pts 8 hcp.
2nd Nov Milford one grp 1st Tony Scambler 40 pts 10 hcp. 6th Nov Lake
View A grp 1st Ralph (visitor) 73 net, 12 hcp. B grp 1st Dan Stuart 37
pts 30 hcp. 9th Nov Palm Hills one grp 1st Tip 42 pts 26 hcp. 13th Nov
Majestic Creek 58 entrants A grp 1st Wit 66 net 17 hcp, 2nd Pawn 67 net
19 hcp. B grp 1st Herb S. 39 pts 22 hcp, 2nd Paul Sandle 38 pts 28 hcp.
16th Nov Sawang 42 entrants A grp 1st Peter Gouldby 39 pts 9 hcp. B grp
1st Keith J. 38 pts 21 hcp. 20th Nov Palm Hills 49 entrants A grp 1st
Richard Wasiluk 70 net 12 hcp, 2nd Tony Scambler. B grp 1st Tip 37 pts,
24 hcp, 2nd Peter Harrison 37 pts 22 hcp. 23rd Nov Milford 39 entrants
A grp 1st Karl Westholm 39 pts 10 hcp, 2nd Al Tikannen 34 pts 7 hcp. B
grp 1st Morgan W. 34 pts 22 hcp, 2nd Callum 34 pts 24 hcp.27th Nov Hua
Hin 40 entrants A grp 1st Peter Korn 73 net 15 hcp, 2nd Peter Gouldby
74 net 9 hcp, B grp 1st Han Hakvoort 34 pts 25 hcp, 2nd Porn Evans 34
pts 28 hcp, 30th Nov Lake View A grp 1st Terry (Aus) 68 net 18 hcp, Nick
(UK) 71 net 15 hcp. B grp 1st Mike Anderson 43 pts 24 hcp, 2nd Jim Lynch
40 pts 23 hcp.
4th Dec Dragon Hills 46 entrants A grp 1st Tony Scambler 70 net 9 hcp,
2nd Ulf 71 net 5 hcp. B grp 1st Tip 72 net 24 hcp, 2nd Mitch Mayo 75 net,
36 hcp. 7th Dec 50 entrants A grp 1st Fritz 72 net 14 hcp, 2nd Peter Korn
73 net 15 hcp. B grp 1st Jim Lynch 67 net 22 hcp, 2nd James Barber 71
net 27 hcp. 10th Dec 47 entrants A grp0-20 hcp, 1st Colin Devonshire 37
pts 14 hcp, 2nd Peter Gouldby, B grp 1st Edward Ashman (visitor) 44 pts,
32 hcp, 2nd Herta 39 pts 23 hcp. 14th Dec Royal Ratchaburi 46 entrants
A grp 1st Bernie 37 pts 17 hcp, 2nd Peter Korn 36 pts 16 hcp, B grp 1st
John Anstee 36 pts 21 hcp.
Charity Day: 18th Dec at Palm Hills. 2 ball Texas Scramble, 72 players
36 teams. 1st Mick Evans / Alex Singh 67 net, 2nd Dennis Blasdale / Craig
Morgan 67.7, 3rd Jim Russell / Taxi Jack 68.0, 4th Larry English / Jane
Lockwood 69.2
HUA HIN GOLF SOCIETY FIXTURES FOR JANUARY
4th Palm Hills (1st tee off) 9.36am
8th Royal Ratchaburi (bus) 8.00 am
11th Majestic Creek - check times
15th Lake View - check times
18th Palm Hills (tee off) 9.36 am
22nd Sawang (bus) 8.00 am
25th Milford - check times
29th Hua Hin (tee off) 9.00 am
Pro Tips - Chip Shots
This month we talk about chipping. Even though putting and driving are more glamorous and critical to a golfer’s game, when a chip shot is needed, it can be equally as important a part of the golfer’s scoring arsenal. For it is when the other parts of the game have failed that the chip shot is called upon to bail out the score for that hole. Let’s take a look at this underrated, but very important, shot in a golfer’s game.THINK OF THE CHIP SHOT AS AN OFFENSIVE BLOW.
Even though chipping is a finesse part of the game, the actual shot must be thought of as an offensive stroke. The primary thought in coming through the ball must be of hitting it crisply and cleanly, with the result being to hit it as close to the hole as possible. You are not defensive and decelerating through the ball, you are thinking offensively and accelerating through the ball.
SET UP RELAXED, WITH WEIGHT PRIMARILY ON LEFT, AND SET YOUR HANDS AHEAD OF THE BALL.
This helps to prevent one of the worst flaws of a chip shot - that of reverse pivoting and scooping the ball with the weight on your back foot. The set up favouring the left side helps to facilitate the more efficient crisp, downward stroke on the ball. Watch a pro golfer next time you see one chipping. The set-up will be relaxed, firm, and have the weight set-up to the left. You might not be as good as a pro, but there’s no reason you can’t have their set-up.
VISUALIZE THE SPOT ON THE GREEN WHERE YOU WANT THE CHIP TO LAND.
Too often, the golfer gets pin conscious and lands it too close to the stick, which causes it to roll too far past. Or the golfer gets too anxious and looks up to see where it’s going - the dreaded chili-dip. The solution is to find the spot where you want it to land, and to execute the shot that lands it there. Of course, you will leave room for it to roll to the hole once it has hit the ground. The important thing to remember is to have a target where your shot is to land. Gravity and momentum will take care of the rest.
TAKE THE BACKSWING BACK SLOWLY.
There is no reason to hurry a backswing. The ball is not going anywhere. And furthermore, once you’ve taken it back too fast, you’ll never really be able to recover from it. The key to hitting good chip shots is to start it slowly and smoothly. Then you will be able to come down through the ball with an equally firm, smooth stroke.
ON THE DOWNSWING, CHIP DOWNWARD AND THROUGH THE BALL WITH A FIRM LEFT WRIST.
The way to consistently chip the ball well is with a stroke that crisply accelerates down and through the ball. The club is controlled by the muscles in the forearms (particularly the left), and at impact, the left wrist that is firmly in control allows the golfer to strike the ball with the same amount of force (approximately) every time. This allows the golfer to determine the distance he hits the ball by how far he takes the club back.
So, with a good set-up, a slow takeaway, and with a smooth, crisp, downward stroke, you can achieve a consistent chipping stroke that will allow you to hit that chip shot close to the hole. And one other thing - to make sure you accelerate throught the ball, make sure your follow through after striking the ball is at least as much as it was on your takeaway. Try these tips, and practice. They will help.
WATCH TERRAIN AS YOU APPROACH
After you’ve struck your approach shot and are walking or driving
up to the green, stop talking with your partner and start observing what’s
between you and the hole for your next shot. Say you’re gonna have
a long chip or pitch shot. Is the course sloping to the left or to the
right? Uphill or downhill? How much green do you have to work with? All
this info should allow you to make a good choice for your next shot before
you even get there to line it up.
85,000B Plus Raised For Special Children
A magnificent effort by all concerned raised over
85,000 Baht for the children up at the Petchburi Special School at the
Hua Hin Golf Society's Annual Charity Christmas Golf Day.
The golfers played a 2 ball Texas Scramble at Palm Hills during the day,
then on to the Dusit Resort and Polo Club for a Gala Dinner.
With the weather perfect if a little windy, and the course in much better
condition than it has been of late the scoring was good by most of the
36 two ball teams, the winners Mick Evans and Alex Singh came in with
an excellent 67 net. U-Turn's Craig Morgan with Dennis Blasdale, came
in second, and it was great to see "Taxi" Jack Leopold on the
podium coming third with Jim Russell. Larry English and Jane Lockwood
coming in 4th. Jack later performed on stage at the Dusits Gymkana Pub,
(some say Jack should stick to golf!).
The evening's dinner on the Dusit's lawn was indeed a feast, hard to believe,
but it seems to get better each year.
This year's double champion (match play and stroke play), Ulf Sparvman
was presented with his well deserved trophies with runner up Per Eriksson.
The other awards were then presented including a booby prize to David
Hoy and Norman Menzies. Then a host of raffle prizes given out to happy
winners, Khun Boom and Khun Porn were pleased with their gin.
Society Chairman Martin Furzer with the Dusit's resident manager John
Gill presented the nights star prize of Bangkok Airways donation of return
air tickets to Samui for two people with hotel accommodation kindly donated
by Toodtoo Tours to delighted winner Khun Upin.
With all the prizes and awards handed out, the party moved into the lively
atmosphere of the Gymkana Pub, where society members and their guests
danced the night away to the live music performed by the resident band.
(And Jack).
Features January 2002 73rd Issue
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