More long drives

Friday 2nd

I was awake about 5 this morning so I decided to do a small job for the guys in Houston. One of the calculations was not including a particular correction, that was present in the otehrs, and they needed it for a current job.

After that I had breakfast and then took my clubs to Le Katai. This is about 500m from my hotel so rather than carry the bag, I wheeled it there in the travel bag, which I then bought back to the hotel. It was bad enough wheeling it.

I then got my dirty clothes and found a laundry that would have them ready by the end of the day. I am running out of clean stuff.

A couple of the guys were at Le Katai when I went back at 9 to catch the mini bus to golf, including Dane who was very happy to get his wedges.

Today I played my first round of golf in Thailand for a year. We played Emerald which was one the the courses we played last year, which I thought was reasonable but not great. I still have that opinion this year, nothing wrong with it but not extra special either. The course was designed by Nick Faldo and one of the characteristic features would be the mounds that are present on virtually every hole.

I was the only one from the Collier group to play, with the rest of the group of 10 being part of the Le Katai golf group. We played in groups of 3,3 and 4. I played with Steve, an English guy, who shared a cart with me and Thomas, a French Canadian, who walked. We got round in under 4 hours which was more than acceptable. The greens fees with a cart and caddy were about A$40 and with transport, drinks, tips etc it was about $60 all up.

I started very well, just missing a par putt on the first then getting birdie then par on the next 2 before the wheels fell off. I drove really well but my chipping and putting were not very good. This was nowhere more starkly illustrated than the 340 yard, par 4, 11 th hole. My drive was on the fairway no more than 20 yards from the green and I still finished with a 7 - 3 chips and 3 putts.

I did finish well, putting in from off the green for a birdie on the 18th. I missed only 1 fairway and 1 green on the back 9, but still only had 12 points.  With only 11 on the front 9, it was a fairly dismal score, 13 over my handicap.

We spent about 1/2 hour at the bar after the game, waiting for everyone to finish  their rounds, shower etc. I even had a beer it was that hot. I think it was probably her last year when I had the previous beer.

Once we got back to Pattaya I went back to the hotel, showered and changed into the halter dress I'd bought in Houston. It was much more comfortable with the heat and humidity. I have one otehr similar dress so I'll try and get some more here.

I headed to the embroidery shop, took photos of patterns and got prices for our souvenir caps. I have organised these the last 2 times I came but surprisingly (!) no-one bothered the year I missed it. I was told they that wanted to get some but couldn't find the shop.

I had fish and chips for dinner, at Le Katai, since they was the Friday special and the guys at golf had recommended it. I had a number of soft drinks but no alcohol. Various members of the Collier group turned up as the evening progressed. TB and Marie had flown in from Laos that afternoon and arrived later in the evening.  I got some preferences for caps and headed for bed about 10.