Krakow Old Timers Golf Group Blog

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Mike Clark in Thailand: Chapter 14

After a very nice breakfast with a view while thunder booms out over the ocean in front of me, I’m in a fresh positive mindset to play well today. I’m off to Springfield Royal CC, a 27 hole design by Jack Nicklaus. It’s probably been awhile since Jack himself graced the course, but I’ve heard the greens here are extremely quick, and I’m looking forward to the test. When this lightly top dressed Bermuda is shiny and down hill…down grain it can be awfully dicey to control the pace.

As my Golf Asian driver wheels us up to the front of this impressive clubhouse I’m personally greeted by the bespectacled “JA”. She’s a bit quiet but nice as can be and won’t let me help her one bit with my somewhat heavy cart bag. I’m sure it’s a sense of pride in her job. As we finish our range warmup and join the others on the first tee, I meet Astrude, a rather solemn fellow from Finland and Helmut and Gabby from Austria.

We are a mixed bunch but it’s a much better mix than yesterday. They all speak English which is nice for me and extra humbling, as although I think I’m pretty worldly and can speak a very small bit of a couple languages, I’m not fluent in anything but “American”

The men have reasonable skills and can move it along down the course. If Gabby did not have golf apparel on, she’d fit right in at Octoberfest toting 8 big mugs of sloshing beer on each arm. She’s a big strong gal and hits the crap out of it. Good for her.

It’s a welcome relief after yesterday’s topped shot festival.

Even with a double on 9 after hitting my 3rd on the par five in the drink, I turn at even. 2 more bogeys and a birdie on the back gets me in at plus 1 to the delight of “JA”. I think decent play is a rarity here and when the caddie doesn’t have to look for balls every hole, her job is obviously easier. It gets all the other girls wound up as its luck of the draw for them. There is a lot of chatter among themselves and it’s probably best we players don’t understand it.

“JA” wrote a nice note on my scorecard which read “I Feel Lucky Today” Mr Mike.

I was touched by that as it sure seemed genuine.

Miss "Ja"

Gabby, she's got power to burn & smoked a few drives... And putts right past the hole. Astrude... Mr Finland in the backgroud.

Helmut & the gals

Clubhouse entrance

How these girls work in the heat bundled up is amazing.

View from the course

"Ja" keeping things in order... no touching the clubs or ball unless she hands it to you.

Range work after... With grass & decent balls!!!

Monday, February 16, 2026

Mike Clark in Thailand: Chapter 13

Pineapple Valley…. Just a lovey course, but way too many people. I arrived plenty early to use the amazing practice facilities which are certainly comparable to Thai CC. On the ride to the range on the Club Car community courtesy cart, I met three great guys from Scotland and we instantly bonded. We were chatting like new…. Old friends about courses we’ve all played etc.

Turns out they had a tee time just 2 slots behind mine and they wanted to include me in their group. As my time neared, my caddie “Lek” queued up right on time to pick me up and take me to the first tee. Upon arrival I used my phone to translate to the starter that I’d like to bump back and play with the Scotsmen. No such luck, he won’t move me because he does not want Tim and Shanti, an absolute beginner couple from Australia to just play as two. They are incredibly nice and are already apologizing for their crappy play as they try to get the feel for the rental clubs strapped to the back of their respective carts. To make matters worse, we are stuck behind two foursomes of Danish folks that are all dressed alike in matching Footjoy garb. Even the caddies know that this is trouble, as apparently the Danish have a history of not knowing when to give up and just pick up on the hole. They hit and hit and hit until the ball is in the cup. Relentless.

I’ve already got an attitude as I want to play with the Scots but instead I’m stuck behind choppers playing with a couple that has no business on this course.

The greens are fast here with severe undulations and water and sand abound. It’s not user friendly for sloppy ball striking. It made for a very long day as Tim and Shanti took swing after swing often moving more dirt and sand than ball just to get to the general area of my drive. “Lek” was great and she could tell I was really annoyed but I was not about to be the “ass” in the group.

I did my best to keep smiling and offering words of encouragement until I emptied the bucket of niceties about the 15th hole or so. I just ran out of pleasant things to say on top of making 3 straight bogeys and being hot under the collar.

I managed a nice birdie on 18 after what seemed like a 20 minute wait just to hit my second shot, but it was nice to take some positive vibes out of an otherwise tough day.