|
Ken Carr returns to top of leader board
Ken Carr shot a scratch 98, net 77 on Tuesday, March 18,
to return to the top of the leader board in the weekly Pattaya Golf Society
stroke competition, this week played at Khao Kheow Country Club.
On the extremely hot and humid day, which saw a bit of a storm, PGS golfers
didn’t exactly shoot their best ever scores. However, that didn’t stop them
from enjoying the day, and enjoying the night even more, as Colin, Norman
and Bolton-John were heard crooning their favourite war-time melodies until
the wee hours at the First House Hotel after the tournament.
Mike finished second on the day with a scratch 100, net 78. Norman Brooks
finished third after count back with a scratch 93, net 78. Roy Mitchell
finished fourth after count back, with a scratch 98, net 78. William Rice
rounded out the top five with a scratch 111, net 79, edging out Peter
Johansson on count back.
Nearest pins were won by William Rice on #8 of the B course and Mike on #8
of the C course.
Bodywork
Greg Keyes, a former singer, dancer & choreo-grapher, now
a very famous aerobics teacher, will be performing on Friday, April 4, at
the Amari Orchid Resort. His versatility, flamboyance and charm are known
world-wide. Visitors can participate in his water-aerobics or simply
spectate. This one-day show shouldn’t be missed. Further information can be
obtained at the hotel.
Greg Keyes will perform at
Amari Orchid on April 4.
Quizzers stir
up Titanic mud
“What was the name of the manor in the TV series To The
Manor Born?” “In which outdoor sport would you use a Jack in normal play?”
The third week of the Sunday Quiz held on March 16 saw several fiercely
fought bouts with average scores around 73%. Cheers are holding on to a nine
point league and have introduced compulsory military conscription on a
Sunday night. They are currently being chased by an astute team from Rising
Sun. Wild Chicken are having their best season for a long time ably assisted
by a Libyan history professor whose specialty seems to be defeating question
setters.
Only one question in the entire evening was not answered successfully by any
team. Nobody knew the famous actor who played the disaster survivor in the
movie Raise the Titanic which was Alec Guinness. This appears to support
producer Lew Grade’s contention at the time that the film had been a
ridiculous waste of time. “It would have been cheaper to lower the
Atlantic,” he mumbled as he perused the red columns in his bank accounts.
Shame on the quizzer who put forward the river Sang Thip as the boundary
between Thailand and Laos and the bright spark who suggested that none of
Henry the Eighth’s children could have succeeded him as he cut off all their
heads. This is believed to be the first time in recorded history that a UK
monarch has been confused with a character from Alice in Wonderland.
The scores on the doors in the Sunday league now are:
Cheers 235 Points
Rising Sun 226 Points
Pleasure Dome 218 Points
Wild Chicken 218 Points
Mick’s Place 212 Points
Palmer’s 190 Points
Bob’s 185 Points
Britannia 174 Points
Libyan history professors are cordially invited to any of the bars just
before 8:30 p.m. on a Sunday night in the never ending battle to outwit the
quiz adminis-trators. Should not be difficult.
Answers to the above questions are “Grantleigh Manor” and “Bowls”.
|
|
Mountain Biking at Peter’s Bar
The inaugural meeting of the proposed Mountain Bike Hash was not attended by
a sufficient number to make the “Hash” concept viable. However, those
attending agreed to start regular bike runs every Sunday morning, with some
also meeting informally during weekdays in order to increase their fitness
levels by gentler outings.
All information regarding the activities of the group will be posted at
“Peter’s” Bar, 3rd Road. If the group size increases, the “Hash” concept
will be recon-sidered.
Mercure Pattaya strikes again
Local footballers gather for a
fun day out at the International School of the Regents.
Management and staff of Mercure Hotel Pattaya Resort
joined the International School of the Regents for another football match in
Pattaya recently. The fun-filled tournament ended with a winning 5-3 score
for the Mercure team.
PSC Softball
This week’s single game was preceded by a vigorous
practice session. New and returning players had a chance to get a feel for
the field, loosen-up tight muscles and get their eye on the ball.
Once the game began, the two teams were evenly matched. Paul’s Pumas vs.
Alan’s Blue Sox turned into a thriller as the game remained winnable for
both teams down to the last out. The Blue Sox coming off last week’s double
victory were unable to mount the needed offence to overcome the Pumas in the
10-8 loss.
The big sticks for the winners were Montreal Robert, Jerry and Kenny Caltex
and returnee John Dow.
New players are always welcome. The Pattaya Sports Club provides gloves,
bats and all other equipment for those who don’t have their own. Teams are
made up each week on a choose-up basis, so newcomers can join the action
straight away. This is a men’s team including seniors. So, if you’ve ever
played little league, sand-lot or school ball, you’ll fit right in. Former
cricket players and others who’ve played eye/hand co-ordinated sports will
find softball comes quite naturally.
Players sign-in at Pattaya School No. 7 on Sukhumvit Highway, just south of
Greenway Driving Range and Caltex gas station, every Sunday at 13:30. Games
start at 14:00. Refreshments are available. Spectators welcome.
|
|
Fishing contest and beach improvement
Winners with their spoils in
the Pattaya Fishing Club’s ‘Angler’s Contest’.
The Pattaya Fishing Club recently held an ‘Angler’s
Contest’, sponsored by the Siam Pattaya Co., Ltd. and the Asian Sport Club,
Ltd.
The contest was divided into 3 categories; the heaviest fish, the most heavy
‘grade A’ fish and overall weight category.
There were five prizes in each category, a trophy and cash award going to
each prize winner. Each entrant’s boat could be equipped with only Yamaha
outboard motors, though there was no limit as to cc injection.
The fishing area was limited to a centre point on Marnvichai Island with an
outward radius of no more than 2 kilometres. The contest began at 8:00 am
and finished at 4:00 p.m.
The winner in the weight category was Saravuth Boonma, in the ‘grade A’
category was Sompong Iamurai and in collective weight was Yai Khunjeng.
Aside from the fishing contest, the Pattaya Fishing Club, along with Somchai
Khun-pluem and Somphan Petchtra-kul, built a temporary office ‘Assistance
Centre for the co-ordination of Work in Pattaya’. The office is equip-ped
with a public address system worth 126,160 baht. This equipment is to be
used to make necessary announcements and warnings to vacationers and
residents on Jomtien Beach as appropriate.
Sethaphan Buddhani also contributed 40,000 baht worth of beach volleyball
equipment to the Fishing Club, which the club will provide as a service to
those wishing to play beach volleyball.
|
|
Splinter Golf Group
Monday, March 17 - Century, Chonburi
(Scramble)
The formidable team of Steve Ross, Ciano Glavina, Brian Ewen and
Jim Savage was more than a match for the rest of the field, winning by a
clear 4.5 strokes with a gross 67 and net 58.5.
Wednesday, March 19 - Great Lake (Stableford)
Luciano Glavina continued his impressive form with a seventh
consecutive win in the B flight, but unlikely to move to the A category very
soon. Sportingly referred to now as “Lucky Luciano”, he continues to be
unimpressed by his own success and repeatedly claims a less than average
performance. However, any thoughts of giving up the day job and turning pro
have been unceremoniously dismissed by those around him!
An even more spectacular round was carded by Mike Morris in the A flight,
mainly as a result of an impetuous purchase of a new (discounted) mallet
putter for Lotus the evening before, and intuitive putting on the day. When
interviewed, Mike felt that the improved putting performance was partly due
to having a shorter shaft!
A flight: Winner, Mike Morris, 44 points. 2nd, Gerard Lambert, 37 pts.
B flight: Winner, Ciano Glavina, 43 points. 2nd, Neil Hughes, 39 pts.
Near pin prizes, donated by Great Lake, went to Neil Hughes and Brian Ewen.
Friday, March 21 - Eastern Star (Stroke)
With the main contingent touring courses between Bangkok and Hua
Hin, there were just two prizes. Winner: Arthur Busch, net 77. 2nd: Mike
Morris with a net 78. The scores reflected the difficulty of this dry course
on a windy day.
|
|
Improve your Bridge
by Barrie Kenyon
Experts tells us that conventions, in order to be
effective, must have three elements. They must be easy to remember, must
provide information to help us reach the right contract and must not
displace an essential natural bid. If you analyse conventions which have
stood the test of time, Blackwood for example, you will see that they
conform to all three tests. Another useful convention to have in your
bidding armoury is the Splinter Bid.
First, though, what actually is a Splinter Bid? Over your partner’s opening
bid of one heart or one spade, a double jump response of four clubs or four
diamonds shows a hand that has the value to raise partner to game, with a
singleton in that suit. If you use Splinters, you must also have 11 to 13
high card points and not more or less. For example, if your partner opens
one spade, you respond four clubs holding:
Spades Queen, Jack, 8, 5, 3
Hearts Ace, 3, 2
Diamonds Ace, 7, 6, 5
Clubs 8
Alternatively, if your partner opened one heart, you respond four diamonds
holding:
Spades Ace, Queen, 4
Hearts King, Jack, Ten, 8
Diamonds 7
Clubs Queen, 9, 8, 4, 2
The point about Splinters, of course, is that the bid gives a clear
indication to your partner about your holding. He has a lot of valuable
information, knowing that you have a fit in his opening suit for game, that
you have precisely 11 to 13 high card points and that you possess a
singleton in the suit (clubs or diamonds) you have bid at the four level.
Armed with this valuable insight into your hand, opener can now decide
whether to sign off in a game of four hearts or explore a slam possibility.
It is crucial, however, that the hand which employs Splinters should have
exactly the features which are described in the previous paragraph. This is
because there is little room left to investigate a slam after a four clubs
or four diamonds response, so the opener needs to be able to count you
exactly. In particular, if you have less than eleven high card points or
more than thirteen, your hand is not suitable for Splinters. Bad
communications are what cause divorces, wars and most human tragedies. Bride
is no exception.
|
|
PSC Golf
St. Patrick’s Day presentation
at Cafe Kronborg. (R to L) Sandy Anderson, Rory O’Moore, Sean O’Chilcott,
Seamus Vistung, Paddy Marshall, and Nev O’Goode.
March 17. On St. Patrick’s Day, all Pattaya Sports Club
golfers were required to wear something green in a Greensomes Stableford at
Green Valley Country Club. Played in pairs, each player drove off every tee,
thereafter the best ball was played alternately and on this occasion, the
partners used 3/4 of their combined handicaps.
In true Irish fashion, PSC golfers played furthest from the pin on par 3s,
but the ball had to be on the putting surface. Strange to relate, Paddy
McKinlay won on #4 and #11, Andy Ericsonn on #7 and Neville O’Goode on #15.
Brad Doyle took the long drive.
A typical Irish meal was prepared by Papa Ray Rogers and Banana at the Cafe
Kronborg with traditional boiled bacon, cabbage, spuds, etc.
Brendan Kelly, a long time member, left 4 prizes to be played for when he
returned to Dublin earlier and a bottle of Paddy whiskey to wash down the
fodder.
Rory O’Moore and Sandy Anderson took first prize with 51 points, winning an
Irish Windcheater and 4 crystal glass tumblers. Sean Chilcott and Seamus
Vistung finished second with 48 points, winning a bottle of Jameson and a
bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream. Third place with 46 points went to Nev
O’Goode and Mick Marshall, who won Irish porcelain and a mystery prize.
The Pattaya Sports Club golf section supplied the balance of prizes, paid
for the meal and everyone were prize winners of a bottle of Guinness each. A
real hilarious day for all.
March 20 - Khao Kheow.
No course could have been in better condition for this Stableford
competition over the B & C courses. PSC golfers were joined by seven friends
of Pete Doff from Lakelands Golf Club in Perth, West Australia, together
with newcomers Roy Matti from Rotterdam and Roger Smith, former pro
cricketer with Leicester County UK.
Ernst Hansen, Banana Neilsen’s partner at the Cafe Kronborg, deserves a
mention for winning for himself and his partner Jim Heathcote a small wager
against Dave Pittman and the chairman Alec Chilcott with a birdie 2 on the
postage stamp par three 17th, and as he had 2 shots from his handicap of 35,
he scored 5 points, a third of his total for the round.
PSC’s Aussie guests had a field day. George Gardner not only won A flight
with 42 points off his 9 handicap, but also the long drive and nearest the
pin on #B3.
Jim Heathcote reached “wuthering heights” to come second with 40 points and
Rick Sharp was 3rd with 40.
Fred Marshall and Serge Straeten first and second in B flight with 41 and 37
points, respectively.
The other nearest pins went to Ernst Hansen, Dave Richardson and Ebrahim.
|
|
Annual Orphanage Charity Soccer returns
The annual Pattaya Orphanage Charity Soccer match is
scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 1997, at 3:00 p.m. on the soccer pitch at the
Pattaya Orphanage, tournament organizers have announced.
The much anticipated annual event, which pitches a rag tag team of Pattaya
bar owners and patrons against teams from the orphanage, will once again
feature not only a soccer game, but food and drinks as well, making it a
fun-filled, family outing, enjoyed by all.
The main goal of the event, as always, is to raise money for the many
programs at the orphanage. Donations are now being sought. Pros-pective
sponsors for this worthy cause can contact Father Ray Brennan, tel: 428717,
422745, or fax: 716629; Harry Riley, tel: 720536, fax: 720536; and John
Cole, tel: 411667.
|
