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La Havana Golf Classic
Winners of the first La
Havana Golf Classic held June 14 on the Eastern Star golf course.
The team of Henk Schmit (captain), Marjan Schmit, Eddi De Puis and Geraldine
De Puis were crowned champions of the first La Havana Texas Scramble Golf
Classic played on Saturday, June 14 on the Eastern Star golf course. The
four person team carded a net 50 to win the title.
Roy Russell (captain), Nikki Cameron, Peter Lester, and Bob McLachlan carded
a net 51 to finish in second place. Team USA, captained by Tony Schmit,
finished third, also with a net 51.
Nikki Cameron won women’s nearest the pin on hole #3, Geraldine De Puis on
#6, Margarita Knutstrom on #13 and Heike Austel on #17.
Roy Russell won men’s nearest the pin on #6, Glyn Jenkins on #13, and Dave
Crawford on #17.
Khun Chai Lai won women’s long drive on hole #18. Glyn Jenkins won men’s
long drive on #9, with Doug Olds winning on #18.
The Berdero team, captained by Khun June, earned the honor of worse team
net. Worst team gross was earned by captain Jochen Alister’s team.
The one and only team eagle was scored by Roy Russell’s team, an eagle 3 on
hole #8 (par 5). It took a drive and 6 iron to get onto the green, followed
by sinking a 25 foot putt by Nikki Cameron to cap off a fine team effort.
All awards were presented at La Havana restaurant in Ban Chang following the
tournament.
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Cafe Kronborg in lead
Cafe Kronborg is holding on to a narrow lead at the top
of the table in the Wednesday Night Darts League. Cafe Kronborg sits 2 game
wins ahead of Mick’s Place 2 in the premier league in Pattaya. Londoner 2,
meanwhile, is just five wins back.
John from Londoner holds two of the three top spots in league individual
performance. John’s 115 check out and 35 individual tons lead the league.
Pook from Tippy’s currently holds the league lead in most check outs with
21. Londoner 2 currently sits atop the table in most team tons with 91.
Results from week 7: Swan House scored 7 tons en route to defeating Londoner
1 by the score of 6 to 3. Tippy’s scored 9 tons while narrowly defeating
Mick’s Place 1 by the score of 5 to 4. Mick’s Place 2 doubled Texxan Inn 6
to 3. G & T Bar had their way with Londoner 2 with a 7 to 2 victory. Cafe
Kronborg notched an incredible 20 tons en route to romping over Sports
Corner 8 to 1.
Pattaya Sports Club Golf
The Way Forward
The transition of the Pattaya Sports Club to registered Association status
provides a suitable moment for reviewing and updating the policy for
organising golf for the benefit of the broad membership of PSC golfers.
Up to now it has been the Pattaya Sports Club Golf Section policy to only
recognise and give credibility to PSC Member golfers playing tournaments
organised on Mondays and Thursdays (and occasionally on a Friday) by the
Golf Section through the Cafe Kronborg.
However, over the past year or so, other groups of PSC golfing Members -
mainly residents of Pattaya and regular visitors, have become formally
organised to satisfy different requirements which include alternative
tournament days, starting times and playing formats.
Whilst the PSC Golf Section has operated very effectively, and exclusively,
out of the Cafe Kronborg for a number of years, and hopefully will continue
to be the principal group, the time has perhaps come to ‘officially’
recognise other groups of PSC golfers and bring them under the umbrella of
the Pattaya Sports Club. This is not to change or disrupt the way the Golf
Section operates in providing an excellent service to many tourists,
residents and regular visitors, but rather to fulfil the responsibility the
Association has to its Membership, the vast majority of whom are golfers.
The PSC Member golfers are just too numerous now to be organised through one
venue.
Significantly, many PSC Member golfers play tournaments weekly with more
than one Group, using their PSC Member Card to obtain green fee discounts on
non-promotion days, and they should be able to feel that they are playing as
part of the Pattaya Sports Club.
Recognising the standards that the Pattaya Sports Club in general, and the
Golf Section in particular, have always sought to maintain, it would be
important for other Groups of PSC golfing Members to be formally recognised
by affiliation to PSC GOLF subject to certain criteria being met.
Proposed criteria for affiliation as a Member Group are:
* All Members to hold current PSC Member Cards.
* Acceptance of agreed PSC GOLF Policy.
* Acceptance of centralised Handicapping and standardised Local Rules.
* Participation in Inter-Group Tournaments and PSC GOLF Charity Events.
* Effective representation on the PSC GOLF central Committee.
* Effective representation on the Handicap and Local Rules Committee.
* Publicise each month the combined Member Group program of Tournaments and
Events.
* Conform to, or enhance, negotiated discounts and benefits for PSC Members
both on, and off, the golf course.
* Ensure that the correct standards of Golf Course etiquette are upheld at
all times.
* Encourage new members to join PSC for golf, or any other PSC activity.
It is proposed, therefore, that a central PSC GOLF Committee should work
towards the objective of co-ordinating PSC Member golf, whilst retaining the
individual identity and activities of the Member Groups as appropriate.
The central PSC GOLF Committee would include a representative from each
affiliated Member Group, nominated or elected by that Group.
However, each Group’s current committee would continue to operate as normal,
organising that Group’s individual activities.
The following points of Policy are proposed:
1. PSC GOLF officially recognises PSC Member Groups, in addition to the PSC
(Kronborg) Golf Section, subject to agreed criteria being met.
2. PSC GOLF has a co-ordinating Committee which includes representation from
each of the recognised Member Groups, and meets at Group venues in rotation.
3. An independent Handicap and Local Rules Committee, responsible to the PSC
GOLF Committee, is set up to set and review handicaps for all PSC golfers
under USGA (or R&A) Rules, and to standardise Local Rules for all Member
Groups. Each Member Group to be represented on this Committee.
4. PSC presents to Golf Course Management, and the East Coast Association of
Golf Courses, a co-ordinated picture of PSC GOLF and the affiliated Member
Groups.
5. Plan Tournaments between Member Groups and organise combined Charity
Events.
6. Provide encouragement and incentive for Members to participate in more
than one Member Group for both golf and social activities.
7. Create, through recognised PSC Member Groups, a broader base from which
to generate support for Charity.
All in the best interests of Pattaya Sports Club members.
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Malcolm Claire takes 4 club title
Malcolm Claire set a TAGGS record score of 44 Stableford points in winning
the 4 club competition on Wednesday, June 18 at Phoenix Country Club. Using
only 4 clubs, the 36 handicap Malcolm finished his front nine in 48, the
first time he has broken 50 over nine holes. He then returned in 52 for an
even 100, the best round of his life. He was subsequently cut 4 strokes off
his handicap, and prompted a fellow golfer to ask, “Why does he bother
bringing the other 10 clubs along in his bag?”
Dale Drader continued his good form, scoring 34 points to finish second.
The previous week, Dale teamed up with Derek Reaper to shoot yet another
record score in winning the TAGGS Pairs Medal competition at Pattaya Country
Club. Derek and Dale combined for a net 55, by far a new record.
Dale contributed 7 shots to the final tally, including 2 net 1s, 2 net 2s,
and 3 net 3s.
Derek, meanwhile, shot the best round of his life, carding a gross 77 off
his 15 handicap (which was immediately cut 3 shots after the tournament).
Derek went out in a remarkable 38, just two over par, and came back in a
nearly as remarkable 39. The highlight of his round came on the 510 yard par
5, #11 when he used a driver and 4 iron to reach the green, then holed the
putt for an eagle. At that point he was level par for his round.
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Pattaya Sports Club Darts
Mick’s Place is off to a great start in the current season of the Beck’s
Beer Darts League organized by the Pattaya Sports Club. Mick’s has
gotten off to an undefeated 5 and 0 start to sit atop the league table.
Londoner and Cafe Kronborg are hot on Mick’s heals, having each lost
just one game in the new league season.
The Pattaya Sports Club Darts section is now enjoying sponsorship from
Beck’s Beer.
Joe from Texxan Inn has taken the early lead for the league’s highest
check out so far this season, 108.
Four players have already shot perfect 180s in the young league. Chon
from Mick’s Place, John from Londoner, Evis from Cafe Kronborg and Beer
from Beer Put have all achieved the perfect score of three triple
twenties.
Sunday quiz off to roaring start
Which political party ruled Russia for a few months before Lenin came to
power? Of which family of birds is the jay a member?
The Londoner and Poteen Still, new recruits to Pattaya’s main centers of
academic excellence, joined the old hands in a high scoring match in the
new trivial pursuits season. Top scores went to Pleasure Dome and Rising
Sun who both clocked up an impressive 82%. Congratulations to Poteen
Still and Britannia who managed to come up with an alternative answer to
the question, “Which children’s toy shares its name with a British
bird?” The intended response was “kite” but players’ childhood memories
took control and produced the imaginative alternative of a “rubber
duck”. Question setter Ann Schofield said it was a quacking idea and
promptly awarded two points.
Hardest question of the night proved to be, “In which language did the
ancient historian Dio Cassius write his accounts?” to which only
Pleasure Dome found the correct response of “Greek”. If Rising Sun’s
suggestion of “Aramaic” were correct, it is likely that umpteen classics
professors in UK and USA would already be booking plane tickets to the
resort.
Answers to the questions above are “Mensheviks” and “Crow”. You too can
prepare for MENSA membership by joining the hostelry of your choice any
Sunday just before 8.30 p.m.
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Pattaya Golf Society celebrates 2nd anniversary with 100th tourney
(L to R) Roy Mitchell, George Meigh and
Peter Johannson, top three finishers in the Pattaya Golf Society 2nd
Anniversary and 100th Tournament.
The Pattaya Golf Society enjoyed a large turnout for their 2nd
anniversary and 100th tournament on Tuesday, June 17th.
With nearly perfect playing conditions at Pattaya Country Club, George
Meigh proved he can rise to the occasion, shooting the best round of his
career to win the anniversary tournament. George shot 3 birdies and 3
pars en route to carding a scratch 89, net 4 under par 68.
Roy Mitchell also rose to a place on the podium, finishing second with a
scratch 89, net 3 under par 69. Roy’s round included 5 natural pars.
Peter Johannson was the third player to gain a spot on the podium,
finishing third after blazing a bogie trail en route to a scratch 97,
net 2 under par 70.
William Rice, who has been playing well of late, finished in fourth
place with a net 4 over par 76. Billy Russell rounded out the top five
with a net 5 over par 77.
Nearest to the pin prizes were earned by Jimmy Little on #5, Colin
Morgan on #7, Steve Staley on #12, and Colin again on #16.
All players were treated to a delicious fish fillet curry at the
anniversary celebration following the tournament at the First House
Hotel on Soi Buakoa. Judging by the sight of one or two of the
competitors later in the evening, all who partook must have had a great
time.
PGS Order of Merit following the first 100 tournaments:
1. George Meigh, 13 titles.
2. Peter Johannson, 10 titles.
3. Dickey Barbe and Svein Vistung, 7 titles each.
5. Norman Brooks and Colin Morgan, 6 titles each.
7. Roy Mitchell, 5 titles.
Note: The Opening of the Rainy Season Trophy II will begin on Wednesday,
July 2, 1997 (Tuesday is a holiday).
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Improve your Bridge
by Barrie Kenyon
A nightmare hand in bridge is where you hold thirteen cards
without a single redeeming feature. Lord Yarborough used to
offer odds of a thousand to one against the possibility of your
holding no card higher than the nine on any particular hand.
But, as we all know, it does happen from time to time. Here is
one of the worst examples. You pick up:
S 9 6 4 3
H 8 4 2
D 5 3 2
C 8 7 6
They certainly don’t come much grimmer than that. Some players
assume that they must never, never bid on this deal whatever the
circumstances. But they would be wrong from time to time.
Sitting South you hear West, your left hand opponent, open one
heart which your partner North doubles. East passes, so what do
you say? Your partner’s double is most certainly a “take-out”
double requiring you to bid your longest and strongest suit. If
you are tempted to pass on what is obviously a load of rubbish,
think again. West may well pass and then play an easy contract
of one heart which is very likely to make, and doubled at that!
You have no hope of contributing even one trick in defense. In
spite of your misgivings, you must bid one spade (at least you
have four of them) because your partner has given you an
instruction to respond. If your partner then sails off into a
turbulent sea and starts jumping around like a grasshopper on
heat, that is not your problem. You told the truth and cannot be
criticized. Incidentally, if West had initially opened one
spade, partner had doubled and East had said “pass”, your best
bet is to reply one no trump. A prayer might also be in order.
Here’s another example where, holding the same awful hand as
above, you have to be on your toes. Sitting South, you again
hear West open one heart which your North partner doubles. But
this time East replies to his partner in three hearts.
Obviously, this time, you pass because East’s intervention has
removed the obligation on you to reply to partner’s double. West
passes, but your partner North again doubles and East passes.
What do you understand by partner’s second double? It is very
unlikely indeed that his bid is for penalties. He initially
doubled one heart and the opponents continued in that suit to a
substantial part-score. Partner is telling you that he has an
excellent hand, poor in hearts, and wants you to respond in your
“best” suit. So your correct bid is three spades which, in
actual play, your partner raised to four spades! No doubt, you
feel like committing mass murder and committing partner to a
lunatic asylum. But, in fact, the contract is makeable.
Partner’s hand was:
S Ace, King, Queen, 5
H -
D Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 6
C Ace, 9 3 2
You ruff West’s opening heart lead in the dummy North, the hand
immediately above, and draw all the enemy trumps in three
rounds. Next you cash five diamond tricks and then lead the Ace
of clubs. That’s ten tricks in the bag and the enemy can have
the last three. Four spades bid and made and without you, the
declarer, contributing a single trick. It happened because you,
without a single point, answered your partner’s instruction to
show your preferred suit. Never despair. Rather, listen
carefully to the bidding and put your trust in partner rather
than in firearms. That way you won’t have to take up solitaire.
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Splinter Golf Group
Monday, 16th June, Siam Country Club (Stroke)
A cloudy day with cooling breezes helped a few of the
players to better scores, the most outstanding being Stan “The Man” Fry with
a blistering net 65. Giving no credit whatsoever to the conditions, Stan
voluntarily cut himself to a 14 handicap.
Arthur Busch took second place with a net 70, and Arthur
Bailey, definitely enjoying the cooler day, was third with a net 72.
Wednesday, 18th June, Laem Chabang
(Stableford)
In spite of the self-inflicted handicap cut, Stan Fry
again managed to just beat the field with 34 points. Gerard Lambert, losing
on count back, was second, also with 34 points. Bill Thompson was close
behind with 33 points. Steve Ross was nowhere!
Friday, 20th June, Phoenix (Stroke)
This course is in excellent condition and being kept very
green in the continuing dry spell. The greens proved to be as tricky as ever
with only one player being able to return a net score below par.
The A flight was won by Paul Kraft with a net 72. Bill
Collis came second with net 74. Bill Thompson, also with a net 74, came
third, losing on count back.
The B flight was won by Dougie Powell with a net 70.
Second came Arthur Busch with a net 73, and in third place was Martin Furzer
with a net 75.
Near pin prizes of free green fees, donated by Phoenix,
were won by Gerard Lambert, Herbie Ishenga, and John “Legionnaire” Hurst who
distinguished himself in the field by winning two.
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Pattaya Sports Club AGM
Old meets new as the PSC moves forward
through the next fiscal year
(L to R) Transitional committee members John
Macallen, Dick Caggiano and Ivan Town tally the votes during the
election at the Pattaya Sports Club Annual General Meeting at Diana Inn
on Wednesday, June 18th.
“The times, they are a changing” as the Pattaya Sports Club, now
with association status, moves ever forward into a new era of
operation.
When the Pattaya Sports Club met for its Annual General Meeting
on Wednesday evening, June 18th inside the meeting room at Diana
Inn, many “old” members of the transitional committee were voted
to remain in office, as well as were a few new committee members
to bring new blood and new ideas into the system.
The transitional committee was elected at the AGM by PSC members
to oversee the transfer of Sports Club members and assets to the
new Sports Club Association.
Ian Harrington will remain president of the committee. His six
years of experience, as well as his charisma and ability to
maintain positive checks and balances control, will be an asset
as the PSC moves forward through some rather turbulent times.
Previously, the PSC had two vice-president positions. This year
the committee opted to reduce that number to one, and with Alec
Chilcott stepping down from his position as vice-president, Jim
Montgomery was voted in to fill the spot, defeating Pete Daff in
the polls.
Ron Herbert will serve another year as Secretary, a position he
fills quite well.
Ivan Town was voted to remain as Treasurer, a position he filled
on a temporary basis when Brian Imrie stepped down during the
past year.
Ray Rogers was once again voted in as Social Chairman. Bjarne
Neilson was voted in to remain Registrar.
Phil Sagar was elected to the position of Public Relations after
Dan Dorothy stepped down.
Ken Crow will remain Party Chairman. As a side vote, PSC members
chose to keep the “two party” system, therefore there will
continue to be two membership parties each year, one in June and
one in December.
Dick Caggiano was elected to remain the Chairman of Charter
Members.
Harry Riley will once again be the chairman of the Darts
section. John Macallen will remain chairman of the Softball
section. La Traifuen was elected to remain Bowling chairperson.
Carl Engel was voted in to remain Fishing chairman. Glen
Holthaus was elected to remain chairman of the Computer section.
Mike Franklin defeated Alec Chilcott in the election for
chairman of the golf section. (For details of the new golf
policy see page 21.
Gez Tracy was elected to the coveted position of chairman
without portfolio. Peter Malhotra will remain Forming Members
Representative.
In all, 17 out of a possible 18 transitional committee mem-ber
positions were filled, leaving once space open for an additional
sport to be added to the club if one should arise.
Last year, the non-profit PSC association donated over 150,000
baht to charities, recipients included the El Shaddi Orphanage,
Pattaya Orphanage, Huay Phong Welfare Home for Girls and the Ban
Chang Hospital. Members are invited to forward suggestions for
further charitable contributions to secretary Ron Herbert.
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