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Pattaya Sports Club Golf moves into new era
Pattaya Sports Club Golf moved into a new era of development last week with
the affiliation of TAGGS (The Alternative Golf Gentlemen’s Society) and SGG
(the Splinter Golf Group) as member groups of PSC Golf. Both groups
satisfied the agreed 11 criteria requirement for affiliation:
* All members to hold current Pattaya Sports Club member cards.
* Have a minimum annual membership of 20 golfers, and have a regular
competition day organized through a Pattaya venue.
* Acceptance of PSC Golf policy.
* Acceptance of centralized handicapping and standardized local rules.
* Participation in inter-group tournaments and PSC Golf charity events.
* Provide effective representation on the PSC Golf committee.
* Provide effective representation on the handicap and local rules
committee.
* Publicise monthly 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 the Pattaya Sports Club for golf, or any of
the other sports available (bowling, softball, darts, deep sea fishing and
computer sessions).
Both TAGGS and the SGG groups are represented on the PSC Golf committee
which is currently made up as follows:
Michael Franklin - Chairman PSC Golf
Stephen Beard - Chairman’s appointee
Steve Ross - SGG
Vic Cross - TAGGS
ANO - Golf section (Kronborg)
Bill Thompson - Handicap and local rules co-ordinator
Bill Collis - Charities co-ordinator
Harry Riley - Fixture schedule co-ordinator
Other groups which become affiliated will also have representation on this
committee and the handicap and rules committee.
The objectives of the central PSC Golf committee are:
* To promote and implement PSC Golf policy.
* To actively promote golf through membership of the Pattaya Sports Club,
and involvement with member groups.
* To encourage member group participation in PSC Golf events and organized
work for charity.
* To present to golf course management PSC Golf as a co-ordinated body of
member groups.
* To encourage fellowship and goodwill between member groups.
* To maintain golf standards and etiquettes in accordance with USGA and R &
A principles.
A combined fixture schedule for July is on display at the Cafe Kronborg (PSC
Golf Section), Hare House (TAGGS), and the Diana Inn (SGG) for the benefit
of the many members who like to play regularly with more than one group. The
August schedule should be up by July 26th, so that diaries can be planned
well in advance.
Pattaya Sports Club Golf is now offering members a choice of six tournaments
a week to choose from with a wide variety of playing formats and a
combination of early and later starting times.
A Tuesday tournament may be added shortly to give an option every weekday.
The affiliated member groups will operate under their own identity, and from
their own venues as before, but now as PSC members officially recognised as
part of Pattaya Sports Club Golf.
Promoting golf for charity is a declared priority of PSC Golf and the first
major charity event is expected to take place towards the end of September.
More news about this in due course, but rumour has it that this will be a
charity tournament with a difference and one which is expected to raise a
considerable sum for the charities involved.
Any inquiries regarding Pattaya Sports Club Golf should be made to the Golf
Chairman on Fax: 731 144, or e-mail: [email protected]
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Jernigan and Henheffer take TAGGS title
Marc Jernigan and Eddy Henheffer teamed up to shoot a net
58 to take home The Alternative Golf Gentlemen’s Society (TAGGS) pairs
better ball title played at Phoenix Country Club on Wednesday, July 9.
Their round was highlighted by Marc Jernigan’s best ever score, an 84 gross
off his 19 handicap. Marc hit his peak on the Ocean nine, going round in
just one over par 37 gross.
Eddy Henheffer provided good support to the team, which shot a net 32 going
out and a net 26 coming back.
Stephen Beard and Brian Brizzell finished second with a team net score of 10
under par 62, highlighted by Stephen’s scratch 88, one better than his
handicap.
Lewis Underwood and Clive Pearce took the third position on the podium with
a team net score of 5 under par 67.
Splinter Golf Group
at the Green Bottle
7 July, Monday - Laem Chabang
Stableford Competition
1st Steve Ross 35 points
2nd John Hurst 34 points
3rd Mike Riley 33 points
The Nicklaus designed Laem Chabang Golf Club is without a doubt the best
maintained golf course in Pattaya and is a contender for the best course in
Thailand. It played like it on Monday. Playing the “B” and “C” courses, not
a single Splinter was able to break par. The winner on the day was Steve
‘the Master of Tact’ Ross who scored 35 points and out dueled that sedulous
Australian John Hurst and the surprising “Wild Thing’- Mr. Mike Riley who
scored 34 and 33 points respectively. The rest of the field do not deserve
mention with the average score on the day a disappointing 29.1 points.
9 July, Wednesday- Great Lake
Florida Scramble
1st Mike Franklin, Sven Vistung, Morten Net 52
2nd Andy Wellington, Mike Riley, Harry Riley Net 54
3rd Stan Fry, John Hurst, Steve Ross Net 55
Good scores are generally the norm over the very pleasant Great Lake tract
and scrambles produce even lower scores. This was especially the case on
Wednesday when the much esteemed Splinter Starter (and the rest of the
field) became a bit confused as to proper scoring procedures for a ‘Florida’
as opposed to ‘Texas’ Scramble. The average score on the day was a net
55.14! None of these faux pas take away from the very good golf played by
the Scando-Anglo Team of Sven, Morten and Mike who scored a gross 67 and
utilized their handicaps to the fullest to produce a net 52. They managed to
beat off the AmAngAustro Team of Mike, Harry and Andy who finished with a
gross 65 and net 54. Further back in an even more confusing group of
nationalities, the team of Stan, Steve and John also scored a gross 67 but
only a net 55 to finish third. Closest to the pin prizes, kindly donated by
Great Lake, were won by Bill Collis on #5 and Andy Wellington on #12. The
consensus being that Bill’s shot was by far the best of the day finishing
inches (or possibly feet) from the pin - unfortunately for the ‘Rocker’ it
was the only reasonable shot of the day - as attested by his playing
partners.
11 July, Friday - Green Valley Country Club
Stableford Competition
1st Harry Riley
37 Points
2nd Andy Wellington
36 Points
3rd Bill Thompson
35 Points
Green Valley is one of the better courses in the area and Harry Riley is one
of Pattaya’s most consistent golfers. Harry proved it again on Friday
scoring 37 points and beating out a distinguished field of Splinter Golfers
that included the questionably handicapped Andy Wellington on 36 points and
the formerly svelte Bill Thompson on 35. Of note on the day was the famously
erratic Mr. Neil Cameron adding to a growing reputation for frenzied
inconsistency. The average points on the day was an above average 30.5
points.
In a separate competition held on the course the caddies selected Andy
Wellington as the ‘sexiest’ Splinter golfer. Latter investigation found that
payments made by Mr. Wellington to the aforesaid caddies far exceeded normal
Splinter practice and therefore Don Antonio in second place becomes by
default the ‘sexiest’ Splinter.
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Sunday
quiz scores
What is the most easterly province of Canada? In which decade of the
nineteenth century was Alfred Dreyfus wrongly convicted of treason?
On July 6, the top score of 83% was shared by Cheers and Palmer’s with
Pleasure Dome a close 82%. However, they were not able to inflict more than
a slight dent in Rising Sun’s lead overall in the fourth week of the current
season. The average mark across the ten bars was 70.4% and it is the
question setters’ aim to provide an average success in the 65-75% range.
The teams are becoming larger as the European holiday season gets under way.
Not a few Britishers appear to be spending their Halifax building society
windfall (it recently issued shares and changed status) on a great holiday
in Pattaya which includes taking on the resort’s resident egg heads in one
or other of the quiz leagues, and frequently both. An influx of new blood
can have a dramatic effect on the scores in individual bars, especially in
the less popular categories such as science and nature. Attending the quiz
can be a great way of making new friends, given that Pattaya is believed to
have the strongest trivia following of any similarly sized city in the
world.
Answers to the above questions are Newfoundland and 1890s (actually 1894).
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Billy Russell notches first tournament victory
Billy Russell broke 90 for the first time to win his first ever
tournament in the weekly Pattaya Golf Society Rainy Season Trophy series
of tournaments on Tuesday, July 8 at Pattaya Country Club.
Billy shot four pars on the front nine, going out in 44, and two pars on
the back nine to come in at 45 for a scratch 89, net 5 under par 67.
John Hopkins also achieved a first, gaining his first podium position
when he finished second with a gross 103, net 67, losing first place on
a count back.
William Rice, always battling for a place on the leader board, finished
third with a net 2 under par 70. PGS Chairman Peter Johansson finished
fourth with a net 2 over par 74. Roy “Tiger” Mitchell, ancient clubs and
all, still managed to round out the top five with a net 3 over par 75.
Nearest to the pin honors were achieved by Peter Johansson on #7, George
Meigh on #12, and that infamous “Nobody” on holes #5 & #16.
Improve your Bridge
by Barrie Kenyon
A recurrent theme in bidding sequences, and rightly so, is
what to do with a really dreadful hand. Many players are overcome with
demoralization on picking up a “no pointer” collection, as if in some
way the Fates are punishing them for past mistakes and indiscretions.
Much the same feeling can be experienced on the golf course when six
consecutive balls all go plop in the river. But any sport or game worth
its salt will plunge you into the depths as well as elevating you on
high. The important thing is to keep your cool. You are dealt:
S 4 3 2
H 4 3 2
D 5 4 3 2
C 4 3 2
Sitting South, with both sides vulnerable, and wishing you had gone to
the pictures, you pick up the above thirteen death cards. The inevitable
happens: your partner North opens two clubs which means 23+ points or
eight playing tricks, not necessarily in clubs. East passes and you
reply with the usual denial bid of two diamonds. Opponent West, however,
contributes an interference bid of three diamonds which both North and
East pass.
So what are you going to do? The temptation obviously is to pass, and
you could hardly be shipped off to the colonies for so doing. But wait a
moment and study the sequence. Your partner opened a very powerful two
clubs but did not react on the second round to West’s interference bid.
This is probably what is known as the “forcing pass”. North is telling
you that, although he has a great holding, he cannot be sure where the
hand should be played. He does not know which is the best contract or
whether you should both be defending against three diamonds. He is
asking for your help: he wants to know about your distribution.
Therefore, you should double West’s three diamonds. Your bid neatly
describes the only feature of your hand which is of interest, namely the
length of your holding in the opponent’s suit. If your partner North has
an even distribution (we already know he is extremely strong) he will
leave in your double for vulnerable penalties. If he is not balanced, he
will call again in his longest suit. In practice, North passed and West
played the hand in three diamonds doubled. He had no chance and your
side registered an 800 points swing when the contract went three down.
And all because you kept your cool and understood the meaning of
partner’s forcing pass. North’s hand was:
S Ace King Queen
H King Queen 10
D King 7
C Ace King 8 7 6
It is true that West held a long string of diamonds, but he still had to
lose three spades, one heart, one diamond and two clubs. East, like you,
did not have a single high card point! Truly exceptional distributions,
but North and South deserve a medal for making the most of them. The
difference between a poor and a good player is that the former is
obsessed with his own hand, whereas the latter is equally as interested
in the other three. Most of the time anyway!
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Las Vegas Open coming August 1
Organizers are still accepting entries for the inaugural Las Vegas Open,
scheduled for Friday, August 1, 1997, at Pattaya Country Club. Tee off
times for this much anticipated event will begin at 8:00 a.m. onwards,
with organizers planning to be accommodating to golfers less likely to
crawl out of bed at that early hour.
The 1000 baht entry fee will include T-shirt, food, technical prizes,
“lots of fun” prizes, green and caddie fees. The tournament will be
divided into two divisions, with awards for best front nine, best back
nine, long drive, nearest the pins and best gross. Organizers have also
stated that everyone will win a prize.
The awards presentation party will follow the event at Las Vegas Bar,
and will include special happy hours and a roast pig with all the
fixings.
Early sign-up is being encouraged, and can be done through Richard or
Peter at Las Vegas.
Pattaya International Marathon runs this weekend
Some streets to be closed to traffic during the event
Some of Pattaya City’s streets will be closed to traffic, others will be
“halved” this weekend when over 1000 world class athletes take to the
pavement vying for cash and prizes in the 5th Annual Pattaya
International Marathon, Quarter Marathon and Mini-Marathon which returns
on Saturday and Sunday, July 19th and 20th.
Over 1,000 runners representing at least 10 different countries are
expected to test their endurance in the running of the Pattaya
International Marathon 1997.
Again this year, there will also be a 21.1 km half marathon for those
who want a bit more of a challenge than the 10 km mini-marathon, yet
aren’t quite up to the grueling endurance needed for the full 42.195 km
marathon. All three runs will start at the same place as last year on
Pattaya Beach Road in front of Soi’s 4 and 5. The marathon will begin at
5:00 a.m., the half marathon at 5:30 a.m. and the mini-marathon at 6:00
a.m. on Sunday, July 20.
The finishing time for the marathon will be no later then 11:30 a.m. All
runners who wish to continue after this time may do so at their own
risk. The finishing time for the half marathon and mini-marathon will be
9:00 a.m.
The Pattaya “Fun Run” will also be back again this year to kick off the
festivities on the day before the International Marathon. It too will
begin on Beach Road in front of Soi’s 4 and 5. The starting time for the
“Fun Run” is scheduled for 15:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 19. The “Fun
Run” will be divided into two categories; the “Fancy” category for 10
runner teams and the “Rally” category for teams of 3 runners. The
application fee for the “Fun Run” is 100 baht, due before starting time.
Also on July 19, organisers have added a wait-people’s fun run for all
those who regularly serve food and drink to customers, divided into 4
categories. The entrance fee is 100 baht for each category, or 300 baht
for all four.
Saturday evening at 19:00, a beach buffet will be held, sponsored by the
Food and Beverage Association of the Thai Hotel Association of the
Eastern Seaboard. More than 20 hotels will be providing scrumptious
victuals at a reasonable 150 baht per person.
The event is sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the
Amateur Athletics Association of Thailand under the patronage of His
Majesty the King. Other athletic supporters include the Chonburi
Provincial Authority, Pattaya City and private businesses in Pattaya.
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Beach Road from North
Pattaya Road to South Pattaya Road will be entirely closed
to traffic for the first half of the day on Sunday, July
20th, to allow unobstructed running for the marathon
participants. Most of the same stretch of road will be
closed on Saturday afternoon as well to accommodate the
annual “Fun Run” on July 19th.
Other thoroughfares that will be affected on Sunday will
include Chaiyaphruk Road in South Jomtien, Na Jomtien Road
running almost the entire length of the beach, Thap Phraya
Road from North Jomtien to South Pattaya, Pattaya Center
Road, North Pattaya Road, the entire length of Naklua Road,
Swang Fa Road, and Sukhumvit Highway from Swang Fa Road in
North Naklua to South Jomtien. |
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Bungee jump returns
Kiwi-Thai Bungee Jump undergoing its
installation at its new site inside Pattaya Go-Kart Speedway.
After the Kiwi-Thai Bungee Jump was dismantled on May 29th from its
location on Thappraya Road where it had been for the past six years, and
after a thorough overhaul including a new coat of paint, it has been
reinstalled and is ready for action at its new home off Thepprasit Road
inside Pattaya Go-Kart Speedway.
Directors Bryant Berry, Ron Herbert, and Richard Bunch are very excited
because it is now situated inside the speedway grounds and joins with
Paintball Park and the Go-Kart Speedway, in effect creating a 3 in 1
entertainment park for both tourists and resident families to enjoy.
Another great bonus is that the Bungee Jump is now positioned over water
to enable those enthusiasts to touch the water when they jump.
The relocation was timely also as it coincides with the wishes of both
the government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand to upgrade existing
tourist features to world class standards.
Further information can be obtained by contacting the following numbers:
Pattaya (038) 426 242 or 425 839, fax 426 243.
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