Harry Riley crowned first Jack-A-Lope champion

The Pattaya Sports Club, in conjunction with the local Canadian expat community, held the First Annual Canadian Jack-A-Lope Open golf tournament on Friday, September 3, 1999, at Great Lake Golf and Country Club. The Pattaya Sports Club was pleased and honored to be associated with this event, but make no mistake, this tournament was organized, initially funded, staffed, and heavily supported by the Canadians who make Pattaya their home. They wanted to celebrate Canada and all things Canadian. They wanted to celebrate golf, and Canadian involvement in golf. But most importantly, they wanted to help out El Shaddai Home for Abandoned Children, run by Fred and Dianne Doell from Lethbridge, Alberta.

Boy, did Christmas ever come early to Sriracha and the El Shaddai Home. This tournament raised around 185,000 Baht for an organization that struggles every day to finance the needs of children who, for one reason or another, have been forsaken.

Glen Dragland (left) and Mark Gorda (right) present the spoils of victory to 1999 Cannadian Jack-A-Lope Open champion Harry Riley.

A permanent trophy is to hang in the Hare House with the name of the annual winners of the Canadian Jack-A-Lope Open. It wasn’t a secret that the organizers had hoped for a Canadian name to be the first engraved next to the stuffed jackalope. And Canadians did well in this tournament, taking home four of the major trophies. But it was more than appropriate that the first winner of this Stableford competition was a man who donates countless hours and personal resources to charity in the Pattaya community. A man who is Chairman of the Pattaya Sports Club Charity Committee; a man who rarely gets to enjoy a golf tournament that is funding charity, because he is too busy taking care of the myriad of details that come with the job. The 1999 Canadian Open Champion is none other than Harry Riley. Harry had a tournament high of 40 Stableford points and it will be his name that will always be the first on the Jackalope Trophy.

To schedule golf competition for September is a testament to faith. To have that competition played under beautiful blue skies is faith rewarded. But to make sure that conditions weren’t too benign, the wind at Great Lake blew hard all day Friday. The greens were fast and the pin placements were tough. This was on a course that doesn’t need any help being a true test of golf. Eighty-nine golfers teed it up with the shotgun start at ten o’clock. Eighty-nine golfers and at the end of the day only eight broke net par. There were so many golfers out in the fields adjacent to the fairways whacking away looking for lost balls; it looked like harvest time. It’s a funny thing what the adrenaline rush of a big tournament does to the normally straight drive.

The Canadian Jack-A-Lope Open had a Ladies Division and five different divisions for men. In third place for the Ladies was Liz Garcia. The second spot went to Banjob Franklin. The 1999 Ladies Champion, with 38 points, was Toy Ryser. Toy also smacked the Ladies longest drive on the 18th hole to take home two trophies for the day. Each trophy was a cast replica of the jackalope, that strange looking horned rabbit with whom Canadians are said to identify.

In a twist that has never been used before in Pattaya Sports Club competitions, there was a Men’s Senior Division and a Men’s Super Senior Division. The Senior Division was for old codgers over the age of 50. Mike Larsen barely qualifies, but his 37 points were good for second place. George Jackson is the original “grumpy old man”, but the man can play golf. His 39 points won first place in the Senior Division and came within a whisker of winning the championship. Although he complains about playing off 14, it should be noted that George’s total was higher than anyone else in the first division.

The Super Seniors had to be 60 years or older. In second place for this division was Canadian Bob Westendorf. Bob lives in the retirement village of Jomtien, where he is grateful to be able to remember how to find his way to Pattaya in that yellow Mira pick up. The first place trophy in the Super Senior Division went to Gordon Tarapasky, who is also retired to Jomtien. Gordon still drives a motorbike so he can easily ask directions to Pattaya when he comes to town.

Division Three was composed of golfers whose handicaps were from 28 through 36. Third place in this division went to Ray Ryan who had 34 Stableford points. Second place went to Glen “Lassie” Dragland who had 35 points. The Division champion was Paul Azzopardi who finished the day with 36 points. Paul also won two Near Pins to add to his warren (or is it herd?) of jackalopes.

The point totals were indicative of just how tough the course was playing. Just ask Jack Levy who won the High Gross trophy with a remarkable 169. That was, however, almost a stroke a hole better than he did in the Hare House Open in January and if he continues to improve he will actually be playing off his 36 handicap sometime in the year 2004.

The second division was made up of golfers whose handicaps were from 18 to 27. Third place went to Canadian Mike Dabonovich who had 34 points. Just two days before, “Dabber” shot the lights out on this course while suffering the effects of Post Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. See what happens when you go to bed early. In second place was Paul Shortino who also had 34 points, and won the count back even though with a shotgun start there really wasn’t a “back nine”. The second division champion was Canadian Stephan Hoge who, along with “One Ball” Jackson had the second highest total of the day with 39 Stableford points.

For a lot of the golfers who struggled on Great Lake this day, their hopes for the Championship were dashed quickly. For them, the technical prizes became more and more important. Probably the most prestigious of these was the Closest to the Pin with the second shot on Great Lake’s 437 yard par 4 fourth hole. This trophy went home with Svend Berthelsen who put it on the green about ten feet from the pin.

Dave Patterson, Peter Renggli and Dan Dorothy all took home Long Drive trophies for their efforts on the 452 yard eighteenth hole. There were twelve Near Pin trophies (four par 3’s and three divisions), and amazingly there were four double winners. “Woody” Underwood, Eddie Henheffer, Paul Azzopardi, and John Kendall all won two Near Pins each. Although in John Kendall’s case it should be noted that his Near Pin on number 7 was flat UGLY. He hit a line drive screamer that hit the front left bunker, rolled around the inside lip, spun out on to the green, and gently rolled close to the pin. His Near Pin on number 16 was much more presentable.

The first division had better scores than the other two divisions, which is not surprising on a course as difficult as Great Lake. Barry Barnes had 36 points to take the third spot. Ossi Viljanen had 38 points and missed out on first place in a count back. The Division One Champion was Ray Matti with 38 points. Ray always seems to play well in the big tournaments. Also playing in Division One was Steve Mascari who shot the Low Gross of the day with a 79. When only one golfer in a field of eighty-nine breaks 80, it can only mean that this was a very tough day. Beautiful, but tough.

The post tournament festivities were held at that notorious flophouse on Soi Post Office, the Hare House. If there is any connection between jackalopes and the regulars of the Hare House, it is probably that both species only breed during electrical storms in the fall of the year. The other three seasons, they practice, practice, practice. The Hare House is also the unofficial home to the Canadians who work in the oil industry. Well, the Hare House and TQ. They served a large buffet of food and kept the beer ice cold. There was a lucky draw using the score cards and the prizes ranged from Canadian smoked salmon to huge bottles of Canadian Club whiskey. There were enough prizes to send everyone home happy. Then there was the 50/50 draw that brought in another huge amount for the biggest winner of the day - the El Shaddai Children’s Home. One hundred eighty five thousand Baht is an almost unbelievable amount of money to be raised in a golf tournament that was only a vague idea three months ago. These Canadians are amazing.

Among the organizers were Glen Dragland, Mark Gorda, Eddie Henheffer, Derek Reaper, Moe Deverdenne, Dale Drader, and a whole host of others who are to be strongly congratulated for not only creating a great golf tournament, but making a difference in the lives of those that need it the most.

Results of the 1999 Canadian Jack-A-Lope Open

Third Place:
Division 1 (Hcp 0-17), Barry Barnes, 36 Points
Division 2 (Hcp 18-27), Mike Dabonovich, 34 Points
Division 3 (Hcp 28-36), Ray Ryan, 34 Points

Second Place:
Division 1, Ossi Viljanen, 38 Points
Division 2, Paul Shortino, 34 Points
Division 3, Glen Dragland, 35 Points
Senior Division (Age 50-59), Mike Larsen, 37 Points
Super Senior Division, Bob Westendorf, 32 Points

First Place:
Ladies Division, Toy Ryser, 38 Points
Division 1, Ray Matti, 38 Points
Division 2, Stephan Hoge, 39 Points
Division 3, Paul Azzopardi, 36 Points
Senior Division, George Jackson, 39 Points
Super Senior Division, Gordon Tarapasky, 38 Points
Low Gross: Steve Mascari, 79 (Hcp 5)
1999 Canadian Jack-A-Lope Open Champion: Harry Riley, 40 Points

Technical Prizes
Long Drive:
Division 1, Dave Patterson. Division 2, Peter Renggli. Division 3, Dan Dorothy. Ladies Division, Toy Ryser

Nearest to the pin:
#5, Division 1, Ebrahim. Division 2, Brian Ellis. Division 3, Lewis Underwood.
#7, Division 1, Eddie Henheffer. Division 2, John Kendall. Division 3, Lewis Underwood.
#12, Division 1, Ray Matti. Division 2, Steve Smart. Division 3, Paul Azzopardi.
#16, Division 1, Eddie Henheffer. Division 2, John Kendall. Division 3, Paul Azzopardi.
Best Second Shot #4: Svend Berthelsen
Shortest Drive: Jerry Lien
Highest Gross: Jack Levy, 169.

1999 Nappy Rash Ride

From Ban Chang to the Jesters Charity Children’s Day

Shorter than last year maybe, but this year someone upstairs turned the oven on. On one of the hottest days of the year, forty incredibly fit (?) potential tri-athletes put their butts in the saddles and their money where their mouths were and took part in the now annual “Care for Kids” sponsored bike ride. After meeting at Delaney’s at 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning (three hours after bedtime for some) and boarding the Thai bus equivalent of the Japanese bullet train, led by Pattaya’s finest Tourist Police, the merry band departed for the Camel Bar in Ban Chang. Upon arrival, all were greeted by Ronnie, providing a cholesterol free breakfast (bacon and eggs), boxes of beer and an ambulance!

Gameron McMaster (2nd left) and his “winning” team at the finish.

At 8:30, after detailed instructions from the only Jester (note Darren didn’t do it!) - “It’s that way” - the forty set off at great pace, eager to be filmed by the Pattaya Mail. After a while (about 2 km) the pace settled down to sub Olympian standards. Support was given to stragglers by Tim Shekalls and Dylan (glass door, what glass door?), by driving their pickup right up our backsides. However, their support was far greater going up hills (know what I mean?).

It wasn’t long before the group split up due to excessive breakfast, no route marker and differing fitness levels. One group in particular found themselves facing Thailand’s own K-9 (not the dog shop). Only persevering due to sweat, blood and tears and some old gadgies in a pickup! Others steadfastly maintained their discipline and showed their orienteering skills to complete the course intended.

And they’re off! Little did most know what lengths lie ahead.

Honors go to all, with particular mention to the first to arrive at the Royal Cliff after 1 hour and 35 minutes, Cameron McMaster, also Jack Levy who completed it, BEWB (Ham) who was conned into doing it at 10 p.m. on Friday after not getting on a bike for 25 years, the Thai family (have they finished yet?), Pete and Susie for their huge sponsorships and Paul and Jo who came down from Bangkok to do it. The list is endless, but thanks again to everyone who took part or sponsored. Next year Darren, I organize it and you ride! As over B200,000 was raised, it was worth it!

Memorable Quotes:
Ham, on the way down in the bus: “Silence”.
Tom, on the bike on the way back: “Silence”.
Many: “Where the *?!? did that hill come from?”
Me: “Next time we finish at a hotel without the word cliff in it”
Thoughts: How many times did the French guy ride past you in either direction?

What an Upset!

All of Pattaya is still talking about the Tower Records Tug-o-War held at the Fair last weekend. Before the event had even begun you couldn’t have even got short odds on the Universe Gym Team. It looked like lay-down misere for the Big Muscle Boys.

The first chink in their armour showed when Foster Wheeler held Universe to a one all draw only to go down in the final tug!

Tug-o-war Referee David Garred, stern but fair, called the shots in every match.

But when the Hare House Heavy Haulers stepped into the arena there were incredulous mutterings from the crowd. The team, 90% of which had been recruited from the beer tent, was the most under-prepared, unfit mob of least likely lads to ever go in for “professional” tugging! Some in flip-flops, others with jugs of beer still in hand - it would be a massacre.

The winners, looking like, well... Photo Dave Walsh

And it was! The Hare House killed ‘em! The Pattaya Mail is proud to record for posterity the names of the Hare House Heavy Haulers, the winners of the First Tower Records Pattaya Fair Tug-o-War.

Anchorman - “Big” Hinning. 2nd - Bjarne “Rotten Banana” Nielsen. 3rd - Malcolm “D.D.F.” Clare. 4th - Stefan “Hoagie” Hoge. 5th - Shawn “Hoser” Field. 6th - Murray “Muffy” Kerr. Sub - Kevin “Doc” Mitch. Sub - Dan “T. W.” MacLean. Coach - Glen “Lassie” Dragland. Coach - Mark “T.D.” Gorda.

Café Kronborg takes first in PSC August deep sea fishing tournament

Three boats with twelve fishermen aboard were entered in the Pattaya Sports Club Deep Sea Fishing Tournament held Sunday August 15.

Egon Nielsen, fishing with the Caf้ Kronborg fishing team, landed a 4 kilo Black Barracuda for the top prize, and some smaller fish weighing in at 10 kilos for a total weight of 14 kilos, that took third place for the Kronborg.

Frank Collins, fishing with the Profound Innovations boat, landed a very nice 3.6 kilo Tuna along with some smaller fish weighing in at five kilos, for a total weight of 8.6 kilos.

The Bull Ring Bar team landed some nice smaller fish for the day, but took no prizes home.

The next PSC Deep Sea Fishing Tournament is scheduled for Sunday September 12, 1999. Promoted by the Pattaya Sports Club - all are welcome to join in.

Awards for: First and Second place by weight, Third place for most fish caught, and a new category for sharks and rays. One award per person. Check with the Pattaya Sports Club for detailed tournament rules.

Boats leave the Municipal Pier or Bang Saray at 4:00 a.m. & return for weigh-in at 6:00 p.m. @ the fishermen’s HQ on 3rd road.

To enter please submit 600 baht to the Pattaya Sports Club prior to Sept. 12th. Entry fees can also be left at the SGP Bar (Soi Yodsak) or at the fisherman’s headquarters on 3rd Road. Include team captain’s name, all fisherman, and the boat captain. Each team hires their own boat or has a sponsor.

For further information, contact PSC fishing chairman Carl Engel at phone 410-228, fax 426-121, or e-mail [email protected] or Frank Collins at 421-056.

Dabber makes it three in a row.

PSC TAGGS... golf from the Hare House

Wednesday, September 1 - Great Lake Golf and Country Club (Medal)

1st: Mike Dabonovich, 67 net
2nd: Mike Parsons, 68 net
3rd: Jimmy Little, 71 net

The gentlemen from the Hare House played a tune up round at Great Lake on Friday, September 1 in preparation for the Canadian Jack-A-Lope Open. The format was Medal, that most unforgiving of scoring systems where (heaven forbid) every shot counts.

Winning his third consecutive TAGGS trophy was Canadian Mike “Dabber” Dabonovich, with a five under par net 67. On the morning of the competition, “Dabber” stumbled his way down Soi Post Office desperately seeking the Hare House. The previous night’s activities had left him somewhat impaired. The next thing he remembers is waking up on the tenth hole at Great Lake and pleasantly discovering he had shot a respectable front nine round of 46. That’s not bad for a guy playing off nineteen and needing a seeing-eye dog to get around the course. “Dabber” shook loose some cobwebs and then proceeded to shoot par, birdie, par, par en route to a back nine score of forty and a victory he will probably not long remember.

Narrowly missing out on the black handled Knotted Putter trophy was Englishman Mike Parsons. Mike, who plays off twenty, shot his best round in a while, and toured the Nick Faldo layout with a 43/45 and a four under par 68. Mr. Parson’s hopes for first place were somewhat dented on the notorious fourth hole at Great Lake where he took a triple bogey seven.

Rounding out the podium was American Jimmy Little. Jimmy, playing off twenty one, took third place with a one under par net 71.

PSC Golf in Sept.

On Sunday 12th September, Lewiinski’s go to Great Lake to play stroke, leaving at 11.00 a.m. On Monday 13th September, PSC Golf from the Caf้ Kronborg goes to Laem Chabang while the Splinter Golf Group from the Green Bottle goes to Bangpra, both playing Stableford.

On Tuesday the 14th Pattaya Golf Society from the Bunker plays a medal round at Pattaya Country Club while Lewiinski’s offer a second chance to go to Laem Chabang to play Stableford.

On Wednesday 15th September Hare House play bogey at Bangpra and the Green Bottle go to Great Lake to play stroke.

On Thursday 16th September, PSC Golf Caf้ Kronborg goes to Khao Kheow playing Stableford, and on Friday September 17th there is a choice of Bangpakong Riverside from the Green Bottle or a local fixture at Phoenix with Hare House, both playing Stableford.

One that didn’t get away!

The newly founded German Fishing Club of Pattaya held a fishing competition on the 31st of August in the waters off Samaesan. Fishing off the M.S. Seeadler, Helmut Hoffmann and Hans Eggert landed a 27 kilogram sailfish to win 1st prize. Using a 20pound line, it took a torturing 20 minutes to over power the catch. The next tournament will be held on Sunday 12th September. All those interested please contact Dieter Floeth at Duetsches Haus, Tel/Fax (038) 428 725.

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Updated by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.