Phoenix Members Golf Society

Sunday’s first three: Paul Sharples, Terry Turner and Ray Pearson with a couple of Thai roses separating the thorns.

Mike Gerrard
Due to Phoenix being closed on Wednesday for the IPGC/ Richard Livingstone’s annual bash, we all decided to go different ways for a change and therefore there is no report this week for Wednesday July 4 or Friday July 6.
However, it was business as usual on Sunday, July 8 and we had 4 groups out on a fine day. It was nice to see our Sunday captain (Ben Hogstrom) back from his visit to Sweden looking well and refreshed.
After the storms of last week the course was a little wet, but only in the areas where watering takes place. Seems strange that even when we have storms the sprinkler systems are still used on most golf courses?
Results for Sunday were a little mixed and for the most part poor. Only one player broke par (even under our own Mickey Mouse handicap system) and that was the returning Paul Sharples who was our worthy winner on the day. In second place was another holidaying regular Ray Pearson, and in third to make it a clean sweep for the English was big Terry Turner.
Technical prizes went to Uli Leurnberger and Bob Deane (2). As usual there is always the lucky draw and Doug Wilson and myself came out of the hat.
Note: The next monthly mug will be on Wednesday, July 25, playing stroke medal from the back tees. All members and guests are welcome to join. Please contact myself (Mike Gerrard) on 087 091 7565 to sign up.

Keeping it in the family

PSC golf from the Bowling Green

Barry Hooper
Tuesday, July 3, Bangpra, Stableford
A Flight (0-19)
1st Fergus Brennan (12) 37pts c/b
2nd Tewin Lamthong (17) 37pts c/b
3rd Takeshi Hakozaki (11) 37pts
B Flight (20 up)
1st Tony Geeland (24) 38pts
2nd Mod Chairaksu (25) 36pts
3rd Les Burns (33) 34pts
Near Pins: David Thomas, Vincent Smyth, Tewin Lamthong and Bob Short
2’s: Bob Short
Thursday, July 5, Greenwood, Stableford
A Flight ()-19)
1st Fergus Brennan (12) 37pts
2nd Amphan North (19) 35pts
3rd Tom Herrington (16) 34pts c/b
B Flight (20 up)
1st Donald Pearson (36) 38pts
2nd Tony Geeland (24) 37pts
3rd Grant Dawson (22) 33pts
Near Pins: Fergus Brennan, Andy Long, Barry Rothberg and Tom Herrington
2’s: Tom Herrington, Takashi Hakozaki and Tewin Lamthong
Saturday, July 7, Greenwood, Stableford
1st Roger Wilkinson (14) 38pts
2nd Richard Underwood (28) 37pts
3rd David Thomas (8) 36pts
4th Duangkaew Yui (35) 35pts c/b
Near Pins Alan Evans, Tony Geeland, Mike Brett and David Thomas
2’s – Alan Evans

Saturday’s prize-winners: Richard Underwood, Roger Wilkinson, Alan Evans (inset) Duangkaew Yui
Fergus Brennan and Tewin Lamthong made it a family affair on Tuesday at Bangpra with an A flight win for Fergus and second place to Tewin. Then Fergus went on to take his second win of the week on our Thursday outing at Greenwood.
We had another very attractive Thai lady, Duangkaew Yui, join us on Saturday’s second visit to Greenwood (due to the Emerald not being available this week). We seem to be attracting quite a large support from the ladies now. It certainly brightens up proceedings a great deal.
The two’s pots this week saw single winners on two occasions: Bob Short on Tuesday and Alan Evans on Saturday. Tuesday saw a three way split with Tom Herrington, Takashi Hakozaki and Tewin Lamthong sharing the proceeds.
I am pleased to report that I was able to put my shameful display at the Emerald behind me and not be last man this week at Greenwood on Saturday.
Our Après golfer of the week was Walter Baechli - much to my relief.
Donald Pearson deserves a mention this week with his 36 points win of the B Flight at Greenwood on Thursday. I may be wrong but I think this was his first win in any of the Bowling Green outings. Well-done Donald.
Greenwood was very wet on Thursday and was even wetter on Saturday after considerable rain fell again on Friday. However the course played well, but it was decided that a clean and place ruling would be adopted for the competition due to the very sodden conditions.
I have to say that the staff and service offered at Greenwood always impresses me a great deal. It is the small things that make the difference. Like the cold towels being offered at the refreshment stops and the covers for the bags coming out as soon as rain is seen. As a new comer to the sport my caddy was great this week with much encouragement being offered.
It was just what I needed. Well Done Greenwood
Reminder: If anyone is interested in golfing with the Bowling Green we play every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. We meet at Bowling Green at 7:45am for breakfast and transportation and new players are always made to feel welcome. Just call Tewin on 086 056 7019, the Bowling Green on 038-720742 or send an email to [email protected].

The return of Rodney

PSC golf from Tropical Berts

Derek Brook
Tuesday, July 3, Burapha, Stableford
On this day a ‘Rodney Alert’ was out, so all were warned that he was on his way back. The test for the day was to be the A & B Nines, still the best two to play although the C & D are probably a tougher test of golf.
The drive up there is just a hop step and jump away, so it doesn’t take long, and as usual the booking in is handled professionally, so transmission from arriving to the first tee is quick and smooth.
So to the start and on this day the course was pretty empty, so we were able to get away as soon as we reached the first tee, and on the way around did not run into the groups ahead. Burapha was in its usual fine condition, and the wind was its normal strength - strong, and the views as always superb. Still, with a clear run it was expected the scores would be above average.
Back at Bert’s ‘the boys’ were sat around the tables, sinking the odd cold one, awaiting the results. The winner was announced as Rodney Clark with 41 points, it seems the ‘Rodney Alert’ was not heeded. In second was Bill Knight with 40 points, Dick Warberg, celebrating his first ever ‘eagle’ in Thailand, in third with 38 points and in fourth was Mashi Kenata with 37 points.
T.T.F.N.
Near Pin: Anders Pederson, Rick Evans, Bill Knight, Rod Jenkins
Long Put: Chris Youngman, Mashi Kenata

Wylie on the march

PSC golf from The PJ Pool Bar

David Gardner
Tuesday, July 3, Greenwood, Stableford
1st Jeff Wylie (8) 39pts
2nd Joel Floor (21) 37pts
3rd Barry Quirk (15) 36pts
Near Pins: Dennis Jaycock, Barry Quirk

(L-R): Jeff Wylie, Paul Smylie, Porn and Joel Flor.

The first week of the new month saw a trip to one of the more popular courses. Greenwood is a fine layout, excellent value for money and well worth the drive up the 331. The course was in good condition as usual, maybe a little heavier than we expect. The greens are recovering quickly from the hollow coring of two weeks ago.
We were assigned to C and B nines, probably the most difficult and the easiest respectively. Scoring was better than usual, with only two of the twelve players failing to make 30 points.
Jeff Wylie continues his recovery of form, taking first place with 39 points. This follows last week’s win at Plutaluang despite a handicap cut over the weekend. Joel Flor also returned a sub-handicap round of 37 points in second place with Barry Quirk one point back in third on 36. Coincidentally Barry was third to Jeff at Navy last Thursday as well.
Four near pin prizes were on offer but only two were won. No one managed to hit C3 or B2. C3 at 200 yards is a real challenge, and B2 always seems to play longer than the 163 yards on the card.
Thursday, July 5, Plutaluang S&E, Stableford
1st Jeff Wylie (8) 39pts
2nd Paul Smylie (25) 36pts
3rd Joel Flor (21) 35 pts c/b
4th Neil Duncan (13) 35pts
5th Keith Hodges (24) 33pts
Near Pins: Wally Curby, Jeff Wylie (2)
Back to South and East after two weeks of playing North and West. A rest some might say, but still a tough prospect. Of the seventeen players in the competition eight failed to make 30 points with a further three on 30.
The course has recovered very well from the maintenance work of the last two weeks. The greens were a bit slow and inconsistent but the course was a pleasure to play, even if like me you struggled.
Jeff Wylie completed his clean sweep of the week with a fine 38 points. His driver stayed in the bag most of the way round. If you hit the fairways, most of the greens and hole a few putts you will have a good score. Simple isn’t it!
Paul Smylie’s name doesn’t often feature at the top of the leader board. Perhaps he was showing off to his guests from Darwin, but whatever it was, it worked. Paul’s 36 points in second place was a very good score on this course and a shot or two better than handicap.
Neil Duncan and Joel Flor tied on 35 points only for Joel to take third place on count back with 22 points on the back nine. Whatever happened on the front?

Ebrahim makes it a double

PSC golf from The Café Kronborg

Derek Brook
Monday, July 2, Khao Kheow, Stableford
Khao Kheow was host to a Stableford competition under sunny and hot conditions. The course was very wet underfoot and most of the greens were being cored and sanded
The ever-present Ebrahim was in first place with 36 points, ahead of Rick Evans in second with 35 points, Walter Bachli third with 33 points and Takeshi Hakozaki fourth with 31 points.
Thursday, July 5, Bangpra, Stableford
This, the original course in the area, was to be the test for the day and a fine test it is. I particularly like the mature scenery, and at this time of the year this is a very peaceful place to play.
The course was nearly empty so ‘Millionaires Golf’ was once again the order of the day. The fairways were in good order and the greens once again fast and tricky. Whilst not as fast as the greens were at their peak, there seems to be a return to the greens of old.
Of course, the other item that is returning to the Bangpra of old is the revival of the ‘Monkey Menace’. Last time one of them stole my water bottle, and all players were warned to keep their valuables zipped into their bags, although I have been advised they can unfasten zips. Most of the big males seem to have disappeared, but there is a veritable explosion of the smaller ones.
On this day, having played my ball onto the green at the first par-5, Tony played his to within a couple of feet of mine. We were all amazed to see a very small monkey run onto the green, pick up one ball and then try to pick up a second. Being so small it had difficulty with two balls, but after a time managed to hold both and ran off the back with Tony and myself in hot pursuit.
Round over we sat in one of my favourite restaurants and awaited the results. The winner of the A Flight, 0 to 18, was Ebrahim again with a great 42 points. Don Richardson came in second, way behind with 34 points on a count back from Rick Evans. In the B Flight, 19 up, the winner was Jay Perrin with 38 points ahead of Kevin Dinan in second with 37 points and Wayne Koch in third with 36points.
T.T.F.N.

Privett on pole at Burapha

PSC golf from The Bunker

Monday, July 2,
Mountain Shadow, Stableford
Monday, and the Bunker Boys played their first Stableford competition of the month at the beautiful resort at Mountain Shadow.

Roger Privett - winner at Burapha.
Renowned for it’s abundance of coconut trees growing in just the wrong places the course played as tricky as ever, but Geoff Parker came up trumps winning with 37 points ahead of William Macey on 36 points and third placed Tony Robbins on 34 points.
Near pin prizes were shared between Mike Lloyd, Roger Privett, William Macey and June’s golfer of the month Eddie Martin.
Wednesday, July 4,
Burapha, Medal
Playing off the blue tees at Burapha, Roger Privet won the day in the Medal competition with a fine one-under par net 71. William Macey grabbed the runner-up spot shooting a one-over par net 73 and Monday’s winner Geoff Parker claimed third place with net 74.
Only three par 3 greens were hit and William Macey took two of them with Colin Greig getting the other one.
Friday, July 6,
Green Valley, Stableford
Friday’s late change of venue saw three players dominate proceedings with Gerry Cooney celebrating his return, winning with 36 points ahead of Mashi Kaneta (35 points). Meanwhile, a rare appearance from George Redgewell saw him claim third place with 32 points.
The same players won the near pin prizes, Gerry Cooney getting two and Mashi and George winning the other two.

Herb turns back the clock

PSC golf from The Three Sisters Bar

June 17, the weather was fine and so was the golfing - at least for Herb Ishinaga it was. He battered the field with 43 big points. It was a no contest as Herb shot his best game in years. Recording an 85 off the stick, it was like he played 15 years ago.
Coming a distant second was ‘Big’ Bill Key with 36 points. Bob Benda, who is always near the top, was in next with 35 points. The rest of the field faded away in the distance.
The end of the month again brought Paul Kraft to front with 38 points. It has been three times this year that Paul has risen to the top at the end of the month. It looks like next year’s plaque on the trophy will be Paul’s.
Sus Ige tried to stop Paul but fell short. He came in with 37 points, missing out by a shot. With the rainy season on our heels, we’ll have to see what next month brings.

Kidd’s play at Plutaluang

IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the OK Corral

July opened with a flourish for the Pattaya Golf Society as they forsook the usual tranquility of a Sunday at Bangpra for the slightly busier Plutaluang on the first day of the month, in a stableford event over the South and East nines.
The front nine greens were slow by comparison but the back nine offered a pace more in keeping with the golfers wishes and some excellent scores were registered.
The traditional Sunday single flight saw golfers representing seven nations fight it out and it was very close with Mod Churaiska, Peter Masters and Freddy Jones all grabbing a share of the runner-up slot with hard-earned 38-point cards.
Having the time of his life elsewhere was Ian Kidd, recently returned from down under, and the wizard of “Aus” came up trumps with his score of 43 points, on a day when nothing could go wrong. In-so-doing he registered his personal best score in the Kingdom.
Both Kinya Akiyama and Mod Churaiska shared the large 2’s pot. The Booby Bevy went to Shuichi Kodaka for a round best described as mediocre but his smiles showed he had enjoyed the day immensely on his first visit with the group for quite a few months. July had indeed arrived in fine style.
Masashi Master at Laem Chabang
Tuesday’s outing was a stableford competition over the Mountain and Lake nines at Laem Chabang. The course was in impeccable condition and the Mountain nine was especially challenging.
The popularity of the venue meant two flights turned out, which were cut at nineteen and under. In the first flight Joop Medze, Brian Kelly and Bob Lindborg all enjoyed success, coming joint runners-up with 35 points each, just two behind the eventual winner Peter Masters whose 37 point score was a fine return on his first visit to the course.
The second flight saw Len Jones come third with a competent 32 point card, strangely losing ground on the easier Lakes nine, and finishing four points behind runner-up Peter Marsh whose level par 36 point score was a creditable performance.
The best score of the day was that of Japanese golfer Masashi Iizumi whose 43 points showed he had thrown off the jet lag which has affected his previous round. It was to be his best ever round in his career in Thailand and his smiles back at the OK Corral said it all.
The day’s three birdie 2’s all came on the Lake 8th hole and the pot was shared between Joop Medze, Bob Lindborg and Chris Knapp. Elsewhere in the field Pierre Bietry had been having a good day coming off the fourteenth but failed to score any more points thus assuring him of the Booby Bevy to calm his troubled soul!
It had been a quality day on a quality course.
Swedish Stunner
A fresh breeze and an overcast sky greeted the Pattaya Golf Society at The Emerald on Thursday, July 5, when they called to play a stableford event on the ever-improving course.
Despite the awkward conditions there were to be some excellent performances as firstly Peter Masters returned a score of 34 points, which was to give him third place ultimately, four behind lady golfer Mod Churaiska whose 38 points was indicative of her current rapid improvement. Her short game is one of the best and with her length off the forward tees she is always thereabouts. Well-done lass!
The day’s plaudits were reserved for Swedish golfer Mikael Andersson whose power and length tore the course apart as he sped to a stunning gross of 73, lipping a birdie putt on the final hole which would have seen him level par. His 41 points is such a rare return for a six handicapper and birdying the hardest hole on the course was a bonus.
Strangely Mikael missed out on a birdie ‘2’ with the day’s pot going to Tony Kitchen for his effort on the thirteenth.
Len Jones had made the mistake of playing on three consecutive days and found that his energy levels could only be resuscitated by the Booby Bevy as his round was one to forget. But not so Mikael Andersson, for him it was a round to savour.

Mikael maintains hot streak

Jomtien Golf with the I.P.G.C.

Monday, July 2, Green Valley, Stableford
With a mass exodus of members returning to U.K. over the past two weeks, there were only 22 out today.
With a three-game rollover in division two it was all to play for in the 2’s competition but once again no winners. John McLoone picked up a double payout in division 1 for his birdie on the 16th.
There are now two divisional prizes to be won on each of the par threes with a cut of 1-16 and 17 and above for nearest the pins. Today it was two bottles for John McLoone and one each for Ted Morris and Mikael Andersson. In the lower division Les Hall, Tony Sawyer, Bob Martin and Jack Hinchey all won.
In the stableford games Ben Findon and Ted Morris both came in with 34 points, but Ben’s greater back nine count back of 19/17 earned him second place. In-form Mikael Andersson won with a brilliant round that produced 38 points.
Normally higher up the table in division 2, Miss Nom’s 31 points got third place while 3 points better off was Jack Hinchey in second, meanwhile Les Hall came top with 35 points.
Friday, July 6, Eastern Star, Stableford
Only one division today in the stableford competition and with heavily sanded greens there were a few heated discussions relating to why we should play there, but that is another story. Another great round from Mikael winning with 37 points, Dave Richards finished second with 36 and John McLoone third with 34.
Reminder: Jomtien golf meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Paweenas in Soi 5, Jomtien Beach Rd. at around 9am for a 10.30 tee off time. Please sign up in the bar or ring Glyn on 086 837 5464.

Royal Varuna Yacht Club: Sailing into the next 50 years

by Peter Cummins, Special Correspondent, “Pattaya Mail”
The reader(s?), I feel sure, will be happy to know that this is the final installment of the stories of the founding, development and ‘greening’ of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club. Now, thanks to the untiring work of 22nd Commodore Don Mackenzie, Al Chandler, Chris King et al., in 2000-2002, the Royal Varuna is guaranteed its splendid home for another quarter century, on the best site on the Eastern Seaboard.

The first two parts of this series described the founding of the Club in the pristine Pattaya of 50 years ago and, through the generosity and sailing skills of His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej the Great, the upgrading of the fledgling club to what it now is: the driving, thriving force behind yacht racing, cruising and marine sports around the Kingdom, around the region - and, even around the world.
Like Pattaya itself, many changes have enveloped the club over the past forty years or so, and this edition takes the Club on a fast-forward mode through these intervening four decades.
In a repeat of history, it was Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn who officially opened and dedicated the new Varuna clubhouse in February, 2004, some 36 years after His Majesty the King opened the original Club-house in 1968, on the same site at Kasetsin Beach, South Pattaya.

The view from the upper terrace at Royal Varuna looking out to the islands of Koh Larn, Koh Krok and Koh Sak.
During the decades of the late 1960s and 1970s, a quantum leap in enthusiasm for yacht racing took place, with the original - mostly wooden - Fireballs and Enterprises being replaced by the sleek Hobie Cats, single-handed Lasers and an assortment of other fiberglass catamarans. These craft required much less maintenance than the original classes, an important factor in the busy lifestyles evolving among the Thai and expat communities, reflecting a faster-moving world-at-large.
The Laser was introduced during Eighth Commodore Al Chandler’s administration, and appealed to an evolving busier lifestyle with the added advantage of eliminating the constant problem - for some, certainly - of finding a crew.
The Laser soon replaced the OK dinghy as the single-hander of choice. As Dr. Rachot once put it, “When you sail the OK, if it doesn’t hurt you aren’t doing it right!” Although the same could be said of the demanding Laser, the sheer simplicity of design and the low maintenance proved hard to resist.
Even the Fireballs, which had always been finely crafted locally in wood, began to go to fibreglass, particularly after the 1978 Fireball Worlds were held at the Club. The imported boats of the visitors beat the local boats soundly, not just because of more experienced helms, but also because they were more sophisticated in their construction and rigging.

The lively beach bar on a Saturday evening.

Once the Club was advised that H.M. the King would be coming to Pattaya and it was asked if it could produce a Fireball for him to sail. At the time, Angelo Gualtieri was the official Fireball manufacturer for Thailand, so he very rapidly produced a classic minimum weight Fireball for His Majesty. It was sitting ready on the beach at the appointed date when word came that affairs of state prevented His Majesty from coming.
Everyone was naturally disappointed, but it was a fine boat, painted in the Royal yellow. Prince Bira bought it and it became one of the most successful Fireballs at the Club, winning many races, championships and regional events.
Prince Bira so liked the Fireball that he inaugurated the Firebird Trophy, by far the largest trophy in the Club, sculpting by hand the huge bronze model of Koh Rin upon which a bronze eagle with ruby eyes stands.

Club Founder Walter Meyer (3rd left front) surrounded by Royal Varuna commodores and supporters.

The Race was for Fireballs, a long distance race round Koh Rin and Koh Rang Kwian, back north to round Koh Larn and sail east back across the Gulf to a Royal Varuna finishing line. Apart from the Trans-Gulf Race, it was the longest, most grueling long-distance race on the Royal Varuna calendar.
Ruchai Kanjanavanit, brother of Fourth Commodore Rachot, actually introduced the Optimist dinghy into Thailand in the early 1970s with the little dinghy carrying the auspicious number THA 1. It was shortly afterwards, however, that Al Chandler realized the potential of the Optimist dinghy for the training of juniors - and for helping ensure that a pool of young sailors was ready to move into adult classes. Al placed his time, his formidable drive and personal resources behind the development of the Optimist in Thailand.

The magnificent new clubhouse, opened in 2004 by HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, reflects a bright future for Pattaya’s Royal Varuna Yacht Club.
Since that time, Al has been instrumental in promoting junior sailing and has the distinction of having been the only Thai-based President of the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA).
Appropriately enough, on International Children’s Day, 8 January, l977, the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand formed the Junior Sailing Squadron of Thailand (JSST), with a mandate, inter alia “of promoting youth sailing throughout the Kingdom”, and adopting the ubiquitous Optimist dinghy as the ideal trainer. Varuna’s own Gordon Aylward was a mover and shaker in JSST’s early days.
RVYC has been a staunch and generous supporter of junior sailing, which has already produced two generations of first-class sailors including professional instructors. It has also produced several national and regional champions in various classes, as well as Olympic contenders. Its alumni can no doubt be found sailing in regattas in all corners of the globe.

The first Fireball World Championship at the Club in 1978.

Varuna has given much time and effort to this, and will no doubt continue to do so. The Club has consistently co-operated with the Royal Thai Navy and the JSST and, as was shown in 2004, makes RVYC facilities available for training, practice and racing.
As is now evident from successive sail-training camps, many of the big international schools on the Eastern Seaboard and in Bangkok are now entering the Optimist ranks and that bodes well for future membership, who will enjoy the Club’s marvellous new facilities for decades to come.

A picture of the old clubhouse at the new site on Kasetsin Beach taken around 1970.
David Race, one of Varuna’s perennial Hobie Cat 16 champions, remembers the 1990s as an era of spirited one-design racing at RVYC. In Thailand, as in much of the world, it was a decade of boom and bust. The sailing scene mirrored this with growth in membership, the formation of new marinas and yacht clubs, and a rapid move to fibre-glass hulls, carbon-fibre masts, Kevlar sails and ultra-light fittings. The just-finished 32nd America’s Cup sailed off Valencia, Spain, was the epitome of yacht-racing technology and perfection.
During the 90s and into the New Millennium, the club was going through an evolutionary change, as was Bangkok with lots of expatriates arriving in Thailand to help plant concrete all over the city and escape to Varuna at weekends. The weekend sailing/racing at this time included a wide assortment of boats with a wide range of handicaps. The big cats, for example the Prindle 19, would finish and the crews were beached, having their first or subsequent beers, to watch the winning boat cross the line, often 30 minutes later, representing a clear handicap victory.

Junior Optimists make their way out to the starting line at the IODA Asian Sailing Championships 2005.
As this era dawned, the Hobie 16s were the growth one-design multihull class. Although former monohull sailors joining the club had certain misgivings about sailing these craft, they were the most popular two-person boats, ideally suited to launching and beaching, with the potential for fleet expansion and one-design racing.
Spirited competition and fine-tuned speed machines were the multihull flavour of the decade. As well as David and Susan Race, fellow-Aussies Peter and Julia Bates were the most successful racers during this period.
This was also a period when the Nacra fleet began to grow, comprising a range of different designs suited to all sizes and pocketbooks. They began to challenge the Hobie dominance, but tended to dissipate the one-design approach with a variety of classes (5.0, 5.5, 5.8, 14 sq and 16 sq (single-handers). Then the Nacras introduced the spinnaker (or rather, cruising chute) to the multihull fleet at Varuna, an injection of speed which few could resist.

The Club hosted the Topcat World Championships in 1997.
Inevitably, there came the Hobie challenge, with the mighty Tiger 18 sweeping all before it.
The Lasers, a real test of monohull single-handed dinghy racing, were also the growth single-handed class. These boats are notoriously hard on the thighs and the back.
The Laser also proved its flexibility, with the 7.0, 5.7 (Radial) and 4.7 rigs, the latter being easy for women and teenagers to manage. In fact, a number of women’s training courses have been dedicated to the Varuna ladies.
Alongside expanding multihull and laser fleets, the Club even found time in 1997 to host the World Championship of the Topcat Class of catamaran. This Regatta, managed and organized by Varunians, did not encourage a significant Topcat Fleet within the Club. Nevertheless, it served to consolidate Varuna’s international reputation as a fine venue for any international regatta and produce Thailand’s first World yachting champion - P.O Vinai Vongtim of the Royal Thai Navy Fleet, Sattahip.
These three articles, then, with a lot of obvious gaps, have attempted to trace the 50-year history of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club. It has been a long and, at times, a tortuous road for the thousands who have sailed, cruised, raced, wined and dined, enjoyed the sea-front ambience and the incomparable social ambience of the Club, over the half-century since 1957.

Ladies Challenge Cup Day at Royal Varuna.
There have been 25 Flag Commodores to guide the Club for these past 50 years, starting with founder/first Flag Commodore Swiss national Walter J. Meyer, up to the incumbent Commodore, Alex Skaria, also a Swiss.
The other 23 worthy gentlemen have spanned nationalities of Australia, USA, UK, German, Danish, New Zealand, Italian and, of course, several Thais.
His Majesty the King and members of the Royal Family, visiting royalty and dignitaries, princes, princesses, ambassadors, Armed Services men and women, doctors, dentists and other professionals, the Diplomatic Corps and United Nations personnel, captains of industry, professors, school teachers, aid workers, photographers, journalists and media professionals, have all, at one time or another, passed through the Royal Varuna.
Royal Varuna through the years has hosted and/or organized more than 14 regional and international regattas and continues to support many of the big Yacht racing events in Thailand. The media coverage of these myriad marine endeavours brings much kudos to the Kingdom, and Pattaya itself, through such exposure, is promoted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand as the world’s best family-oriented marine environment tourist attraction.
With a membership hovering around 450 (which includes a number of the Northern European ‘migratory birds’ who ‘flock’ out to Royal Varuna when the bitter winter grips the northern climes), the new clubhouse and facilities can easily look to a membership of 500.
There are upwards of 1,000 craft stored at the club, a large increase over earlier days, due in the main to the Royal Thai Government abolishing several years ago the punishing tax which was crippling the development of Thailand’s now-burgeoning marine industry
The Club has an open membership and some basic accommodation on the premises, charter boats and training schools are available on request. Of course, there is a bar (well, it IS a yacht club, after all) and a good restaurant open 7 days per week.
Any further information can be obtained from the Club itself at 286 Moo 12, Pratumnak Road, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150, Thailand; Tel. (66) 0 3825 0116, (66) 0 3830 6290; fax: (66) 03825 0367; e-mail: [email protected]; www.royal-varuna-yacht-club.com

Megabreak 9-Ball Handicap Pool League

Barry Hooper
The Group A draw for this week’s round and the “Battle of the Bosses” proved to be a tight affair but John Mega came out on top with two decisive wins, and both he and Mark now progress to the next round.

Charlie scraped through in second in Group B and will now face Mark and Baz in the next round.
In Group B, Nop had two good wins and Charlie scraped through in second with a win and a loss to secure their places.
Group C saw Baz rise to the top with four points from his two wins, with Chris as the runner up.
Things are really hotting up now as we get down to the last few weeks and all the players were seen to be getting in plenty of practice
Full information on this league plus the regular “Sunday 9 Ball Competition” as sponsored by DSL can be obtained at “Megabreak” Soy Diana Inn, Tel No 038 428 858, http://www. megabreakpool.com or email [email protected].
The next 9-ball league is scheduled to start at the beginning of August. If anyone is interested in taking part, please submit your names as soon as possible as the entry is restricted and taken on a first come first served basis.
Results from July 8 (week 4)
Group A
Rich 2 v 3 John Mega, Mark 3 v 1 Rich, Mark 2 v 3 John Mega
Group B
Jason 1 v 3 Charlie, Nop 3 v 2 Jason, Charlie 2 v 3 Nop
Group C
Olly 1 v 3 Baz, Baz 3 v 0 Chris, Chris 3 v 2 Olly
Draw for next Round: Group A - John Mega, Nop and Chris; Group B - Charlie, Mark and Baz.

If it’s a Two Ball, take Simon and Tracey

IPGC golf from Lewiinski’s

Sunday, July 1, Green Valley – White Tees, Stableford
A Flight
1st Jim Brackett (6) 40pts
2nd Chris Davisson (12) 40pts
3rd Joe McArdle (12) 40pts
B Flight
1st John Hillier (15) 42pts
2nd Colm Mullen (15) 39pts
3rd Seamus Cotter (14) 38pts
C Flight
1st Joe Tynan 42pts
2nd Charles Sheppard (18) 40pts
3rd Jez Lees (18) 39pts
Near Pins: #2: Keith Brooks; #9: Chris Davisson, #12: Jim Brackett; #16: Jeremy Masse
2’s: Jim Brackett, Chris Davisson (2), Dan Willits, Kenneth Anderson, Mick Schorsbree, Mike Gors, Trudy Chadbourn
The co-MoM was Good Guy Johnny who is showing signs of coming into form, this day with an excellent 42 points. That was three better than one of our dearest friends from the Ol’ Sod (and we have many), Colm Mullen. Colm was one clear of fellow Mick, Seamus Cotter, who needed a count back to wrest third place from The Lady’s Man.
That other MoM to which I eluded was the ethereal Joe Tynan who bettered Chas’ fine 40-point outlay by two. Jez Lees, on his getaway day to see Mum and Dad and the UK, won enough to defer the Airport Tax with his excellent 39 points.
Jimbo Brackett had to go to count back to better Quiet Chris and the Leprechaun. Joe McArdle, as he did last week, brought into question the Luck O’ the Irish.
Tuesday, July 3, Khao Kheow A &
C – White Tees, Stableford
1st Simon Spaulding (4) 37pts
2nd Sim Davis (36) 34pts
3rd John Hillier (15) 30pts
2’s: Simon Spaulding
One half of our ‘title gang’, Simon topped out the day with 37 points, three ahead of wife of the GM/Donkey. It was Sim’s first payday in the Society, so kudos to her. Nice Guy Johnny showed a pugilistic side as he boxed Keith Dyson, Chas Sheppard and Mr. Davis off the podium, courtesy of a favorable count back.
Friday, July 6,
The Emerald –
White Tees,
2-Person Better Ball, Stableford
1st Simon Spaulding (4) & Tracey Brown (9) 40pts
2nd Charles Sheppard (18) & Steve Mascari (6) 40pts
If it wasn’t enough that Simon Spaulding and Tracey are excellent golfers, it figured that they would take the two-person better ball, since the second placed two-ball was a four-ball. Congrats to our old friends from Down Under.

Khao Kheow shows its teeth

IPGC golf from the Caddy Shack

Tuesday, July 3, Crystal Bay,4-Man Scramble
A 4-man scramble was played over the B & C courses at this venue, which as usual was well presented and is always a pleasure to play.
After checking in and teeing off without any problems, tactics soon came to the fore and Brian Firringo, Gray Strickland, Graham & Gray Bellchamber set the early pace with a fine net 66. This score stood for a period until the team of Alistair Templeton, Bev Ewens, Frazer Kersley & Kieron Keogh recorded a net 63.80.
The winning team however was that of Ramsay Smith, Dave Strang, Charlie Ayres and an unknown fourth player who together posted an excellent net 60 to take the day’s honours.
Friday, July 6,Khao Kheow,Stableford
Friday was an individual stableford event over the A & C courses at Khao Kheow. The journey there was quite easy but returning to Pattaya is still a nightmare, whichever route you take.
The recent rains made the course play even longer & more difficult than normal with no run on the fairways at all. The scores reflected this with Stuart Rochi firing 25 points in third, Brian Firringo 27 in second, and the very surprised Gray Bellchamber coming out on top with 31 points.
Once again Khao Kheow had come out on top and everyone agreed what a superb golf course this is.

The Square Ring: by Howie Reed

With ‘His Lordship’ on holiday playing with the rich and famous at beautiful Lake Tahoe, he has left me, his faithful manservant Jeeves, with the awesome task of producing this week’s edition of ‘The Square Ring’.
There’s lots of welterweight action on Sunday from Carson, California and The Boardwalk in Atlantic City. WBO welter champ Antonio Margarito (34-4) has run off a string of 22-0 with one ‘no contest’ since he lost to “Rockin” Rodney Jones back in 1996. That string came to an end against Daniel Santos in 2001 when a cut ended the fight in the first round resulting in a ‘no contest’. Since then Margarito’s run off four on the trot with 3 KO’s.
His opponent in this title defense is Paul Williams whose 32-0 record is as misleading as a dancer at Tiffany’s. The only name fighter in those 32 wins is Sharmba Mitchell who at least has been in with the best. Margarito has built his record by ducking those boxers that many consider the best in the division. Those boxers are Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto (30-0) and Carlos Baldomir.
On the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, Kemit Clintron (27-1), who got stopped in 5 by Antonio Margarito, defends the IBF welter title against Walter Matthysse (26-1), who was KO’d by Paul Williams last May.
Knowing the way HBO operates, the second fight on The Boardwalk involves Arturo Gatti, who HBO would love to match against the winner of Clintron - Matthysse. All the fights are on HBO or via PPV in ‘Land of Smiles’.
Nicky Cook headlines a card at the 02 Arena in London and probably off the Thai telly on Sunday. Cook, from Dagenham, England, has a spotless record of 27-0 having beaten the best featherweights that Europe has to offer. The other side is that Europe doesn’t offer a lot.
Steven Luevani comes in from Southern California with a record of 32-1 built against second-tier boxers. Cook and Luevano have that in common. The winner gets the WBO featherweight title and the cheers of an adoring throng.
“I will counter-punch, move and make Cook miss, then make him pay,” said Luevano. “I’m going to London to win. I am going into a hostile situation when I walk into that ring. I watched the Ricky Hatton fight and saw all of the fans rooting for him. Everyone will be against me but once it is just me and him, I will focus on the fight, beat Nicky Cook and bring home the world title.”
Come on Nicky Boy!
Since 2004 Roy Jones jr. has gone 1-3, losing to Antonio Tarver twice and Glenn Johnson while beating Prince BadiAjamu. Against the Prince he had to go the full 12 round but did win 11 from all three judges.
Now in Mississippi, USA, Jones (50-4) steps it up a bit against undefeated Anthony Hanshaw whose won 21 with only a draw to mar the record.
Under normal circumstances it would be difficult to get very excited about this one, especially with Hanshaw’s sub-par last outing against Jean Paul Mendy. Jones has to fight age which is always a problem. “You can’t teach power and you can’t fight old.” But with the announcement that Felix Trinidad is coming out of retirement and has accepted in principle a fight with Jones jr., there’s a lot on the line.
“I can’t wait to get to it (a fight with Felix Trinidad), but first I have to deal with Anthony Hanshaw,” said Jones. “I’m not taking anybody lightly. First I’ll stop Anthony Hanshaw and then I’ll stop Felix Trinidad.”
We will see what we will see.
The Lord of the Manor left the following note.
“Most will remember Jim Croce when he sang ‘Big Bad Leroy Brown’. In that song was the advice that ‘you don’t spit on Superman’s cape’. If Croce were alive today, for Thai boxers he would add, ‘don’t go to Argentina.’
“The advice would be a little late for the 17-0 Nethra Sasiprace, who fought for the vacant WBA jr. flyweight title against Juan Carlos Reveco (16-0). Bad idea as Sasiprace got sent ‘bye-bye’ in 8.
“This isn’t to write that Sasiprace didn’t start off Ok, as he did, by using his superior speed. Following a cut eye in the 6th Reveco decided to let it all hang out. He went on the attack, dropping the Thai twice in the 8th to end it all.”
One of the true stars of boxing is Thailand’s Pongsalek Wonjongkam, who in 67 fights has only lost twice. Funny, in an odd sort of way, that both those loses came at the hands of Jerry Pahayahay in the mid 1990’s. Since then Wonjongkam has run off a string of 54 and nil.
The ‘Lord of the Manor’ saw Wonjongkam fight in 2001 when he fought as a highlight of the WBC convention held in Pattaya. On Wednesday at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Wonjongkam will defend his WBC flyweight title against Daisuke Naito at 30-2-2. As the Lord would say, “This is a lay down.”
The two met in April of 2002 when Wonjongkam scored the quickest KO in fly history at 34 seconds of the first round. Their second meeting was in 2005 when Naito lasted until the 7th.
As honesty prevails, this fight is about showing off the hometown boy (Naito) and a payday reported to be USD $400,000 for the WBC champ. Two great officials with ties to Pattaya will be working the fight. Cousin Bruce McTavish from the Philippines and Yank Toby Gibson, old Monkey House Fred’s pal from the TQ days. Cousin Bruce has refereed 6 of Wonjongkam’s title defenses. Gibson’s the rookie.
The report out of the Wonjongkam camp is that in the next year there will be two super fights with their champ. One would be against Vic Darchinyan (22-0) and the other against an up and coming Japanese fighter named Koki Kameda (15-0). The fight against Kameda is a possibility but forget about Darchinyan - now or ever. Darchinyan got his butt kicked on Sunday and will soon disappear from view.
Last Tuesday, July 3 in Bangkok, which is just one day before the Yanks celebrated Independence Day, a day in England we call Thanksgiving, Denkaosan Kaovichit (39-1) got a unanimous decision over Richard Olisa (6-8-3).
On the same card Thitichon Singwancha (10-1) won in six over a record builder named Joan de Guia (4-5-2). He’s called “Little Pacquiao” and now Filipino Florante Condes (21-3-1) can be called the IBF straw-weight champ.
Condes went into the den of Muhammad Rachman (61-6-5), Jakarta’s indoor tennis stadium, and left with a majority decision 114-112 twice. The other judge had it 117-113 for Rachman who was down twice. Guess which judge was from Indonesia?
Those that distained the advice provided in this column last week and got up early to watch Wladimir Klitschko (49-3) vs. Lamon Brewster (33-4) last Sunday, you were warned. It was much more an exhibition than a fight, mainly because it takes two to fight.
Lamon Brewster tried the first 30 seconds of the opening stanza then gave up and became receiver for the face-seeking jab of Wladimir Klitschko.
Brewster trainer Buddy McGirk said after round five: “I’ll give you one more round, then I’m going to pull the plug.” Brewster did nothing so McGirk tossed in the towel after 6.
The 20,000 fans that packed the Cologne Arena in Germany were over the moon that their hero, who comes from Russia and lives in America, had defended German honor with another title defense.
Much like Germany, Australia has claimed Vic Darchinyan as one of their own. Originally from Armenia, Darchinyan now fights out of Sydney with the braggadocio associated with most testosterone-laden Aussie males.
“I don’t want to talk. I want to prove I am the best,” said Darchinyan before his fight with Nonito Donaire in Bridgeport Ct, USA. “My point is this: If you are better, let’s fight, let’s unify. If you win, take my belts. If I have to move up and fight super flyweight, bantamweight or super bantamweight to get a real challenge, I will.”
“Darchinyan is not invincible,” said Donaire in reply. “He has hands and feet, but so do I. He hits hard, but so do I. He has skills, but so do I. I am very relaxed. I have a great game plan. I am very confident I will win.”
His Lordship tipped Darchinyan as a sure winner - as did most boxing experts. They were all wrong as Donaire dominated from the opening bell, signing off with a picture perfect left hook that knocked Darchinyan colder than an ex-mother-in-law’s smile. The time was 1:38 of round 5.
Interviewed in the ring after the fight, Darchinyan showed what a right prat he is. “I wasn’t hurt. Let’s see if he’ll fight me again.”
This was Darchinyan’s first loss in 29 fights.
On his way to Lake Tahoe, ‘His Lordship’ stopped off at the Orleans Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas for the monthly Friday night fights. Here’s his report.
“Jeeves, I trust you are taking care of the store. Had a great time at the fights. First three were as good as you will see anywhere: Lots of punching, lots of action and cerveza Corona.
“With the crowd ready to go, the action was interrupted by 35 minutes of Mexican music performed by guys and a gal that were good examples of the fact that immigration should be tightened. Once the singers have done Granada (which they didn’t do) the show should be over. 90% of the audience lost any interest in anything but the line at the portable bars.
“Great that a promoter is trying something but the audience was 80% non-Latin. They came to see boxing not ‘Chingadero music.’ Twas like going to see the Bolshoi do Swan Lake and have the Village People show up.”
This ought to do His Lordship proud - another outstanding column in the finest journalistic tradition. Speaking of tradition, I’ve also tapped into his supply of cigars, lager and music. I even read his e-mail, especially this one from his pal Monkey House Fred.
“As of 1st July 2007, Britain is smoke free. In keeping with the new regulations, Glasgow Airport would like to remind all wannabe terrorists that they must extinguish themselves before entering the terminal building. Thank you.”