What a day it has been!

There is only one thing more enjoyable than winning a major amateur tournament and that is to have a tournament staged in one�s name, and especially a Charity tournament that benefits a cross-section of underprivileged and needy children. For that I sincerely thank Peter Malhotra.
The inaugural Pattaya Mail Mike Franklin Classic evolved in a very short lead-time, not just as another charity tournament knocking on all the same local doors for sponsorship, but looking to a wider base for that support, and for some of the beneficiaries.
The organizing team came together quite naturally and has proven to be effective leading up to the 06.45 & 12.30 Shotgun Starts on Friday 29th June. Firstly, Eastern Star Country Club and Resort with its fine Robert Trent Jones Jnr. Championship course and excellent Resort facilities. The new, young Management team stepped up to the plate and played their part. However, maintenance work to the greens caused some inconvenience to groups playing just prior to the tournament, due to my request for the greens to run at Stimpmeter speed 10 on the day, and the Course Superintendent�s determination to meet that brief.
The other half of the event equation was the venue for the Awards Ceremony and Party and, having worked successfully with Ingo Rauber, Pinnacle�s Group GM, to organize the Skal 67th World Congress golf tournament, the Pinnacle Grand Jomtien Resort and Spa was a natural choice. The Party, staged on a one rai area by the beach will speak for itself as an apres golf experience to be remembered. The Pinnacle Grand Buffet menu is the best I have seen in 12 years of organizing and participating in golf here in Thailand.
For financial control, and administration of the funds to the beneficiaries, who better to look to than a Rotary Club and the energetic Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard with new President Steve Ryser and immediate past-President Marliese Fritz.
Then of course there is the Pattaya Mail Media Group with all its media and publicity resource and contact ability to bring to bear, and the opportunity of associating closely with Tony Malhotra, Sales and Marketing Director, and sharing his attention to detail and meeting deadlines. The two press conferences were generously hosted by Andrew Wood at the Chaophya Park Hotel Bangkok, and Ingo Rauber at the Pinnacle Grand Jomtien Resort & Spa, both attended by Pattaya City Hall and the TAT Region 3.
The response from the sponsors has been excellent with no less than 57 companies and individuals providing sponsorship, charitable support, and donations for the Players and Charity Lucky draws. Every player receiving a prize at Eastern Star during the day and a chance to win in the Charity Draw with prizes valued at almost 500,000 baht. Innovations on the day included the new T-pod Trident Tri-car offered as a Hole-in-One prize, and Star Photo providing Team photos at Eastern Star, and Set photography for everyone attending the party free of charge and demonstrating the new wireless photographic technology featuring an instant �camera to print� process.
Overall, it was a fitting event to welcome Pattaya Mail�s 15th year of publication and the Group supporting charity events on the Eastern Seaboard.
Inaugural infers that it will be back in 2008, and you can count on that!
                                                                                                            Mike Franklin