IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the Links Bar
Dark and brooding skies did not auger well for the Pattaya Golf Society on Monday, 26th September as they travelled to Treasure Hill to play a stableford event on the perennially tough course.
This time the large group played from the yellow tees and the soft fairways and receptive greens were soon to be inundated by a heavy downpour which lasted for forty minutes or more. However, patience always pays off and within half an hour the track was perfectly playable again. Treasure Hill in this condition is made for low handicappers and those who can manage their game, and so it turned out.
In third place on 32 points was Frank Harrington, making a welcome return to the group after a while away and a mere point ahead in second place was Wichai Tananusorn who had also secured a birdie ‘2’ on the seventeenth. The winner was Jon Batty who recorded 35 points for a deserved victory, following his excellent round at Greenwood the week before.
Other ‘2’s were recorded by Andrew Purdie on the second (following a birdie on the first!) and Keith Melbourne’s fine effort on the seventeenth. The consolation beer went to new member Wayne Peppernell to mark his debut round with the group.
It had been a challenging start to the week but nevertheless enjoyable, even in the rain!
New winners welcome
The Pattaya Golf Society continued its week with a visit to Pattana to play a medal competition on the A and B nines, which were in excellent condition considering the wetness of courses nearby. Yes, the course was soft but when has there ever been twenty yards of “run” at the jewel of a course?
Play from the yellow tees was swift and again a close competition was the result which saw no birdie ‘2’s. In third place with net 74 was Wichai Tananusorn and a bogey-bogey-bogey finish cost the Thai golfer dear. In second place was Danish golfer Mogens Melander with net 73. For the first time in ages Mr Len was able to call for congratulations to be paid to a lady golfer, New Satita as her net 71 was the best score of the day. New is a ‘new’ PGS member and as often happens, Thai ladies at the start of their golf careers may well be hard to beat on some courses in the area as their full swings can “shorten” the play from the ladies’ tees. The presentation was nevertheless full in its appreciation of a fine round by the lady golfer.
Opinion was unanimous about golf at the course as everything is right at Pattana, from arrival and reception to the quality of the course. Long may it continue.
All new at Khao Kheow
The Pattaya Golf Society visited Khao Kheow on Friday 30th September to play a stableford competition on the popular course, which was in excellent condition despite the wet spell the province is enduring at the moment. The B and C nines were the allotted combination and for some golfers playing the track for the first time there was the debut experience of three of the finest holes in the province, B7/B8/B9.
Scoring for most of the field was tough as there was little run on the soft fairways but Aussie Greg Gawron’s persistence paid off with 33 points for third place. In second was Wichai Tananusorn whose week had been excellent with three second place finishes, including today with a splendid 38 points and the best gross figures of 77. The winner was again New Satita, Wednesday’s winner and her development continued with 41 points for the win. It represented the twenty fifth PGS score of forty points and better this year so far and she has found herself in some esteemed company.
The ‘2’s pot was shared by Wichai (C3) and Karl Flood (B8) and the consolation beer went to Stu Thompson after a hard day’s toil in the humid conditions.
The PGS week had ended in fine style again and a relaxing weekend watching the big boys compete for the Ryder Cup lies in store.
