The Pattaya Links Golf Society
Monday, March 13, Silky Oak – Stableford
A Flight
1st Adam Barton (13) 38pts
2nd Mogens Melander (17) 36pts
3rd Robin Peach (17) 36pts
4th Ken Page (15) 34pts
B Flight
1st Jim Carlson (20) 42pts
2nd New Satita (20) 41pts
3rd Len Jones (26) 36pts
4th Richard Dobson (23) 33pts
Near Pins: #6 Fleming Sorensen, Chris Walsh, #14 New Satita, Robin Peach
Best front 9: John Chelo
Best back 9: Larry Slattery
Canadian Jim Carlson is going home with a big notch under his belt. After a number of ordinary games this trip, he left the best till last, with a big 42 points to win B Flight at Silky Oak on Monday.
This, however was not a runaway win, oh no! Right on his tail was that “pocket rocket” New Satita, having yet another great game and clocking up 41 points. Len Jones, after a lay-off of a couple of weeks, came back rejuvenated to post a nice 36 points to take third on the day.
The big guy Adam Barton was the victor in A Flight with a steady 38 points off his 13 handicap. Mogens Melander runs hot and cold but today was a “hot” one as he posted a score of 36 points to take the silver on a count back over visitor Robin Peach.
31 golfers lined up on the white tees at a Silky Oak course in good condition. We were very happy with the fairways which are well grassed and cut so as to allow the ball to just sit up enough to make striking easier.
The greens; well they are sanded, again (seems like every time I come here they are sanded), maybe they are just a difficult job for the greenkeeper and a lot of effort is being put into them. But of course, they were quite slow. Like any green we need to adjust and some of us do that quicker than others.
Weatherwise, it is starting to get hot, but once again that strong breeze arose to just keep things in the range of pleasant.
We have had a revamp of “novelty” prizes. Gone are the “2s” and replaced by nearest to pin on 2 of the par 3s (2 flights on each) and a “best front 9” and “best back 9” for anyone who has not won any other prizes. This leaves the door open to everyone who didn’t make the podium.
Back at “Links Bar” we found that Jim must have been in a hurry to get to Canada as he was absent from the presentation, so the Green Jacket stayed in its wrapper. Maybe we get a photo of Jim next year.
Friday, March 17, The Emerald – 4-Ball Better-Ball
Where would you go to play golf with a St. Patrick’s Day theme? Emerald of course! So it was that 26 green clad aspirants arrived ready for a team event, the 4-ball better-ball comp. The name is deceiving, as the teams comprise only 2 players. Scoring is individual stableford with the better of the two scores becoming the team score. Got that?
The Emerald course condition was described thus “it’s Emerald”. Fairways were classed as good and the greens also good but slow. Look at the scores and some players thought the course was just fine.
Apart from the first 3 placed teams there were heaps of prizes to be won, many donated by some of the participants (maybe hoping to win their own prize). Cash prizes and/ or golf balls for near pins, long 1st putts and many more.
With the weather on the change and becoming a little hotter, there were some weary bodies making it back to Links Bar to await the results.
With Phil away on leave, presentation duties were handed to Club Captain, Mike King, who seemed to delight in giving away so many prizes. Len’s helping hand organizing the order of prizes made life easy for Mike.
You would expect that, being St. Patrick’s Day, an Irish team would take the honours. They came close, but a pair of party poopers beat them to it. Canadian John Chelo teamed with Captain Mike to muster 45 points for the team, edging out Chris Walsh and Larry Slattery (the Irish) on 44 points, with the Danish pairing of Mogens Melander and Svend Hommell on 40 points taking third.
It became late early (is that Irish?) so after a few pick-me-ups we headed for home, or maybe some more St. Paddy’s Day celebrations. Another great day of golfing in Thailand!
