PSC Golf from The Growling Swan
Monday, Sept. 23, Plutaluang – Stableford
We had 35 golfers signed up for the day’s event and as it was Kevin Waycott’s 60th birthday it was suggested that he had boosted the numbers by contacting “Rent-A-Crowd”, but in actual fact we just wanted to celebrate with a genuine good bloke.
As we assembled at The Growling Swan hearty welcomes were handed out to Roald Thorsen from Norway and a welcome return to golf for Sandy “Cyndy Lauper” Leiper after a month or so off. We also welcomed newcomers Rick Forrest & Chris Playforth from Lakelands Golf Club in Perth, Western Australia and Greg Hill, John Player, Murray Hart, Sel Wegner, Dave Bowers, Dave Fletcher, Dennis Steele & Keith Buchanan, who are just about all Pattaya residents.
Stephen Newton, Niall Stuart, Stu Rifkin, Peter Grey, Peter Bye & Gary Monley.
It was sadly time to say farewell to JJ Harney who will shortly be returning to Ireland, Mark Stapleton who is off back to Melbourne, Australia for a month or so and good friend Dave Neal who is returning to the UK after 6 weeks of golf in Pattaya.
Everyone showed up on time so our 3 mini vans left a couple of minutes early at 8.28 am and in drizzling rain we headed south down Sukhumvit and arrived at the Plutaluang complex 43 minutes later. It was quite busy and we were allocated West & East nines, an unusual combination for us and as we proceeded to the West 1 tee the heavens opened so we ran for cover. We had faith though and sure enough after about 15 minutes the rain abated and we managed to send our first four-ball away in very light rain at 10.00 am which in fact was our allotted tee time.
The rain soon stopped completely and naturally preferred lies were in place so we proceeded at a steady pace on the West nine which was in excellent condition, especially considering the recent rains and the greens in particular were of a very high standard.
After a first nine of just over two hours we came to a screaming halt at the East 1 tee where a few groups had been “slipped in” and weren’t the quickest in the world but after a twenty minute delay we were underway again and did not experience any real delays after that. Four hours & 30 minutes later we were back in the clubhouse after a round which was most enjoyable and the company was excellent.
John Pirrel, Graham Buckingham, Charles Cunningham & David Fletcher.
We had 3 Grades – A Grade for handicaps 0 to 13, B Grade for handicaps 14 to 20 & C Grade for handicaps of 21 and over with 4 places in each grade. There were also rewards for nearest the pins on the four par threes and longest first putts on the E9 & W9 greens.
One of my playing partners, John Pierrel played steady golf all day and took out the A Grade first prize with 37 points, one point ahead of Chris Playforth in second spot. There were 3 players on 34 points vying for third and fourth places so a count back was required which resulted in Birthday Boy Kevin “Wayco” Waycott (20 point back nine) taking third spot from Sel Wegner (18 point back nine) in fourth place and Peter Bye (17 point back nine) just missed out.
The B Grade was won on count back by Charles Cunningham (17 point back nine) with Dennis Steele (16 point back nine) in second place, both having 34 points. With 2 golfers on 32 points another count back was required to decide third & fourth places and it was Thientong Charoenrung (16 point back nine & 11 points on the last 6 holes ) finishing third from Stu “Heineken” Rifkin (16 point back nine & 9 points on the last 6 holes) in fourth place.
C Grade was won by Graham “Grunter” Buckingham with 37 points, 1 point ahead of John Davis in second place. Patrick Poussier was third on 35 points and Phompinmon Seesa finished fourth with 33 points.
A Flight (0-13)
1st John Pierrel (11) 37pts
2nd Chris Playforth (10) 36pts
3rd Kevin Waycott (10) 34pts
4th Sel Wegner (12) 34pts
B Flight (14-20)
1st Charles Cunningham (17) 34pts
2nd Dennis Steele (15) 34pts
3rd Thientong Charoenrung (19) 32pts
4th Stu Rifkin (14) 32pts
C Flight (21+)
1st Graham Buckingham (22) 37pts
2nd John Davis (23) 36pts
3rd Patrick Poussier (23) 35pts
4th Phonpinmon Seesa (26) 33pts
Near Pins: W3 – Graham Buckingham, W8 – Keith Buchanan, E2 – Dennis Steele, E5 – Roald Thorsen
Long Putts: W9 – Sel Wegner, E9 – Murray Hart
The Growling Swan NAGA Award, (awarded to the golfer who has the worst score on the day and discreetly their score is not made public) was won by first timer David Fletcher and he accepted the award in very good spirit.
Back at The Growling Swan afterwards there was a big crowd as Wayco was generously providing a meal to celebrate his 60th and it was indeed scrumptious and very much enjoyed by all. Another great day of golf with a terrific turnout.
Thursday, 26th Sept. – Burapha, A & B – Stroke – Monthly Mug
It was time for our monthly round of stroke-play and the classy Burapha was the chosen venue for us to compete for the 16th Growling Swan Monthly Mug. There were 28 golfers signed up but after one no-show and yours truly being a late withdrawal due to a chronic sciatic nerve problem the starting field was reduced to 26.
Gathering at The Growling Swan we welcomed Gazza from Perth Australia and Muncha’s Dad, Les Moloney from Donald in country Victoria, Australia.
Departing the GS 1 couple of minutes early at 8.28 am the 3 mini vans arrived at the course just 30 minutes later. The first group got away 15 minutes early at 9.50 am and it was reported that the course was as usual in excellent condition and the round was completed in the good time of four hours & ten minutes.
In addition to the Monthly Mug award we were able to have 3 grades with A Grade being for handicaps 0 to 17, B Grade for handicaps of 18 to 31 and C Grade for handicaps 32 and over with 3 prizes in each grade. There were also rewards for nearest the pins all the par threes and longest first putts on the A9 & B9 greens.
It was a delighted Stu “Heineken” Rifkin who was the winner of this month’s Monthly Mug with a fine score of net 69. The winner of A Grade was Peter Bye with net 70 and with 2 golfers on net 72 a count back was required which resulted in Murray Hart (net 33 back nine) taking second place from Martin “Toddy” Todd (net 36 back nine) in third spot.
The B Grade winner was Stephen Newton with a net 72 and John Davis was second with net 74. Shane “Jockey” Young finished third with net 75.
Gary Monley won the C Grade with a net 82 and Russell Calcutt was second with net 83 and Sandy “Cindy Lauper” Leiper third on net 86.
Monthly Mug
1st Stu Rifkin (14) net 69
A Flight (0-17)
1st Peter Bye (13) net 70
2nd Murray Hart (13) net 72
3rd Martin Todd (8) net 72
B Flight (18-31)
1st Stephen Newton (27) net 72
2nd John Davis (23) net 74
3rd Shane Young (30) net 75
C Flight (32+)
1st Gary Monley (36) net 82
2nd Russell Calcutt (36) net 82
3rd Sandy Leiper (35) net 86
Near Pins: A3 – Peter Bye, A6 – Brad Todd, B3 – Paul Hack, B8 – Stu Rifkin
Long Putts: A9 – Peter Grey, B9 – Niall Stuart
The Growling Swan NAGA Award was well won once again by Niall Stuart who accepted the cap gracefully and wore it for a while back in the bar. Presentations were of course back at the bar on this occasion and we thanked Peter Grey for his continued sponsorship of this monthly event and also for providing the delicious chicken dinner afterwards.
Max then paraded Deefa the Dog and there were plenty of donations to which of course go the needy people of Pattaya.
Note: Growling Swan Golf welcomes golfers of any persuasion – low & high handicappers alike, female golfers and beginners. We generally play Mondays & Thursdays, meeting at The Growling Swan (formerly The Bunker Bar) in Soi Chaiyapoon at 8.00 am with transport departing at 8.30 am. For bookings or more information please contact Peter on 0806 351 386 or email to petermalcolmblackburn @gmail.com.
We also play bowls out of the Growling Swan every Wednesday and Sunday. Sunday is Lawn Bowls and Wednesday is Indoor Bowls. All are welcome and for anyone that is interested the transport leaves The Growling Swan at 10.00am on each of those mornings. For more information please contact Paul Rennison on 0843 454 005.
