IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar
The Pattaya Golf Society made a return to Khao Kheow on Monday, 9th May, to play a stableford competition on the C and A nines on what is the favourite course for many Pattaya golfers. The field was reduced by returning friends but there was still enough class on show to make more than a meaningful fist of things.
Stu Thompson, Garry Hookey and Shuichi Kodaka shared third place with 30 points each whilst Masa Takano held down second place with 32 points. The best round of the day was recorded by Larry Bland and his level par of 36 points represents excellent value on the tough course.
Stuart Thompson took the ‘2’s pot for his fine effort on A5 and the Booby Bevy was held back for the round so a rollover could be presented after Mountain Shadow the next trip out. There would be plenty of candidates for the beer there surely!
Bland doubles Up
Mountain Shadow golf club has a reputation for being tough with golfers on top of their game being the only ones to enjoy a successful round and all gofers need a challenge such as this once in a while.
The Pattaya Golf Society made its first visit there this year on Wednesday, 11th May, and found the course in excellent condition throughout. Accuracy off the tees and touch around the greens are paramount here and better golfers will find space at the top of the leaderboard. So it was as Shuichi Kodaka and Stuart Thompson scored 31 points each for a share of second place with American Larry Bland producing his second consecutive winning round with a fine 33 points.
There were no birdie ‘2’s on the rolling greens and the Booby Bevy went to a low scoring count-back with Don Nellis just pipping Rob Lamond for the dubious honour. Full marks to Don however for his excellent stewardship on the day and the field thoroughly enjoyed the test that Mountain Shadow had offered them.
Masa back to his best
On Friday, 13th May the Pattaya Golf Society visited the Emerald course in Ban Chang to play a stableford competition on the well prepared course. The day continued cloudy and excessively humid but the golfers in the moderate field enjoyed the challenge and scores generally were very good.
In third place was Garry Hookey on 34 points and in second on 35 was Shuichi Kodaka. The winner with an excellent forty points was the enthusiastic Japanese golfer Masa Takano. It represented his best golf this trip and was more than enough to prevent Larry Bland from taking a third successive victory. In truth Larry had a nightmare on the greens, three-putting as if it was going out of fashion.
There were no birdie ‘2’s but the field doffed their caps on the thirteenth tee in deference to John Mason who recorded an ‘ace’ there just two weeks previously.
The Booby Bevy went to Aussie visitor Don Pittendreigh whose single round last year was a disaster and this one was barely an improvement for the twenty handicapper. Never mind Don, there is always next year to look forward to.
