PSC Golf from The Growling Swan
Monday, March 17, Bangpakong – Stableford
Despite the fact that it was St Patrick’s Day we had 3 Irishmen in the excellent field of 28 and we were all looking forward to re-visiting Bangpakong Riverside after many months absence. Although the numbers were very good I suspect there were still a few who deemed the journey “too far” but as we all found out they were the ones that missed a treat!
We had a very good run through the Pattaya traffic and up number 7 arriving at the golf course just 65 minutes later and the course was not at all busy so we were invited to commence at our convenience. Our first four-ball teed off 10 minutes behind schedule at 10.10 am with the nearest group in front about 2 holes away and poor old Ebrahim appeared to be in a dream world as we had to send Dick to extract him from the practice putting green to take his spot in the first group, hence the delay in teeing off.
Silvano Pizzato, Ian Masterson, Peter Blackburn & Roy Dayton.
As mentioned earlier, it had been some time since we had played the course and I must say that all the raves about it over the last few weeks were true as it was in magnificent condition with the lush fairways and superb greens.
We continued at a very good pace with the groups ahead never a problem and as it was very hot & humid a 10 minute drinks break before the 12th tee was necessary but regardless of that we managed to complete the full round in the very good time of four hours & five minutes. Great golf course, terrific company – does it get any better than this?
Once again your humble correspondent Peter “Blacky” Blackburn showed some good form and was the Division A winner with 42 points. With two on 41 points a count back was required which resulted in Big Bill Steiman (21 point back nine) taking second spot from Gerd Riedler (20 point back nine) in third place.
In a high scoring day it was Silvano Pizzato who won Division B with the best score of the day, 43 points, and Mark “Westy” West was second with 41. With 2 golfers on 40 points another count back was necessary to decide third place and that went to John Davis (22 point back nine) from an unlucky Duangjai Tusagad (19 point back nine).
In a big form reversal Roy “Plums” Dayton won the C Division with 38 points and in yet another count back with two on 35 points it was Geri Crilly (17 point back nine) who finished second from JC Lhoste (15 point back nine) in third place.
Division A (0-13)
1st Peter Blackburn (13) 42pts
2nd Bill Steinman (10) 41pts
3rd Gerd Riedler (8) 41pts
Division B (14-19)
1st Silvano Pizzato (19) 43pts
2nd Mark West (14) 41pts
3rd John Davis (15) 40pts
Division C (20+)
1st Roy Dayton (24) 38pts
2nd Geri Crill (27) 35pts
3rd JC Lhoste (23) 35pts
Near Pins: 4th – Peter Blackburn, 7th – Ebrahim, 13th – Gerd Riedler, 16th – Gerd Riedler
Long Putts: 9th – Takeshi Hakozaki, 18th – Frank Sharratt
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 Ian Masterson who accepted the award like the good sport that he is.
Thursday, March 20, Green Valley – Stableford
Once again there was a very good response to the outing at Green Valley and after a late withdrawal I referred to our waiting list and immediately found a replacement which brought us back to a full field of 32.
We departed the GS a couple of minutes early at 8.28 am and after a short 39 minute drive arrived at the golf course just 39 minutes later to find things reasonably quiet there. After a quick check in we rocked up at the first tee and with a group having hit off a couple of minutes earlier we were invited to commence, which we did and sent our first of eight four-balls away 5 minutes ahead of our booked time of 9.43 am.
Kevin Waycott, John Anderson, Rita Zoebelli & John Davis.
The weather was once again hot with a bit of wind and the golf course as usual in terrific shape with the lush fairways and beautifully prepared greens. We did catch up with the golfers ahead a couple of times and had to wait a few minutes but all in all it was not a problem and our full round was completed in four hours & twenty minutes.
Division A was well won by Kevin “Wayco” Waycott with a terrific 42 points which is a great score on this track and with 2 golfers on 35 points a count back was required which resulted in Mashi Kaneta (17 point back nine) taking second spot from Frankie “Hollywood” Sharratt (16 point back nine) in third place. Paul “Hacky” Hack’s 34 points were enough for him to secure fourth place.
In B Division it was the consistent John Davis who was the winner with a fine 37 points with another consistent golfer Mark “Westy” West in second spot. In third place came Thientong Charoenrung with 32 points and fourth place went to Alain “Inspector Clouseau” Taddei who had 31 points.
Another fine score won Division C with Rita Zoebelli scoring 40 points, just 1 point ahead of another of our lady golfers Seesa Phompinmon who finished second. Veteran Jack Robertson came third with 33 points and JC Lhoste was third after scoring 31 points.
Division A (0-13)
1st Kevin Waycott (10) 42pts
2nd Mashi Kaneta (12) 35pts
3rd Frank Sharratt (13) 35pts
4th Paul Hack (13) 34pts
Division B (14-22)
1st John Davis (15) 37pts
2nd Mark West (14) 35pts
3rd Thientong Charoenrung (19) 32pts
4th Alain Taddei (17) 31pts
Division C (23+)
1st Rita Zoebelli (24) 40pts
2nd Seesa Phompinmon (27) 39pts
3rd Jack Robertson (25) 33pts
4th JC Lhoste (23) 31pts
Near Pins: 4th – Don Richardson, 12th – Seesa Phompinmon, 16th – John Davis
Long Putts: 9th – Jack Robertson, 18th – Dave Neal
The Growling Swan NAGA Award was won by John Anderson and JC kindly paraded Deefa the Dog and of course collected many donations for the needy in Pattaya from our generous Growling Swan Golfers.
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 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.
