PSC golf from The Golf Club
Monday, August 4, Green Valley (white tees) – Stableford
T1st Peter LeNoury (11) 39pts
T1st John Emmerson (13) 39pts
T2nd Wayne Cotterell (12) 38pts
T2nd Mark Wood (7) 38pts
It was another beautiful day for golf as the weather continued to be unseasonably cool and overcast. It was just about perfect conditions today at Green Valley as 7 groups teed off right on time. They do a great job of management at this course and it always seems to go smoothly here no matter what hiccups the lads throw at Captain Phil.
Golfing apostles: Mark Wood, Peter LeNoury & John Emmerson.
It was time for the locals to exact their revenge today and the top spots were reserved for the home crowd. Mark Wood continued his fine form with the shortest backswing in town to tally up 38 points and a tie with Wayne Cotterell. Mark is back to work now for the usual 28 day stint to give the rest of us a chance for the coins.
TGC partner John Emmerson has actually been playing some of his best golf in a long time and also continues to score well enough to tie at the top of the podium. But all credit must go to golfing stalwart Peter LeNoury as this guy plays golf practically every day he is here and I can’t remember the last time he had a day off. Peter has been a long time supporter of TGC and it’s good to see a fellow Jaguar enthusiast out there in top form.
Tuesday, August 5, Siam Waterside (white tees) – Stableford
1st Tim Lazecki (19) 38pts
T2nd John Emmerson (13) 37pts
T2nd Mike Omiya (8) 37pts
This was the first time TGC has played the newest golf course in Pattaya, Siam Waterside. It is a very different course to the 2 famous sisters of Plantation and the Old Course, but there are several holes that will remind you of Plantation as their clubhouse is very visible at a few locations. It is not my favourite of the 3 courses, but maybe in a few years of maturity (the course, that is) I will possibly grow to appreciate it.
John Emmerson, Tim Lazecki & Mike Omiya.
After some initial confusion with the starter, I would suggest to any other groups playing here that your 4-balls are on time and in the correct starting order as getting out to the practice green and 1st tee area is a high security event in itself. Phil was pulling his hair out, and that ain’t easy!
It is an open layout from I.M.G. Design that winds its way around 2 large lakes and is very exposed to the wind. Indeed, we played to a 30 mph steady blast through much of the round.
Condition of the course was superb and the last 3 holes, like the Old Course, provide an exciting finish. From what I understand, the Honda LPGA event will be held here in 2016. The clubhouse is austere, minimalist zen, and a design I am sure that Yohji Yamamoto would approve of.
We had 22 golfers out today and I think a lot of that had to do with the curiosity factor. We paid 2,800 baht for their Sports Day rate which includes green fee, caddy fee and buggy on cart paths only.
To shoot in the mid-30’s here today would be a very good day on the course. As mentioned, the wind was a howlin’ and with all the water and deep trouble about, there was little room for error on a course that would take no prisoners.
The tie for second place went to our visiting buddy Mike Omiya and TGC partner John Emmerson. They got round with 37 points on the card whilst no one else shot to their handicap on the day. The most impressive number though was the 38 turned in by Tim Lazecki. To shoot that well and be playing off 19 is quite an achievement. Well done Timmy, you showed the boys how!
Friday, August 8, Pattavia Century (white tees) – Stableford
1st Chris Smith (8) 34pts
2nd Gary Hooky (15) 31pts
3rd David Ferris (24) 29pts
This must be the most improved golf course of 2014, and in the locker room after the round, all talk was of how impressive this course was. We played here a month ago and it was getting to be good, but now we can say it is a very playable and enjoyable track with some of the trickiest greens in the province.
I had always been under the impression that this was a Nick Faldo golf course, but the new clubhouse literature states it is a Robert McFarland design. Let me research this one for the next time we play here.
The 18th at Pattavia Century from the new clubhouse.
It will take you close to 1 hour down the 331 to get to this golf course from Pattaya, and the last 7 clicks are brutal in the pothole department. The new clubhouse is fantastic, has quality lockers and showers, and the food and beverages are all very good and reasonably priced. It’s nice not to be held hostage to high prices at a clubhouse restaurant for once, other courses please take note! Our Friday green fee of 550 baht was a bargain.
On to the scoring, and we had 5 blokes on 28 (I did mention those tricky greens, right?) as 3-putts were the order of the day. Greens were fast and many were of the humped turtleback shape that are hard to hold. Some putts even found themselves running off the green!
Only 2 golfers managed to get more than 30 Stableford points today. David Ferris was nearly there, but his 29 was still good enough for 3rd place. Gary Hooky did very well to “break 30” so Gary, 2nd place is all yours buddy. The primo player for today was Chris Smith playing off an 8 handicap who brought home 34 points to win all those “handsome man vouchers” from Captain Phil and a well deserved victory it was as well.
Thanks to all who joined us for another great week of golf in our Pattaya Paradise.
Note: The Golf Club is located on Soi LK Metro. Just call 085 434 3377 or see our website www.golfclubpattaya .com and for more information mail us: pattaya4golf @gmail.com and see updates at www.facebook.com/golfclubpattaya… all handicaps welcome!
