IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the Links Bar
A new era dawned for the Pattaya Golf Society when the group left the Links Bar in Soi Buakhao on Monday, 26th January to play a stableford competition at Mountain Shadow.
The large field was divided into two flights at 17.6 and under and the first group was summoned to the blue tees clearly thirty minutes before the booked tee off time. There were no grumbles however as the day was fine and the course looked in good condition. Such it was and the field enjoyed a tight joust in both flights.
Mountain Shadow G.C. in fine shape.
In division 2, Phil “PJ” Mitchell shared second place with Jim Ferris on 31 points whilst Murray Edwards again found form with a winning score of thirty three. In the top flight, Dave Edwards came third with 34 points and Alan Flynn went one better in taking second with 35. The winner, with the only sub-par round of the day, was Garry Hookey and his 37 points was a just reward for some very solid ball striking.
There were two birdie ‘2’s as Vic Hansen’s effort on the fifteenth was matched by that of Phil Mitchell on the seventeenth. The bar’s consolation non-winner’s beer went to Jimmy Cloy and the booby bevy went unclaimed, but only till the next round at Emerald.
It had been a good start to the new era for the group and it is hoped that the group and the Links Bar goes from strength to strength in future.
Emerald sparkle gone
The Pattaya Golf Society visited Emerald on Wednesday, 26th January, to play a stableford competition.
Having last played there in April the group was eager to find how the course looked after all the low season maintenance and turf relaying. Sadly, as one golfer remarked, the course has never been in a worse condition than now, in sixteen years! Bunkers are very poor and unraked, greens are inconsistent, variably cut and bobbly, and the fairways…! These were very poor as they are in desperate need of watering. They are bare in patches and at the moment there are tons of sand lying on them, waiting to be raked and prepared for more returfing. Yet the green fee is more than Bangpra, Khao Kheow or Bangpakong!
The field was divided into two flights at sixteen and under and in the second flight Mike King took third place with 31 points, Larry Gibb was second with 33, and the winner was Jim Ferris with 34.
The top flight saw Steve Evans and Masa Takano share third place on 27 points whilst runner-up Jesper Hansen was three points better with 30. The winner, with 34 points, was Chris Smith and his gross 75 was a remarkable testimony to his skills rather than anything on the course.
Brian Beaupre and Martin Hennessy shared the ‘2’s pot for their efforts on the short fifteenth and the non-winner’s beer went to Chris Walsh.
Finally, the Booby Bevy went to Phil “PJ” Mitchell after his gymnastic effort on the bank of the fifth green saw him perform a somersault with pike as he fell to the bottom and amazingly roll upright to perform a rescue effort, which subsequently failed. There were gasps from the two groups waiting on the tee as they witnessed the agility of their hero. However he ended the day in much better condition than Emerald golf course.
Net-par does it
Friday, January 30, was a reminder that April is approaching, with humidity up a distinct notch or two. In fact many found their back nine here at Greenwood reminiscent of their first time playing golf in Thailand, as if they were unaccustomed to playing in such humidity as that encountered today. And indeed they were right. It’s been months since we encountered such April-like conditions, so those scoring well were either well-acclimatised, very fit, or in the case of a few, played their best golf in some time.
With the split set at 17 and under, the two flights spread through nine groups were allocated C and A nines. The course was its usual well-presented self, with fairways offering run and the greens consistent and true. The bunkers, however, appeared too fluffy – as if they had not been compacted – resulting in many buried lies. But overall, this course represents excellent value-for-money at 1050 baht green-fee/caddie-fee. Long may it continue.
There were 2 divisions and the flight winners all achieved a level-par round of 36 points each; a very good result in what to many would have been trying conditions. Vic Hansen (9) was top in A Flight, one ahead of Dave Edwards on 35 while Brian Beaupre and Steve Evans shared third place with 34s.
Harry Lankoff and Tom Jones equaled Vic’s 36 points to share the B Flight honours while Henry Mah and Murray Edwards tied for third on 34. One point further back there was another tie for fifth place that got Jim Ferris and Niall Caven onto the podium.
There were two ‘2’s, both in A Flight and coming from Brian Beaupre on C3 and Steve Evans on C6.Paul Edgar was the lucky recipient of the beer draw, whilst those who were candidates for the booby bevy had previously made their apologies; so no award on this occasion.
As an aside, it appears this course favours those with the name Edwards, as players with this name have consistently benefitted from Greenwood visits of late – in both flights. To counter this obviously unfair advantage, the “PGS Equity Committee” will consider placing a “Greenwood adjustment” against said players in an attempt to even the playing field!
