PSC Golf from The Growling Swan
Monday, Feb. 9, Pleasant Valley – Stableford
A bumper field of twenty-eight golfers gathered in Soi Chaiyapoon looking forward to another enjoyable day. The weather was great with a cooling breeze in attendance.
On arrival at the course it seemed as if the fairways hadn’t seen the business end of a lawn mower in yonks, and the bunkers looked like they’d been traversed by a caravan of dromedaries. Fortunately the pin placements were humane and the greens putted truly. The white markers were the order of the day and the round only took four hours and twenty one minutes.
(Left-right) Roger Ellis, J.C. Lhoste and Alain Taddei.
In the A grade, Alain Taddei handed in a great forty-three points to take top honours. Peter Bye scored forty two points to take second place whilst Don Richardson on forty one and Richard Hurley thirty nine rounded out the podium.
Roger Ellis showed the B grade a clean pair of heels with a stylish forty three points and John Anderson hopped into second place on forty. Third on thirty eight was Rita Zoebeli whilst Alan “Colonel” Sanders with thirty seven points propped up the placegetters.
Jayson Schembri one putted the par-5 fifteenth for an eagle and five points. He was the recipient of a kind smile and our warmest congratulations.
J.C. Lhoste commented that his game is to golf what the Bay City Rollers were to music and the Coveted Compass Cap complimented his wardrobe, admirably.
A Flight (0–18)
1st Alan Taddei (18) 43pts
2nd Peter Bye (14) 42pts
3rd Don Richardson (12) 41pts
4th Richard Hurley (8) 39pts
B Flight (19+)
1st Roger Ellis (26) 43pts
2nd John Anderson (27) 40pts
3rd Rita Zoebeli (23) 38pts
4th Alan Sanders (26) 37pts
Long Putts: Peter Grey #9, John Swanson #18
Near Pins: Alain Taddei #5, Richard Hurley #8, Jayson Schembri #13, John Davis #17
Thursday, Feb. 12, Treasure Hill – Stableford
Twenty-three of our regulars appeared at the Growling Swan in fine fettle and we headed out to Treasure Hill GC, nicknamed ‘Crocodile Rock’, where we had played two weeks prior. The score back then was (Crocodile 1 – Christians nil) and, to a man, we were determined to fare better on this challenge.
The weather and golf course were postcard perfect, greens superb and the course continues to be a pleasurable, but tough, test for all and sundry. Tough that is unless your name is Sal Brizzi as today we had the good fortune to witness Sal display all his sublime golfing skills and his 43 points represented a par-72 round. It was a real pleasure to watch.
(Left-right) Vincent O’Sullivan, Sal Brizzi and Geri Crilli.
As always, there were hard-luck stories: Peter Grey started out ‘optimistically’ and completed the day ‘misty optically’ after a mishap with his spectacles. Jason Schembri was also having a tough time and mid-round he turned to his regular caddie and asked, “Do you notice any improvement in my game?” “Yes,” she replied somewhat tersely, “you’ve had a haircut.”
Only Sal and Alain Taddei (37pts) bettered their handicaps whilst Rita Zoebeli continued her recent good form. Count-backs were required to sort the chasing pack and Stu Rifkin, after a 7 week hiatus, snuck onto the podium.
Vincent O’Sullivan completed the bookends and accepted the Compass Cap with grace.
1st Sal Brizzi (7) 43pts
2nd Alain Taddei (18) 37pts
3rd Gary Monley (27) 33pts
4th John Anderson (27) 33pts
5th Rita Zoebeli (23) 33pts
6th Stu Rifkin (17) 29pts
Long Putts: #9 Peter Bass, #18 Alan Sanders
Near Pins: #2 Sal Brizzi, #6 Sal Brizzi, #13 Sal Brizzi
Note: The Growling Swan is a friendly golf outlet and caters for and encourages all golfers male or female to have a hit at any of our weekly outings. We generally play Mondays and Thursdays at one of the many fine golf courses in and around Pattaya. Please contact Peter Grey if you are interested on 0861 503086.
We also cater to the bowls enthusiasts. Bus transport departs the GS on Wednesdays at 10 AM to play at Cocos on undercover synthetic greens and on Sundays at the same time for open grass bowling at The Retreat. Please contact Paul Rennison on 0843 454005 if you wish to partake. The cost including return bus transport, bowling fees and a hot lunch is less than 400 baht so great value for a day out.
