IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the Links Bar
Monday 23 February saw the Pattaya Golf Society take nine groups to Pattavia Century for a stableford round. Playing from the white tees, the fairways offered good run – the downside was many tight lies on grass not long enough to have the ball sit up. Bunkers at this course are amongst the best we play, whilst the greens remain the key to a good score. Keeping one’s approach shot below the hole is fundamental to success.
With the two-flight split made at 15 and under, our first group teed off on time and in perfect weather. John Chelo, playing in B Flight, ensured a successful outing by securing the day’s only ‘2’ at the 13th. Elsewhere others were putting together reasonable scores on a course that doesn’t yield often.
The 18th green and clubhouse at Pattavia.
A Flight runner-up, Alan Griffiths, returned a net-par round of 36 points, a score matched by B Flight runner-up, Phil McLure. The winning score in A Flight – a tied result shared by Rick Schramm and Wichai Tananusorn – was one better on 37 points. The best round of the day however, belonged to B Flight winner, Larry Slattery, with 38 points.
Back at the Links Bar, Mr. Len drew the name Huw Phillips as the day’s lucky beer recipient while the booby bevy was to be a separate contest between five A Flight players, all of whom returned a respectable score of 34 points, one less than Peter Ditz’s 4th place score of 35. Following acknowledgment that their sterling efforts meant a zero return, and noting that the same score in B Flight earned PJ Mitchell a decent return, the names of Andrew Purdie, Tony Campbell, Steve Evans, Masa Takano and Dave Moriarty went into the hat. Well done Masa!
A Flight
T1st Wichai Tananusorn (9) 37pts
T1st Rick Schramm (10) 37pts
3rd Alan Griffiths (12) 36pts
4th Peter Ditz (9) 35pts
B Flight
1st Larry Slattery (18) 38pts
2nd Phil McLure (25) 36pts
3rd PJ Mitchell (19) 34pts
Plaiter & Chelo find form at last
The Pattaya Golf Society visited Eastern Star on Wednesday, 25th February to play a stableford competition in two flights, separated at seventeen and under. The course was in good condition if a little dry, leaving tight lies on some fairways but the greens were on the positive side again, well paced and quite consistent.
As is normal these days the course held its secrets back and a good score had to be prized out of the course by accurate and solid play. This made for a tight competition in both flights with Russell Exley making a very good fist of the job, finishing third in the top flight with 34 points, one behind Alan Griffith’s 35 point runner-up round. The flight winner was Canadian golfer John Chelo and finally things came good for him as he posted his best score this trip, 36 points, to take the win.
In the second flight, Tom Jones and Phil McClure shared second place with 35 points each, leaving Dave Plaiter smiling with 37 points after he rediscovered all aspects of his game following months in the doldrums. He also secured a ‘2’ on the par three third and joined Tony Campbell and Peter Ditz in a share of the ‘2’s pot.
The non-winner’s beer draw was won by Chris Walsh and Keith Melbourne received the booby bevy in his last round this trip for successfully avoiding the usual glut of BB’s he receives on his visits.
Outstanding effort by Dore
February’s final fixture saw the Pattaya Golf Society visit Khao Kheow for a medal competition on Friday, 27th. The course was in excellent condition and represented excellent “vfm”, when compared with other prestigious courses in the area, notably the over-priced course down the road towards Ban Chang.
With A and C the order of the day a large field started on time and the two flights were cut at 17.6 and under. A light breeze and heavily humid conditions made scoring difficult and a close competition was on the cards.
In the second flight the senior player in the field, Bryan Brown, posted net 74 to share runner up place with a resurgent Dave Plaiter whilst Murray Edwards played a PB of a front nine, four under, to contribute to a final total of net 73 for the win.
In the top flight scores were similar, with Rick Schramm posting net 75 for third place, a couple behind second placed John Chelo who was having a fine week having rediscovered his form after more than a few mediocre performances recently. The best round of the day was an outstanding performance by Brian Dore who decimated the flight with gross 74, net 69 for an emphatic victory. His birdie ‘2’ on A5 was merely a welcome bonus as he shared the pot with Wichai Tananusorn and Huw Phillips.
The non-winner’s beer was won by Masa Takano and the booby bevy went to Alan Flynn whose outstanding front nine of 38 gross was followed by a disappointing 51 on the back.
