IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at The Links Bar
Monday, Oct. 26, Pattana – Stableford
The PGS took just three groups up to Pattana to play a stableford competition on Monday. After being allocated B & C nines, we decided to play from the shorter yellow tees, as there is usually next to no run on these well-watered fairways. And so it proved; with the distance of 6300 yards playing all of 6500, in real terms.
Mud balls, a common occurrence here, also justified our call to play preferred lies, even though the fairways were in good condition. The only negative about this well-presented course, and it’s a criticism that never abates, is the state of the sand in bunkers. This sand is the very fine, fluffy type, and there is lots of it. It is not compacted either, making bunker shots very much a hit and miss thing for the average golfer. Bunker sand is not meant to be this soft.
Stu Thompson.
The podium, restricted to the first three positions, saw David Thomas (H/cap 9) and Murray Edwards (19) share third place, both returned rather modest scores of 31 points. Well clear of them was runner-up Jon Batty (6) with a creditable 36 points. Out on his own with a meritorious 2-under net-par score of 38 points was regular Mike Wilsher (19), who posted his first win with the PGS group.
There were three ‘2’s today, coming from Jon Batty on B7, Gerner Lykke on C7 and Mike Wilsher on C2.
Wednesday, Oct. 28, Bangpra – Medal
A small group of PGS golfers visited Bangpra on Wednesday to play the regular monthly medal round on the well presented course. Skies were relatively clear but humidity was high and scores would not be low as the greens were especially difficult for whatever reason, many golfers finding accessing the hole on the first putt quite difficult to nail.
Murray Edwards, playing his last round for a few weeks, took the opportunity to impress with some excellent golf and took third place with a net 77. His downfall were the bunkers and the par threes which he managed to double and even triple bogey! In second place was David Thomas and another steady round saw him record net 75. The winner was Stu Thompson, so consistent these days, and his net 74 was a just reward for some very solid golf on a tough day.
Jon Batty took the ‘2’s pot for his fine effort on the seventeenth, which gave him some consolation for an otherwise uncharacteristic “mare”.
The non winners’ beer was drawn in favour of Larry Slattery (again) and George Robinson enjoyed the Booby Bevy for the honour of being the first golfer on the day to submit a nil-return, after a miserable start to his round.
Friday, Oct. 30, Phoenix – Stableford
The month ended for the Pattaya Golf Society with visit to Phoenix for a stableford competition on Friday. The day was clear but humid and a late start was required with the PGS following a sponsored Thai Amateur Ladies tournament. In truth, the course could have been better presented as greens were occasionally patchy and the holes were at least three days old, showing signs of wear and slightly depressed.
Men are men however and the group determined to give it their best shot and saw George Robinson and Andrew Purdie tie for third place with 34 points each. Andrew was helped in part by an excellent birdie ‘2’ on the Mountain 4th hole, the only one of the day. One point better off were Richard “Banjo” Bannister and Larry Slattery and they shared the top spot with 35 points each.
Scores were close down through the list but the Booby Bevy and non winners’ draw went to Bill Tunbridge after a slow to get started front nine. It was a not uncommon “double” and gratefully accepted by Aussie Bill.
