IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar
The Pattaya Golf Society travelled to Khao Kheow on Monday, 15th August to play a stableford competition over the B and C nines which were not in their best condition. Khao Kheow suffers more from rain than many courses because of its location, making maintenance an awkward task and this day was no exception as heavy drizzle stayed with the group for more than three hours of the round.
However PGS golfers are made of stern stuff and the Scottish “summer” conditions suited Peter Duncan as he raced to a two under halfway total of twenty points. Amazingly this was four points behind the Aussie magician Peter Masters who had played the front nine in level par off the sticks. Soggy fairways took their toll on the return nine and Peter stuttered to 34 points for third place behind a relieved Peter Masters in second with 37.
Ploughing through at the head of the field was Danish golfer Benny Hansen and he continued the form he had shown the previous week as he finished with a prodigious 38 points for an excellent win.
Birdie ‘2’s were recorded by Andy Robinson on B8 and Wichai Tananusorn on C3 and Paul Bartlett took the Booby Bevy after leaving his change bag at the Elephant Bar in Soi Buakhao thereby having to invest in a new outfit from the pro shop at Khao Kheow.
Khao Kheow is a tasty challenge on the best of days but when the going gets tough… you know the rest!
Debut win for Grigg
Pattana was the venue for the Pattaya Golf Society on Wednesday, 17th August when the Soi Buakhao based group played a stableford competition over the C and B nines which were soft but well prepared.
Playing off the white tees, on fairways with no run, over a total of 6800 yards was a game for the bravest but the PGS has always been up to the challenge. Scores inevitably were moderate at best and in second place two golfers shared the honours with Wichai Tananusorn and Evan Millar returning scores of 32 points.
The winner was Aussie Neil Grigg whose 34 points was a result of both his length and accuracy. It was Neil’s debut win with the group after a dozen or so starts and was very well received back at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar.
There were no birdie ‘2’s on the tough par threes and the Booby Bevy went to Ronnie Ramsay whose third shot on the final hole lay under a greenside tree and his next two attempts to find the “dance floor” resulted in the ball being buried almost half a foot down amongst the roots. Hardly the stuff of champions but definitely all part of a good day at Pattana with the Pattaya Golf Society.
Slick golf from the Oilman
On Friday, 19th August the Pattaya Golf Society travelled to Eastern Star to play a stableford competition on the course which has been getting good reviews recently after the appointment of a new greenkeeper seems to be doing the trick on the maintenance of the course. As a result there were more golfers there than on many occasions doing the recent past. With the recent wet weather the fairways were a little jaded and scruffy but the greens were fine.
The returning Japanese golfer Haruyuki Kato shook off his jetlag to record 31 points for third whilst Paul Bartlett ended his golfing stay this trip with his best round, 32 points, giving him second. The winner was a very consistent Don Nellis whose back nine was slick and accurate to give him 35 points.
There were no birdie ‘2’s and the Booby Bevy went to Rabbi who was in the frame after nine holes but fell away during the return nine.
It was a nice surprise to find Eastern Star in a better condition than for a long time and long may it continue.
