IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at The Links Bar
Phew! It ain’t ‘alf hot! Pattaya Golf Society members took to the tee at Pleasant Valley on Monday, 2nd May with that thought firmly in their minds and the ways in which they could make a stableford round more tolerable and enjoyable.
The course was in fine condition with green fairways and consistent, if a little tricky, greens. Pleasant Valley was well populated, being a public holiday but the group managed to finish within just over four hours.
Results saw Murray Edwards and Brian Talbot sharing third place with 30 pints and two other seniors in the field, Aussie Alan Walker and Mr Len shared the win with 31 points each. The par threes are all a different challenge at Pleasant Valley and the heat/breeze/lethargy all conspired to dismiss the possibility of a birdie ‘2’ being recorded.
Jeff Hunt, second in the previous competition found his new driver was suffering in the conditions and found his low score of the day aimed the Booby Bevy in his direction.
It was hard work on the day in uncomfortable conditions but a pleasant course, well turned out was a bonus for the group.
Fine win for Flynn
Another steamy Wednesday on 4th May saw the Pattaya Golf Society visit Khao Kheow to play a stableford competition on the B and A nines which gave the impression of being in good condition. True, fairways were green but in reality they were very dry with anaemic grass lying on top of sand and dust. A sad symptom of the current drought. Greens however were quite consistent. The light breeze offered some relief to the incessant waves of heat however.
The competition saw John O’Sullivan and Paul Magowan share third place with 28 points whilst Mike King held on to second place with 29 points, which included a birdie ‘2’ on the signature hole, B8. The day’s winner was Kiwi Alan Flynn and an excellent front nine, which saw two birdie ‘2’s on the B par threes, gave way to a languid back nine which saw him record a total of 31 points.
Khao Kheow had been a tough call, as with many other courses in the current conditions.
Cooper high and dry
On Friday, 6th May the Pattaya Golf Society visited Mountain Shadow to play a stableford competition on a yellowed and dry course where the lack of rain has left dusty fairways, albeit with some more run than could be expected. Greens were good however but solid iron play was more of a priority than good putting on the hard fairways.
A moderate field saw Aussie Mike Firkin enjoy his first round this trip with a third place finish with 31 points and John O’Sullivan take second with 33 points. The winner was Mark Cooper whose round was of unarguable quality. Thirty eight points in conditions such as those was a prodigious effort and he deserved the plaudits of the field back at the presentation in the Links.
There were no birdie ‘2’s and the Booby Bevy went to old soldier Alan Walker, so consistent usually, who this time managed a round with ten points on the front and fifteen on the back. All his tee shots hit the fairway but then …what was I saying about iron play?
PGS golfers in quiet moments will be praying for rain over the weekend as many, if not most courses are suffering in the current drought. It’s no longer the fun it should be.
