IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the Links Bar
A hot and humid Monday, 16th March, caught the Pattaya Golf Society as they visited Bangpra to play a stableford competition in two flights with the division set at 17.1. The course, beginning on the tenth, was in excellent condition with well grassed fairways and slick and testing greens. The golden rule at Bangpra is “first putt – uphill” in such conditions.
The field saw the return to action of the Society Champion Chris Smith and he impressed again with a gross 73, bogeys on the relatively short thirteenth and the seventeenth costing him dear. Chris ran out the winner in the top flight with 36 points, just heading Dave Edwards (34) and Tony Campbell (33).
Beautiful Bangpra always provides a great test of golf.
In the second flight, Jim Ferris and Larry Gibb, no strangers to the podium, filled the third place with 36 points each while Michael McGuigan powered his way to 38 points, which was hilariously punctuated with an unplanned immersion in the water on the second hole whilst trying to retrieve a lost ball. The best score of the day was that of Japanese golfer Masaaki Sugaya and his second sub-par round since his return the previous week saw him record a personal best score of 42 points. Masa, that’s no way to treat the respected “old lady” at Bangpra!
The ‘2’s pot was shared by Larry Gibb and Luke Abbey in the second flight and the losers’ free beer went again to John Tallett. It goes without saying that ‘Big Mac’ took the Booby Bevy after his antics on the second hole were recorded for all posterity by his playing mates.
Bangpra is a golf byword for quality and VFM and many more good days lie ahead there for the Pattaya Golf Society.
Masa and Mike top at the Hill
The Pattaya Golf Society took eight groups up the 331 on Wednesday, March 18, to play a stableford competition at the ever-testing Treasure Hill course. From the white tees this test measures circa 6750 yards, with many holes offering penalty-inducing hazards both sides of the fairway.
Today the course was presented in fine fettle with fairways offering run. The greens however, unlike our last visit here three weeks ago, were very hard. Many times well-struck full shots bounced through greens where previously they would have checked and stopped. This writer found that putting surfaces, when putting into the grain, were extremely slow. But overall, this course is a pleasure to play and features high on the PGS’s VFM index.
We got away on time at 1030, in fine weather, although the humidity index was reminding us that April is near. There was just the one ‘2’, on 17, where Alan Flynn’s birdie ensured his day would be a successful one.
With the two-division split set at 15 and under, B Flight podium placements were, in the absence of any ‘2’s, extended to the first four placings. This, coupled with a modest showing from most B Flight players, resulted in much surprise at the low scoring that made the podium. Notwithstanding, the winning score of 33 was, on this course, enough to win the flight – well-done Mike King.
A Flight was different however, with just three positions to fill and scoring more competitive. The flight’s winner, Masa Takano, was the only player to match par. Masa, who plays off an 11 handicap, had a mere 12 points at the turn then turned it around by playing the back-nine in even par and a 24-point haul to earn him 36 total, a worthy winner indeed.
Back at the Links Bar we welcomed back Alex Sala, Leigh Abbey and long-serving member, Stu Thompson, all from Australia.
Michael McGuigan won the lucky beer draw, whilst we broke from protocol in awarding the booby bevy to one of the day’s winners; Masa Takano. What else can one do when faced with a 12-24 split between nines, and this on his last round with us on this trip. Travel well, Masa.
A Flight
1st Masa Takano (11) 36pts
T2nd Huw Phillips (15) 34pts
T2nd Dave Moriarty (15) 34pts
B Flight
1st Mike King (19) 33pts
2nd John Tallett (24) 30pts
3rd Jim Ferris (21) 28pts
T4th Larry Slattery (18) 26pts
T4th Murray Edwards (20) 26pts
Congratulations to all podium placers. Today’s game at Treasure Hill reminds us of that old adage; never give up!
