IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar
The Pattaya Golf Society visited Rayong C.C. on Monday, 31st January to play a stableford competition in two flights with the cut at sixteen and under.
The course, with its usual hard fairways and slow greens, did not offer any surprises except perhaps that it was empty and play got underway twenty minutes before the allotted time. Imagine that at Phoenix or Green Valley!
Scores were low as usual on the biting course and the first flight had Wichai Tananusorn in third place with 34 points, just one behind the joint leaders Vic Hansen and Mike Earley. For Mike it represented one of his better performances since joining the group a couple of years ago.
In the second flight Alan Duckett and Gordon Everingham shared runner-up place with 36 points each whilst Yvonne Earley emulated the performance of her top flight husband with the best points score of the day, 38 points, for an emphatic win.
Mike took the ‘2’s award for the sole birdie ‘2’ of the day, on the seventh hole and newly returned Erik Lont received the Booby Bevy for barely exceeding his handicap with the number of points he scored. It was a day when family fortunes were enjoyed at Rayong C.C.
Journeyman becomes master at Greenwood
Another large field of Pattaya Golf Society members took to Greenwood on Friday, 4th February to play a stableford competition on the A and B nines in glorious weather and on a course well prepared and full.
The two main flights were cut at fourteen and under and there was also a ladies flight for good measure. In the latter Noi Emmerson and Mam Morel shared the win with 35 points each and Mam also had the pleasure of recording the only birdie ‘2’ of the day, on B5.
In the gentlemen’s top flight Dave Moriarty and Ray Banks shared second place with 32 points each; Ray playing his final round this trip in the sure knowledge he had done enough to take the society’s “Player of the Month” award for January after a string of fine performances. The flight winner was Brian Talbot, back for another spell on the province’s golf courses, and his level par 36 points gave him some pleasure after a tough time at Treasure Hill two days previously.
The second flight saw the best scores of the day with Canadian Gordon Gilchrist making his debut in the placings with a well crafted 33 points for third. He was only one point behind Martin Hennessey, his Irish eyes smiling at making a rare podium appearance, but they were all a country mile behind Dave Wilkinson who took the win in style amassing 41 points for his best score in years. It all goes to show that nice guys can win and for every journeyman golfer there lies success just waiting to appear, usually without notice.
The day was competently stewarded by John Mason but the pressures of the responsibility eventually got to him and he received the Booby Bevy for his low score of the day. He was warmly thanked by Mr Len back at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar and the evening ended with the traditional cool beers after another splendid day at Greenwood.
