IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar, Soi Buakhao
The Pattaya Golf Society shook off the frustration and exasperation golfers annually suffer with Songkran and made a glorious return to Bangpra for a stableford competition on Wednesday. 20th April. The course was well turned out again and the greens were back to their notorious best as the large field, divided into two flights at thirteen and under, took to the first tee on time.
The second flight was headed by Larry Slattery and he showed no signs of the enforced break as he recorded 33 points, two ahead of second placed golfer Peter Davies, making a rare visit, but he was sadly recalled to Australia before the presentation was over for family reasons and our thoughts all go with him. In third place with 28 points was Tore Eliassen, playing amongst the higher handicappers for the first time in a long while.
In the top flight Alan Pilkington recorded 29 points for third place, one behind Trevor Chappell taking some time out before the serious business of cricket “sixes” occupied his time. The flight winner was Finland’s Erik Antonnen and his round was consistent as he produced the day’s best gross figures of 81 on his way to 36 points.
Alan Pilkington also recorded the day’s only birdie ‘2’, on the twelfth, whilst the Booby Bevy was shared by the Danish pair of Jesper Hansen and Gerner Lykke, both recording their traditional low scoring pipe-openers on their return.
Bangpra had been a joy to play after the annual mayhem of Songkhran. Only fifty-one more weeks to go, yippee!
Millar’s tale at St Andrew’s
Friday, 22nd April saw a welcome return to St. Andrew’s for the Pattaya Golf Society as the Soi Buakhao based group played a stableford competition on the well-presented course. The only drawback were the greens which were slower than expected but the recent heavy showers put paid to any planned maintenance the club may have had in store.
The field was divided into two flights at fifteen and under and in the top flight Rob Lamond came to the fore, his best gross of 78 giving him 35 points for a share of the lead with Tore Eliassen. In third place was Larry Bland.
In the second flight Tim Lazecki showed the improvements he has made since his enforced hip replacement in January with a fighting 33 points for third. In second place was Jim Bell with 36 points and the flight winner was Evan Millar, making a PGS top spot his own for the first time in a long while. Good on you Evan, well played!
The only birdie ‘2’ was recorded by Ray Jackson on the short par three fifth and the Booby Bevy went to Mr. Len for an uncharacteristic oversight which almost blighted his day and his wallet back at the PGS “clubhouse” earlier in the day.
Once again John Mason ably marshalled the day and he was rewarded with his best round in quite a few weeks when his 31 points just failed to make the limelight. That was undoubtedly the property of Evan Millar at St Andrew’s.
