The Pattaya Links Golf Society
Monday, May 1, Pattavia – Stableford
A Flight
1st Peter Bailey (15) 43pts
2nd Maurice Roberts (15) 39pts
3rd Mike Allidi (4) 39pts
4th Mark Cooper (13) 39pts
B Flight
1st Torben Lingaard (26) 40pts
2nd Peter Henshaw (24) 39pts
3rd Ken Hole (20) 37pts
4th Alan Walker (24) 36pts
Near Pins: Phil Davies (#4), Mike King (#7), Jesper Hansen (#13), Tip Briney (#17)
Best Front 9: Tom Herrington (22pts)
Best Back 9: Mike Jeffreys (21pts)
What a party it turned out to be! 44 golfers came to celebrate Christian Boysen’s birthday at the beautiful Pattavia Century Golf Club, and later at the Links Bar for the after-golf party.
There are winners and winners as we had two flights with 4 prize places in each plus 4 nearest the pins and best 9s.
Pattavia was already very busy when our 44 golfers arrived, so much so that we were told there were no carts available. Some accepted that they would be walking, others not so sure. However, as the early morning players returned, carts did become available before we teed off.
This course was in magnificent condition, and although the greens were as quick as ever they didn’t seem as treacherous as usual. Maybe the pin placements were more friendly, or maybe we are learning how to play them?
With so many on the course, in addition to our large contingent, it became a long slow round so that we on the last bus arrived back at the bar under the cover of darkness. Mine host, Phil, met us at the bus and told me to hurry inside before the free beer is all gone…. So who were the winners?
The best score of the day and getting to wear the green jacket was a visitor from Darwin (Australia), Peter Bailey with a big 43 points. Maurice Roberts, currently in fine form, beat Mike Allidi and Mark Cooper on count back for second place, all with 39 points.
Torben Lingaard headed the B flight tryers with a terrific 40 points to edge out Peter Henshaw by a solitary point. Ken Hole on 37 and Alan Walker 36 completed the podium.
Birthday Boy Christian Boysen was very happy to get the “Wig” on his big day, and just as happy to hand it back to Phil quickly after the photo op.
Wednesday, May 3, Burapha – Texas Scramble
The 26th Links Cup at Burapha Golf Course was billed as a Texas scramble rather than the usual stableford format. 52 players were on the start sheet on this Wednesday morning but we had 7 no-shows which meant that we accrued some financial loss for the transportation. Two person teams had been set, handicaps calculated and starting positions known. Now a reshuffle had to be done at the first tee as we waited to see if any of those travelling in cars did not arrive. Happily, they all got there.
Burapha was hosting a large tournament on the day, using A and B nines as the C nine had been closed for renovation, but because of said tournament, they (the management) opened C for us. It was extremely clear they were never expecting anyone to be playing this nine as the bunkers were used to store gravel, greens were partly re-laid and heavily sanded, and workers with heavy machinery were having to stop and stand aside as we passed by. The D course, thankfully, was up to Burapha standards. One questions why we were not made aware of all of this before accepting our booking?
There was some golf played, by the way. As per any Links Cup, there were prizes on every hole, from cash to “Links” T shirts and free drinks, as well as the keg of beer from Touch Agogo. Suffice to say that one team cleaned up by taking 8 of those prizes.
There were some very good team scores turned in, considering the condition of the course, the energy sapping weather and the reshuffling of the teams. Playing this type of event can sometimes move at a rather slow pace, but full credit here. We were team 9 of 11 and, after the first 3 or 4 holes, never had to wait to tee off. Well done to those up front.
Having seen the names on the pins as we went by, we had a good idea which team might win overall. Not a surprise to see the brothers Chris and James Smith taking top spot with a net 62.25. The team of Tommy Marshall and Maurice Roberts came a very close second to the Smith boys, netting a fine 63.25 while Alistair Gall and J.P Maffrey had a good day out and finished with a net 64.80 in third. Completing the podium in fourth place was the pairing of Gary Bolger and Paul Glover on 65.75.
The sticky hot weather must have taken its toll as not all made it back to Links Bar for the presentations, but thankfully most did.
