IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the Elephant Bar
1st Paul Hird (14) 38pts
2nd David Thomas (9) 32pts
3rd Robbie Taylor (12) 31pts
Monday 4 August saw the Pattaya Golf Society take four groups to one of our favourite courses – Bangpra – for a stableford competition. The weather, humid and overcast, made for good conditions. This was supported by decent fairways that did offer run, bunkers that were eminently playable and greens that ran fast and true. So, it was somewhat surprising to see only one player manage to break net-par.
Murray Edwards, David Thomas and Masashi Iizumi.
The group welcomed Joe Miller, from Atlanta, Georgia, and welcomed back Evan Millar and Wan Meeraka after an absence of a few months.
Mr Len, whose name was on the sign-up sheet until Sunday evening, had to withdraw due to swelling in both feet, an act that saw him awarded his own booby bevy by golf organiser for the day, David Thomas.
No one was more surprised than Robbie Taylor and David Thomas when finding out their modest scores of 31 and 32 made the podium. The deserving winner of the day, with an excellent 2-under net par, was visiting Englishman, Paul Hird.
Bangpra, always a good yet fair test of golf, was again very good value at 1150 baht green-fee, caddie-fee. In addition, one rarely has a bad caddie at this course. In fact the whole Bangpra experience suggests this place is under very effective management. Long may it continue!
Khao Kheow – wet but eminently playable
1st Paul Hird (14) 42pts
2nd Jon Batty (10) 39pts
3rd David Thomas (9) 35pts
The Pattaya Golf Society took four groups up the short drive to the fabulous Khao Kheow Country Club on Wednesday 6 August. Fabulous because it’s one of the best tests that Pattaya has to offer, and at 1150 baht green-fee caddie-fee it certainly represents VFM.
Despite the significant rain KK has received recently, the fairways, bunkers and greens were well presented. This course has great powers of recovery, due to its drainage ability. Walk just five yards off the tee-box and you will be tip-toeing through wet and slushy ground. But once you reach the fairway, the wetness is nowhere to be seen, leaving the golfer with a lovely lie on fluffy but close-cropped grass. The whole experience – playing on a rain-effected golf course that still gives the golfer a fair crack – is a tribute to green-keeping staff.
Today’s round saw two standout performances. On a track that gave little run, on a day where the wind played its part, two Englishman, Paul Hird and Jon Batty, outperformed the field. But before we go there, we need to acknowledge a superb ‘2’ on B3. Playing into a strong breeze, Masashi Iizumi stroked a hybrid all of 170 yards to pin-high, and then proceeded to sink the putt for the only ‘2’ of the day.
Back at the Elephant Bar, the presentation made the point that the Rules of Golf can be used as a friend, not a foe. The case in point illustrated by the KK card, which states in its local rules that embedded balls – through the green – are subject to a free drop. Another Rule stipulates seven sandy areas as “waste bunkers” that are neither bunkers nor hazards, giving the golfer the right to address the ball, as well as take a free drop in the event their ball is embedded.
The PGS said farewell to Paul Hird, who departs for the UK on Friday. There are some in the field who may not regret his leaving, such has been the quality of his golf this trip. Well played Paul!
Greenwood – Playing Tough
T1st Akifume Tate (14) 32pts
T1st Jesper Hansen (16) 32pts
T1st Masashi Iizumi (21) 32pts
Friday 8 August saw the Pattaya Golf Society take three groups up the 331 to play a stableford competition at Greenwood. With a near-empty car-park, it appeared we had the course pretty much to ourselves, an assumption that soon proved correct. Allocated the C and A nines, the first group got under way on time.
The northern courses that make up our regular rota all appeared to have received a lot of rain lately, including Greenwood. Whilst the fairways offered good lies, there were many wet areas where pooling occurs. Fortunately the maintenance programme at this course is better than most, a fact evidenced by the standard of presentation. The only areas to suffer are the twenty-odd yards immediately in front of the greens; many are sodden.
The day stayed dry with most golfers appreciating the breezy conditions. Notwithstanding the good weather, scoring was modest, with no player getting to within three of net-par. Leading the group out was a three-ball containing two Japanese and a Dane. It was the battle between these three that would determine the day’s winner. In the end, they couldn’t be separated with each managing a total of 32 points, thus sharing first place.
Back at the Elephant Bar in Soi Buakhao, the presentation welcomed new member, David Wang, from Shanghai, China, and said farewell to Aussies Mick O’Donnell and Bill Tunbridge, who return home to Newcastle, NSW.
Irishman Larry Slattery was the winner of the beer draw, whilst departing Mick O’Donnell received the day’s booby bevy for the dedicated way in which he grafted out a score.
It had been another lovely day’s golf at a near-deserted Greenwood Golf Course. At a green-fee caddie-fee of 1000 baht, it continues to represent one of the best VFM experiences in Pattaya.
