IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at The Links Bar
The Pattaya Golf Society held its monthly medal event at Phoenix on Monday, 29th August and the designated combination was the Lakes and Ocean nines. The Lakes’ greens are still not good but better than they were for the “pros” a couple of weeks ago while the easier Ocean nine is on good condition. Fairways are generally very good.
Medal play requires a different mindset and those who can adapt to playing the course and not the handicap usually come out on top.
Scores were high after a heavy storm punctuated the start with the first two groups starting, then marking, then returning to the safety of a drinks stop on hearing the clubhouse siren. Another siren thirty minutes or so later sent the golfers out again on flooded fairways and soft greens. Overhead the humidity was at 100% and with not even the hint of a breeze conditions were extremely uncomfortable. Expect high scores?
In third place was the low marker on the day Mark Lang and he produced another quality round of golf finishing with net 76. In second place was Wichai Tananusorn whose net 73 showed his golf form has returned after the distractions of his new life in Chiang Mai. The winner was Jon Batty on net 72 who played the best golf of his life for thirteen holes. On the fourteenth tee he stood three under par gross and an easy six iron shot on the 165 yard par three saw an uncharacteristic sh… (mustn’t say the word) which then tumbled him into a maelstrom of triple and double bogeys, losing ten shots to par on the final five holes. Most golfers never reach that standard so don’t let it get you down Jon!
There were no birdie ‘2’s and the consolation beer went to Alan Flynn when his non-winners’ card was drawn out by the cashier back at the Links in Soi Buakhao.
Phoenix is never as tough as this and in another month maybe we can expect a breeze, dry fairways and properly tended greens on the Lakes nine. Time to dream.
Two excel at Emerald
A hot and humid day, some mates wanting to play some golf on a challenging course at a “vfm” deal. Say no more! The Pattaya Golf Society visited The Emerald on Wednesday, 31st August to enjoy the day playing a stableford round from the white tees, on an empty course in good conditions.
Only a slight breeze was evident from the start and the well grassed fairways and quick greens made good golf possible. For many golfers however the accent at Emerald is on luck and a good shot is often punished by less than flat lies in the fairways and the game becomes so much tougher as a result. So it was this day, as Brendan Gilsenan played one of his better rounds with the group finishing in third place with 38 points after an excellent back nine. The winners were Wichai Tananusorn and Mike Firkin who both recorded 40 points to share the pot. Mike also joined Kevin Timbrell and Simon Kendall in a share of the ‘2’s pot.
Back in the Links Bar in Soi Buakhao, Mr Len, on behalf of the group, thanked Russell for all his help in hosting over the last eighteen months as this was to be his last day running the PGS “clubhouse” and we all wish the new management team, headed by Christian Boysen the best of luck in the days to come. More of the same is in order for the PGS.
Masa in control
On a bright Friday, 2nd September the Pattaya Golf Society visited Mountain Shadow to play a stableford event on the course which was in fine condition. Playing as usual from the blue tees it was even more of a challenge to find the tees well back. In fact some were on the black tee boxes and members who had played there for many years found tee shots off the “new” markers a different prospect altogether. Yes, it was long in the strong breeze. Greens were splendidly consistent.
Scores reflected the length of the course with Mr Len and Kiwi Alan Flynn sharing third place with a mere thirty points each. Two ahead was American golfer Kevin LaBar on 32 and the winner was old friend Masa Takano with 33 points. Mike Firkin recorded the only birdie ‘2’ of the day, on the fifteenth.
At the presentation back at the Links in Soi Buakhao golfers shuffled around the debris of plasterers, decorators and air-con mechanics to enjoy a few beers and gossip as an almost seamless change of management continued with the redevelopment of the PGS base. “It’ll be nice when it’s finished” was the general comment.
