IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the Elephant Bar
Wednesday 26 November saw the Pattaya Golf Society take five groups to one of our favourite courses, Bangpra. The weather was near perfect, the fairways offered run and good lies, the bunkers were in their usual well-presented state, and the greens were slightly harder than normal. Despite all these plusses, only one player got close to handicap in our monthly medal competition. Yes, Bangpra beat us today.
With just the one division, we paid out on the top four positions, which due to ties involved five players. This, along with two players scoring ‘2’s, meant a very modest payout to those sharing fourth place. The ‘2’s were recorded on the 2nd by Alan Walker and the 12th by Alan Flynn.
Garry Hookey, Larry Gibb, Dave Lehane & Brian Beaupre, runners-up (121 points) in the John Preddy Memorial team tournament on Monday, Nov. 24 at Emerald.
The monthly medal usually throws up a few scores that make the podium even though they are somewhat over par, that’s what medal rounds do. In this all-shots-count format there is no respite. Those who hang on in there will be rewarded. And this was certainly the case for our joint 4th place-getters, Mr. Len and Pete Sumner. The former is starting to make this format his own through consistently good performances in medal rounds.
In joint second were arguably the PGS’s two most consistent performers of recent weeks, Jon Batty and Murray Edwards, but the winner by a comfortable margin of four shots was the ultra-keen Kiwi, Alan Flynn. Well done Alan, an excellent round of golf on a tough track.
Given the oft-repeated claim that one-division golf is dominated by lower markers, it is interesting to note the spread of handicaps amongst those on the podium. Seems to indicate our system is running how it should, especially when taking into account that two five-markers, along with two six-markers came nowhere.
1st: Alan Flynn (12) net 73
T2nd Jon Batty (8) net 77
T2nd Murray Edwards (22) net 77
T4th Peter Sumner (8) net 78
T4th Len Jones (27) net 78
Crystal Bay sparkles again
The Pattaya Golf Society visited Crystal Bay on Friday 28th November for the first time in more than a few months to play a stableford competition in two flights with the cut coming at seventeen and under.
When last there the course was not in good condition with scruffy and unkempt fairways leading to patched and inconsistent greens, hence our absence thereafter but the club has certainly made an effort since in an attempt to attract golfers again to the friendly course. The good news is that Crystal Bay is wearing a smile again with good fairways offering more than a modicum of run and much more consistent greens, although of medium pace only. Therefore the course was well set up to receive the group.
In the second flight, Mr. Len, Larry Gibb and Peter Reidy shared third place with 33 points, the latter producing his best card so far with IPGC. In second with 37 points was Aussie golfer Leigh Abbey whilst Pat Murphy took the main prize for his round of 38 points.
In the top flight, third place was shared by Simon Hirst and the returning Swede Anders Haglund, both marking 35 points. One point ahead was runner-up Jesper Hansen whilst the best round of the day took the flight, Gary Bolger’s 39 points.
John Chelo won the ‘2’s pot for his off green birdie on A8 and the nearest the pin on the same hole, generously sponsored by Simon Hirst, was won by Jesper Hansen.
At the presentation later, the PGS received the magnificent runner-up trophy for the annual John Preddy Memorial Tournament, donated by a very proud Brian Beaupre.
Finally the Booby Bevy went to John Burdett on his first round with the group, ostensibly playing to confirm his handicap, a man who only plays “society” golf eight or nine times a year in England. But friendly Crystal Bay may have been an ideal introduction to Pattaya golf for John. It has certainly come on since the last PGS visit.
