IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at The Links Bar
On Monday, 25th July the Pattaya Golf Society travelled up a relatively free highway 331 to Greenwood to play a stableford competition on the A and C nines which were in fine condition. The competition was destined to be close and a number of technical prizes had been generously sponsored by Scot Graeme Kerr who was not able to play as full a part in the golf group this trip.
Near pins were won by Andrew Purdie, Kiwi Graeme Quinn, Murray Edwards and Bryan Barrell and the latter also held on to an excellent third place with 33 points. In second was newly returned Japanese golfer Masaaki Sugaya with 34 points and he showed his golf is holding up well since his last rounds in April. The winner was Kiwi Graeme Quinn and perhaps it was fitting that one of IPGC’s newest members should win with a sub-par round on the eve of his departure for NZ.
The week had started well, golf had been good and the camaraderie continued long after the round had finished in the comfort of The Links Bar in Soi Buakhao.
One for the record
The Pattaya Golf Society chose Khao Kheow as the venue for its monthly medal event on Wednesday, 27th July and the players were allotted the A and B nines, which were in reasonably good condition although fairways on A are still patchy after the renovations early in the year.
Once again it was “millionaire’s golf” for most of the round although the course filled up later with the 1pm local starters. Strokeplay calls for a different mindset where course management takes the priority rather than length and strength and those managing best were the likely winners.
In third place was Finn Erik Anttonen with net 77 and five shots ahead was the Aussie long hitter Andrew Purdie with net 72. As he has done so on many occasions over the years the group’s “medal man” Mr Len recovered from leaving six putts on the greens over the first six holes to produce a round which included two birdies, one on the Island hole, and incredibly a chip-in from Pattaya’s worst chipper! His winning score was net 71.
As hinted earlier, the ‘2’s pot was shared by Mr Len and Mark Lang who accomplished the feat on the same hole a mere five minutes before the Boss.
The Booby Bevy went to a deserving Kevin Timbrell after a round of total mediocrity but as we all know, a wounded Kevin can be a dangerous animal.
Two for the show
The final July outing for the Pattaya Golf Society took them to Emerald on Friday, 29th and the course was well prepared for the visit, with grassed fairways and greens which were friendly but in need of a cut. The course was full at the start but the group got underway on time and arriving at the tenth tee they found the course had emptied. Wonderful!
Results saw Wichai Tananusorn and Erik Anttonen share second place with 37 points and the news that Mr Len had done even better with 38 points was greeted with incredulity. A near birdie on the fifth and a competent two on the fifteenth showed his iron play was back in gear, as was his putting and he continued to enjoy the success of the week as his two rounds had seen a personal milestone of successive victories.
The Booby Bevy went to Masaaki Sugaya for split figures of 6 and 18.
