PSC Golf from The Growling Swan
Monday, Jan. 27, Pattavia – Stableford
It was time for another visit to the “new & improved” Pattavia Golf Course, formerly known as Century Chonburi and there were 25 golfers signed up and ready for the challenge. It was a reasonably quick trip with no real delay on 331 and we arrived at the course after a 57 minute drive to find it not too busy and lockers available for most. Our scheduled tee time was 10.00 am but we managed to get our first four-ball away 10 minutes earlier than that and in perfect weather conditions our round commenced.
The course was looking very good but when it came to the greens most of us had a few problems as they were super quick and a lot of the holes had been cut in fairly inaccessible places making three putts the rule rather than the exception. It’s OK to have very quick greens but they need to put the holes in spots that are fair. Nonetheless, it was a very enjoyable round of golf, albeit a bit slow with a few hold ups ahead and we finished in four hours & thirty minutes.
Colm Mullen, Bob Akapita, Shane Young, Mike Gosden & Alan Sanders (standing rear).
It is a longer than normal drive to this course and the access road in is a bit bumpy but well worth the trouble for true golfers and will be even better in February when the new clubhouse is open, which will provide much better facilities for the faint hearted!
That man in form Mike “Hunter” Gosden was at it again and had the best score of the day by winning Division A with 37 points and another form golfer, John Davis was second on 36 points, with Gerd Riedler finishing in third spot on 35 points.
With 2 golfers on 35 points in B Division a count back was required and it was Patrick Poussier (21 point back nine) who finished in first place ahead of Alain “Inspector Clouseau” Taddei (18 point back nine) in second spot. With 3 people on 33 points another count back was necessary which saw Duangjai “Kae” Tusagad (20 point back nine) finish third from Colm Mullen (16 point back nine) and Ian “Bat” Masterson (14 point back nine).
Division A (0-17)
1st Mike Gosden (12) 37pts
2nd John Davis (17) 36pts
3rd Gerd Riedler (8) 35pts
Division B (18+)
1st Patrick Poussier (24) 35pts
2nd Alain Taddei (19) 35pts
3rd Duangjai Tusagad (19) 33pts
Near Pins: 4th – Robbie Taylor, 7th – Colm Mullen, 13th – Peter Blackburn, 17th – Peter Blackburn
Long Putts: 9th – Gerd Riedler, 18th – Gerd Riedler
The Growling Swan NAGA Award, (awarded to the golfer who has the worst score on the day) was won by Ken Grimes who accepted the award like the good sport that he is.
Thursday, Jan. 30, Green Valley – Stroke/Monthly Mug
It was that time of the month once more when we get to play our round of stroke whilst competing for the prestigious Growling Swan Monthly Mug. This was our 20th Mug day and there were 33 golfers signed up and ready to take on the classy Green Valley Golf Course.
When we arrived at the course it was extremely busy and there was an obvious shortage of caddies at that time. However, the Green Valley staff called in caddies from various points and as our first four-ball teed off 4 minutes ahead of our booked 10.19 am tee time the caddies miraculously appeared (JIT).
The weather was terrific once again with very little wind and as we were behind several groups of “not so quick” golfers it was apparent that the going would be quite slow.
As usual the golf course was in great shape although the greens were quite a bit slower than normal and some of them were quite furry but it certainly was a pleasure to be playing this venue again. After a very enjoyable round of golf with very good company we completed our full round in the time of four hours & forty five minutes.
Bob Akapita was making the most of his two week visit to Pattaya and his net 69 was the best score on the day, enabling him to win his very first Growling Swan Monthly Mug. The A Division went to Mike “Hunter” Gosden who continued his good form with a net 70 and your writer, Peter “Blacky” Blackburn was hot on his heels and picked up second spot with a net 71 and Ebrahim finished third with a net 74.
In B Division it was Irishman Colm Mullen who won with a net 70 and Roy “Plums” Dayton was second on net 76 with well known Soi Chaiyapoon bar Mine Host Lindsay Slender in third place with net 77.
Shane “Jockey” Young (net 38 back nine) won Division C with net 75 on a count back from Andrew “Turtle” Allen (net 39 back nine) in second spot and Stephen Newton was third with net 80.
Monthly Mug
1st Bob Akapita (18) net 69
Division A (0-17)
1st Mike Gosden (12) net 70
2nd Peter Blackburn (13) net 71
3rd Ebrahim (16) net 74
Division B (18-24)
1st Colm Mullen (19) net 70
2nd Roy Dayton (22) net 76
3rd Lindsay Stephen (24) net 77
Division C (25+)
1st Shane Young (28) net 75
2nd Andrew Allen (33) net 75
3rd Stephen Newton (28) net 80
Near Pins: 4th – Jayson Schembri, 9th – J J Harney, 12th – Peter Blackburn, 16th – Sal Brizzi
Long Putts: 9th – Alan Sanders, 18th – Peter Grey
The Growling Swan NAGA Award was won by Alan “Colonel” Sanders and he accepted the cap gracefully and wore it for a while back in the bar. As usual presentations were back at the bar on this occasion and we all thanked Mine Host Peter Grey for sponsoring the Mug and also providing a delicious supper.
Note: Growling Swan Golf welcomes golfers of any persuasion – low & high handicappers alike, female golfers and beginners. We generally play Mondays & Thursdays, meeting at The Growling Swan in Soi Chaiyapoon at 8.00 am with transport departing at 8.30 am. For bookings or more information please contact Peter on 0806 351 386 or email to petermalcolmblackburn @gmail.com.
We also play both lawn and indoor bowls every Wednesday and Sunday. For more information please contact Paul Rennison on 0843 454 005.
