The Pattaya Links Golf Society
Monday, Oct. 23, Pattavia – Stableford
1st Tony Browne (20) 33pts
2nd Barry Moore (16) 32pts
3rd Larry Slattery (18) 32pts
Only 4 days previously we had a field of 77 players for a rainbow stableford at Pattana, but only 7 players travelled out to Pattavia for today’s round.
But for those who made the trip they were more than pleased at the presentation of this course. Not only is it a wonderful and challenging course, but the price of just 950 baht walking is just about as good as it gets.
The well documented tricky greens were again a little slower than we have known, but still provided plenty of challenges if you had a downhill putt.
Being a Public Holiday there were plenty of customers on the course. Our groups started on the tenth tee, about 20 minutes after the booked start time, and proceeded at a good pace, before coming up behind some 5-balls. So, with that, we took about four and a half hours to get around.
Tony Browne has been in very good form since arriving back in LOS, and kept that going with a handy 33 points to take first spot. Although only a small field, we still had a countback to decide the placings. Barry Moore, playing his first game this trip, just tipped out Larry Slattery for second place by one point.
Friday, Oct. 27, Khao Kheaw – Stableford
A Flight
1st Peter Wilson (9) 36pts
2nd Huw Phillips (14) 31pts
3rd Steve Potter (18) 29pts
4th Kevin McEntee (5) 28pts
B Flight
1st Mike Jeffreys (22) 32pts
2nd Peter Henshaw (25) 30pts
3rd Mike Firkin (22) 28pts
4th John Anderson (29) 25pts
If we schedule a good course, we tend to get good numbers turning out. Today proved that as we had 24 starters, a nice even 6 groups. We played from the yellow tees, which some consider too long, and on this day, some of the placings of the tees looked just that, long.
No matter how well this course is presented, it can still prove a challenge for many. There are bunkers placed to catch you out and plenty of water about to swallow up a few wayward balls. With the slight dampness there was little or no run, so this made it even more of a challenge, hence the mostly low scoring. A lot of course management is needed here.
There is usually one who stands out from the crowd, and today it was Peter Wilson proving to be the only one to play to handicap, which just happens to be a paltry handicap of 9. He took out A Flight honours with his fine round. Playing partner Huw Phillips was nearest with 31 points, while Steve Potter was another two points in arrears.
B Flight saw Mike Jeffreys in first place with a score of 32 points, Peter Henshaw take second on 30 and Mike Firkin scored 28 for third.
We paid down to fourth place, and no one was more surprised than John Anderson, who had been eyeing off the “Wig” with a mere 25 points, but instead, slightly embarrassed, got into the winners circle… just!
Best front and back nines for non-winners came from Jim Ferris (14pts) and Colin Service (16pts) respectively.
