PSC golf from Lewiinski’s
Sunday, Jan. 30, Green Valley – 2-Person Scramble
George ‘one ball’ Jackson’ and Don ‘the ladies man’ Lehmer wanted to combine their birthdays with a golf tournament. There is nothing unusual about that in Pattaya. Papa Ray Rogers used to do it every year in May. Bjarne Nielsen does it every year. But George and Don were looking for a one shot deal as the UK Government is now sending George a regular payment every month and he wanted to celebrate it in style.
On Sunday, January 30 the Lewiinski’s gang held George and Don’s birthday bash at the Green Valley Golf Club. The tee times allocated were soon full as George and Don’s friends and acquaintances teed it up in a 2-person scramble.
The Birthday Boys: Don Lehmer, left, and George Jackson.
The format was 40 % of the higher handicapper and 60% of the lower with each player requiring 6 drives. The standard of play was exceptionally high as one would expect with the course in excellent condition.
The message was clear – if you are to become 65 or over, Pattaya is the place to do it! Golf is the way to do it! And your friends, the Pattaya Sports Club golfers, are the people to do it with! And Lewiinski’s is the place to cut the cake, or in this case down a few sherbets. George and Don had one hell of a party.
The winners of the George and Don Scramble were Barry ‘the Boot’ Copestake and Dave Driscoll, with Dave gaining his first ever hole in one. What a Cinderella finish to a magical day. Together they posted a unbelievable net 51.8. There would be no way to top this.
In second place was Brent Philip and Chris Leck, they came in with a net 55. That was just two tenths of a stroke over the third place pairing of Claude Harder and Alain Belles who finished the day on 55.2. Fourth spot went to Keith McLachlan and Greg Bates with 56.6 who gained a count-back decision over Steve Ell1son and John McHugh. Barry and his son Alex concluded the prizes, with a score of 56.8.
Dave Driscoll rings the bell to celebrate his ‘Ace’ at Green Valley.
With any birthday party there are the birthday presents. Only in this case the guests were receiving instead of giving as there were numerous technical prizes and the lucky raffle in aid of the Baan Jing Jai Kids Home (that raised 20,000 baht) and almost everyone at the party received a prize.
Sandwiched in between the team awards and the lucky draw was a moving tribute to George and Don that had evoked tears from the two old codgers, friends who were laughing so hard they had to prop each other up.
Technical prizes winners were Vic Hester, Pierre Bietry (2), Dave Driscol, Ian Rippey, Brent Philip, Peter Hynard, John O’Neil, Simon Philbrook (2), Mark Wood and Mark Bonner Golf.
The prize for the ‘Best Turned Out’ pair went to Dale Shier and Mick Beresford.
It is often said by the expat community in Pattaya that it is impossible to do justice to an explanation of what life here is like. George and Don’s birthday party was a typical slice of Pattaya life. First there was an enormous fun day of golf at Green Valley. Then a buffet dinner at Lewiinski’s that is without doubt one of the best in town, and the evening was capped off with a cabaret across the road at the Sin Bin featuring Bobby ‘V’ Newell Reg ‘Kipper’ McKay and ‘Juke box’ Jackson.
That just leaves George and Don to thank Colin, Peter and Jim, the staff for all their hard work, Bob and Brad for a seamless event, every one for their kind donations, Green Valley, and a thank you to Big Frank, Seamus and Jez’s mom and dad. Hope to see you all next year!
Monday, Jan. 31, Treasure Hill – Stableford
A Flight
1st Pat Hanafin (12) 40pts
2nd Vic Hester (14) 38pts
3rd Tore Eliassen (13) 36pts
B Flight
1st Keith McLachlan (19) 36pts
2nd Sim Davis (28) 33pts
3rd Sean Soden (21) 33pts
A fair sized group (considering the back to back playing days) turned out to take on the formidable Treasure Hill.
Irishman Pat Hanafin had a sparkling round of 40 points for best of the day and top spot on the ladder in the senior flight. Vic ‘the inflictor’ Hester stood on the second rung two shots back, followed by Tore Eliassen who posted a solid even par round.
In the junior circuit Keith McLachlan held sway with an even par round, three clear of the ex Treasure Hill caddy Sim Davis as a count-back elevated her above Sean Soden on the podium.
Vic Hester, Tore Eliassen Steven Doric, Keith McLachlan, Sim Davis and Sea Soden shared the 2’s pot.
Wednesday, Feb. 2, Bangpra – Stableford
A Flight
1st Pat Hanafin (12) 39pts
2nd Terry Mangan (11) 37pts
B Flight
1st Pat Culloty (20) 32pts
2nd Ajit Amin (18) 31pts
A Flight turned out to be a battle between Co. Wicklow’s Terry Mangan and Co. Cork’s Pat Hanafin. Terry sneaked the last encounter between these two on a count-back in January last year. This time Pat left nothing to chance for his second win in as many games, as he put a two shot gap between them, but it must be said that both Pat and Terry were the only golfers to better par on the day. Seamus Cotter another Cork man and Gavin ‘Wilko’ Knox both came close with par rounds.
B Flight found the lighting fast greens a nightmare as the 32 points from the Co. Kerry man Pat Culloty was good for the top spot. Ajit Amin took the silver as he edged Gerry Hughes by a single stroke.
There were two 2’s today and they belonged to Pat Hanafin as he capped a fine display of golf.
Friday, Feb. 4, Crystal Bay – Stableford
A Flight
1st Gavin Knox (11) 38pts
2nd Seamus Cotter (12) 37pts
3rd Barry Power (0) 36pts
B Flight
1st Geoff Kubas (19) 31pts
2nd Ajit Amin (18) 30pts
3rd John Fogarty (18) 29pts
Gavin ‘Wilko’ Knox, who has darn near paid for his holiday with his society winnings, capped off his fine play with a best on the day 38 points in the senior flight. The smile on Seamus’s face gets bigger every day as his continued fine play gave him the silver a shot back. Barry Power filled the flight with a count-back victory over the unlucky Tore Eliassen, both carding even par rounds.
B Flight showed no respect for the course (I assume they were playing the same course as the senior mob) by having Elvis Kubas posting 31 points to take the top spot (it was nearly returned to sender). Ajit Amin was a shot adrift for the silver, and to say that John Fogarty was gob smacked that his 29 points won him third place would be an understatement.
Note: Lewiinski’s is situated on Pattaya Land Soi 1, Beach Road Soi 13/3 near to Walking Street. Anyone wishing to play with us, just pop in and add your name to the list or call Colin on 089 826 0764. Transport is provided.
