IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar
Having lost their first competition of the week to the storms, the Pattaya Golf Society members travelled to the Emerald course in Ban Chang on Wednesday, 14th September, to play a stableford event on the popular course. The track was better prepared than on the previous visits with greens resembling proper putting areas now and a great deal of work being done around the course in general. However soft fairways and tees placed back made the course a long challenge for the majority of the field.
In third place on twenty-nine points, with an astounding 23 putts on the front nine, was Tony Thorne and he was only two points off the runner-up place which was occupied by Gary Olliffe with his 31 points. The winner was Alan Duckett of the Windmill Bar in Soi 5, Jomtien and his 35 points was a just reward for some fine long hitting golf. Alan does not play as often as he would like but he has found a consistency in his game which has seen him drop only one shot to his handicap over the last three competition rounds.
The only competition birdie ‘2’ was recorded by Mike Wilsher, on the thirteenth, whilst a two on the fifteenth in a qualifying round for a handicap saw Gary Boller pick up his first Booby Bevy. After all “you have to be in it to win it”! The good news is that Emerald is getting back to its usual condition after a few months of heavy greens maintenance.
Maiden win for Blackshaw
On Friday, 16th September the Pattaya Golf Society left their Soi Buakhao base and travelled to Khao Kheow to play a stableford competition over the C and B nines. The C course was in very good condition and was later being used for a Thai competition but the B track was only opened up for farangs because the A nine was part of the aforementioned competition. Basically the nine holes are not yet playable as new turf is being laid on many holes after serious rain damage and this is not marked as GUR. A tough day lay ahead.
The day went to form with three golfers all sharing second place, Gary Olliffe and Tony Thorne joining best gross golfer of the day Wichai Tananusorn with 33 points. The winner in only his third competition with PGS was Paul Blackshaw whose solid accurate golf helped him collect 35 points for a fine maiden win.
There were no birdie ‘2’s and the Booby Bevy went to Ronnie Ramsay for achieving five “blobs” on the first eight holes and a level par performance over the final ten. Not a bad way to end one’s final round before returning to work!
