The Pattaya Golf Society (IPGC) at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar
The week began for the Pattaya Golf Society on Monday, 16th June, with a trip to Khao Kheow for a stableford competition on the A and C nines, which were in good order, if a little soft, with traces of sanding on the front nine greens.
With an end to visa runs, days off and times-out, the group survived the late withdrawal of two golfers to make good progress on the course from the yellow tees.
In third place was Sweden’s Tomas Nilsson with 31 points, only one behind Aussie Luke Abbey with 32 very solid points. The winner was Dave Edwards who was playing his first PGS round of the month and his 34 points showed his game is getting back on track after a few weeks in the golfing doldrums.
There were no birdie ‘2’s and Rabbi’s non-winners draw was won by Kevin Cumming, who only last week was sweeping everything before him. The Booby Bevy went to Shuichi Kodaka after a very uncharacteristic poor round which saw him with the day’s largest split figures and lowest score.
Khao Kheow is always a stern challenge and the forced inclusion of the C nine for the rest of the season will see more “long hauls” on the course.
Quality golf on a quality course
The PGS week of golf at quality venues continued with a visit to a surprisingly little used Green Valley on Wednesday, 19th June for a stableford competition. Once again the course was relatively empty allowing the group to tee off before time and make good progress around the well-presented course. Fairways are lush, giving good lies and the greens are deliciously paced at the moment.
A very close tussle ensued with Tomas Nilsson posting 35 points for third place, just one behind the joint winners, Dave Edwards and Robbie Taylor who declared themselves happy with their level par scores. Edwards also took a share of the ‘2’s pot with Chris Walsh after their fine efforts on the sixteenth, Chris especially coming within ten inches of a maiden “ace”.
Rabbi’s free beer draw was won by Masashi Iizumi and Mr Len took the Booby Bevy after a very uncharacteristic tee shot on the fourteenth which saw his tee peg propelled farther than the ball, neither of which making the red tees!
Green Valley is such a treat at present but a discouraging early season announcement on green fees has seen regulars bypass it in their schedules. So much so that the management have now closed Silky Oak until further notice. In the lowest of low seasons spirits can easily be raised with just a modicum of customer awareness. But that is a “farang” perception, is it not.
Taylor has it sewn up again
On Friday, 21st June the Pattaya Golf Society visited Mountain Shadow to play a stableford competition on the tough course which was surprisingly firm and allowed a lot of run. Greens were well paced but they also showed signs of recent coring and sanding which had the inevitable effects on putting. As with other courses at present it was sparsely populated and good progress was made throughout. A strong breeze also blew all day to help and otherwise hinder the field.
Masashi Iizumi found some form at last this trip with 31 points which gave him third place, four behind the runner-up Karl Flood. The winner was “Mr Consistency”, Robbie Taylor and the Aussie golfer enjoyed recording another sub-par round i the form of 37 points.
There were no birdie ‘2’s and the Booby Bevy went to Murray Edwards for his low score of the day whilst Rabbi’s free beer draw was destined for Ken Grimes, and not for the first time either! It had been a fine way to end the week with the PGS.
