IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar
The Pattaya Golf Society visited the pleasant Crystal Bay course in Bangpra on Monday, 22nd November to play a strokeplay competition, the final monthly merit event for November. The B and C nines were in fine order and the greens were medium to fast and very consistent. The field was divided into two flights at sixteen and under and play got underway on time on the relatively empty course.
The crowded first tee saw a loose limbed Brian Shaw lead off with a power shank the likes of which had never been seen before, and playing his second shot down the first from the far extremes of the second fairway gave no indication that he would finish top of the second flight with net 73. The more orthodox Len Jones managed to find thirteen fairways on the way to his second place score of net 75 and Malcolm Schofield trundled in third on 76 with his best effort in Thailand after seven years of trying.
The top flight was gripped with tension once again as the main contenders for the monthly prize were again paired together. Thai golfer Wichai Tananusorn (74) trailed in one shot behind Richard “Banjo” Bannister whilst the top spot was occupied by Tony Thorne, sharing the day’s best gross of eighty-three with Peter Sumner, giving him net figures of 72.
There were no birdie ‘2’s and the Booby Bevy went to a dejected Pat Murphy after a round uncharacteristically punctuated with errors, including playing the wrong ball on B6.
Crystal Bay can be very forgiving but not when the golfer makes elementary mistakes. It can be a joy to play when things go right.
All change at the top
The Pattaya Golf Society visited Bangpakong Riverside Club on Wednesday 24th November to play a stableford competition, and despite losing a couple of playing groups to the popular John Preddy Memorial event at Khao Kheow, we still managed to put out a strong field to compete on the splendidly prepared course.
A golfer at the top of his game will score well here and so it was to prove as Don Nellis and Joe Niisato shared fourth place with 37 points each, a couple behind the third place of lady golfer Mam Morel, consistent as always with 39 points. The joint winners were Phil Knight and new IPGC member John Pegrum who pulled out all the stops to record excellent totals of forty points each for an emphatic win.
There were no birdie ‘2’s (amazingly), with the consistent greens holding all the aces on this occasion.
The Booby Bevy went to marshal for the day Tony Thorne after a round he would choose to forget weighed down as he was with the trappings of “work”.
Elsewhere Tim Lazecki was the best PGS performer at Khao Kheow with 38 points as Jack Robertson received a trophy for the day’s low score. Sadly the single flight competition saw Tim’s fine efforts go unrewarded as he was usurped by a few forty point returns. Forty-plus at Khao Kheow? Not often, but regularly achieved at Bangpakong Riverside.
West best at Khao Kheow
The Pattaya Golf Society chose Khao Kheow as its Friday venue on 26th November for a stableford competition over the C and A nines. The course currently is in excellent condition and a warm breezy day made for a comfortable and close competition.
The large field was divided into two divisions at seventeen and under and the second flight almost went to form with lady golfer Margaret Wilkinson taking third place with 31 points. One of the flight favourites Shui Kodaka came up with the goods with a well crafted 33 points but he found he was joined at the top of the leaderboard by Roy Mann, playing his final round this year, and his score gave him his first winning place in almost ten years of trying. It truly is a “Mann’s” game!
In the top flight scores were better with Paul McNally firing the day’s best gross figures of 78, giving him 35 points for third. Ahead of him was Steve Jones with a splendid 36 points, which proved to be not quite enough as Mark West took victory on his first golf day this visit with 37 points.
There were a myriad of birdie ‘2’s with Paul McNally, “Banjo” Bannister, Yasuo Suzuki, Shui Kodaka, Tom Kirkpatrick and Len Jones all sharing the healthy pot.
The Booby Bevy went to Jorn Eriksen who had arrived late at Rabbi’s and had to enlist the help of a taxi driver to get him to the course on time and the cool beer was a fitting way to draw the curtain on his annual visit.
It was a pleasure to enjoy the day at Khao Kheow with fine company.
