The Pattaya Golf Society (IPGC) at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar
On Monday, 20th January the Pattaya Golf Society visited the sumptuous Bangpakong Riverside course to play a stableford competition. A comfortable cool breeze blew all day keeping the golfers at their ease and the two flights were separated at fifteen and under.
As usual scores at Bangpakong were good with the second flight seeing the Canadian duo of Henry Mah and Rod Stevens share runner-up place with 35 points each whilst the Aussie golfer Murray Edwards took the flight with 36 points.
PGS Champion 2014, Chris Smith gets his hands on the trophy at last.
In the top flight Wichai Tananusorn’s 37 points took third place, just one point behind second placed Dave Moriarty on 38. An impressive round of 39 points saw Kiwi Alan Flynn post the best points total of the day for the victory.
The recently crowned PGS Champion, Chris Smith again impressed with the best gross of the day, 74 shots and Dave Moriarty and Richard Dobson shared the ‘2’s pot with birdies on the seventh hole.
The presentation saw John Tallett receive the Booby Bevy for a nil return and a belated presentation was made to Chris Smith.
It’s an ill wind…
On Wednesday, 22nd January the first tee at Mountain Shadow was a very uncomfortable location for the Pattaya Golf Society as the large field gathered for a stableford competition. A very strong, cold wind was blowing and set to continue all day and in the view of many older heads conditions were as uncomfortable as they had ever been in the province. In addition greens were at racing speed and the pins were placed on any slope that was available!
Cold, shivering and stiff golfers set off from the blue tees and no apologies were made for the society’s lowest ever average competition score, a meagre 22 points. With the cut at fourteen and under the second flight saw Larry Ang and Paul Edgar share third place with 25 points, Martin Hennessy in second with 26 and John Chelo take the win with thirty points.
In the top flight Iain Wilson took third place with 30 points and had the dubious honour of setting the best gross figures of the day, 81 shots. In second place was Dave Moriarty with 32 points and the flight winner was Robbie Taylor with 35 points. Barely fifteen percent of the field had managed thirty points or more!
The ‘2’s pot was shared by Mike Earley, Wichai Tananusorn, John O’Sullivan and John Chelo and the Booby Bevy went to Richard Dobson for his worst ever score with only nine points! Back at Rabbi’s in Soi Buakhao the security man was considering throwing an extra log on the fire, all fans were off and hot toddies were the order of the day.
Stern test at Treasure Hill
The Pattaya Golf Society ended its toughest week in many a month with a trip to Treasure Hill for a stableford competition on Friday, 24th January. Another large field found the course in fair condition with slightly sanded greens but the usual bare patches on the fairways.
With the cut at seventeen and under the second flight saw Murray Edwards and Larry Ang share second place with 31 points and Henry Mah making a very good fist of things with his winning score of 34 points.
In the top flight Ray Banks again dug in to produce 31 points for third place, one behind Iain Wilson, whose best gross of 79 strokes gave him 32 points for second. The winner was namesake Peter Wilson whose round of 34 points was an excellent achievement for a first shot at the course.
Ray Banks, Dave Edwards and Martin Hennessy shared the ‘2’s pot with fine efforts on the sixth and thirteenth holes whilst Richard Dobson took the Booby Bevy for the second successive round for his low score.
David Thomas had his first taste of stewardship in three years and conducted the group in his own inimitable style and once again Rabbi and Khun Peung excelled themselves with the hospitality back at the Elephant Bar in Soi Buakhao. Thus the week ended with almost a hundred PGS rounds being played and only three below-par rounds to brighten the cool and blustery conditions. Brrr… just like being back at home!
