IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at The Links Bar
Apart from excessively fluffy sand in the bunkers the Pattana course was well presented for our visit on Monday, June 22, with very good fairways and excellent greens. However, despite the good conditions the course offered minimal run and at 6700 yards in length, coupled with strong winds that invariably seemed always ‘into us’, scoring was at a premium.
After being allocated C & B nines, we teed off under cloudy skies on time at 10.00am. In deciding to play the longer white tees we were mindful that the majority of our numbers had handicaps of 14 and below. Had this been the other way round, we would have played the 6300-yard yellow tees.
The course gave up two ‘2’s; to John Lay on B3 and Toby Glass on B7. Apparently Toby’s tee-shot on B7 went very close to being an “ace”.
Pattana – a tough test in the wind.
With the wind up, today’s conditions made scoring difficult. It was no surprise to see 32 points make the podium, which was enough to give Swede Tomas Nilsson (H/cap 11) third place. In second, one point better, was Englishman Jon Batty (8), whose ball striking on the day deserved a far better score. Taking the top spot, with the only net-par round, was the ever improving Aussie Toby Glass (22). Toby is experiencing a time in his golfing life where his handicap is on a markedly downward spiral. Short of breaking his clubs, a joke made by one of his competitors as we put his gear into the car’s boot, he will prove difficult to topple. On second thoughts, maybe he wasn’t joking!
Back at the Links, the booby bevy was won by Kim Hewton who, having got himself written off the previous evening over-imbibing on tequila, only just managed to get himself around the course even though he had a buggy – 15 points being the evidence of his condition. Som nom na!
Khao Kheow ain’t half good
Khao Kheow is struggling to find its best conditions at the moment but the Pattaya Golf Society still visited for a medal round on Wednesday, June 24. The jaded B nine was the prelude to the A nine which was recently reopened after extensive maintenance work that involved returfing large areas of the fairways and green surrounds. Sadly the nine was nowhere near ready, GUR was unmarked, the original white paint being washed out by rain and posts and/or a rope was maybe too expensive.
The testing A8 had been shortened to a par four with the whole width of the fairway in the landing zone newly laid, leaving the choice of a drop on the stream side or behind a tree on the left into the mischievous Bermuda rough. Totally unfair (is there such a word in golf?) or ill-advised to say the least. However, nothing could be done about it so the fun got underway.
In third place was Stu Thompson with net 76, two shots behind Jon Batty whose net 74 included a nine on B8! The winner was Huw Phillips and his net 73 was extremely good value for the course on the day.
Jon Batty, Tomas Nilsson and Stu Thompson shared the ‘2’s pot, Toby Glass won the non-winners’ beer draw and Mike Wilsher accepted the booby bevy after consigning eight balls to the water during his round, six of which were baptized on the first two par-3s. His excuse was that they were lake balls originally and were just looking for a lift “home”. Fun like that soon made people forget about the course problems at Khao Kheow.
Damp fun at Pleasant Valley
The PGS golf week ended on Friday, June 26 with a “fun” day at Pleasant Valley. In the past these days have been popular, with a change from the usual stableford/stroke format to a team event, be it pairs, three-balls or four golfer teams. On this occasion the very popular pairs BB format was used on a course which is not frequented regularly by the group.
Leaving Pattaya in a heavy downpour, which lasted all the way up highway 7, the golfers could be forgiven if pessimism had taken over but within thirty minutes of arriving at the course the rain stopped allowing play to get underway on a damp and soft course under brooding skies.
The course had good fairways but the greens were poor, with some definitely patched and in need of some tender loving care. But what the heck, it’s a fun day!
The pairing of Russell Exley and Erik Anttonen finished third with 39 points, only one behind the favourites Chris Smith and Larry Gibb, but the surprise package of the day, the pairing of Evan Millar and Wan Meeraka held out well to finish on top with a total of 41 points. Mr Russell and Mr Len sponsored near pins and these were won by Huw Phillips (2), Chris Smith and Russell himself.
Back at the Links in Soi Buakhao, the non-winners’ consolation beers went to David Thomas and Stu Thompson and the day’s under achievers took the booby bevy. Cheers Mr. Len and Rod Black! The next fun day is planned for Pattavia on the last Friday in July and the format will be announced soon.
