IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the Links Bar
On Monday, 9th May the Pattaya Golf Society took a larger than normal group to Greenwood to play a stableford competition on the B and A nines, which were in fine condition, especially after a three hour storm the previous day which left the course refreshed and soft in parts. Greens were excellent and very consistent.
The excellent deal had attracted other Pattaya golf groups but progress was good and the day was less of a nightmare now that the highway repairs are almost complete.
A tight competition saw only four points cover the first dozen golfers. Sharing second were the Japanese golfers in the field, Masaaki Sugaya nd Yasuo Suzuki, both scoring 33 points. The winner was Alan Griffiths and his score of 34 points was an excellent reward for some solid golf in the unrelenting heat and humid conditions. Alan also recorded the sole birdie ‘2’ of the day, on B5.
The Booby Bevy was held over for another day. It had been a relief to get on to a golf course and play off properly grassed fairways and the course is to be congratulated for continuing to spend on maintenance in the current drought. Offering an excellent daily deal will pay dividends by the end of the season.
‘Iron’ Mike tops Emerald
The Pattaya Golf Society ended another week on Friday, 13th May with a trip to Emerald in Ban Chang for a stableford competition on the course which was primarily empty – a result of the current excessive heat – but which was severely dry and bare in parts. Greens however were fairly good but bone hard.
Golf is not easy in these conditions and the hard fairways leave tight lies everywhere, making the accurate use of irons a priority. Some golfers will respond and they are the ones who will prevail.
The large single flight saw no birdie ‘2’s but Sam McLellan held his game together well to take third place with 35 points. Playing partner Russell Exley played the best gross of the day with 79 giving him second place with 36 points, an outstanding performance in many respects considering his lack of golf recently. The day’s winner was Mike Wilsher who played the best round of his PGS career with a total of forty points. It could have been so much better had it not been for some uncharacteristic mistakes on holes fifteen and eighteen. The secret to his game was his use of irons and hybrids in reaching the greens. Sensible putting then took over.
Despite the desperate conditions there was still room for fun however and of the two candidates for the Booby Bevy Mike Firkin won the “countback” with one more zero hole than his opponent.
Ultimately it had been another tough week for golfers in Pattaya and all will be hoping the rains promised a week ago by the national meteorological office, arrive, if only to save some of the regions popular golf courses.
