The Pattaya Golf Society (IPGC) at the Elephant Bar
With Songkran over for another year the Pattaya Golf Society resumed normal duties with visit to Green Valley on Monday, 21st April to play a stabeford competition.
A long time empty first tee gave a clue to the course condition which was reasonable except for greens which, in the opinion of an experienced Green Valley golfer, were in the worst condition he could remember. Unevenly cut, some spiked, unevenly sanded, variable in pace. you name it, Green Valley had it!
The single flight began the round on the stroke one hole – how quaint – and then followed the original layout for the next seventeen holes and scores were not impressive. Brian Talbot and Dave Edwards shared third place with 33 points and Erik Anttonen took second with a very solid 35 points. The winner was Jesper Hansen and his level par round was one of the rare highlights of the day.
Gerner Lykke and Dave Edwards shared the ‘2’s pot with their efforts on the fifth and sixteenth respectively and the Booby Bevy later went to Kerry Jonsson who was en route from Reykjavik to Birmingham but decided to call in on his golf mates for a few rounds!
Chris Smith impresses at Bangpra
Bangpra was the venue for the Pattaya Golf Society on Wednesday, 23rd April, when a large field turned out to play a stableford event on the popular course. The course was in excellent condition and the greens were only a modicum slower than normal but many white tees were back at their fullest extent so a fine contest was in store for both flights which were divided at thirteen and under.
In the first flight Alan Flynn and Brian Talbot shared second place with 31 points whilst Chris Smith produced a round of high quality for a gross figure of 78 giving him 32 points.
In the second flight cores were slightly better with Jesper Hansen and Brian Shaw sharing third place with 32 points, Dave Lehane coming in from the wilderness with 34 points for second and John Chelo taking the fight with 35 points.
Chris Smith took the ‘2’s pot after a consummate birdie on the second hole and the Booby Bevy went to Mr Len for an abject round of mistimed shots and “iffy” putting on greens he normally adores! However the day will be remembered for the quality of Chris Smith’s round not the errors of others!
Anttonen, all rhythm off blues
The Pattaya Golf Society ended the week with a visit to Pleasant Valley on Friday, 25th April. The course is always well irrigated and it was no surprise to find soft fairways and the decision to go from the blue tees may have been the cause for some poor returns, especially as the wind was also up for the day.
A full Thai turnout at the same time meant the PGS had to start on the tenth tee which was not the best idea the club have ever had. The tough and tight nine needs to be played when joints are supple and minds are receptive to strategy and certainly not at the start of the round.
In third place was Alan Flynn with 34 points and only one point ahead was Brian Talbot, so consistent yet again. The winner was no surprise with Erik Anttonen striking the ball so well at present and his 38 points also included a birdie ‘2’ on the seventeenth as well as representing the best gross of the day.
The bar’s non-winners ice cool “freebie” went to Gerner Lykke on the eve of his return to Denmark and the Booby Bevy went to Larry Ang for the lowest nine hole score of the day.
