Jomtien Golf with the IPGC
Monday, May 20, Phoenix – Stableford
After a hectic and brilliant time last week with four rounds of golf in Hua Hin, we were cooling things down today with a short trip up the road to Phoenix.
28 players for this time of the year is a good turnout for us and the equal cut was 3-15 in division 1 and 16 plus in division 2 for the stableford round.
The temperature today was not as bad as it has been over the past couple of weeks and this came as a relief to everyone. We were allocated the Ocean and Mountain nines today as the Lakes course is shut for renovation.
Rod Howett, Chris Reed, Chris Voller and Colin James.
After his third placing overall the previous week, Chuck Anderson won division 1 today with 37 points. Lindsay Phillips came in second two points behind Chuck and Kari Kuparinen, now playing off 6, scored 22 on the front nine and 12 on the back to finish third with 34 points.
Kari Aarnio was the winner in division 2 with 33 points and Roar Berger, back after a three month break, beat ‘the Frog’, Jean Morel on a 17/15 back nine count back for second after they both came in with 32 points.
Kari Kuparinen birdied Mountain 8 and Steve Snelgrove Mountain 4 to split the ‘2’s pot in division 1, while in the second division there were three rollovers to Greenwood on Wednesday.
Near pins went to Chuck Anderson, Billy Fitzgerald, Kalani Makaneole, Pete Sumner, Kari Aarnio, John Harvey and Johnny Larsson.
Wednesday, May 22, Greenwood – Stableford
The Amata City traffic lights on the 331 have now become a joke with major delays so we are now re thinking the route to the four courses on this road, but with an 18km difference going up the 7 and heading towards the Pattana entrance we all think this could be a better route.
Seven groups out today with the equal cut at 6-18 and 19+ in division 2.
Playing off 9, Terry Madsen in division 1 beat the Hua Hin winner Jerry Sweetnam on a back two count back of 4/3 after they both came in with 38 points each; 18/18 on the back nine, 13/13 on the back six and 6/6 on the last three holes. Pete Sumner was third, beating Kari Kuparinen and Chris Voller on a 20/19/18 count back after they all came in with 36 points.
In the frame every week, Rod Howett won division 2 with 35 points while back from the ‘land down under’, Mark Armstrong beat his fellow countryman 19/17 on a back nine count back for second spot after he and Colin James came in with 34 points.
Pete Sumner birdied A6 for the only ‘2’ in division 1 and Rodney’s birdie on the C6 hole took three rollovers but the bell was silent back at Siam Cats?
Near were awarded to Billy Fitzgerald, Pete Sumner, and Roar Berger.
There were an amazing 5 no-shows at the presentation today in the nearest the pins category and the rollover kitty is building up in two divisions for our next extravaganza game.
Friday, May 24, Eastern Star – Stableford
A public holiday today and there were quite a few cars and mini buses in the car park as we arrived but as we approached the first tee there was one group out in front of us and it was a five-ball. The first group had a few hold-ups on the front nine but still went round in 2 hours and on the tenth we were called through and we completed the back nine in 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Marty Rock, playing off 11, scored 37 points to win division 1 ahead of Jerry Sweetnam in second four points behind and Ted Gardner beat Chris Voller on a 16/14 count back for third after they both came in with 32 points.
Rod Howett, still on the stage, won division 2 with 34 points, beating Chris Reed on a 20/18 back nine count back, with Frank Kelly in third place on 32.
Near pins were claimed by Kari Kuparinen, Marty Rock (2), Mark Armstrong, Steve Ironside and Chris Reed.
Chris Voller birdied the 13th for the only ‘2’ of the day and there were three rollovers in division 1. Our next fun game here is on the 7th June with a rainbow competition.
Today we said bon voyage to Terry Redding, back to Aire in Chaing Mai, and Steve Ironside and family back to my local village in Lambourn.
