The Pattaya Golf Society (IPGC) at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar
The Pattaya Golf Society made another visit to Silky Oak on Monday, 25th November to play a stableford competition on an empty course which was in fine condition after the recent closure. Fairways were lush and greens were consistent, if a little slow but it did nothing to spoil a day of “millionaires’” golf. With no more than four hours for a round it was a rare occasion in high season.
The single flight were treated to some good scores with Canadian John Chelo again finding his form with a solid 35 points for third place but the real battle was in the group ahead with Dave Lehane and “Banjo” Bannister going stroke for stroke throughout seventeen holes. The battling duo from the “Potteries” found the game decided by one weak shot on the last and Dave Lehane held his nerve to win with 39 points from Banjo’s 38.
It was no more than the day deserved and the group had enjoyed a fine day out. There were no birdie ‘2’s and the final act at the presentation was to award Rabbi’s non-winners’ beer to Alan Flynn, and not for the first time!
Tense competition at Crystal Bay
The Pattaya Golf Society chose Crystal Bay as the venue for its November monthly medal event on Wednesday, 27th and the appointed combination was the B and C nines. They were in a satisfactory condition but the greens were “dirty” and were in need of rolling.
The field was divided into two flights at sixteen and under and play got underway a few minutes early. The course has always assisted good scores in stableford competitions but strokeplay is a different kettle of fish and so it was to prove again.
In the second flight Len Jones and Phil McClure shared second place with net 77, both also achieving birdie ‘2’s on the front nine. Also in the same group Michael MGuigan achieved the feat on C4. The flight winner was Dave Plaiter with net 76.
In the top flight Andrew Purdie took third place with a steady level par net 72 whilst “Banjo” Bannister and Wichai Tananusorn went one better to share the win with net 71.
Banjo shared the top flight ‘2’s pot with Rick Schramm, the later also taking the Booby Bevy twenty-four hours after his arrival for losing almost all his handicap on the par five C6. Welcome back old friend!
Banjo’s rousing encore
The Pattaya Golf Society ended a successful week with a visit to Khao Kheow to play a stableford competition over the A and B nines on a fine, warm day with a constant fresh breeze. The course was in good condition but the B greens were a little slower by comparison with those on the front nine.
The field was divided into two flights with the cut at 16.9 and the competition was tight as ever. In the second flight Len Jones and Phil McClure repeated their exercise of two days previously by sharing second place with 36 points each whilst a solid round of 38 points by Jim Ferris took the victory.
In the top flight Peter Wilson and Paul Edgar shared third place with 33 points whilst Brian Talbot recorded 35 points for second place. The winner was “Banjo” Bannister, in the frame for the third time this week, again with a sub-par round, this time his 43 points blowing the field away. “Awesome” is a much overused word these days but it perfectly defines his performance this week as he finished the week ten under par! Shame he has to return to UK for Christmas at the weekend instead of gracing the golf courses here with the PGS.
Brian Talbot picked up the only ‘2’ in the top flight on B8 whilst John Chelo repeated the feat in the second flight on A5. The Booby went to John also for letting the round slip with only fourteen points on the back nine following his twenty one on the front nine. Rabbi’s consolation beer went to Brian Beaupré and was a suitable end to the day’s proceedings.
