IPGC Pattaya Golf Society based at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar
The Pattaya Golf Society visited Greenwood for the first time this year on Monday, 17th January, and found the A and C courses in splendid condition with consistent greens and fairways well covered. The white tees were well back making the course a real challenge for the two flights which were cut at twelve and under and eventually the field got away on the course which was well populated.
The return of old friends made the day special and in the top flight Canadian Rick Schramm found a niche for himself in third place with 34 points, just two behind the joint winners, compatriot Brian Beaupre and Ray Banks, again showing good form.
The second flight also showed the Canadian influence as Jack Robertson took the win, playing the course for the second consecutive day, with a score of 37 points, just one ahead of playing partner Brendan Gilsenan, on extended leave because of the floods in Queensland. In third place was Irishman Larry Slattery who has quickly found his form again after a winter in the Emerald Isle.
Nicky Patton and Kazuo Takimoto both birdied the C sixth hole to share the ‘2’s pot and amongst the Booby Bevy candidates was the starter at Greenwood who shifted playing groups between the A and C tees without reference to the organisers. Course management Thai style yet again.
In all the maple leaf was represented in five of the first ten places showing a good day for the Canadians in the field at Greenwood.
Close encounter at Phoenix
Phoenix had the honour of hosting the Pattaya Golf Society’s largest field of the year so far for its stableford competition on Wednesday, 19th January. The Mountain and Lakes nines were well presented with fast greens and the field was divided into two flights at fourteen and under.
Phoenix is no longer the “pushover” it once was, with the changes and addition of new trees a few years back and the scores were respectable if not spectacular, with just three shots covering the top third of the field.
In the second flight Brian Kelly and IPGC Chairman Chris Knapp shared third place with steady returns of 34 points each whilst the joint winners in the section, Bill Hewitt and newbie Jack Carlsson, went one better with 35 points to enjoy the spoils.
In the top flight Dave Moriarty made an impact with 35 points for third whilst Ray Banks and the returning Peter Ditz took the win with 36 points each.
The ‘2’s pot was shared by Nicky Patton and Dave Moriarty in the top flight, giving the New Jersey man his most successful golf day yet and in the second flight Jim Carlsson had the pot to himself after a fine birdie on Mountain 4.
Old friend Masanori Takano returned only the day before and duly picked up the Booby Bevy for the largest split of the day, 12 – 18 points, but at least the improvement on the back nine was there for all to see. He will certainly have his day again soon.
Phoenix had again witnessed a very close run tournament and more good days are in store at the favourite local course.
Team Canada tops at Crystal Bay
Pairs and team golf is a welcome distraction from the usual individual competition format which golf groups play on a regular basis in Pattaya and for this reason the Pattaya Golf Society visited Crystal Bay on Friday, 21st January to play a stableford pairs event over the A and B nines.
The course was in good condition and was full with the usual Asian tourists, intent on literally touring the course in search of an empty tee box. Thus a long round was in store as the fourteen teams set out.
Good scores were difficult to make as greens were slower than those encountered elsewhere recently but only seven points separated the top dozen teams. In fourth place was the all-Irish outfit of Larry Slattery and a recently retired Chris Walsh, their 40 points representing some solid team play. Going one point better were two teams, sharing second place. Len Jones teamed up with the current in-form PGS golfer, Ray Banks, to post 41 points which equalled the efforts of Canadian duo Brian Beaupre and Rick Schramm. A second Team Canada was to prevail however as John Chelo and Gordon Everingham returned a score of 42 points showing higher handicappers what can be done when percentage golf is applied.
Sharing the ‘2’s pot were Steve Evans, Brian Beaupre, Ray Banks and Dave Moriarty, who is becoming something of a “2’s” expert at present with a brace of fine efforts on A5 and B6. The Booby Bevy went to Rod Stevens who ended a week to forget, during which he had played off the wrong handicap, broken a driver and ended with a very unconventional par on the final hole. Team golf is essentially fun golf and that is just what the PGS enjoyed at Crystal Bay
