The Pattaya Golf Society (IPGC) at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar
On Monday, 12th March the Pattaya Golf Society visited Khao Kheow to play a stableford competition on the C and B nines, which were very soft as a result of recent rain. The club is also in the process of re-turfing some of the greens but marking the areas GUR allows some relief when putting.
The field was divided into two flights at fifteen and under and in the second flight Evan Millar was joined by Kevin McBride as the runners-up returned scores of 31 points. For Kevin it was his second visit to the podium in as many rounds and gives him something to boast about in the north-east when he lands back in the UK next week. The flight winner was new member Howard Jeglum and the Canadian marked his first IPGC competition with 34 points.
In the top flight the returning Haru Kato joined “Banjo” Bannister, Dave Moriarty and Mike Earley in joint second place on 33 points whilst the in-form Masa Takano took another win with his level par 36 point return.
The highlight of the day was a hole in one on C8 by Aussie Russell Meiers and this, the second ace of his career, gave him a great deal of pleasure as he duly rang the bell on his return to Rabbi’s in Soi Buakhao. This was the tenth ace recorded by the group in the past eight years and the eighth on golf geezer Mr Len’s watch. In nailing his tee shot Russell undid the good work done by Wichai Tananusorn, Howard Jeglum and Bill McGarvie earlier in the round as their birdie ‘2’s were eclipsed.
Masa had held almost all the aces at Khao Kheow but the big one went to Russell Meiers.
Triple for Takano
The Pattaya Golf Society made no apologies for visiting Greenwood for the second time in the month on Wednesday, 14th March. The course represents such excellent value for money compared with the “denizens” of the region who are just pricing themselves into oblivion by comparison.
An empty car park greeted the large field when they arrived and immediate progress was made on the A and B nines with no-one else in sight. Such was the pace of play that the lead group completed the full round in barely 3 hours 30 minutes!
With the field divided into two flights at fifteen and under the second flight saw “Rabbi” Cohen enter the frame in third place with 32 points, eating the dust of the second placed golfer, Russell Meiers and his 37 points. The flight winner was Brian Shaw who impressed with 39 points.
In the top flight Dave Moriarty, the group’s “Mr Consistency”, posted 35 points for third, one behind Joe Niisato on 36. The flight winner, Masa Takano, made it three in a row when he posted 39 points to follow the high standards he is setting for his game at present.
“Rocketman” Rick Schramm took the ‘2’s pot with the only birdie 2 of the day, on A6, and the Booby Bevy went to Wichai Tananusorn for his worst ever round in five years with the group, but he was all smiles later in Soi Buakhao threatening devastation on the field the next time out.
Greenwood did not disappoint and provided the warm hospitality for an excellent golfing day out with the PGS.
Banjo hits the high notes again
On Friday, 16th March the Pattaya Golf Society visited Mountain Shadow for a stableford competition on the testing course which was in top condition with good fairways and greens running at a quick pace. Though not everyone’s favourite the course demands accuracy and the field was divided into the usual two flights at fifteen and under. The strong breeze was to be a factor also as the day wore on and the fourteenth, the toughest par five in the province, into the wind was a real challenge.
In the second flight Mr Len again found third place his own with 30 points, having once again started slowly trying to find the pace of the greens. In second place was Greg Gawron with 31 points and the winner was Jim Bell with 35 points.
In the top flight Rick Schramm, Masa Takano, Warren Gallop and Peter Seward all shared second place on 32 points whilst it was left to Richard Bannister to impress again with 38 points for an emphatic win.
Larry Slattery and Benny Hansen shared the ‘2’s pot for their fine efforts on the fifteenth and the Booby Bevy went to the “star” of the previous three rounds, Masa Takano, for his demise from a twenty point front nine score to only twelve on the back nine, proving that one can nothing for granted in the noble game.
It is always good to play a challenging course and Mountain Shadow fitted the bill perfectly.
