The Pattaya Golf Society (IPGC) at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar
A hectic week for the Pattaya Golf Society began with the January monthly medal round at Silky Oak and with the hordes of Asian golfers missing there was an air of high season unreality about it – no crossovers, no queues, just millionaires’ golf.
The course was in good condition but the greens, through underuse, are slow and coarse. However many golfers enjoyed the challenge.
The field was divided into two flights at fifteen and under and in the second flight Mr Len took third place with an embarrassing net 81 and Martin Hennessy placed second with net 77. The flight winner was Dave Lehane whose net 71 took the day.
In the top flight Marc Jensen again showed his consistency with net 72 for third place whilst Wichai Tananusorn’s best gross of 77 gave him net 70 for second place. The winner was Dave Moriarty with his best round this trip, a splendid net 68. He also took a share of the ‘2’s pot with Khun Wichai taking the majority share after efforts on the fifth and fourteenth holes.
A returning Alan Spencer received the Booby Bevy after he finally rediscovered the group he had missed since the old days in Soi Rungland, whilst Ray Banks received Rabbi’s free non-winner’s beer. Lovely sound that, “non winner Ray Banks”! It’ll be a long time before it’s said about Dave Moriarty.
Irish eyes smiling at PGS Annual Charity Scramble
For three years now the Pattaya Golf Society has been raising money through golf to help the work of the Fr. Ray Foundation Outreach and Drop-In Center on Soi Thepprasit. To date we have raised some 250,000 baht for the work which involves those at greatest risk, street kids.
The first major fundraising event of 2014 took place at Eastern Star and Emerald on Wednesday, 29th January when more than twenty teams contested in the 14th PGS Annual Charity Scramble. Two courses were used because this year the demand for places way outstripped what ESR could accommodate, despite promises to the contrary and the PGS warmly thanks Stephen Beard for his role in coordinating the Emerald division. Teams had been entered representing five of Pattaya’s golf outlets and the day was essentially all about “fun”.
In the Emerald flight Stephen Beard’s team “Ambassadors Choice” took third place with net 62.9, with the “International Brigade” showing their pedigree with their second place of 58 shots. The division winners were the “Missing Links”, comprising of Allen Raaen, Mark Armstrong, Vern Raaschou and Paul Young playing as a very effective team, notching up 56.2.
In the Eastern Star division there was more than a touch of the blarney as the “Irish Wolfhounds 1” dug their teeth in with a gritty 58.2 points for third place. An elated “Liverpool SAS” team, still on a high after the football events in Liverpool only hours before, took second place with 57 whilst the “Irish Wolfhounds 2” team won with 56.5, the team of Ian Herbert, Martin Ward, Peter Villa and George Cullen combining well to good effect.
The presentation was held back at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar in Soi Buakhao and Rabbi and Khun Peung had set up a splendid buffet to welcome the golfers back and the PGS coordinator Mr Len introduced the ceremony with grateful thanks to all who had contributed to the success of the event, including Stephen Beard, Joe McArdle, David Thomas and those who had made generous contributions for the Prize Draw, including Richard “Banjo” Bannister and Anne, Joe Niisato, Steve Donahue, Marc Jensen and Jean Daniels.
The day had been another memorable one and the amount raised was more than 65,000 big ones for the PGS’s adopted charity. We at PGS thank you all for your support in the event and hope that your game gave you some pleasure. Your contributions will go towards giving even more pleasure to the street kids at the Fr. Ray Foundation Outreach and Drop-In Center. The progress of the campaign can be followed at http://thepattayagolfsociety .org/charitymatters. Many thanks for your generosity, interest and support.
Kiwi winner at Khao Kheow
A hectic week for the Pattaya Golf Society golfers ended on Friday, 31st January with a visit to Khao Kheow to play a stableford competition in two flights, with the cut coming at fifteen and under. The choice for the day was the A and B combination which saw greens variable in pace.
The second flight saw Larry Slattery come third with 33 points, one behind runner up Henry Mah with 34. The flight winner was Phil “PJ” Mitchell who looked very focused after a week lying low recovering from a virus. His 35 points was a fine return on a tough course.
In the top flight Dave Moriarty and Marc Jensen shared third place with 37 points each whilst Robbie Taylor took second with 39 points. The best round of the day was played by Kiwi Alan Flynn whose 40 points follows another fine round at Bangpakong a week or so ago.
The ‘2’s pot was shared by Marc Jensen, Tony Guest and Rick Schramm.
Rabbi’s non-winners’ beer went to Jesper Hansen and the Booby Bevy went to Dave Plaiter after a round which saw an eight-twenty one split.
Thus a hectic yet immensely successful week for PGS ended in Soi Buakhao and a weekend break will be just the tonic before the next outing!
