The Pattaya Golf Society (IPGC) at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar
The Pattaya Golf Society travelled to Royal Lakeside on Monday, 10th March to play a stableford competition in two flights, divided at seventeen and under. The course was in fine condition, with grassy fairways and quick greens. A strong wind was in evidence all day and golfers who could keep the ball straight and low were the winners.
In the top flight Rick Schramm returned from a timeout in Kanchanaburi to post 35 points for third place, only to find himself edged out by the level par rounds of Dave Moriarty and Mike Earley, a fitting end to the latter’s stay.
In the second flight Rod Stevens and Peter Sanderson shared third place with 36 points each whilst a mere one point ahead were Jorn Eriksen and Masashi Iizumi with the best scores of the day, 37 points.
John Chelo, Larry Ang and Yvonne Earley shared the ‘2’s pot and Rabbi’s consolation beer was enjoyed by Mr Len who nominated Bryan Brown for the Booby Bevy after finding it was the senior golfer’s birthday and who had enjoyed a senior moment on the course when he scratched a hole thinking it was a one-point par four not a two point par five! It was a fitting end to a good day for the PGS at Royal Lakeside.
Comfortable win for Wichai
On Wednesday, 12th March the Pattaya Golf Society started the new partnership of Shane and Peter at the Elephant Bar in Soi Buakhao with a stableford round at Bangpra, with a small field of heroes who survived a lengthy farewell party for Jeff “Rabbi” Cohen at the bar the previous evening.
The course was well prepared with greens a little slower than normal. Scoring was difficult with the strong breeze blowing and the white tees set well back but Dave Moriarty’s 29 points saw him take fourth place whilst Masashi Iizumi went one better with his 30 points giving him third place. Jorn Eriksen’s consistency continued with a fine 31 points giving him second place whilst the best round of the day was played by Wichai Tananusorn, his best gross of 78 giving him 36 points for a relatively easy win.
Dave Lehane took the ‘2’s prize for the only birdie 2 of the day, on the seventeenth, and John O’Sullivan celebrated Shane’s first consolation beer. The Booby Bevy went to Billy Hill for the lowest total of the day on the Scot’s first visit to Bangpra.
The new era had begun in style with the transition as seamless as possible.
Moriarty outsmarts Holmes, but Edwards steals the show
A notable week in the Pattaya Golf Society’s history closed with a visit to Greenwood on Friday, 14th March to play a stableford competition in two flights on the C and B nines. The course was in excellent condition, but, as is common with many three nines courses, the greens were not consistent in pace. However, the course represents the best vfm golf in the province currently.
With the cut at seventeen and under play got underway on time with many old friends on show, including John Mason and John Holmes, and in the top flight Wichai Tananusorn and Dave Moriarty shared third place with 32 points. Alan Griffiths went one better with 33 points for second but the flight winner was Larry Slattery, a model of consistency with 35 points.
In the second flight Pat Murphy and Jim Ferris shared second place with 32 points but a memorable eagle on the seventeenth gave Murray Edwards a bonus of five points to secure the win with 38 points.
Wichai recorded the only birdie ‘2’ of the day, on B5, and Rabbi celebrated his final round with the group with the Booby Bevy.
At the presentation club captain David Thomas led a warm tribute to Rabbi and Khun Peung as they bade farewell to Pattaya, intent on a future with the family in Surin. But life goes on at the Elephant Bar with PGS golf still on top of the schedule.
