IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at The Links Bar
Pattana was the choice of the Pattaya Golf Society on Monday, 27th April when the nines at our disposal were the A and B tracks. The A nine had not been played by the group for two years and it was a pleasure to be testing one’s game against a fresh nine holes. The general course condition was very good with full fairways and good greens, albeit a touch slower on the A nine than on B.
The single flight stableford event was played from the yellow tees – the best wet season option in the opinion of many, but even so the length was over 6450 yards. Overhead conditions were very oppressive and it was no surprise that quickly darkening skies prompted the course marshall to blast the klaxon towards the end of the round as lightning flashed across the course.
Eastern Star’s ninth hole with the clubhouse in the background.
Eventually all cards were returned and Alan Flynn’s level par efforts were rewarded with fourth place whilst Canadian Billy Shepley shared second place with compatriot John Chelo on 37 points. Firing on all cylinders was Welsh golfer Huw Phillips whose turbo charged round finished with 41 points for a superb win. The Canadian duo also shared the ‘2’s pot with both recording birdies on B7, whilst John Chelo also birdied B3 for the larger share of the pot,
David Thomas drew his own name from the non-winners’ pool for a free beer and the Booby Bevy went to Dave Edwards for a lacklustre start which gave him split figures of 14 – 20 points, and thoughts of what could have been if he had been up for it at the beginning of his round.
Murray finds form
It was Order of Merit time, and a medal to boot. Eastern Star, from the white tees one of our toughest tests, hosted the Pattaya Golf Society on Wednesday 29th April. The course was in fine fettle, with greens, unlike the situation for much of last year, still providing consistency and pace. This golf course has certainly become one of our favourite VFM options; long may it continue.
With penal consequences, often on both sides of fairways, wayward shots tend to be penalised more here than at other more forgiving venues. It is why net-par normally wins the day’s comp. Throw in a medal format, which tends to make things tougher, and the stage was set for a torrid battle – man vs course.
“Bring it on” appears to have been the mantra of Murray Edwards, just back from a sojourn to Australia. Murray was the best of our five groups, by some three shots. His net 68 represented one of the best rounds posted at the PGS this year. Beating net par in a medal round at Eastern Star is good. Beating it by four shots is better than good, it is very, very good.
Mr Len, once again performing well in a medal format, came in second with a praiseworthy net 71, a score that on most other days would have won. Three players shared third after posting creditable net 73s: Tony Campbell, Craig Thomas and John Tallett. Much to the delight of those on the podium, the course yielded no ‘2’s.
For the first time this trip, Dave Lehane’s name was drawn for today’s lucky beer draw. The winner of the booby bevy was a golfer whose on-course ventures cost him 11 golf-balls no less – commiserations Wayne Morrison!
Edwards in fine fettle
May 1st, Labour Day in many countries, was the Pattaya Golf Society’s opportunity to return to Greenwood to play a stableford competition. After being allocated C & A nines, our four groups teed off from the whites, on time, in hot humid conditions.
Greenwood, as we have come to expect, was in good order, with fairways giving excellent lies, well-kept bunkers, and greens, although a little dry, offering consistency and reasonable pace. At 1,000 baht green-fee caddie, this place continues to represent excellent value for money.
Three ‘2’s were given up today: Huw Phillips getting his on A6, as did Dave Edwards, but for Dave it was his second, having previously birdied the difficult par-3 A2. Those two ‘2’s on what was our back nine, really did underline a great performance by Dave Edwards, whose superb 41-point haul bested runner-up Wayne Morrison’s score by an impressive six shots. Sharing third on the podium with 34 points were John Chelo and Wichai Tananusorn.
Back at the Links we welcomed back Aussie Mike Firkin and welcomed, for the first time, Raghvendra Nath, Ragoo to his Farang friends, from India. As luck or coincidence would have it, Mr Len drew Mike’s name for the free beer, whilst Ragoo was awarded the booby bevy, partly in commiseration for a tough day on the golf course and also as a welcome to the IPGC.
