IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar
The Pattaya Golf Society travelled to Bangpra on Monday, 25th July, to play a stableford event on the fine course. At present there is plenty of “run” and with many of the white tees back to their fullest extent run was essential.
The greens were “military medium” but ending up above the hole was inevitably frustrating. Putting is always the key to a successful round here and Larry Bland had discovered a quirk in his putting style by accident and had done some recent work on his stance. What an effect this had. He three-putted only once in a fine round and ended with 39 points for the win.
In second place was Peter Masters producing another “masterful” round with 38 points. Without the distractions of the “you-know-whats” he ended with his second consecutive sub-par round a happy man. In third place was Garry Hookey on 36 points and Tim Lazecki volunteered a two shot cut on the first tee and performed creditably to finish fourth with 35 points.
Haru Kato joined Garry Hookey in a share of the ‘2’s pot after they both birdied the eighth and the day ended at Rabbi’s with the usual fine hospitality provided by Khun Peung and the girls.
Bangpra has woven its magic once again for the PGS.
Aussie clean sweep at Emerald
The Emerald Golf Club hosted the Pattaya Golf Society on Wednesday, 27th July, for a strokeplay competition. The day was fine and the course was unusually empty, the reason being the greens on the front nine were heavily sanded whilst those on those on the back nine were recently cut – like on the very morning whilst the front nine were being played – and very quick.
Conditions were far from ideal for the group’s monthly medal round. However the competition threw up some excellent scores with Stuart Thompson finishing third on net 74 after some fine early holes. Peter Masters again proved his worth with a third consecutive sub-par round, this time net 70 giving him second place. The third Aussie in the frame was the winner Garry Hookey whose net 68 was a splendid performance on those greens. His back nine of gross 38 was as good as he has ever played in the Kingdom.
Unsurprisingly there were a lack of birdie ‘2’s and the Booby Bevy went to Wichai Tananusorn for a third consecutive round far below the standards he has set for himself this year.
As a final footnote for the first time ever the presentation was attended by every golfer and they were full of praise for the Aussie trio at the top of the leaderboard at Emerald.
Playing for the kids again
The PGS “Golf for Fr Ray Day On Friday, 27th July – the Pattaya Golf Society played its monthly charity event at Crystal Bay over the A and B courses, the proceeds of which were directed to the Fr Ray Foundation Outreach Center, one of the Foundation’s newest projects.
Almost on the anniversary of the sad passing of the man voted Pattaya’s “Man of the Century” in 1999, friends and acquaintances turned out again to play a stableford pairs better score competition on the well prepared course. Near pins were sponsored by Larry Slattery, John Mason, Mr Len and Jeff “Rabbi” Cohen. These were won by Garry Hookey, Richard Palmer, Pete Seward and Jean Morel respectively and the twos pot was shared by Pete Seward and Mr Len for their efforts on B4.
In the main event scores were very close with Garry Hookey and his hidden partner coming third with 45 points, one behind the Japanese pairing of Haruyuki Kato and Masa Takano on 46. The winners were Pete Seward and Richard Palmer with 47 points. Fine individual sub-par rounds were recorded by Phil Knight, Garry Hookey, Haruyuki Kato and lady golfer Wan Meeraka and the presentation party heard that proceeds from the day had raised 3,000 baht, increasing the total for the year to date to more than seventy thousand baht for the Outreach Center’s street kids, raised in just seven events.
The PGS is rightly proud of the generosity and warmth of its members who regularly turn out for the monthly event. Next month’s “Golf for Fr Ray Day” will coincide with Mr Len’s “senior” birthday and will take the form of a pairs scramble at Pleasant Valley.
