The Growling Swan Golf Society
Monday, May 8, Mt. Shadow – Stableford
1st Rudy Regenass (16) 37pts
2nd Stu Rifkin (16) 36pts
3rd Alex Field (16) 34pts
Near Pins: 5th – Gary Williams, 8th – Rudy Regenass, 15th – Keith Buchanan, 17th – Stu Rifkin.
Long Putts: 9th – Colm Lawlor, 18th – Alex Field.
A few cars and bus loads of golfers made their way to the Mountain Shadow course and teed up off the white markers today, in sunny and hot conditions.
This course offers value for money and is a challenge to any golfer with possibly one of the most challenging holes of the many courses within an hour of Pattaya. The hole referred to is the lengthy par-5 fourteenth dogleg left around the water dam and players are delighted and totally satisfied if they achieve bogey. At least this hole is fairly indexed at number 2, unlike Treasure Hill’s signature “Crocodile Hole”, the similar par-5 sixteenth hole, which is rated at index 15! Hello?
Most players struggled to play to par however Rudy Regenass ( a regular visitor from Cape Town, South Africa) notched up another win with his 37 points (paring the fourteenth!), closely followed by Stuart Rifkin on 36 points (also paring the fourteenth!) and the ever present Alex Field a couple of shots further back with 34 points. All three players had 16 handicaps.
Thursday, May 11, Pattavia – Stableford
1st Dennis Steele (12) 38pts
2nd Colm Lawlor (14) 38pts
3rd Stuart Rifkin (16) 37pts
Near Pins: 4th – Alex Field, 7th – Sal Brizzi, 13th – Bill Steinmann
Long Putts: 9th – Stuart Rifkin, 18th – Kissy Buchanan.
A few buses and cars were used to ferry those who wanted to take on the fairly tough Pattavia golf course today. The greens are always going to determine a winner here, as one needs to give serious thought to approach shots so as to try to leave the ball on the lower side of same.
Despite recently returned absentee golfers Geri Crilly, Shane Young and Peter Bye spouting off about taking the course apart (overheard in locker room chatter), there were no scintillating scores handed in by any of the trio. It was only Geri Crilly who succeeded, by pocketing funds from his fellow playing partners.
Breaking news is that Peter Grey, who has been sidelined for the past six months with health issue, has stated that he will be making a comeback next week. He has placed his name in the last available group as he claims he is that slow at present that the buses will be able to bring everyone home before he finishes his round!
Today however, the pace was fairly brisk despite being uncomfortably hot at times. Stuart Rifkin elected to walk for exercise purposes (and save some baht) and was thoroughly shown up by his caddie. She was a lithe young thing who was given the nickname “Greyhound” by fellow players in the group and was that quick that the guys in buggies had trouble keeping up. Poor Stuart was left floundering!
The white tees were used and Dennis Steele was the eventual winner, with a count back required to separate him from our Irish visitor Colm Lawlor, both with 38 points. One point further back was Stuart Rifkin, who managed to finish his marathon walk and hold on for third place. Steeley now has a few envelopes in the safe at the Swan ready for collection!
