PSC Golf from the Growling Swan
Monday, Jan. 5, Mt. Shadow – Stableford
Thirty punters assembled for the opening stanza of the year, all eager to show that the Yuletide festivities hadn’t dampened their enthusiasm for the ensuing challenge.
Welcomes were handed out to Mark Kobrin from England and Ernie Picken and David Marshall from Australia, while Paul Sharples (returning to Oman) and Bill Beers (to Ireland) were farewelled.
(Left-right) Sandy Leiper, John Davis, Andrew Allen and Michael Fogarty.
Prior to tee off Pattaya’s numero uno wordsmith Buckers commented, “Brand new golf balls are water magnetic and at Mountain Shadow GC so are used ones.” Looking at the scores he was spot on.
Weather conditions were variable and the fairways in good condition. The greens, as per usual, had the players as nervous as a salad dodger in the fruit and vegetable section of the local supermarket whilst pin placements would suggest the head groundsperson was the dux at Adolph’s finishing school for charm.
The white tees were the chosen instrument for the day.
Ebrahim finished atop A grade with thirty five points, second was Mike Gosden on thirty three, relegating evergreen Don Richardson on the same score to third on a count back.
Alain Taddei, courtesy of an eagle three on the par-five eleventh resulting in a five-pointer, handed in thirty eight points to show the way in B grade. Graham Buckingham’s card included two birdies and a solitary par as he mustered thirty one for second place whilst Mark Stapleton propped it up with thirty points.
Andrew Allen, who in nautical terms was free-wheeling downwind with a wet sail, scored thirty two points to take the bragging rights in C grade. The German brigade of Volker Buley and Mark Henkel, both with twenty nine, hopped onto the podium.
Frankie Sharrett collected the Coveted Compass Cap as a result of having more O’s on his card than in the hit song Chatanoogoo Choo Choo. Deefa once again collected many donations for the needy of Pattaya which is much appreciated.
A Flight (0–15)
1st Ebrahim (14) 35pts
2nd Mike Gosden (15) 33pts
3rd Don Richardson (12) 33pts
B Flight (16-24)
1st Alain Taddei (18) 38pts
2nd Graham Buckingham (22) 31pts
3rd Mark Stapleton (21) 30pts
C Flight (25+)
1st Andrew Allen (29) 32pts
2nd Volker Buley (32) 29pts
3rd Mark Henkel (25) 29pts
Near Pins: #5 Mark Kobrin, #8 Bill Steinmann and Alain Taddei, #15 Graham Buckingham, #17 Roy Dayton.
Long Putts: #9 Hugh O’Donnell, #18 Alain Taddei
Thursday, Jan. 8, Crystal Bay – Stableford
Thursday brought 33 golfers for the Growling Swan venture to Crystal Bay. Greetings were handed out to Allan Kirby from Western Australia, Michael Fogarty (NZ) and Del Pastro Tiziano (Venice, Italy). Fond farewells were later given to Nolan Wise and Volker Buley, who will shore up their shekels for their next assault on Pattaya golf courses.
(Left-right) Andrew Allen, Ebrahim, Alain Taddei and Frankie Sharratt.
The weather was sultry perfect and the compulsory sledging commenced early on the buses.
We played C and A Nines in that order (A nine was used for the count-back) and the course was in good nick and held its own against some willing combatants.
Sandy Leiper started with a bang, a ferreted 3 for 5 and followed it up with a lazy 4 for 4, whilst Karen Sharratt’s protege’ Frankie was attempting to arrest his flying elbow.
In A Grade, John Davis snaffled a solid win on a count back from ‘Croweater’ David Marshall and ‘Hawker’ Schembri just one back.
Mark Stapleton’s many hours of practice in the dark came unstuck in B Grade against Andrew Allen, ‘the man with two first names’, while Del Pastro Tiziano was also just one point adrift.
Sandy Leiper’s amazing short game imagination saw him enjoy the round of the day and hold off a stoic Niall Stuart, whilst Russell Calcutt out-sledged Nolan Wise.
A Flight (0–18)
1st John Davis (15) 37pts
2nd David Marshall (18) 37pts
3rd Jayson Schembri (18) 36 pts
4th Kae (16) 34pts
B Flight (19–29)
1st Andrew Allen (29) 38pts
2nd Del Pastro Tiziano (26) 37pts
3rd Mark Stapleton (21) 37pts
4th Michel Catillon (19) 36pts
C Flight (30 +)
1st Sandy Leiper (33) 40pts
2nd Niall Stuart (36) 38pts
3rd Russell Calcutt (34) 28pts
4th Nolan Wise (36) 27pts
Near Pins: A5 Fred Dineley, A8, C4, C7 Kevin Waycott.
Long Putts: A9 Alan Taddei, C9 Frankie Sharratt.
Compass Cap: Michael Zip Fogarty
Note: The Growling Swan is a friendly golf outlet and caters for and encourages all golfers male or female to have a hit at any of our weekly outings. We generally play Mondays and Thursdays at one of the many fine golf courses in and around Pattaya. Please contact Peter Grey if you are interested on 0861 503086.
The Growling Swan also caters to the bowls enthusiasts. Bus transport departs the GS on Wednesdays at 10 AM to play at Cocos on undercover synthetic greens and on Sundays at the same time for open grass bowling at The Retreat. Please contact Paul Rennison on 0843 454005 if you wish to partake. The cost including return bus transport, bowling fees and a hot lunch is less than 400 baht so great value for a day out.
