The Pattaya Golf Society (IPGC) at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar
The week began for the Pattaya Golf Society on Monday, 21st October, with a trip to the Riverside club at Bangpakong to play a stableford event on this exquisite course, which was in magnificent condition considering the recent storms. The fairways were firm, the greens holding, if a little slow, and the rough short and in places difficult.
Playing from the white tees the field set off on time and found progress quick. Sharing third place with 32 points were Mike Wilsher and Bryan Barrell, both rarely in the frame but on this occasion their game stood up to eighteen holes of fairly tough scrutiny. Ahead in second was the departing Gordon Angus with 35 points and the day’s only birdie ‘2’ on the testing par three fourth, and he took to the airport a little spending money for the long wait for his homeward flight. The winner was long hitting Aussie Brian Shaw and his 36 points was just reward for some accurate golf and astute putting.
Mike Ensor had presented some technical prizes and the winners were Syd Harrison and Brian Shaw whilst the Booby Bevy went to Mr Len for blowing a comfortable round after a much needed comfort break at the halfway stage which had obviously taken the wind out of his sails!
The week had begun well for the Soi Buakhao based group and a return of old friends had made the day a little more special.
Soggy success for Sumner & Latham
The words “sublime” and “ridiculous” come to mind when composing this report as the Pattaya Golf Society followed a trip to a magnificent Bangpakong Riverside with a more lowbrow visit to Eastern Star on Wednesday, 23rd October.
Where Bangpakong was excellent in all regards the testing track in Ban Chang has suffered badly during the recent storms and all the expertise of the greens staff will be called upon to bring it up to standard for the imminent high season arrivals. The fairways were soft and soggy and lined with cart tracks and the absence of a comfortable first cut saw the rough thick and heavy with mud.
So it was remarkable that the group made any progress from the white tees as Tony Thorne emphasised his current renaissance with a meagre 27 points for third place. The joint winners were long hitters Peter Sumner and Wilf Latham who managed to amass 31 points each.
Predictably there were no birdie ‘2’s and amongst those jostling for the Booby Bevy were Dave Edwards and Mr Len, the former threatening the group’s largest split record.
It was probably appropriate and in keeping with the day that the return to Pattaya was hindered by Bank Holiday traffic, a heavy storm and floods in Soi Buakhao. Hmmm, a timeout was probably in order for the rest of the field, in a darkened room with a mug of hot cocoa for consolation!
Aussies dominant
On Friday, 25th October the Emerald golf club in Ban Chang gave its usual warm welcome to the Pattaya Golf Society when the group called to play a stableford competition. The course was soft in places, with uncut areas on the fairways but with medium to quick greens which were a pleasant surprise for the golfers. Preferred lies were in place to overcome the problem of playing from the newly turfed areas and the day stayed dry, if very humid.
In third place was Murray Edwards with 28 points, having stuttered on the back nine and in second with 32 points was Ken Grimes, again producing some solid golf. The winner was the pre-round favourite Andrew Purdie and his 33 points was enough to ensure an all-Aussie one-two-three.
There were no birdie ‘2’s and the booby bevy went to the returning Dave Plaiter, currently leading the Player of the Year list, after his front nine was as poor as he has played all year. But don’t bet against when he has acclimatised!
