PSC Golf from The Growling Swan
Monday, Oct. 13, Pleasant Valley – Stableford
It was a fine & sunny Monday morning as we made our way to The Growling Swan to prepare for departure to the Pleasant Valley Golf Course and we had 20 golfers signed up to play.
We welcomed John Davis back from the UK and also Gerd Riedler who has been in Europe for about 5 weeks. Welcomes were also handed out to Pattaya business man Freddy Starbeck and his mate Thierry Petrement and it was time to say goodbye to Martin “Toddy” Todd who is off back to Mandurah in Western Australia.
Thierry Petrement & Ted Morris.
When we arrived at the almost deserted course we all had 650 baht green fee vouchers and checking in was quite speedy and we were ready to send our first fourball away 15 minutes early at 9.45 am. The course was fairly wet with no carts allowed on the fairways so we allowed preferred lies through the greens and we proceeded at a steady pace but found the greens a bit “iffy” and quite slow at times.
The weather was good with no sign of rain but it was as usual hot & humid which slowed us down somewhat and we ended up with a slow round of four hours & forty five minutes but the company was excellent.
Newcomer Thierry Petrement, fresh from his win in Chiang Mai was the winner in A Division with 39 points and with 3 golfers on 37 points a count back was required to determine second & third places. The result was that Mike Allidi (18 point back nine) took second spot from John Pierrel (17 point back nine) in third place with Takeshi Hakozaki (16 point back nine) just missing out.
In B Division it was 2 in a row for veteran Ted Morris who was declared the winner with 41 points. It was very tight for the minor placings with four golfers on 37 points and after the count back second place was awarded to Alain “Inspector Clouseau” Taddei (20 point back nine, 14 points on the last 6 holes & 7 points on the last 3 holes) with Roy “Plums” Dayton (20 point back nine, 14 points on the last 6 holes & 6 points on the last 3 holes) securing third spot. Mark “Westy” West (20 point back nine & 13 points on the last 6 holes) and Duangjai “Kae” Tusagad (16 points on the last 6 holes) unfortunately missed out on a podium placing.
The Growling Swan NAGA Award for the worst score on the day was won by the returning John Davis.
Division A (0-12)
1st Thierry Petrement (12) 39pts
2nd Mike Allidi (2) 37pts
3rd John Pierrel (11) 37pts
Division B (13+)
1st Ted Morris (15) 41pts
2nd Alain Taddei (15) 37pts
3rd Roy Dayton (25) 37pts
Near Pins: 5th – Mike Allidi, 8th – John Pierrel, 13th – Frank Donnelly, 17th – Mark West
Long Putts: 9th – Kevin Waycott, 18th – Mike Allidi
Thursday, Oct. 16, Burapha – Stableford
Playing the A & B nines from the white markers, the starter sent us on our way with a relish not dissimilar to well known entertainer Meatloaf when he has an uninpeded run at the party pie table. The weather was pleasant and the course in good nick.
Burapha winners.
The greens were quicker than a Sumo wrestler slipping down a mud slide and the short rough, which is usually thicker than mourners at brewer’s wake had been trimmed.
On the sixth tee Bob Akapita said to Mike Gosden, “here’s a bag of onions to go with the tripe your playing” – he was correct.
At presentations Peter Grey welcomed Rudy Regenass from South Africa,Makito Homma from England and Ernie Picken who resides in Melbourne.
Peter Grey also mentioned Peter Blackburn was no longer involved at the Growling Swan, however thanked him for his efforts over the last two years and wished him well in his future endeavours.
The one grade today saw Walter Baechli score a fine 42 points to finish on top. Second place went to Makito Homma on 38, third to Andrew Allen on 37, while Graham Rice, Sal Brizzi, Bob Akapita, John Davis and Ron Gillett filled the minor places in one shot increments.
The NAGA award went to John Parkinson who was heard to comment, “I lurched all over the course like a tramp steamer in the Bay of Biscay during a severe storm”.
1st Walter Baechli (17) 42pts
2nd Makito Homma (17) 38pts
3rd Andrew Allen (32) 37pts
4th Graham Rice (12) 36pts
5th Sal Brizzi (6) 35pts
6th Bob Akapita (16) 34pts
7th John Davis (13) 33pts
8th Ron Gillett (33) 33pts
Near Pins: Ernie Picken A3, Bob Akapita A6, Ron Gillett B3 and Makito Homma on B8.
Long Putts: Andrew Allen A9, Walter Baechli B9.
Note: Growling Swan Golf welcomes golfers of any persuasion – low & high handicappers alike, female golfers and beginners. We generally play Mondays & Thursdays, meeting at The Growling Swan in Soi Chaiyapoon at 8.00 am with transport departing at 8.30 am. For bookings or more information please contact Peter Grey on 086 150 3086.
