IPGC Pattaya Golf Society from the Links Bar
The Pattaya Golf Society travelled to Treasure Hill to play a stableford competition on Monday 9 February. The weather was near-perfect for golf with clear skies, low humidity and a welcome breeze. With the two-flight cut made at 14 and under, our nine groups teed off just prior to our scheduled start time of 1030.
From the chosen white tees this course is some 6700 yards, but this time of year a well-struck ball will run. The danger is still there, however, either side of the fairways, as attested by today’s modest scoring. Fairways were in good condition, as were the greens. Bunkers were on the fluffy side and would benefit from more compaction. Overall, the course was well presented.
PGS Player of the Year Dave Thomas (right) with Wichai Tananusorn.
With ‘2’s being common, podium placers were restricted to three placers per flight. In A Flight ‘2’s were recorded by Brian Beaupre, Vic Hansen, Paul Gill, Steve Evans, Alan Flynn, all on the 6th, and Huw Phillips on the 17th. B Flight’s lone ‘2’ was achieved on what most would regard as the toughest; the 2nd, well done Mike King.
Scoring in both flights was closely contested. Just the one stableford point separated the top three in A Flight, with joint winners Vic Hansen and Alan Flynn sharing top pace. Three shots separated B Flight placegetters, with Chris Walsh’s 34 points being the best of the day, of either flight.
The lucky beer draw was won by the returning Shelagh Sturgeon, whilst the bobby bevy was awarded to the golfer who stated, “I never lose more than one ball per hole.” Apparently this golfer, having seen his ball disappear into a water hazard, would then proceed to walk the remainder of the hole thus ensuring his one-ball-per-hole policy stayed true. Today he lost 14 balls. Unbelievable!
A Flight
T1st Vic Hansen (9) 33pts
T1st Alan Flynn (11) 33pts
3rd Jon Batty (7) 32pts
B Flight
1st Chris Walsh (23) 34pts
2nd Niall Caven (20) 32pts
3rd Larry Slattery (18) 31pts
Shared win at Crusty Bay
On Wednesday, 11th February, the Pattaya Golf Society visited Crystal Bay to play a stableford competition in two flights, divided at 17.5 and under. The course was very dry with dust exploding when a ball pitched on the fairway and the infrequent fairway irrigation also meant there were small patches of bare ground which unfortunately gave some tough lies. Greens were reasonable and moderately quick.
The nine groups set off on the C nine with the prospect of the A nine at the turn. Scores were unspectacular yet tight for both flights, with Larry Gibb and Chris Walsh sharing second place in the second flight with 35 points. The winner was Tom Jones and his 36 points represented his best effort since joining the group at the end of last year.
Both Chris and Tom shared the ‘2’s pot for their efforts on C7.
In the top flight there were no ‘2’s but scores were very competitive. Masa Takano, Huw Phillips and John Chelo all shared third place with 36 points whilst the day’s honours were reserved for Mike Earley and Wichai Tananusorn who shared the win with 38 points each.
Dave Moriarty enjoyed the non winners’ consolation beer back at the presentation in the Links Bar and the Booby Bevy was reserved for the absent golfer who had grafted all day for the measly reward of seven points and will be presented when he attends the next presentation.
Schramm and Takano perform best
A Flight
T1st Rick Schramm (10) 38pts
T1st Masa Takano (11) 38pts
T3rd Peter Wilson (7) 36pts
T3rd Mike Earley (12) 36pts
B Flight
1st PJ Mitchell (19) 34pts
T2nd Kevin McConnell (18) 30pts
T2nd Leigh Abbey (21) 30pts
T2nd Michael McGuigan 30pts
5th Richard Dobson (19) 29pts
Friday 13th February saw the Pattaya Golf Society take nine groups to Khao Kheow, to play a stableford competition. After being allocated A and C nines, we teed off in excellent weather from the yellow tees, with the two-flight split set at 14.7 and under.
The course was well presented with fairways offering run, bunkers presenting a reasonable chance of playing a shot, and greens consistent and true. This was certainly the case on both par-3s on our front nine, which yielded six ‘2’s from Peter Wilson (2), Huw Phillips (2), Mike Earley and Dave Edwards. The sole ‘2’ on the back nine was recorded by Dave Moriarty on C8.
The scoring in B Flight was down on what would have been expected, given the conditions. With no ‘2’s in that division, payout was extended to the best four scores which, due to ties, meant 5th place got a mention. The flight’s winning score – PJ Mitchell’s 34-points – wouldn’t have made the A Flight podium, representing a reversal of recent results where B Flight has set the standard.
The A Flight podium required net-par or better to get a mention, with two runner-ups returning 36 points. The flight’s winners – Rich Schramm and Masa Takano – went two better with 38; a very good result on a course such as this.
Today’s booby bevy had many candidates, but coming out on top was Dave Lehane whose marking of Larry Gibb’s scorecard was reasonably correct in terms of numbers entered and totals amassed. The trouble was we played the A and C nines – not A and B as the card showed.
One final presentation saw the award of the PGS Player of the Year trophies for 2014 and runner-up Wichai Tananusorn again enjoyed the moment with a smiling winner David Thomas. Well done indeed lads, a good year’s work!
