Travellers Rest Golf Group
With the fast approaching end to the high season, the number of golfers in Pattaya was showing a marked decrease last week and the days when two or even three flights/divisions were necessary have disappeared over the horizon for another year.
One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the sun continues to shine and boy was it a hot week. But for a pleasant and sometimes strong breeze the temperatures would have almost reached unbearable. You can tell I am struggling for something to say when I start off with a detailed weather forecast for Pattaya.
Roger Wilkinson and Tewin ‘Poopay’ Lamthong.
So a quick look at the leaderboards revealed a good number of names of expats based in Pattaya who play at the TRGG all year round.
Monday, March 24, Pattavia – Stableford
For the first outing of the week on Monday it was off to Pattavia or Century Chonburi as it used to be known for our third visit in the last couple of months. Everybody seems to acknowledge the improvements to the course since ‘Mr Chang’ took it over but those same people without exception are left crying in their beers after encountering the wickedly difficult greens and the diabolical pin placements.
Wily old Roger Wilkinson showed that it is still possible to play to your handicap and was to be commended for finishing in first place. He was followed home, not literally of course, by Tewin ‘Poopay’ Lamthong who is showing some good form of late. Third place went to another regular, John Baxter.
1st Roger Wilkinson (14) 36pts
2nd Tewin Lamthong (13) 33pts
3rd John Baxter (15) 32pts
Tuesday, March 25, Green Valley – Stableford
On Tuesday it was off to Green Valley and the largest field of the week was again headed by a member of the indigenous population.
Tewin Lamthong went one better than the day before, but only just. She beat the giantly genial Irishman Louis Flanagan on count back and no doubt received a mouthful of old blarney from the man in green – or was it pink on the day? Louis is known for his outrageous, nee comical, golfing attire and seems completely oblivious to the ribald comments he receives from the other golfers.
Third place went to AJ (Arnold Jones) the larger than life American who has more tales to tell than Uncle Remus and is always good company around a golf course
1st Tewin Lamthong (13) 37pts
2nd Louis Flanagan (12) 37pts
3rd Arnold Jones (13) 36pts
Thursday, March 27, Greenwood – Stableford
The TRGG made the long trek over to Greenwood on Thursday and once again word came back from the troops about what wonderful condition it is in. It probably retains its place in most players’ top three favourite golf courses in the Pattaya region.
It turned out to be a day for the twelve handicappers and they took the top three places. Terry Power certainly enjoyed his visit shooting 40 pts and taking the ‘yellow jersey’. Fergus Brennan rose from his sick bed, wound up his creaking old body and somehow managed to knock up 38, which was good enough to take second place. The more youthful and colourfully dressed Louis Flanagan gaily advanced to third place.
1st Terry Power (12) 40pts
2nd Fergus Brennan (12) 38pts
3rd Louis Flanagan (12) 37pts
Saturday, March 29, Crystal Bay – Stableford
On Saturday it was a return to Crystal Bay to see whether things had improved around the course. Some new showers have been installed and the changing rooms no longer smell of old socks, which was on the plus side, but the greens were still not in the best of condition and the caddies have obviously never been trained to rake the bunkers because some looked like minefields, which was the downside.
Still most of the guys seemed happy, none more so than Graeme Morris who won after being the only golfer to shoot his handicap. He was followed home by Jimmy Graham who just pipped AJ (Arnold Jones) on count back in the race for second place.
1st Graeme Morris (9) 36pts
2nd Jimmy Graham (17) 35pts
3rd Arnold Jones (13) 35pts
Good luck to all you golfers for the coming week and if you would like to play a round of golf with the TRGG please phone Fergus Brennan on 0860567019 or pop into the Ned Kelly Bar in Soi Lengkee and add your name to the weekly lists which are posted on the notice board.
