IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at The Links Bar
Monday, Sept. 21, Bangpra – Stableford
The new week started for the Pattaya Golf Society with a trip to Bangpra to play a stableford competition on the well prepared course.
A quick look at the weather forecast showed a thunderstorm at 9 a.m. and another at 4 p.m. and the golf gods obviously endorsed the meteorologists’ opinion and the group managed to play the round with no problems. So what, then, was the reason for the generally low scores? Fairways were good and greens were their usual testing best, there was a light breeze and the field was in good fettle. Hmm…
Stuart Thompson.
There were no birdie ‘2’s and third place was shared by Jesper Hansen, Murray Edwards, Petri Takkunen and Andrew Purdie all with 27 points. In second were Alan Flynn and Erik Anttonen with 29 points each but the winner Stuart Thompson was a full six points ahead after another solid round by the Australian golfer.
The consolation beer went to John O’Sullivan and the Booby Bevy went to newest member Keith Boxshall, to mark his low score on his debut. In reality it could have been awarded to many in the field after a rare torrid day at Bangpra.
Wednesday, Sept. 16, Greenwood A & C (white tees) – Stableford
1st David Thomas (9) 34pts
T2nd Craig Thomas (14) 33pts
T2nd Phil McClure (25) 33pts
The big question on everyone’s mind was would we play today? The huge storm that we were warned about duly arrived in Pattaya on Tuesday night, leaving many wondering about the prospect for golf the following day. So it was a small but optimistic party that headed out on to the motorway, and into the gloom of gathering clouds on Wednesday morning.
We arrived at a largely deserted golf course and prepared for our 10:15 tee time. Whilst overcast, the weather looked to be holding, and hold it did. In fact the course stayed dry until we reached C7, our 16th, at which point the heavens opened. After ten minutes, it cleared but returned with a vengeance ten minutes later. With just two holes to play, we soldiered on and amazingly, we played the last hole in perfectly fine and sunny weather.
Carts were not permitted on fairways, which invoked our preferred lie rule. Even though it wasn’t raining, the fairways were very wet and drives stopped where they landed, offering no run whatsoever. Notwithstanding, the course was still eminently playable, with greens offering true and consistent run.
No ‘2’s today, which preserved what would be a modest winner’s pot. There is no doubt that the heavy rain, which effected play on our 16th and 17th holes, did leave its mark on scores. Tied in second place on 33 points were the Aussie pairing of Phil McClure and Craig Thomas, only a point behind the day’s winner, David Thomas.
Back at the Links, the lucky beer draw went to Peter Dunsmore, whilst no one from amongst our two groups did anything silly enough to warrant the booby bevy. The day finished with most of us believing we got lucky; lucky that we were not rained off. We pondered this whilst sipping our beers, watching water levels rise at an alarming rate in Soi Buakhao. Some storm, but thankfully we got our golf in.
