IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the Elephant Bar
The Pattaya Golf Society’s week began with a visit to Bangpra to play a Stableford competition on a course which was splendidly presented with well grassed fairways giving quite a good deal of run and consistent and quick greens. The day was fine and all things made for a tight competition. The group got away before time and the whole round was completed in under four hours.
Sharing third place with 31 points were Larry Ang, shaking off the mantle of mediocrity which had dogged his golf recently, and David Thomas, who has also suffered a reaction to his excellent rounds of a week or so ago. In second place was Mr Len with 33 points and for the first time in many a golf day he managed to complete a round without three putting anywhere on the course. The winner by the narrowest of margins was Wichai Tananusorn and he stole the day’s glory with the only birdie two, on the seventeenth as well. Thirty four points was an excellent return for the eight handicapper on a course as testing as Bangpra.
The Booby Bevy went to Alan Walker for the lowest score of the day but it had to be decided on countback! Days don’t get much better than this one on a course a special as Bangpra.
Pattaya’s toughest test?
Some courses are known to be tough, such that experienced golfers go there with mind and attitude prepared. Treasure Hill has, over many years, had the lowest winning score of all courses on the PGS regular rota; making it the hardest course on which to accumulate a good score. Our visit, with five groups on Wednesday 10 September, was to prove no exception.
The course appeared very well presented with fairways offering excellent lies. Bunkers were evenly raked and reasonably compact. Putting surfaces were, we had been told, consistent and true. All this, combined with what looked like perfect weather, suggested we take on the course from the white tees; all 6726 yards of it.
Within the first few holes two hitherto unknown conditions revealed themselves. One was the fact that despite their visual appeal the fairways were not providing run, as many drives stopped abruptly on landing. The second issue took a little longer to work out. The humidity was high – rather like playing in April – and increasing as cloud cover increased. The resulting effect on ball flight became significant; perhaps as much as two club lengths. With the completion of the first nine came the realisation that we were, in effect, playing the equivalent of a course measuring perhaps 6900 yards; then the storm arrived. The scores say the rest.
There was one two, achieved by Masashi Iizumi on the 6th, which guaranteed he would enjoy the outing regardless of score. As for the four who made the podium, none are likely to regale their grandchildren of their golfing feats on this particular day!
Back at the Elephant bar we welcomed new member Kim Hewton from Australia, and bid farewell to Paul Whitnall, returning to the UK. Mr Len drew Dave Edwards’ name for the lucky beer draw, whilst the booby bevy was awarded to newcomer Kim as part welcome and part commiseration for his ‘mare of a round.
Notwithstanding the difficulty of the test, the lowness of the scores and the decision to play from the whites (the yellow tees would have been wiser in hindsight), the opportunity to play this beautiful test of golf, at a mere 900B green-fee/caddie fee was appreciated by most. Asked if they would like a chance to repeat the experience, from the same tees, 11 of 17 indicated they would. Perhaps the others would also reply in the affirmative if they knew the yellow tees (6377 yards) would be used. Whatever the case, any return trip to this excellent golf course should see us use the yellow tees, at least until the dry season arrives.
1st: David Thomas (8) 29 points
2nd: Gary Bolger (17) 28 points
3rd: Ian Wilson (23) 27 points
4th: Akifumi Tate (14) 24 points.
The course won!
More tough times on a testing track
The Pattaya Golf Society left Soi Buakaow on Friday, 12th September, under heavy skies, anticipating a Stableford competition punctuated by showers at Pattavia. Whilst conditions remained very humid for the whole day the rain stayed away and a long course, well presented and empty, awaited the group at tee off time.
Scoring would not be special as the previous round at Treasure Hill had shown, with flight distances restricted by the heavy air and only a little run on the fairways. However, a tight competition lay in store.
Sharing third place with 34 points were Jon Batty for whom “the wheels came off” on the back nine after an excellent two under front nine, and two handicapper Chris Smith who recorded the best gross of the day, 76 shots. The win was shared by Murray Edwards and Mr Len with 35 points each. Chris Smith and Andrew Purdie recorded birdie twos on the thirteenth to share the bonus pool and Bryan Brown’s nineteen points on the back nine complemented his nine on the front to give him a deserved Booby Bevy for the day’s largest split figures. Larry Ang again enjoyed the non-winners’ beer courtesy of Shane and Peter, mine hosts of the Elephant Bar.
It had been a tough week on the course with the PGS but nevertheless golfers had enjoyed the challenges that the wet season can present at this time of year.
