IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar
The Pattaya Golf Society travelled to the Emerald in Ban Chang on Monday, 21st March, to play a stableford competition on the ever-popular course. The visit saw a smaller than expected field turn out as a result of many regulars returning this week to their home countries after a testing “winter” break on the Eastern Seaboard courses and thus the single flight set out before time.
The course is not quite at its pristine best currently and the fairways have seen an increase in the crab grass, meaning the caddy marshalls may have to “kick ass” to ensure the offensive intrusion is contained.
However the golfers made a good fist of things with rookie James Smith and newbie Peter Talbot sharing third place with 33 points each. In second on 36 points was Larry Slattery, finding some consistency at last and the winner was the organiser for the day, Wichai Tananusorn, who pulled out his second consecutive PGS sub-par round with another 37 point return giving him the victory. He is now well back in the groove after struggling through most of the last month.
The sole birdie ‘2’ went to Steve Evans on the testing fifth hole and a rare Booby Bevy went to Dave Moriarty for his 11-19 split. Good things come to all who wait after all!
Schramm bosses the day
When the Pattaya Golf Society regulars awoke on Wednesday, 23rd March they found heavy rain inundating most of the Eastern Seaboard and the prospects of a day’s golf seemed most remote, but an early call to Bangpra reassured them that golf was indeed possible on the fine course.
So it was that organiser for the day Rick Schramm ably marshalled his troops and got them to the course ready for the usual start time. With numbers just on the borderline of twenty after four drop-outs – fair weather golfers in the main – it was decided to stay with one flight and the minor places were shared by Dave Moriarty and Stuart Thompson both on 32 points. Ahead in second was Jack Robertson on 33 points and out in front was the man himself, Rick Schramm, enjoying success again with a level par 36 point return.
Jack Robertson and Glenn Martin shared the ‘2’s pot after their excellent efforts on holes eight and twelve respectively whilst the Booby Bevy was held back after seemingly a lack of obvious candidates, thus rolling over the beer until the next trip.
It had been a relief to get onto the course at Bangpra as the day faired up halfway through the round and Rick Schramm revelled in the extra responsibilities for another fine win.
The PGS ‘Golf for Fr. Ray Day’
The third Friday each month has a special place in the PGS schedule as it is the day when the golfers from the Pattaya Golf Society dedicate it as their “Golf for Fr Ray Day”. It gives them the opportunity to share the fun of team golf with their friends and also channel some charity funding to the Fr. Ray Foundation’s Outreach Centre in Soi Thepprasit.
On the 25th March it was Green Valley’s turn to host the event, a pairs stableford combined format, and as always a large field turned out. Nine technical prizes had been generously donated by Rick Schramm, Peter Duncan, John Mason, Rod Stevens, Harry Langkoff, PJ Mitchell, Larry Slattery, Len Jones and Steve Evans and the fun got away on time.
In the main event Richard “Banjo” Bannister and his mystery partner totalled 69 points for third place, merely one behind Jim Ferris and Rick Schramm’s second placed 70 point score. Rick Schramm played a blinder as this round represented his best individual score with the group, his gross 73 giving him 43 stableford points. Phew! What a shame it was his final round this trip.
The winning combination was Mam Morel and Noi Emmerson and they took the win in fine style with 75 points. Noi’s individual contribution was the second best total for the day, 42 points.
Noi, Banjo and PJ MItchell shared the ‘2’s pot, PJ’s being his first birdie ‘2’ with the group and it was whispered that his fellow golfers had seen a pig in flight over the sixteenth green as he set up his putt.
The technical prizes were won by Noi Emmerson, Harry Langkoff, Jean Morel and Stu Thompson on the par threes, Rick Schramm, Rob Lamond and Mam Morel on the par fours and Stu Thompson on the par five eleventh. The best par three total was won by Noi, and Rabbis auction raised more than two thousand baht courtesy of Jean and Mam Morel.
At the presentation in Soi Buakhao members were warmly thanked for their generosity and the competition raised more than eight thousand baht for the kids in Soi Thepprasit. This brings the total donated for the year so far to more than fifty thousand baht, and there are many more “Golf for Fr Ray Days” planned.
Half the field had finished with prizes and everyone had thoroughly enjoyed the day. The next event is a pairs multiplier at St Andrew on Friday 22nd April and the sign-up sheet will be available in Rabbi’s Elephant Bar a full week before the event.
