Pattaya Sports Club - Promoting Sports and Supporting Local Charities

Monday, 14th May – Eastern Star – Stableford
Rita On Top At Eastern Star!

With most of us having not played Eastern Star for about 9 months we were looking forward to reacquainting ourselves with this challenging course. After a last minute cancellation due to illness we were left with 18 starters  and we departed Café Kronborg 5 minutes ahead of schedule at 0810 hrs. Just 45 minutes later we arrived at the course to find it fairly deserted and after waiting for just one golfer to tee off our first group got away 30 minutes ahead of schedule at 0930 hrs. The weather was excellent although hot with very little wind to cool things down and the course was looking in great shape although the greens were in the late stages of being cored & sanded therefore a lot slower than greens that we are used to at many other courses. We continued at a cracking pace and kept up the liquid intake by stopping for a couple of drink breaks and we were able to complete our full round in the very good time of four hours & ten minutes. Although a tough layout it was a very enjoyable day and will be now be back on our regular schedule.
There were 2 flights on the day plus rewards for nearest the pin on the four par threes and longest first putts on the ninth & eighteenth greens. Many thanks to Pattaya Sports Club for providing Casa Pascal meal vouchers for the technicals.
It certainly was tough going for most as the scores reflected and just one golfer played to their...

  Ken and Jay take the week!


Jay Burns, Diego Wells and Peter Hynard

Monday 7th Rayong Green Valley – Stableford, White tees.
1st – Bob McPhail (13) 37 points (cb)
2nd – Ken Aihara (5) 37 points
3rd – Geoff Doody (19) 37 points
4th – Peter Hynard (12) 36 points

Our regular Monday venue proved to be another great day of golf and saw us decide a three way tie for the title. Visiting Australian Bob McPhail did the best on the back nine countback cluster to take the win.
The course was in beautiful shape and even the weather was quite favourable as the recent rains had cooled things down from the humid week before. Ken Aihara and Geoff Doody rounded out the trio of 37’s whilst reigning golf manager Pete Hynard brought up the rear, so to speak, with a solid 36.  


Wednesday 9th – Rayong C.C. – Stableford, Yellow tees.
“A” Flight
1st- Thierry Petrement (4) 38 points
2nd – Ken Aihara (5) 34 points
3rd – Jay Burns (3) 33 points
“B” Flight
1st – Peter Hynard (12) 34 points
2nd – Jim Bell (19) 34 points
3rd – Christy Knight (21) 33 points

Now this was an interesting day of golf, but not as we know it. Rayong C.C. is currently offering 2 golfers + buggy a fee of 500 baht each on the weekdays. That’s it. No caddy required! So off we went on this (mis)adventure with our pals from Lewiinski’s for our monthly challenge. We...

Thursday The 10th May 2012 Plutaluang ( North and West)
The Legend continues and gains strength as the Years go by. When Ray went to the ‘Great Golf Course in The Sky’, his Nephew Gary declared that he will keep it going as long as he can, till at least Ray would have been 100 years old. That is in three years time.  Fully  supported by his friends this will continue to go forward from strength to strength.

Dave Richardson continues to be the strength of the 'Organisation' side, supported by his team, especially Peter Blackburn, and supported as usual by The Scribe the ever faithful recorder. The friends of Papa Ray and Gary rally around, and many old faces come out of hiding. Particular thanks go to Bjarne and his family from The Cafe Kronborg who provide the buffet food which went down particularly well this year with the hungry Golfers and the absence of the airborne menace of previous years. 

Gary is the Major Sponsor and every Year throws himself into the day by providing his house for the event, sponsoring the many prizes, and being the ever respectful Host, and I am certain his Uncle Ray would be most proud of him. From all who take part and fondly remember Ray, our thanks to Gary for his continuing commitment.

Onto the day and Dave had slaved away as he usually does to get together a number of groups and zoomed about raising additional bits and pieces to make the day a success. A day such as this does not just happen and...

Friday The 11th May 2012: Pleasant Valley (Stableford)
The test for the day was to be a Pleasant Valley that in the last few years has shown constant improvement, would that continue?. On this day we had a good turnout considering the weather has been dodgy of late and some players were absent due to playing the day before. The spirit may be willing but as we get older the body tells you to take a day off. 

So after a Tropical Bert’s breakfast it was into cars and a quick run down to the Course, a quick book in and onto the first tee where we were soon off. The Course was in fine condition and it seems the rain of late has only been kind to it. The fairways were in good condition and the greens were fast and true.  

It was soon through the showers, a quick bite to eat for some, then into cars for the trip back where we arrived early as we had got around the Course so well. Then it was into the presentation where the scores proved quite average for this Course and we waited to see if Mashi’s front nine of 21 points had provided him with another win.

The winner with 37 points was Bill McGarvie. It was nice to see him in the places as we always find that players take a lot to live up to their home handicap and he has been struggling. In second was that improving golfer Mike Gaussa with 37 points. Keep it up and he may even become a single handicapper. In third was David Nicholson with 34 points and in fourth with 33 points was Henry...

  Monday 7th May 2012
Rayong Country Club (Stableford)
A public holiday today, so we elected to make a return visit to Rayong C.C., since the general opinion following our previous visit had been favourable. Unfortunately today the greens were in poor shape and overnight rain had left the bunkers literally full of water, to the point where it was almost impossible to find any sand to take a drop. Despite all the water available in the bunkers, none of the drink stops around the course had any water in the toilets - so anyone taking a call of nature during the round faced a very smelly prospect! The conditions didn’t affect Lee Butler though, who decided to bring his driver out of retirement, and consistently knocked huge drives down the middle of the fairways setting himself up for a fantastic score, finishing 7 clear points ahead of second placed Mashi. 

Results:
1st  Lee Butler (hcp 16) 43 points  
2nd Mashi Kaneta (hcp 10) 35 points
3rd Alan Sullivan (hcp 13) 35 points
Near Pin Winners –  Geoff Parker, Mashi Kaneta and Colin Greig(2)


Wednesday 9th May 2012
Pattana G.C. (C and B courses) (Stableford)

A small group of golfers today on yet another public holiday, but fortunately we currently have a good deal with the management at Pattana. The course was surprisingly quiet, in excellent condition, and although a storm rumbled close by, the rain never arrived and the round was completed without...

  Cheap But Not Nasty Tuesday was a trip out on Hwy 36 to Rayong CC, they are currently offering great value to golfers, especially those cart users.  The course was in reasonable condition, although we endured a severe downpour with accompanying thunder & lightning after completing 3 holes.  This required a ½ hour stop, but the water drained well, except for the bunkers, so no problems.  Small field today, so we dispensed with NTPs and had prizes for Front & Back 9s, plus Overall.  Winning the F9 with 18 points was Jeff Wylie (6) while Martin Hayes (14) showed some form with 19 on the B9, but it wasn’t enough to overtake Jeff who finished with a solid 36points. Thursday we had 2 groups travel North for a return (for some), while others had their initial opportunity to play Wangjuntr Valley Course.  Walking is permitted on the Valley, & represents good value at the moment, along with a challenging test.  2 greens on each hole is novel & today was the turn of the left side greens.  Most players decided to test themselves from the Blue Tee at about 6600 yards, with no real competition today, as ML managment wanted everyone to enjoy the course & surrounds without any added pressure.  Many positive comments on the venue, although no-one really tamed the beast, all in all a good day. Mulligans LAKESIDE plays golf generally on Tuesday & Thursday, with ML hosting prompt presentations on both days.  Call 0890941841 for scheduling or enquiries. Hope to see you there,...

  Tuesday, 8th May – Crystal Bay, B & A – Stableford

Toddy & Taddei Sparkle At Crystal Bay!
Yet another Thai Monday Public Holiday caused us to change our playing day from Monday to Tuesday and we had 19 golfers signed up to play one of our favorite courses, Crystal Bay. We extended hearty welcomes to Gordon Clegg from Saudi Arabia, Barry Collier from Hong Kong and Dave Roberts from N.S.W., Australia. Sadly (gladly for some) we were saying farewell to the form golfer of the moment Martin Todd who is returning to Mandurah, Western Australia for 6 weeks or so and also Fred Cuypers who is off to the U.K. for a few weeks before returning here to finish his holiday before returning to Perth, Australia. Departing the Kronny right on time at 0815 hrs and heading off on Highway 3 as it started to rain we tried our best to avoid the running commentary of Mick O’Connor as he counted the raindrops and painted a gloomy picture for us all. But of course, we faithful knew better didn’t we? Very rarely has our golf competition been too spoilt by the rain and this day was no exception. The rain was reasonably heavy as we arrived at the course after the 50 minute drive and as Crystal Bay was very quiet our first group teed off in light rain 20 minutes ahead of schedule at 0940 hrs. The course was in very good shape and fairways & greens were only slightly affected by the weather and after about 20 minutes the rain stopped. We never saw the sun all day but the temperature...

Green Valley Country Club was the venue for the Blue Moose golfing group this 8th of May. Three foursomes took to the field and gave it their best. The course is in beautiful condition in all respects. While the skies were overcast no rain fell on the group despite dark clouds, thunder and lightening flashes on the horizon. There was one water hazard that got just about everyone. It was a reasonable pond that most were able to get over but unseen from the tee box was a 2nd pond. Not nice to fool the Golfers, Green Valley. Returning to the Blue Moose where delicious fried chicken legs and wings were provided, the cards were tallied. As is often the case, Bill Thompson came in with a 39, followed by Larry Emerson with a 37. Dale Murphy and Ted Gardner both had 35 and Dale managed to get closest to the pin on #9.   Bill Thompson on the left with Larry Emerson on the right.  

  Jay Burns up Green Valley for the Medal


Steve Snelgrove congratulates April Medal winner Jay Burns
Monday 30th Rayong Green Valley – Monthly Medal, White tees.
“A” Flight
1st- Jay Burns (4) 68 Net
2nd – Steve Snelgrove (6) 69 Net
3rd – Gareth Gill (8) 70 Net
“B” Flight
1st – Jeff Cordeiro (12) 70 Net- 41
2nd – Gabriel Enright (15) 70 Net- 42
3rd – Phil Smedley (12) 70 Net- 43
First, the new shirts are in! 6 colours and all sizes so come on down and get supplied for the hot summer ahead! We have also stocked up on our T-shirts that are great for the driving range.
Nine groups took to the course today to try and win an Antigua TGC golf shirt as 1st prize for the Monthly Medal. This is becoming a very popular event and it brings out the best of the best on every occasion.  Starting with the ”B” Flight winners, there were a trio of 70’s posted so the back nine became crucial. As it turned out, there was only a stroke between the top three places. Jeff Cordeiro continued his fine form and took the gold with a 41 on the back.  Jeff won at Wangjuntra last week and is on a hot streak, so watch out . He is followed by Gabriel (webmaster) Enright on 42. Winging his way back to Sydney by now, Gabriel is taking back a new set of teeth with him. Gabe built our website so have a look at his work there at golfclubpattaya.com . Fellow Australian Phil Smedley rounds out that treble 70 with a...

  Clive Continues, Allan’s Return
We played on Monday this week, as Tuesday was a holiday.  Mountain Shadow was the chosen venue, with the course in good order, although the greens are a mere shadow (sic) of their former pace, probably a blessing for most.  Another hot hot day out on the course, with 90% of the players using a cart, a sign of the times, I think.  Clive Hoseason (24) continued his recent good run of form, leading the way home with a modest total of 30 points, 2nd & 3rd needed a countback, after both signed for 29 points.  Keith Hudson (20) getting the nod over Jeff Wylie (5) with a back 9 of 18, compared to Jeff’s paltry 13.  Near Pins were won by Jeff, Clive & Allan getting 2.
Back to our usual Thursday, with a quick return visit to Treasure Hill, where continued course renovations & maintenance will ensure a good course well into the future.  Allan Cassin (11) got it together quickly after his return to Thailand with a good win, posting a solid 32 points, 1 ahead of Dave Edwards (17) who came home in an ambulance after a fine 20 points on the front 9.  The final podium position went to Brian Maddox (21) with 30 points, courtesy of a nice NTP and birdie conversion on 17, not so good on the 18th though.  NTPs were won by Brian, as mentioned, while Dave got both on the Front 9, converting the 6th for a nice birdie 2.
Mulligans LAKESIDE plays golf on Tuesday & Thursday, with ML hosting prompt presentations on both days.  Call 0890941841...