IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at Rabbi’s Elephant Bar

August started well for the Pattaya Golf Society with a trip to the beautiful Bangpakong Riverside course between Chonburi and Chachoensao. The course is always wonderfully presented and the greens are amongst the best and most consistent anywhere. With good lies on the well maintained fairways an enjoyable golf experience is always in store. On this occasion however golfers gasped when they found that the nines had been reversed and the hitherto friendly front nine had now become the back nine and the tougher second half was now the start. The course also has a unique indexing policy and it was a surprise to find the new fourth hole was a 200 yards par three, over water and into the wind to a pin situated behind a large bunker.

Stroke eighteen of course! However the golf was very competitive with Tony Thorne joining last week's hero Masanori Takano in third place with 34 points. In second with 35 points was Peter Masters who had rushed to re-route from the other Bangpakong course with just minutes to spare and the winner was the consistent Swiss golfer John Rehm with a level par 36 point return. There were surprisingly no birdie twos on those splendid greens and the Booby Bevy went to Tony Thorne for an attempted backhand shot which cannoned off his shin inflicting a painful penalty. Bangpakong had represented a fine way to start the month. With the memory of the greens one is left with the simple question "If they can do it here, why can they not do it at Eastern Star or Rayong CC?"

 

Rehm's Farewell Forty

The Pattaya Golf Society visited Green Valley on Thursday, 5th August to play a stableford competition at the popular club. The course was well presented as usual and amazingly, in the depths of this desperate low season, the group managed to provide two flights, cut at fifteen and under. In the top flight Mikael Andersson posted a score of thirty points for third place despite huge problems with his short putts.

Wichai Tananusorn went one better with 31 points, stuttering throughout an inconsistent round, and the winner was Swedish visitor Tomas Gustafsson with 37 points. In the second flight visitor Bob Dantini joined Len Jones for a share of second place with 37 points whilst John Rehm chose to sign out in style with an excellent forty points. His golf this trip has indeed been remarkably consistent. The only birdie two the day was recorded by Mikael Andersson and on the same hole Peter Masters almost slam-dunked his seven iron into the hole for an ace but it hit the bottom of the flag and rebounded to the fringe leaving Peter with the Booby Bevy, not only as consolation for what might have been but also in celebration of his birthday. Chin up Peter, things will improve!

 

High Scores Again at Emerald

On Saturday, 7th August, the Pattaya Golf Society met at Emerald Golf Club in Ban Chang to play a stableford competition on the course which was in fine order under clear skies. Late withdrawals and even later inclusions meant that a relatively youthful (ha!) but strong hitting trio lead off from the first on time and were later to feature highly in the frame. Quality was also there and fourth place was occupied by Masa Takano with a steady 34 points whilst Paul McNally's 35 points gave him third place and best gross figures of 78, hopefully restoring confidence to pull his game back together after a serious of drab performances. Back to the lead group, as New Zealander Brad Dippie again used his strength to bludgeon 41 points out the course with playing partner Craig Morrison going even better with 44. Phew! It was all too much for the third member of the group, Paul Bartlett, whose total of 18 points betrayed his handicap of thirteen. The Booby Bevy was his only reward on a memorable day at Emerald.