Jesters take top honors at PSC Classic

March 26,1999 - Phoenix Country Club

One of Pattaya’s grumpy golf denizens was heard remarking about the 1999 Pattaya Sports Club Charity Classic: "I’m not playing in that silly thing. It’s not about golf". For once, the old curmudgeon may have been right.

Jesters MC - the Championship Team (L to R): Serge Lafreniere, Mark Westendorf,Lewis Underwood and Patrick Asklund, with PSC Golf Chairman Mike Franklin (center) presenting the trophies.

If there is one Jewel in the Crown in the Pattaya Sports Club golf calendar it is the Charity Classic. And it is not even about golf, it’s about charity. The third annual PSC Charity Classic, held on Friday, March 26 at Phoenix Country Club, raised an unconfirmed total of about B250,000. This is a sizeable increase in the B210,000 that was raised in the 1998 Charity Classic. This money will go to several worthy causes, such as the Banglamung Home for the Aged and the Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind. It is money that will make a real difference and the people who organized, the people who donated, and the people who participated are the ones that make this "real difference" possible.

The format was Team Stableford with the best three scores on each team going toward the team aggregate total. But what makes the Charity Classic different, or what makes it in the words of the previously mentioned curmudgeon, "that silly thing", are the Mulligans. Mulligans were 100 Baht each and every golfer could use up to two on every hole. There were hundreds of Mulligans, there were thousands of Mulligans, and each one not only gave the golfers that rare second chance on the golf course, but each one gave them a chance at the post tournament Lucky Draw as well. What a deal! And all the money for Mulligans went straight to charity.

Runners-up, the Fore Nortons (L to R) Ivan Plunkett, Tom Gingerich, PSC Golf Chairman Mike Franklin, Dan Dorothy and Jim Little.

Given a format like that the scores could be astronomical. Last year the winning team had a team total of 147 points. This year, 147 points wouldn’t even earn a trophy. The Jesters MC, with team members Woody Underwood, Patrick Asklund, Serge Lafreniere and Mark Westendorf blew away the field with 163 points. The Jesters top three players all finished in the top seven in a field of 88 golfers. Woody had a tournament high of 57 points. This team did so well that even without Woody and using the score from their fourth team member they would have placed second. Patrick had 55 points, Serge had 51 points, and "Sticky" Westendorf had 49 points. How appropriate that the Jesters Motorcycle Club, a bunch that shuns the hard bitten biker image and does their own bit for charity, would win a tournament that was devoted to charity. Good on you, lads.

Each member of the first four teams won a trophy, four green fees to Phoenix, and four green fees to Great Lake. Collecting their share of the loot in second place were the Fore Nortons, with team members Dan Dorothy, Jim Little, Tom Gingerich, and Ivan Plunkett. They had 156 points and edged out by one point The Mean Team, with Roy Kapell, Dan Lundberg, Jonas Rosell, and Jonas Bergstrom. In fourth place, and probably tired from all the work they had done in helping to put this tournament together were Harry Riley, Stephen Beard, Derek Reaper, and Russell Finch, who had 148 points.

The post tournament celebration was held in the clubhouse at Phoenix, MC’ed by PSC Golf Chairman Mike Franklin. There were over a hundred thousand Baht worth of technical prizes to go to the individual winners of near pins, long drives, long putts, closest to the line, and a whole host of other imaginative ways to give back the members of the Pattaya Sports Club some of what they had put in. There were also over 100 Lucky Draw prizes to give away worth nearly two hundred thousand Baht. The number of chances to win a Lucky Draw was the same as the number of Mulligans purchased. There was so much to give away that it had to be done quickly, efficiently, and relentlessly. The music from the Dire Straits’ song "Money For Nothing" should have been playing in the background. "...we gotta move these refrigerators, we gotta move these color TVs". There were even microwave ovens.

Plenty of sun burnt faces came in off the course to be cooled with refreshing amber liquid.

One of the most sought after prizes of the evening went to the winners of the Full Monty Lucky Draw. Every team on which every member bought the full complement of 36 Mulligans was entered in a special drawing. They had bought the Full Monty and the prize was four annual memberships in the Great Lake Golf & Country Club donated by the management at Great Lake. The winning team for this coveted prize were the Stuffits, with Nick Holborough, George Jackson, Ray Ryan and Lol Ewin. They had finished fifth in the tournament with 146 points and missed out on getting a trophy. Don’t think they’ll be complaining though.

It would be difficult to adequately thank all the people who contributed their time, money, and resources to making the 1999 Pattaya Sports Club Charity Classic a rousing success. But they are to be thanked and they are to be congratulated. It was a lot of work and it went very well. It was even an enormously fun and successful day of golf. You were wrong after all Mr. Curmudgeon; it was indeed about golf.

Final Results: Team Members - Team Score 1) Jesters MC: Lewis Underwood, Patrick Asklund, Serge Lafreniere, Mark Westendorf - 163. 2) Fore Nortons: Dan Dorothy, Jim Little, Tom Gingerich, Ivan Plunkett - 156. 3) The Mean Team: Roy Kapell, Dan Lundberg, Jonas Rosell, Jonas Bergstrom - 154. 4) Nightmares: Harry Riley, Stephen Beard, Derek Reaper, Russell Finch - 148. Individual Scores 1) Lewis "Woody" Underwood - 57 Points 2) Roy Kapell - 56 Points 3) Dan Dorothy, Patrick Asklund, Harry Riley - 55 Points Ladies High Score 1 Kitti Stor - 48 Points 2 Banjob Franklin - 45 Points Technical Prize Winners and Sponsors Hole Sponsor - Target - Prize - Winner Mountain 1 Diana Group - Straight Drive - 5000 Baht - Ivan Plunkett 2 Palmers Bar - Long Putt - Camera - Lars Evenssen 3 TMS George Davis - Near Line - 21" - TV - Mark Gorda 4 Team Canada - Long Drive ‘B’ - Stereo - George Meigh 5 Harry & Ronnie - Near Pin - 5000 Baht - Jim Little 6 Hansard Int’l - Near Pin - Gold Chain - Larry Willett 6 Northern Thai Insurance - Near Flag - 5000 Baht - Brian Ellis 7 Swagman Group - Near Line - Microwave - Stan Fry 8 Orchid Trading - Near Pin - VDO Rec. - Jerry Lien 9 Jesters MC - Long Putt - Stereo - George Jackson 9 BDS Designs - Long Drive ‘C’ - Fridge - Mark Beaton Lakes 1 Scottish Provident Int’l - Near Pin - Golf Equip - Steve Mascari 2 Fobe’ Jewelry - Ladies Long Drive - Jewelry - Gay Horan 3 Classroom - Near Pin - 1 Bt Gold - Dave McBurney 3 Ray Rogers - Long Putt - Cooler - Neil Munro 4 Bubbles, et al - Near Line - Appliances - Terry Summers 5 New Orleans - Straight Drive - Microwave - Joe Sparey 6 Lewiinski’s - Near Flag - Cigars - John Hopkins 7 TQ - Near Pin - Stereo - Arthur Hancock 8 Las Vegas - Near Line - 14" TV - Kitti Stor 9 Russell Finch - Long Drive ‘A’ - 5000 Baht - Neil Munro 9 Cafe Kronborg - Long Putt - 1 Bt Gold - Jerry Lien

Jagged edge

Mike’s Machetes and David’s Daggers poked and prodded each other all afternoon at the weekly Pattaya Sports Club softball game on Sunday, March 28. Before returning the blades to the sheath, each team carved out a win to split the doubleheader.

The opener saw the Daggers come out swinging as G’day David launched a three run homer in the top of the first. The Daggers added four in the second as Pittsburgh Al and Esso Mike each had RBI hits.

After another dinger by G’day David in the fourth, the Daggers added three in the fifth behind Dick (The Stick) Cagg’s two run double to right. Accolades to Dick as he celebrated his sixty-first birthday with his consistent offensive output, stellar defense, and his now infamous sliding.

The Machete never got unsheathed, thanks to tough pitching and strong defense by the Daggers, and wound up on the short end of a thirteen to two slashing.

The nightcap was a different story as the Machetes sharpened their offense and put up four in the first behind the timely hitting of Maple Leaf Rick and Craig (The Hitman) Lewis.

The Daggers pushed two across in the bottom half of the inning when Alan (Y. B.) Baa tripled and G’day David smacked yet another home run.

The second inning was scoreless, but in the third the Machetes erupted for six as Matinee Idol Jeff smacked a homer to left.

The Daggers parried with seven in the last half of the inning as Gordon Lightfoot contributed a dinger down the left field line.

In the top of the fifth Mark (The Natural) put the Machetes up for good with a two run blast. Mike (Mr. Ice) Berg’s three run blast in the top of the seventh only widened the wound as the Machetes prevailed seventeen to ten.

If you’re feeling a little jagged around the edges, come out and play some ball. Games are every Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Pattaya School #7 on Sukhumvit Highway just past Greenway driving range and Caltex gas station. Equipment is provided and refreshments are available. All are welcome.

Bull Ring does it again

Sunday March 14, 1999: The Bull Ring Bar took both first and second place in the March Pattaya Sports Club Sunday fishing tournament.

“Blondie” Robinson with his first place 7 kilogram pompano, and “Banana Billy” with his second place 6 kilogram pompano pose with PSC Fishing Chairman Carl Engel.

"Blondie" Robinson took first place with a 7 kilogram pompano, while his fishing mate "Banana Billy" took second place with a 6 kilogram pompano. The remainder of the Bull Ring, team Justin Robinson, Blondie’s son, and "Kiwi Bryan" came in with lesser fish.

The next fishing tournament organized by the Pattaya Sports Club will be held jointly with the Pattaya City Festival April 14th and 15th. Trophies for this tournament will be presented by His Excellency Bhichai Rattakul, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand.

Watch the Pattaya Mail for tournament details, or contact the Pattaya Sports Club.

PSC Pattaya Festival Fishing Tournament

for Deputy Prime Minister’s Trophy

The Pattaya Sports Club is playing a large part in this year’s Pattaya Festival. As part of this participation, PSC will be holding the PSC Pattaya Festival Fishing Tournament on Wednesday & Thursday, April 14 & 15.

Jointly organized by the City of Pattaya and the Pattaya Sports Club Association, fisherman will be competing for the Bhichai Rattakul, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand’s Trophy.

Tournament information

Each participant must fill out a tournament entry form and designate which day he wishes to participate, Wednesday the 14th or Thursday the 15th or both days. Entry forms will be available at the Pattaya sports club office.

Entry forms must be submitted to the Pattaya sports club office by 12:00 noon Friday April 9, 1999.

Each participant must pay a tournament entry fee of 500 baht per fishing day.

Each participant will be assigned to a fishing boat on the day chosen to fish. There will be a maximum of four fishermen per boat.

Boats will leave from the Pattaya municipal pier at 5:00 a.m. each morning.

Boats will return and weigh-in starts at 5:30 p.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m. each evening.

Trophies will be awarded for the following: First place, largest fish by weight. Second place, second largest fish by weight. Third place, third largest fish by weight.

If you require additional information please contact Carl Engel, Pattaya Sports Club fishing chairman at phone 038-410-228, fax 038-426-121, or e-mail [email protected].

Kraft tames Phoenix winds

PSC TAGGS... golf from the Hare House

Wednesday, March 24 - Phoenix Golf & Country Club (Bogey)

1st: Paul Kraft, 4 up
2nd: Roy Kapell, 3 up
3rd: Bill Thompson, 3 up

The TAGGS team went on a recon mission to Phoenix in advance of the major assault on Friday for the Charity Classic. What they found was a course in excellent shape, with its best defense, the long and difficult rough, in place and ready to swallow any and all Mulligans. Phoenix is also not wanting in air defenses. The ever-present strong ocean breeze made club selection difficult and against the wind the course was playing very long.

Paul Kraft led his four man squad over the Ocean nine first. Paul hits a long, low ball that is the ideal weapon in dealing with the wind. But you have to be able to use the short range equipment as well. Paul, who was WIA a year ago, discovered to both his delight and dismay that some of the medication he has been taking was hurting his putting. He cut back the dosage last week and the results were obvious. Paul shot a 42 on the Ocean to go three up on the course. He came back in on the Mountain course, managing to subdue that nine by a score of one up, to go four up for the competition. That was just enough for the win as Ray Kappell and Bill Thompson both finished the day at three up, with Ray taking second place in a count back.

Major PSC golf tournaments coming up in April

On Friday April 9th the annual PSC Golf Am-Am Tournament run by TAGGS from the Hare House takes place at Phoenix Golf & Country Club. Run along similar lines to a Pro-Am, the scoring is based on the two better ball scores on each hole from a team of four. Sign-up at Hare House or any of the PSC Golf venues.

A Birthday celebration takes place on Friday April 16th when John Ottaway, a long time golfing member of Pattaya Sports Club, reaches the 60 year landmark. PSC Golf, in association with the Paradise Club (Soi 8) are staging the John Ottaway ‘Paradise Classic’. The format will be a two-man scramble held at Pattaya Country Club. The entry fee of B.1000 per team will include breakfast, Paradise Classic shirt, prize-giving with trophies at the Paradise Club, plus buffet, live band, cabaret and lucky draw prizes. More details next issue.

April ends on Friday the 30th with the Delaney’s ‘Funhill Cup’ at Rayong Green Valley, organised by Pattaya Sports Club Golf and Delaney’s. This new event will be a two-man team scramble with a shotgun start. The entry fee of B.1100 per player will include green and caddy fees, a ‘Funhill Cup’ shirt, free buffet and prize-giving at Delaney’s, plus Happy Hour and live entertainment.

More details in future issues of Pattaya Mail, on the PSC Web Page at www.pattayasports.org and at PSC Golf venues.

Dusit Press Release-Health & Fitness: Mind & Body

Tai Chi at Dusit Resort Sports Club

Tai Chi is the state of activity which includes all the events that go into the dynamic interplay in the universe. The Chinese have been practicing Tai Chi as a fitness exercise for over 3000 years because of the wonderful sense of wellbeing it gives them. Tai Chi is beneficial to the whole person, relaxing the mind as well as the body. Chinese people have found that digestion, blood circulation and the functioning of the internal organs became more efficient.

The stress reducing benefits of Tai Chi have long been widely accepted in the Eastern world and more recently in the Western world. Now a new study into the affects of performing regular Tai Chi exercises has shown that individuals have experienced another benefit of reducing blood pressure.

Sixty-two sedentary adults, essentially spending their time in chairs or in bed, of 60 years and over were assigned to one of two groups; the first participated in a program of brisk walking and low impact aerobics, while the second group was taught Tai Chi. After 12 weeks both groups demonstrated a significant drop in systolic blood pressure. On average the aerobic group dropped about 8.4mmHg, while that of the Tai Chi group lowered by 7mmHg. The researchers admitted to being very surprised at the results, anticipating only a minimal change in the Tai Chi group.

With this in mind and after many requests, Dusit Resort Sports Club is starting a regular Tai Chi program for all interested people. Tai Chi has no age, gender, work level, status or language barriers.

Call Dusit Resort Sports Club 038 425611-226.

PSC Golf for April

April continues on Sunday the 4th with Lewiinski’s playing Stableford at Great Lake. Then on Monday the 5th there is a choice of better ball at Rayong Green Valley with PSC Golf from the Café Kronborg, or Stableford at Noble Place with the PSC Splinter Group from the Green Bottle.

On Tuesday the 6th, PSC Pattaya Golf Society from the Bunker go to Sattahip for a Stableford competition, the Smokers from Lewiinski’s go to Khao Kheow to play stroke, while Scandic Hotel play the popular two man scramble at Noble Place.

On Wednesday the 7th there is a visit to Natural Park Resort from the Green Bottle playing Stableford, or a medal round at Phoenix from Hare House.

On Thursday the 8th of April PSC Golf Café Kronborg goes to Eastern Star.

The week ends on Friday the 9th of April with the PSC Golf AM-AM at Phoenix. Sign-up early for this.

The full April schedule can be seen at the PSC Golf venues, in Pattaya Mail and at our Web Site at www.pattayasports.org.

Royal Garden to host festival yachting

by Peter Cummins

The strand of Pattaya Beach in front of the Royal Garden Resorts will be the location of the yachting action on Saturday, 17 April, scheduled to be part of this year’s Pattaya Festival to be held from 12 - 19 April.

In order to bring the colour and excitement of yachting closer to the people, the Royal Varuna Yacht Club has agreed with the Mayor’s office to have a race from the Royal Varuna facilities at Pattaya Point, Kasetsin Beach, to finish on the beach in front of the Royal Garden.

Catamarans and other craft line the Royal Varuna foreshore: soon to be seen at Pattaya Beach. Photo Peter Cummins.

Yacht racing, due to the necessity of holding races some way off-shore, has always been a rather vague - albeit spectacular - form of sport to the average person.

Now, as a highlight of this year’s Festival, some 20 - 30 craft from the Royal Varuna will "come to the people", with an anticipated finishing time around 14.00 hours, Saturday the 17th. Thereafter, the boats - mainly catamarans with their multi-coloured sails, and the smaller single-handed Lasers - will be drawn up on the beach for the crowds enjoying the seaside festivities to observe first-hand and talk to the sailors.

There will be a "prize-giving" ceremony presided over by the Governor of Chonburi Province or the Mayor of Pattaya City - hopefully both - at the Royal Garden Plaza, during which the Royal Garden will serve food and beverage to the participants and guests.

Prizes will also be sponsored by the Royal Garden. Following this, the crowds will be able to see at first-hand the numerous precise sequences involved in starting a yacht race, as the craft will launch from the beach and manoeuvre to start another race back to the Royal Varuna.

Both the representatives of Pattaya City and the executives of the Royal Varuna regard this event as a most positive step in promoting the resort as a marvellous haven for water sports - particularly yachting, the prime object of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club for the past 42 years around the Pattaya waters.

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