Papa Ray’s 84th Birthday PSC Golf Tournament

Pattaya Country Club Monday 10th May 1999

Papa Ray Rogers’ birthdays have been a reason for the Pattaya Sports Club to celebrate with a golf tournament since pitching wedges were known as mashies and 8-irons were called niblicks. Nobody knows for certain how far back in time these tournaments go. What is known is that they go back so far that Ray Rogers used to play in them.

On Monday, May 10, the people in Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood got together at Pattaya Country Club and once again celebrated his birthday. This was number 84 for the Pattaya icon. Eighty-four years old and he packed them in to his golf tournament like Tiger Woods was going to show. One hundred and twenty of Papa Ray’s friends teed it up in a Stableford competition. Imagine! Most of us don’t even know 120 people. And when we’re eighty-four years old we’ll be lucky to have anyone around to remember it’s our birthday, much less have a party. Papa Ray is truly blessed. And Pattaya is lucky to have him.

Papa Ray Rogers celebrated his 84th birthday on May 10th with 120 of his closest golfing friends from the Pattaya Sports Club.

While "golf party" might be an appropriate term for this occasion, make no mistake, this a very prestigious tournament to win. The field is large and the competition is keen. There were two flights for the men and one ladies’ flight. The winner of the A Flight was Russell "Pin High" Finch. Russell had 40 Stableford points and edged out Gary Parkinson and Philippe Berra, who had 39 points apiece. Gary took second place in a count back. Gary also won the trophy for Low Gross, shooting a four over par 76.

The B Flight was won by Henning Sorensen who had a tournament high of 43 points. Ron Gould followed in second place with 41 points. In third place, Glen Dragland had 40 points.

The Ladies’ Best Score was won by Nongyao Panraksa who had 31 Stableford points and took the trophy in a count back over Toy Ryser. The Callaway Trophy (for those not having a handicap) was won by Wayne Kozar.

The heavy dark clouds that threatened rain all day, never produced. The wind abated and the field made the short trip to Papa Ray’s home for the feast that surely waited. It was old home week at the Rogers’ household as long time friends renewed acquaintances and shared a beer or two and swapped tales of missed putts and duffed drives. There was no birthday cake, but there was a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" and an even louder "For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow".

The trophy presentation was emceed by PSC Golf Chairman Mike Franklin, who along with Dave Richardson and Bernie Tuppin, had struggled earlier to make some sense out of the score cards that had been turned in. Somehow they deciphered what must have been Arabic numerals and Mandarin text to announce the winners. The Lucky Draw followed and if you didn’t get a prize you were damned unlucky or you failed to turn your scorecard back in.

It was a very successful day and it makes one think. Most of us come from the so called "developed" world of high tech gimcrackery and tasteless food. When a person reaches a certain age they are shunted aside to an anonymous cell in a retirement home. How much more wonderful it is to live in Thailand and be surrounded by so many good friends and neighbors.

Results

A Flight

Winner: Russell Finch: 40 Points
Second: Gary Parkinson: 39 Points C/B
Third: Philippe Berra: 39 Points

B Flight

Winner: Henning Sorensen, 43 Points
Second: Ron Gould, 41 Points
Third: Glen Dragland, 40 Points
Ladies Best Score: Nongyao Panraksa, 31 Points
Low Gross: Gary Parkinson, 76
Callaway Trophy: Wayne Kozar
Near Pins: #5 Dave Richardson, #7 Dale Drader, #12 Gary Parkinson, #16 Jim Little.
Long Drive B Flight: #8 Mike Mckay.
Long Drive A Flight: #11 Andy Wellington.
Long Drive Ladies: #15 Bua Brook.
Long Putts: #9 Jez Lees, #18 John Bullock.

Preparations begin for Pattaya Marathon 99

Pattaya and Chonburi officials met last week with representatives from government offices and the private sector to start preparations for the upcoming Pattaya Marathon 99.

The activities for this year’s marathon will run from July 17-18, and will be dedicated to the honor of the King’s upcoming 72nd birthday.

Chonburi Mayor Sujarit Pachimnan (2nd from right), and Pattaya Mayor Pairat Sutthithamrongsawat chaired a conference to prepare for the Pattaya Marathon 99. The event will run from July 17-18.

On July 17th, a Fun Run will start the activities at 10:00 a.m. in the area of Beach Road between Soi 4 & 5. From 6-10:00 p.m. on the same day Pattaya Mayor Pairat Sutthithamrongsawat will preside over the official pre-marathon dinner at the Siam Bayview Hotel in Pattaya.

Marathon events will start the following day, at the same location between Soi 4 & 5 on Beach Road. The route will be the same as last year.

Once again the festivities will include a 42.195 km marathon, 21.1 km half-marathon, and 10.55 km mini-marathon.

All three runs will have separate male and female divisions, each with different age groups. Winners will receive prize money (up to 100,000 baht), cups, plaques and certificates.

Persons interested in this competition can obtain further details at TAT Region 3, Pattaya Office (038) 428-750; TAT in Bangkok (02) 694-1222; the National Athletic Association (02) 215-1522/3; and the Pattaya Festival Center at the Central Business Center (038) 361-456.

PSC Bowling celebrates award winners

On 5 May the Pattaya Sports Club Bowling League held their end of season awards presentation party at the "Town In Town" Hotel.

Always rated amongst the best parties of all PSC divisions, food and drinks were enjoyed by all, and trophies were given to the winning teams and individuals.

The Pattaya Sports Club Bowing family, all winners, gather for a group shot at their end of season awards presentation party on May 5th.

Since Ken Crow was not among the lucky ones to win an award, he assisted with the party and distribution of trophies.

PSC Bowling Champions:
First place team: Kran, Peter, Toy and Ow.
Second place team: Otto, Morn, Mamo and John.
Third place team: Fritz, Jon, Dang and Yao.
Men’s high series scratch: Jon (570)
Men’s high series handicap: John (670)
Men’s high game scratch: Otto (278)
Men’s high game handicap: Tony(256)
Ladies high series scratch: Nok (591)
Ladies high series handicap Dang (690)
Ladies high game scratch: Supawan (243)
Ladies high game handicap: La (267)

Michael, the Monaco Maestro

Michael Schumacher showed his complete domination of the twisting Monaco circuit with an all the way win last weekend. He had been the man to beat all week and Mika Hakkinen’s pole position for McLaren, from the last lap of Qualifying, was shown to be a flash in the pan. Ferrari rubbed salt into McLaren’s wounds with Eddie Irvine again doing a sterling job to finish second to teammate Schumacher.

Schumacher won the start from Hakkinen and muscled his way through the first corner and into a lead he was never to relinquish. For the first 20 laps he pulled away at almost one second a lap, leaving Hakkinen to fend off Eddie Irvine and David Coulthard in the second McLaren. By lap 33 he was 28 seconds in front of Hakkinen and it was obvious that he could stroke it in from there.

The McLaren challenge was down to one car on lap 36 when Coulthard retired with "gearbox problems". However, since his engine had been blowing smoke for the previous 15 laps and progressively getting worse, it is more likely that valve train problems after an over-rev were the true reason for his pulling out.

Hakkinen miscued at Mirabeau corner on lap 40 but missed all the barriers, rejoining just in front of Irvine who had already called into the pits for fuel and tyres. When Hakkinen pitted he then rejoined in third position over 20 seconds behind Irvine’s Ferrari. From that point onwards, the two Ferrari’s were never in doubt of finishing in 1-2. Hakkinen set the fastest race lap towards the end, but he was never likely to catch the scarlet cars from Italy.

The only other car left on the same lap as Schumacher at the finish was the 4th placed Jordan of Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Frentzen had been having a race long duel with Rubens Barichello in the Stewart but Rubens’ challenge was thrown away with a wild spin and a nudge into the barriers five laps from the finish. Frentzen’s teammate, Damon Hill had yet another miserable performance in the second Jordan. Well down the field in Qualifying and hitting Ralf Schumacher on lap three in an abortive attempt at passing, ending up in his retirement. It is time Damon retired permanently. The minor places were filled by Fisichella and Wurz in the Benettons.

The standing in the World Championship is now Schumacher 26 points, Irvine 18, Hakkinen 14 and Frentzen 13. The Manufacturers title has Ferrari well in front on 44 points from McLaren on 20 and Jordan on 16.

The next round of the Championship is the Spanish GP at Barcelona on the 30th of this month.

Lassie takes a big bite out of his handicap

PSC TAGGS... golf from the Hare House

Wednesday, May 12 - Pattaya Country Club (Stableford)

1st: Glen "Lassie" Dragland, 46 points
2nd: Stephen Beard, 42 points
3rd: George Jackson, 41 points

It was one of those "good news-bad news" days in the TAGGS Stableford competition on Wednesday, May 12 at Pattaya Country Club. The "bad news" was that 37 points only made ninth place. The "good news" was that even ninth place won a prize.

Canadian Glen "Lassie" Dragland had 46 points and blew away the field of twenty eight golfers on a day when almost everyone was playing extremely well. "Lassie" had 40 points just two days before on the same course in Papa Ray’s birthday extravaganza. Not a bad couple of days’ work, but the new CONGU handicapping procedures will react very quickly and Mr. Dragland should see his handicap drop like a 500 pound bomb over Kosovo.

In second and third place were Stephen Beard and George "One Ball" Jackson, both playing off seventeen. These two Englishmen were in the same foursome and were having a bit of a friendly go at each other. The end result was that their individual match finished with Stephen winning by one point. There were six lead changes and neither golfer got more than one up. Stephen had a gross 83 that was good for 42 Stableford points and George had a gross 84 that gave him 41 points.

Imagine the dismay of Russell Finch and Trevor Latchford who had 40 points apiece and didn’t even crack the top three. This was in a field of 28 golfers. Two days before, Russell won the ‘A’ Flight at Papa Ray’s with 40 points in a field of 120 golfers. The competition out of the Hare House these days is getting a bit stiff.

Friday, May 14 - Great Lake Country Club (Pairs Better Ball)

1st: Glen Dragland & Mark Gorda, 61 Net
2nd: Anders Karlsson & Gary Parkinson, 62 Net
3rd: Stephen Beard & George Jackson, 64 Net

Back up in the hills of the Great Smokey Mountains of North Carolina, the farmers have a way to deal with a dog that won’t quit barking. They tie a kerosene soaked rag to his tail and light it. It doesn’t stop the dog from barking but it adds a lot of entertainment value. "Whooee! Look at that dog GO".

Well, there is a suspicion that somebody set fire to Glen "Lassie" Dragland. Whoee, look at that dog GO. "Lassie" teamed up with fellow Canadian Mark Gorda and the duo scorched Great Lake in the Pairs Better Ball tournament on Friday, May 14, for a net score of 61. This was the third trophy in one week for "Lassie" and at the time this story is being written, he has a commanding lead in the ‘B’ Flight of the President’s Eclectic. Somebody please catch that dog and give him a bone.

In second place with a net 62 were Anders Karlsson of Sweden and Gary Parkinson from Australia. Gary is another red hot golfer from the Hare House. He came in second in the ‘A’ flight of Papa Ray’s tournament and won the Low Gross with a 76. But it was Anders who lit up the back nine at Great Lake for an outstanding even par 36 gross that included one double bogey, five pars, and two birdies. Not a bad nine for a thirteen handicapper.

The English pair of Stephen Beard and George Jackson finished with a net 64 taking third place in a count back over Mike Spear and Norman Best.

PSC Golf for May

May continues on Sunday the 23rd with Lewiinski’s playing stroke at Khao Kheow, then on Monday the 24th there is another chance to play Khao Kheow, this time Stableford with PSC Golf from the Café Kronborg, or Stableford at Phoenix with the PSC Splinter Group from the Green Bottle.

On Tuesday the 25th, PSC Pattaya Golf Society from the Bunker go to Century Rayong, while the Smokers from Lewiinski’s go to Natural Park Resort.

On Wednesday the 26th there is a visit to Eastern Star from the Green Bottle playing a three man scramble, or a two man scramble at Natural Park Hill from Hare House.

On Thursday the 27th of May, PSC Golf Café Kronborg goes to Pattaya Country Club for the Kronborg Monthly Mug.

On Friday the 28th the Splinter Group play their monthly Diana Group Medal, while Hare House stays local and plays stroke at Siam Country Club.

Lewiinski’s rounds off the month with a return to Great Lake.

The May and June schedules can be seen at PSC Golf venues, in Pattaya Mail and at our Web Site at www. pattayasports.org.

Bill Jones wins on his lucky course

PSC Pattaya Golf Society from the Bunker

The last 4 visits to Eastern Star Country Club has brought Bill Jones 4 victories. His fourth came on Tuesday, 11th May in a Pattaya Golf Society stroke play round.

In very hot and humid conditions, it was hardly a creditable performance from the Bunker group who all came in with high scoring rounds.

It’s embarrassing (for organizers) to give these results. However, Bill shot a net 75. In second place was Chelsea footballer Arthur Blackley with a net 79. In third place came a blushing John Hopkins on 81.

PSC announces 1999 Annual General Meeting

The Pattaya Sports Club is pleased to announce that the Annual General Meeting of the Club will be held on Wednesday, June 23rd at the Town in Town Hotel at 7:30 p.m.

All elective members are reminded that if you are going to be away on that date, please be sure to complete a proxy form in favor of another elective member so that you can be represented at the meeting. Proxy forms are available now at the PSC Administration Office adjacent to the Cafe Kronborg on Soi Diana.

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.