Viroj Nualkair’s Thai Team wins the QBE Regatta

by Peter Cummins,
Kata Beach

Viroj Nualkair’s “Zephyr”, with Jaray Tipsook at the helm, had a great - albeit very narrow - victory in the Performance Cruising Class at the Thirteenth Phuket King’s Cup Regatta which ended last week, with the “Kata Group Olympic Sprints”.

Another Thai team to fly the Kingdom’s flag was that of perennial regatta supporter, Sriracha’s Radab Kanchana-Vanit, which finished third on “Cedar Swan” in the Ocean Multihill Class.

Close racing and plenty of action at this year’s Phuket King’s Cup Regatta. Photo Peter Cummins

Actually, there were other Thai yachts in the winners’ circle, such as David Bell’s “Grafitti” which won the Cruising Division and Muzza Nordstrand who won the Ocean Cruising Division. Both these Thai-based New Zealanders sail under the Thai flag.

The inaugural regatta, established in 1987 to celebrate His Majesty’s fifth-cycle, sixtieth birthday, has been re-dedicated every year to the Regatta Royal Patron who graciously bestowed the handsome permanent trophy.

As a further tribute to the beloved Monarch, each year regatta proceeds are donated to further the King’s rural development projects.

The Racing

Steve Benjamin, brilliantly helming Ray Ordoveza’s Philippine sloop “Karakoa”, bolted home with the Racing Class honours. Finishing with positions of 3, 3, 1, 1, 2, 1 in the six races counted out of the seven sailed, for a total score of 11 points, Steve was seven points clear of Singaporean Keith Moore’s “Pla Loma”, on 18. Then followed Ray Roberts’ “Australia Challenge”, Peter Aherne’s Malaysian entry “Yo” and David Bailey’s Hong Kong yacht, “Hocux Pocux”, third to fifth, on 19, 26 and 26 points, respectively. Peter placed ahead of David in a ‘tie-breaker’.

Steve thus added his first Phuket King’s Cup crown to some of his other regional triumphs, which have included the President’s Cup in 1998, also helming “Karakoa”, the China Sea Race in 1994 and 1996 on “Vida”. On winning the Singapore Straits Regatta and placing well in the Raja Muda and the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, he also won the inaugural “Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy” in 1996, awarded to the racing class yacht with the highest aggregate score in the tri-regatta series.

A close struggle ensued between the top two contenders in the Cruising Class, and saw Thailand-based David Bell’s “Graffiti” finishing two points ahead of Malaysian yacht, German Hans Rahmann’s “Master Blaster”. Third was the delightful Japanese team, under skipper Oki Naotake, finishing equal on 10 points with Hans but taking third place on the tie-breaker.

It is probably David Bell and Hans Rahmann, first and equal-second, respectively, in the Cruising Class, who are the quintessential “Phuket King’s Cuppers”. Win or lose, they keep coming back year after year for the challenge, to seek the elusive glory and to enjoy the good fellowship which inevitably pervades the regatta.

Local sailors from the Ao Chalong Yacht Club, Muzza Nordstrand and Mark Pescott, fought out the Ocean Multihull Class. Kiwi Muzza’s “Lee Marine Fine Pitch”, ending the regatta with a great win in the last race, relegated his Aussie cousin from across the Tasman Sea to second, four points away, with perennial regatta entry, Thailand’s Radab Kanjana-Vanit, sailing “Cedar Swan” into third place, six points behind the winner, on 14 points. Thai-based German Leo Wienand’s new multihull “Palita”, with former regatta president Chris King ‘driving’, was fourth on 25 points.

Viroj Nualkair’s winning Thai team drives “Zephyr” to the finish. Photo Peter Cummins

It was indicative of the closeness of the racing that five different nationalities were first in five of the six divisions comprising the regatta: New Zealanders David Bell and Muzza Nordstrand winning two events. Maybe that was appropriate, as the America’s Cup approaches the last few weeks’ racing before the final challenge round off Auckland, next year.

Within each class there was also a broad spread of many countries. In the Racing Class (the ‘Formula One” of the regatta), for example, Filipino Ray Ordoveza’s “Karakoa”, helmed by US skipper Steve Benjamin, was first, followed by Singaporean Keith Moore’s “Pla Loma”, Aussie Ray Robert’s “Australia Challenge”, Malaysian Peter Aherne’s “Yo” and David Bailey’s Hong Kong yacht, “Hocux Pocux”.

Undoubtedly, the most interesting results were in the Performance Cruising Class, where the leader up until race six on Friday, Hong Kong’s Merv Owen, saw his name hoisted high, even as his yacht languished at the bottom of the Andaman Sea after a collision sent her to the depths. Again, fine race management and the absolute priority on safety ensured that there was no one injured and the stricken yacht was recovered two days later.

The International Jury, under Adm. Prasart Sribhadung was, indeed, kept very busy during the course of the week.

Action aboard Neil Pryde’s “Hi Fidelity”. Photo Peter Cummins

Thailand’s hot team of Viroj Nualkair’s “Zephyr”, beautifully helmed by Jaray Tipsook, took command, and with 16 points, just a quarter of a point ahead of Hong Kong resident Peter Wintle’s “Anicka”, placed Thailand at the top of the board.

Mark Haswell and his Philippine team showed no mercy, continuing on their winning ways in the one-design Platu Class, finishing well in front on eight penalty points, five ahead of the fine Japanese team of Ikuyo Hironaka.

A feature of the regatta was the great performance of the Japanese teams - on and off the water. Oki Naotake finished equal second in the highly-competitive Cruising Class and Ikuyo Hironaka pursued Mark Haswell relentlessly in the equally-competitive Platu Class, to finish a good second behind the acknowledged master.

Certainly, the Japanese teams won every social event, with their smiling and good-natured camaraderie.

A total of 81 craft, with some 800 sailors from 25 countries, finally entered the 1999 regatta which was sponsored by the QBE Insurance Company. Curiously, the number of entries exactly tallied with last year’s record number of entries.

It was an exciting week of racing, socializing and fun around the Andaman Sea. Generally good winds, great courses and excellent race management under Adm. Varong Charoen, and the executive race officer John McLennan ensured fair, competitive and safe competition for all.

Again, for some at least, it could have resembled, somewhat, Hollywood’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” transported to Kata Beach, with some local variations. Broken masts, broken gear and a broken boat, saw some sailors’ dreams evaporate. Last year’s racing class champion, Hong Kong’s Neil Pryde saw his defense disappear when he broke the mast of “Hi Fidelity”. The broken yacht of Hong Kong’s Merv Owen, “Monsoon Blue”, lying at the bottom of the Andaman Sea floor, certainly ‘drowned’ his chances and opened the way for a Thai victory in this class.

Neil, however, was able to take home the “consolation prize” as the fourth winner of the coveted “Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy” for the yacht having the best aggregate score in the tri-regatta series comprising last month’s Singapore Straits and Raja Muda and last week’s Phuket King’s Cup Regattas.

M. L. Usni Pramoj

His Majesty the King’s Personal Representative, Rear Admiral M.L. Usni Pramoj presided over the splendid Royal Awards Ceremony at the conclusion of this year’s Thirteenth Phuket King’s Cup Regatta last Saturday, held at the Kata Beach Resort, the regatta headquarters since 1998.

M.L. Usni, noting it was the eleventh time that he had had the honour to represent the King, pointed out that it was 33 years ago that His Majesty, the Regatta Royal Patron, won a yachting Gold Medal in the then Fourth South East Asian Peninsular Games.

Almost on the eve of the New Millennium, M.L. Usni urged the huge crowd of sailors, supporters and regatta organizers assembled at the Kata Resort’s ballroom to emulate the story of “Mahajanika” which His Majesty himself adapted and then translated into the English language in 1988. It is the story of ultimate perseverance without the desire for reward - a great guideline for the New Millennium about to open, M.L. Usni surmised, and certainly it has been His Majesty’s principal tenet throughout his reign. It is most appropriate to the King’s Cup yacht racing, as with most other amateur sports.

The Sponsors

Nigel J. Hardy, president of the 1999 Organizing Committee, felt very early in the year’s advance preparations that a start off Ao Nang Beach, with the towering karst formations and awesome headlands of the Krabi landscape as a back-drop, would make a fitting special tribute to His Majesty on the occasion of His seventy- second birthday.

Nigel’s foresight was certainly vindicated by the sight of the huge fleet anchored there on the King’s birthday, surrounded by the magnificent Krabi environs looming darkly skywards in stark contrast to the tranquil blue-green waters of the Andaman Sea. It was, indeed, a Royal painting worthy of the Royal Sailor.

Oh, that sinking feeling! “Monsoon Blue” about to ditch in 15m of water just off Kata Beach. Photo Peter Cummins

Certainly, as each successive president of the Regatta Organizing Committee has been quick to acknowledge, it is sponsorship and the generosity of supporters which have made the regatta possible: “Without them, in fact,” as incumbent president Nigel J. Hardy recently pointed out, “there would be no regatta.”

Over the years, sponsors have come and gone. QBE Insurance, the largest Australian-owned insurance and reinsurance company in the Asian-Pacific region, this year took over the prestigious slot as the regatta principal sponsor. This included the rights to the now-classic regatta blue-riband event, the race from Koh Phi Phi to Phuket: the QBE Andaman Sea Race sailed on Tuesday, the eighth of December.

“It is a most appropriate liaison,” said QBE Managing Director, Ron Sparks. With up to 50 percent of the big fleet carrying QBE insurance, Mr Sparks pointed out at the QBE Andaman Sea Race awards night, “sponsoring this regatta was a perfect way to demonstrate our commitment.” “Furthermore,” Ron added, “for our first principal sponsorship to coincide with H.M. the King’s 72nd birthday, it also afforded us a wonderful opportunity to pay our humblest respects to a great king.” Ron’s words were to be echoed at every occasion during the great Phuket Week.

Ricoh, which has also been an ongoing supporter, greatly assisted the complexities of managing such a big international event. With its hi-tech hardware, up-market reprographic and information technology equipment, Ricoh greatly assisted the regatta secretariat.

“Monsoon Blue” (L) and “Stormvogel” drive to windward mark just prior to the incident which sent “Monsoon Blue” to the bottom of the Andaman Sea.

In fact, the photocopying equipment was so sophisticated that I thought I would need a crash course in information technology just to start it. Not so, Grenville Fordham and his trusty colleagues, Chris Bond, Bruce Stanley, et al. produced thousands of copies of the daily bulletin “Regatta Ricochets”, without a flaw or any technical breakdowns. It was truly a remarkable effort.

On the sea, it was Andy Dowden, Vice President in charge of the racing, who once again turned in a great performance, cool headed at all times, especially during the “Friday crisis” and the sinking of one of the craft.

Other supporters included Baan Kata, the Boathouse Inn, Boonrawd Brewery, Coral Seekers, Holiday Inn, House of Kangaroo, the Krabi Business and Tourist Association, Maersk Line, the Nakatani Group, Neil Pryde Sailmakers, Pepsi Cola, Phuket.com, Phuket Magazine, Phuket Sunwest Homes, Phuket Water Taxis, Sunsail yacht charters which provided upwards of thirty entries for the regatta, Thai Airways International, the ongoing official carrier, Thai Marine Leisure, and the Yacht Haven Phuket.

The Royal Thai Navy and the organizing yacht clubs, the Royal Varuna and the Phuket Yacht Club, the Yacht Racing and the Yacht Cruising Associations of Thailand lent valuable logistic and management support to the event.

And, as the regatta participants, supporters and organizers return to the four corners of the globe from which they came, they will, no doubt, reflect a little on His Majesty’s wisdom and persevere into the New Millennium.

A fitting tribute to two unforgotten friends

1999 PSC Memorial Classic

Great Lake Golf & Country Club, Thursday 16th December

On Thursday, December 16, the Pattaya Sports Club held the annual Memorial Classic Golf Tournament at Great Lake Golf & Country Club. This was a Stableford competition, with the highest Stableford score receiving the Carl Lislevatn Trophy. Carl Lislevatn used to present this trophy himself when the tournament was called the Carl Lislevatn Classic. The tradition continues in his memory, and the winner this year was Sweden’s Roy Kapell who had 41 points.

1999 Carl Lislevatn Trophy winner Roy Kapell. Photo by John CC Gibson

This tournament has two major trophies. The second trophy honors the memory of Dr. Sutap Aroonskool, affectionately known as “Dr. Sam”, and goes to the tournament’s Low Gross. Dr. Sam was one of the founding members of the Pattaya Sports Club and was a regular in the competitions organized from the Caf้ Kronborg. This year the winner was Dag Nordnskold who shot a 76 playing off a 4 handicap. Dag also won the A Flight Long Drive on the 18th hole with an into-the-wind blast of over 280 yards.

1999 Dr. Sam Memorial Trophy winner Dag Nordnskold (left) accepts his trophies from PSC Golf Chairman Mike Franklin. Photo by John CC Gibson

Last year the tournament was held at Phoenix and the B Flight had a count back for third place with 40 points. This year the event was held at Great Lake and Roy Kapell was the only golfer with a handicap of nineteen or more to break par. Mike Latham won the B Flight with 33 points, followed by Malcolm Clare, Paul Kraft, and Mark Gorda who all finished with 32 points.

The A Flight was won by Barry “The Book” Tregartha who had one of the best rounds of the day and ended with 40 points. Dave Meadows, who had 39 points, and Ged Mason, who had 36 points, followed Barry to take the second and third spots. Cristina Betourne won the Ladies Best Stableford Score with 33 points.

Appropriately, after the competition, the over one hundred golfers made their way back to the Caf้ Kronborg for a repast of a Thai and Western smorgasbord. It was crowded and noisy in the Kronborg; just the way Carl Lislevatn and Dr. Sam would have remembered it. The sounds of laughter and good-natured ribbing of fellow competitors was a fitting memorial to a couple of avid golfers who are gone, but not forgotten.

Carl Lislevatn Trophy: Roy Kapell, 41 Pts
Dr. Sam Memorial Trophy: Dag Nordnskold, 76 Gross

A Flight (0-18)
Winner: Barry Tregartha, 40 Pts
Runner up: Dave Meadows, 39 Pts
3rd place: Ged Mason, 36 Pts

B Flight (19- 36)
Winner: Mike Latham, 33 Pts
Runner up: Malcolm Clare, 32 Pts c/b
3rd place: Paul Kraft, 32 Pts (c/b Mark Gorda)
Ladies Best Stableford Score: Cristina Betourne, 33 Pts

Near pins: #5 Gez Tracey/Joe Sparey, #7 Juhani Falt, # 12 Roy Kapell, #16 Svend Berthelsen.

Long drive (A Flight): #18 Dag Nordnskold.
Long drive (B Flight): #9 Gordon McNight
Ladies long drive: #15 Mam Trayling
Longest first putt: #11 Stan Fry, #18 Mam Trayling

PSC Golf Charity Classic 2000

The PSC Golf Charity Classic is PSC Golf’s major fund raising event of the year. To date, in three one-day tournaments PSC Golf has raised a total of B.610,000. The most recent, in March 1999, raised B.253,145 which paid for three charity projects: i) Completing a new Kindergarten Unit at Mabrachan School, Banglamung. ii) Providing medicine chests and water tank stands at the Home for the Aged. iii) Equipping a new Primary Health Care Infirmary at the Pattaya Orphanage.

The PSC Golf Charity Classic 2000 is on Friday 21st January at Phoenix Golf Club. PSC Golf’s target is a minimum of B.400,000 for the Pattaya Orphanage new Street Kids Home, currently under development close to the Elephant Farm off the Siam Country Club Road. This project is also the on-going PSC Charity Project in honor of His Majesty the King’s 6th Cycle, 72nd Birthday.

The Street Kids Home is ideally situated in the countryside on 18 rai of land, with plenty of space for playing fields, self-help food and livestock projects, and building expansion in the future. The Home will house 50 boys initially, aged 7-14 years, in ideal conditions for training and recreation. An extension will be built for girls later. As we are involved at the early stages of development, there are many opportunities to advise and give financial help to pay for specific needs at the Home. In November, PSC Golf ran a small charity tournament, sponsored by Natural Park Resort Golf Club, which raised B.63,000, to be used to equip a bakery at the Home for producing bread, and for career training.

PSDC Golf’s key projects for funding the Street Kids Home, with money raised through the PSC Golf Charity Classic 2000, are:

1. CLEAN WATER. This is our first priority. We understand that a 50 metre deep well is required with plenty of tower storage capacity. Estimated cost: approximately B.300,000 (UNICEF currently recognise the importance of clean water in their advertising: ‘All Children need Clean Water’)

2. DRINKING WATER. Filtration and storage of drinking water. Estimated B.25,000 - 30,000.

3. PERMANENT POWER SUPPLY. Estimated cost B.200,000.

4. SPORTS FIELD. Cost not estimated yet, but a small plowing machine is required soon: cost B.56,000.

5. TRANSPORT. A vehicle is required to transport the children to and from school. A good used one would be adequate.

6. SELF-HELP FOOD PROJECTS. Fruit trees, etc.

7. GENERAL. Kitchen equipment and utensils (Est.B.60,000), sports equipment, dormitory requirements, etc.

How do we raise funds?

THE PLAYERS: The Entry Fee for every player is B.4,000, of which B.2,500 goes direct to the Charity Project. In return, we offer players a substantial range of prizes to compete for. Technical Prizes on the course, worth at least B.100,000; Lucky Draw Prizes valued at over B.200,000, plus Team Trophies and Prizes.

CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS: From local businesses and establishments, and organisations dedicated to supporting charity projects. Contributions can be made in a number of ways, and a contribution, in any form, of B.25,000 or more qualifies as a LEAD SPONSOR. Sponsoring a Hole B.5,000 (minimum); Supplying Lucky Draw prizes B.500 (minimum) in merchandise or services. A Cash Donation to the Street Kids Home Charity Project Fund. Charitable Payment for a specific aspect of the Street Kids Home Project, listed above.

PUBLICITY: Will be given to sponsors at all PSC Golf venues, in Delaney’s, TQ and Diana Inn. Plus PSC, Delaney’s and Diana Group Web Pages, PSC Monthly Newsletter, in Pattaya Mail & TV, and at the Charity Classic 2000 Tournament.

Help us to give the street kids a new home.

Contact: Mike Franklin 038 731144, e-mail: [email protected]

Jilted Cross wins with Aspin, while “Muffy Claus” takes 4th title

PSC TAGGS... golf from the Hare House

Wednesday, December 15 - Century Ban Chang (Pairs Medal)

1st: Jim Aspin & Vic Cross, 64
2nd: Hannu Kemila & Ossie Viljanen, 65
3rd: Glen Dragland & Eddie Henheffer, 65

Vic Cross was left waiting at the Hare House like a jilted bride at the altar. A certain red-headed Englishman was supposed to be his partner in the Pairs Better Ball competition at Century Ban Chang and the Englishman never showed. In fairness, it must be mentioned that Vic is 73 years old and he wasn’t 100% sure he had made a date. At the last minute he was paired with another Englishman, Jim Aspen.

Vic has seen a lot of golfers putt cross-handed in his time, and although he never said this, he must have been a wee bit disconcerted to see his partner get ready to drive off the first tee cross-handed. Jim Aspen plays off 18 so it obviously works for him. Together they had a better ball score of 64 net and won the Pairs Medal by one stroke. This was Jim Aspen’s first win out of the Hare House and a hearty congratulations to him.

On a very, very windy day, Hannu Kemila and Ossie Vilanen teamed up to take the second spot. They had a net 65, which with the wind and Century’s always marginal fairways, was a great score. Even then, it took a count back to hang onto the second tier. Glen Dragland and Eddie Henheffer also came in with 65 net.

Friday, December 17 - Rayong Green Valley (Stableford)

1st: Murray Kerr, 33 points
2nd: Norman Brooks, 32 points C/B
3rd: Malcolm Clare, 32 points

Canadian Murray Kerr won the weekly Stableford competition held at Green Valley on Friday, December 17, with a remarkably scant 33 points. The last time the Hare House Gang had a winning Stableford score this low was all the way back in January when the played down in Sattahip.

Mr. Kerr’s fourth singles win puts him in a four way tie for most singles win out of the Hare House in 1999. Canadian Rick Bevington and Englishmen Steve Beard and George Jackson also have four singles win in weekly competitions.

Norman Brooks had 32 points and nudged Malcom Clare for the second spot in a count back.

Rossie’s New Year Scramble

Your last chance to play a major Pattaya Sports Club golf tournament before the Y2K bug makes your computer-designed golf clubs disintegrate is the famed Rossie’s New Year Scramble. Actually it’s the New Year’s Eve Eve Scramble, played on Thursday, December 30, at Rayong Green Valley Country Club. The price is 800 baht per team, which for anyone who is confused by New Year’s Eve Eve is 200 baht per player. The entry fee covers the trophies, the sweep, and Rossie’s Mystery Gift for everyone taking part. The mystery gift is not a 100mg Viagra, so don’t get your hopes up.

The format is 4 Man Scramble, where the team handicap is 10 percent of the total of all four team members. The maximum handicap for men will be 28 and the maximum handicap for women will be thirty-six. “Ladies of the second category” (“Pin High”, please pay attention) will be allowed a handicap of thirty-two.

Entry forms will be available at all the usual venues and if you have never played a 4 Man Scramble, get a team together and enter. This is a fun filled, pressure free way to play golf. Find a lady for your team who can drive the ball and you will have a leg up on the field. Find a katoey who can play golf for your team and you will have at least two legs up on the field. In any event, get a team together and end the gay nineties having a ball at one of the best courses in the neighborhood.

Americans win 1999 Siam Ryder Cup

It looks more like a 19th Century spittoon than a treasured trophy. It definitely does not look like the original Ryder Cup, which is four pounds of gold with the statue of a golfer on top. The Siam Ryder Cup trophy is a solid brass bowl, big enough to easily hold two bottles of champagne. The honor of drinking from that brass bowl is what makes the Siam Ryder Cup so valuable.

The competition is held every year between the ex-pat Europeans, who mainly reside in Bangkok, and the ex-pat Americans, who have over the years mostly migrated to Pattaya. They have been doing this since 1992, and the names of the winning team members are engraved on the base of the trophy. A few of the original golfers from the first competition are still playing. They will keep on playing until they decide they don’t want to anymore. One of the very few rules in this event is that the team members from the previous year have the right of first refusal. American Fred Waid is over 80 years old and he has played in every tournament. So has American Team Captain Izzy Freedman.

This year the Siam Ryder Cup was held on December 10, 11, and 12 at three golf courses in the Pattaya area: Green Valley, Khao Kheow, and Eastern Star. The American team led from Day 1 and never looked back. They won the tournament 191/2 points to 121/2 points and they won the right to keep and, more importantly, to drink champagne from the Siam Ryder Cup. The cup drinking ritual is one of the traditions that make this event so rich. It sure isn’t the money; every golfer pays his own way, including the charter of a tour bus to bring the Bangkok golfers to Pattaya.

There are other traditions as well; fierce no-quarter competition, good manners and great sportsmanship, and a fair amount of 19th Hole elbow bending. After the Two-Man Scramble contest held the first day at Green Valley, the 32 golfers (sixteen to a side) headed to Delaney’s on Second Road. The management of Delaney’s had contributed three shirts to each team member. It was only natural that the two teams would return that act of generosity with a score and a half of thirsty golfers ponying up to the bar at Delaney’s and swapping golf stories. The rookie team members were experiencing amateur golf at a level they hadn’t played before and they were letting off steam and replacing the water vapor with ice cold beer. American rookie Russell Finch had lost a hole for his team when he repaired a gash in the green. Exact knowledge of the Rules of Golf had suddenly become as important as making a long putt.

American Herbie Ishinaga’s new restaurant was the unofficial final resting-place for more than a few golfers after a night of libations. The Three Sisters on Soi Batman is an admirable addition to the local drinking scene, but its sectional sofa makes a lousy bed. Bill Thompson blames his restless night on Herbie’s sofa for his loss in the Fourball competition at Khao Kheow on the second day. Herbie had slept upstairs in his own bed and he must have slept just fine because he was credited for carrying his partner Steve Mascari in the Fourball competition. Steve, in turn, was the only golfer to come out of the competition with an undefeated record, including the final day’s match play at Eastern Star.

There is no official affiliation with any organization in this event. A lot of the players on both sides are members of the Pattaya Sports Club, but this event is independent to any club. PSC Golf Chairman Mike Franklin did donate a fair amount of time and energy lining up the courses, and the two teams were grateful. This contest was just old friends and new friends butting heads for bragging rights that won’t mean a whole lot outside of Beach Road or Silom Square, but it means a lot to the guys that played. Ask European Team Captain Steve Harrell, who upon boarding the bus for the trip back to Bangkok was hollering, “Just wait till next year”!

Winning Team Members 1999 Siam Ryder Cup: Izzy Freedman, Captain, Dennis Willett, Co-Captain, Bill Thompson, Herbie Ishinaga, Steve Mascari, Russell Finch, Paul Kraft, Gerry Carpenter, Larry Willett, Fred Waid, Tom Hale, Billy Powell, Jim Montgomery, Ian Warwick, Mark Campbell, Lars Furagard.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

PSC Pattaya Golf Society from the Bunker

Siam Golf & C.C. - Tuesday 7 December (Club Pairs Championship)

Incredible, no bell ringing at the Bunker in one whole year, then twice in 8 days.

With 17 pairs competing on this occasion it was the turn of Garry Hammill and Joe Sparey, 26 and 22 handicappers, who excelled with a winning total of 52 points to take the pairs title for 1999.

Garry has now returned to form and Joe Sparey also proved he can turn it on for the special occasions. This win gave them both immense pleasure as witnessed at the Bunker with the presentation. Free drinks by courtesy of the winners set the seal for a night of revelry which Gary carried on at his own bar ‘The English Bar’ just down the road from the Bunker in Soi Chaiyapoon.

Winners of the Pattaya Golf Society Pairs Annual Competition 1999: Joe Sparey (left) and Garry Hammill.

Joe Sparey has now accomplished his 2nd pairs title, the first the title for 1998 partnered by Welshman Tony Davies. Hopefully Tony will be back on the greens performing again.

With excitement generated with both the Singles and Pairs titles recently played, the Monthly Player for the title was overlooked. Those of you who can go back to the days of radio in the UK will recall the programme with Tommy Handley in ‘It’s that man again’. Well, here in The Bunker it was that man again, Garry Hammill. What a month for Garry! Enjoy it Garry because there’s some new faces emerging and The Millennium will experience some challenging competitions.

With all the ‘Euphoria’ generated, the also-rans must not be overlooked. 2nd place went to Keith Fortt and veteran Bill Jones, just 2 points behind the winners with 49 points. Bill’s experience has seen him often in the limelight but his partner Keith Fortt, in his first year of playing the game, has, to date, the distinction of ‘Always the Bridesmaid but never the Bride’. Keith’s form has put him in the frame on many occasions but he’s never recorded a first. ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ is sure to be your honour soon Keith.

With handicap revisions, new faces are emerging as front runners and sportingly Les Winch has offered a voluntary two stroke reduction due to his own improved form. This will have to be clarified by Golf H.Q. at the Kronborg in due course. As previously reported, Les has more than paid his dues and will never be regarded as any ‘Carpetbagger’.

It must also be noted the high handicappers who turn out and pay their dues regularly and never threaten the leading places or any winning positions are highly regarded as true sportsmen at the Bunker. Trusting their fortunes will change and that they find a winning formula in the Millennium.

The weekly competition played 14th Dec. at Natural Park Resort with many regular members absent, holidays, illness, etc. still fielded 24 players. A Flight winner, yet again, Roy Mitchell, who took the honours with a total of 33 points. It was Roy’s remarkable putting on the day that brought about his success.

Second Place went to Peter Renggli (ex-yachting champion), an all round sportsman, with a total of 31 points. Third place went to big hitter Ken Lill, playing without his wife Viv, who was busy in the B Flight emulating her husband, also taking third place with 31 points.

First place in the B Flight went to Les Winch (known as Winchey in school days) with 37 points. Les is destined to gain more accomplishments with his long hitting and rapidly improving short game.

Second place went to quiet, unassuming Kevin Wilson, with the fastest swing in the club, with plenty of distance off the ‘T’s and fairways. Kevin’s 34 points was well earned. His inebriation at the clubhouse later was to prove his delight with all his efforts on the golf course earlier in the day.

Near pins were earned by George Meigh, Ken Lill, Norman Brooks, Mike Parsons.

Copyright 1999 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
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