A couple of old dogs up to old tricks

IPGC Golf from Lewiinski’s

Sunday September 18,
Green Valley, White Tees
Stableford

1st A Flight: Jim Brackett, 42 pts
2nd A Flight: Phil Mitchell, 40 pts
3rd A Flight: Mike Allidi, 38 pts
1st B Flight: Ken Graham, 41 points
2nd B Flight: Chicka Smith, 39 pts
3rd B Flight: Peter Emslie, 39 pts
1st C Flight: Brian Prudden, 39 pts
2nd C Flight: Dave Porter, 39 pts
3rd C Flight: George Jackson, 39 pts
2s: Jim Brackett; Mike Allidi; Jim Munns; Julian Clarke (2); Terry Wagner; Jan Eriksen; Brian Prudden

Well the first of our entitled ‘Old Dogs”, Jim Brackett was Man of the Match with 42 and co-medalist on the day (with Flipper) with a gross 74. Jimmy has returned for one of his many vacations to the Land of Smiles, and as is usually the case, it takes a couple weeks of acclimation and work with his swing coach, Sir Richard Livingston, to round into form. It appears that period of adjustment has been effected. The aforementioned Flipper saw his gross 74 provide 40 points and second place in A. 2 handicapper Mike Allidi tidied up the premier division.

Dublin’s Kenny Graham left George “Chicka” Smith, the half scrum from Downunder, and the venerable and omnipresent Peter Emslie to a count back as he took the top rung in B Flight Chicka’s score was found to be more favorably distributed than Peter’s

Brian Prudden, tired of constantly hearing wife Marlene’s name hailed to the victory podium, put his foot down and prevailed on a four-way count back to take the top step in the junior Flight. Dave Porter, deprived of the top rung, still showed his taillights to One-Ball Jackson, who was a far cry happier than Dene Airey who was left satang-less at sea level.

Tuesday September 20,
Laem Chabang, C & A
Black or White Tees, Stableford

1st Blue Flight: Terry Durkin, 33 pts
2nd Blue Flight: Bill Collis, 32 pts
1st White Flight: Rick Sharp, 39 pts
2nd White Flight: Seamus Brennan, 35 pts
3rd White Flight: Ed Melott, 35 pts
4th White Flight: Jim Brackett, 34 pts
2’s: Blues: Bill Collis; Claus Birk Thomsen; Serge Staeten; Whites: Rick Sharp; Terrry Wagner; Bill Gneiting

With Low Season waning, the boys are getting ready to bid farewell to the masterpiece of Jack Nicklaus as it will start to show a “Yen” for the Island People and looks forward to seeing which peninsular people “Won”.

Another Old Dog, and one who never gets too melancholy about such things, is the Hermit and he showed no respect for the White Tees as his 39 points was best on the day and the top spot from the short tees. Shameless Brennan came second, whilst Hawaii’s Ed Mellott racked a third. The other Old Dog, Jimbo Brackett, racked up the rare fourth place position (What was he doin’ on the short tee? Oh, I know, camaraderie!)

In the Bomber Flight, Terry Durkin, who along with his wife Denise was playing their final round, took the top spot with a modest, but understandable 33 points, on the most difficult permutation of Laem Chabang’s three courses. Dhaka’s Bill “The Fish’ Collis followed Terry up the Blue podium.

Wednesday September 21
Khao Kheow, Yellow or White Tee
Stableford

1st Yellow Flight: Ray Dell – 40 points
2nd Yellow Flight: Rusty Barfield – 35 points
3rd Yellow Flight: Phil Corbin – 34 points
1st White Flight: Brian Prudden – 33 points
2s: Yellow: Colin Davis; White: None
Non-2: Ray Dell

During the Dengue Fever induced absence of The Golf Manager, the Old Scribe filled in, calling on those tools he had o’ so many years ago. In so doing he queried the Nicest Guy in the World, if Ray “Farmer in the” Dell wanted in the 2’s comp. The NGitW said, “No, he never gets a 2!” And so it was that Ray Dell, the days Yellow Flight Winner with 40 points was not there to share the 2’s pot with The Donkey. Rusty “Already has a Nickname” Barfield took second in front of a triumvirate of Phil Corbin, Mike Allidi and Pete Casiano. Hawaiian Phil bettered Hawaiian Pete and Swiss Mike on count back.

Brian Prudden, a Young Guy, took his second first of the week over a small but spirited duo.

Friday – September 23,
Phoenix, Lake & Ocean
Blue or White Tees, Stroke/Medal

1st Blue Flight: Phil Groves, net 76
1st White A Flight: Rick Sharp, net 67
2nd White A Flight: John Hillier, net 71
3rd White A Flight: Phil Corbin , net 72
1st White B Flight: Roger Koehler, net 68
2nd White B Flight: Ken Graham, net 68
3rd White B Flight: Marlene Prudden, net 69
Near Pins: #L7 – Roger Koehler; #O5 – Robert Sellick
2s: Blue: None; Whites: Jim Brackett; Jim Munns; Roger Koehler

The Scribe was lamenting the loss of Laem Chabang in the High Season and he is feeling consternation regarding the latest published High Season fees of today’s venue. Hopefully those concerns prove misplaced. In any event, a good sized field enjoyed the constantly improving, and nearby, Lake and Ocean Courses of Phoenix. No one enjoyed it more than one of the Old Guys, The Hermit, who was best on the day in White and winner of the A Flight with a net 67. The NGitW took second with net 71 followed by the leader of that merry band of Hawaiians, Phil Corbin. Roger Koehler bettered the Dubliner, Ken Graham, on count back for the gold in B Flight of White. The better looking half of the Prudden Clan copped the bronze.

Big Phil Groves survived a three-way count back with Rusty Barfield and Stuart Thompson to take the only step in the Blue Bomber Division.

Mickey Mouse Dart League

Standings week 6

Devonshire and pleasure dome are still tied at the top as both won their match and beer legs. Mark of Devonshire came close to a league leading high check but fell one short of team mate Stan with a nice 115 check. Cheers hosted OK Corral and had a very eventful evening. Donna had a nice 2 dart 75 finish with 25-bull. Cheers had a few to many and loaned OK their two publicans and wives. None won a leg, but Pon checked the beer for OK! Jason, who had helped stop Cheers from being whitewashed a couple of weeks ago, was the only Cheers player to lose this week (to a girl!)

Mike Franklin

Wednesday, September 21 - With Paul celebrating his 40th Birthday, Simon Philbrook shot a gross 71 and 43 stableford points to win the Paul Cremin ‘Scud’ trophy on the Burapha Crystal and Dunes nines. Playing off a 6 handicap (5.6 actual), Simon continued his fine form to win by a single point from Glen Tyler. Glen also carded an excellent 43 points but lost on the count-back

Scud presents the trophy to winner Simon Philbrook (right).

Newcomer Jeremy Watson scored 40 points off his 18 handicap to take third place and it took another count-back to decide who was fourth. John Hall (8) and Mike Gerrard (13) both scored 38 points and the count on the back-six gave John the fourth place win. Near pins were claimed by Tira Charuvastra, Rich Wibrow, Mosquito (mahogany cabinet) Bill, and Jeremy Watson. The longest first putts were sunk by Eddie Dunbar and Dennis Edmunds. Only the C & D courses were open and therefore quite busy but marshalling is good at Burapha and the JIGS field of 32 players moved well.

Back at Jameson’s there was the inviting special of Irish Chicken Tikka Masala and the banner aloft for ‘Scud’s’ 40th Birthday bash.

Newcomers to JIGS were duly welcomed, namely Roger & Betty Koehler, Grant Sandilands, Dennis Edmunds, Mike Gerrard and Jeremy Watson, and it was a warm welcome back to Matty Swire, (on dry land for a month).

We are back to a Pairs Scramble (stroke) on Wednesday October 5 at Plutaluang playing South & East. To take part, either sign up in Jameson’s or send me an e-mail. Hope to see you then.

Dennis opens his account at new venue

PSC golf from the Three Sisters Bar

The switch to a new venue elicited a good turnout and some hot and heavy action throughout the day. Pattaya CC has turned out to be better than expected for our competitions as the rates are right and the course is in good shape. Evidently Dennis Willett liked it as he shot a 34 off the stick on the front nine. Faltering a bit on the back, he still managed 41 points to win the day. Great shooting Dennis!! Just a shot back of Dennis was Trevor Carnahoff. Trevor was having a tremendous day, so the story goes, until he six putted a hole. Six putted!! No one could believe it. With three putts he would have won the day by two strokes. I wonder if the putter is still in his bag?? Phil Taylor also had a good day as he came in with 39 points. Following Phil with 38 points each were Wayne Koch and Ken Mau. All good scores but not enough to carry the day.

After missing a few sessions in the cellar Paul Donahue reappeared with the bag. Paul has been braving the scene and holding his own the last couple of weeks but as fate would have it, he fell back into the cellar with 20 points. Bob Benda, who has not been playing well for the last couple of weeks managed to stay out of the cellar. Bob shot 24 points, a long way from where he normally sits in the pack. As we all get used to the new course, things are bound to change.

Three Sisters and VFW Post 9876 move into a tie for second place

Pattaya Sports Club Friday Bowling League

Mai’s Thai Restaurant increased their first place lead as they took all four points from Cafe Kronborg. Three Sisters and VFW Post both moved into a tie for second place after winning three points from Shenanigans and House of the Golden Coin respectively. Meanwhile, Friends won three points from Grape Vine and Cafe Ole took three from Domicil whilst Jack & Tar got two and one half points from Brother D in a closely contested match.

200 Bowlers – Ooy and Dang.

Best bowlers of the day were:
Ooy, Cafe Ole: 204 and 209 games – 561 series
Dang, Friends: 204 game – 539 series
Lance, Spare Bowler: 539 series
Nual, Cafe Ole: 532 series
Udom, Cafe Ole: 513 series
Lenz, Mai’s Thai Restaurant – 511 series

Vince and Nigel show the way at Century

PSC golf from The Grapevine

Thursday, September 29 saw the golfers from The Grapevine heading up 331 to the Century Chonburi golf course for a stableford competition. Of the 19 players, for most it was a non-adventurous trip – but for eventual winner Vincent Smyth and his 2 cohorts, Barry and Philip, it was a trip of wrong destinations and wrong turns. Eventually making it to the course, Vincent was able to put his misadventures behind him to score a strong 39 points to show the way. Runner-up on the day and in a patch of good form was Nigel Cannon with a solid 37 points. With a smaller than usual field of 19, the technical prizes were spread around with near pins being picked up by Mike, Keith, Paul, Jim and Tom, while the long putts went to Jeff and Nigel.

Nigel, Da, Praw, and Vincent.

Back at The Grapevine, after our repast of spring rolls and noodles (very tasty), all golfers agreed that another good day had been had. New golfers to The Grapevine were welcomed heartily and were unanimous in their enjoyment of the day.

If you are looking for a game on Thursdays, come down to The Grapevine and sign up. We organize transport if required and a good day is assured. Cheers and good golfing. (JW).

Casiano first time winner

IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the OK Corral

Tuesday, September 20th

- At the height of the rainy season the Pattaya Golf Society from the OK Corral decided to test conditions at the excellent Green Valley course, near Rayong. The format was medal and the field included two newcomers to the OK Corral, single handicappers Rusty Barfield and Pete Casiano. On a cloudy day, a well set out and surprisingly empty course ensured a relaxing day with some fine performances.

The day’s best gross was recorded by the aforementioned Pete Casiano, his fine 78, (net 70) promoting him to the top of the leaderboard after the deduction of his eight handicap. His two-under par performance was a model of consistency with ten pars and only one double bogey and it gave the amiable American the top honours of the day. Pre-tournament favourite Chaten Patel found himself locked head-to-head with Harry Cowling and there was nothing to separate them at the end except the time between their respective playing groups. They had the honour of sharing third place with creditable net scores of 73. One of the only two ladies playing the event, Ya Chaiyanont, showed her fine driving style with ‘poetry in motion’ tee shots that relegated her partners’ drives to the status of something more like ‘limericks’. She posted an excellent level par net 72 to take second place despite carding a triple bogey on the second hole. Elsewhere Ken Graham captured the day’s only birdie two to scoop the pool, yet again!

A fresh faced Ciano Glavina chose the wrong moment to attend the presentation ceremony and make the first mention of the game of cricket. The chirpy “Italian/Aussie” received the Booby Bevy as some form of consolation for the recent, historical sporting events in the UK...and he hadn’t even played!

Helgarson unstoppable at Mountain Shadow

Thursday, September 22 - It was the turn of Mountain Shadow to host the weekly stableford tournament for the PGS and the course and management did well in preparing for the event. The warm welcome, courteous staff and sumptuous golf course were an absolute treat and the large undulating greens, unique in the province, were extremely quick. It took a while for the players to find their putting stroke but there were to be three excellent performances on the day. Both Bill Hewitt and Ken Graham recorded scores of 37 points to share second place but they were blown away by a returning Kristinn Helgarson whose 43 points is a PGS record for this season. Nor was it a fluke, as he produced a consistent 22-21 split on a course he had not visited for more than a few months. Harry Cowling, Rob Dolan and Texan “Dirty Jim” Wilson all managed birdie twos with Rob finding the fifth hole directly from a bunker! It helped to make his otherwise dreary card more acceptable.

Back at the OK Corral Len Jones had already targeted an unwitting recipient for the Booby Bevy but a rare “cock-up” at the presentation meant he savoured it himself! It was agreed that the challenge of Mountain Shadow had provided an enjoyable day for all, none more so than the smiling ‘Scandi’ himself, Kristinn Helgarson.

Nigel Cannon ‘storms’ to victory in the rain

PSC golf from Tropical Bert’s

Noble Place,
Tuesday September 20, Stableford

- Well, didn’t it rain Noah, and they say the reservoirs are empty!! It all started off so well with a normal meet at Bert’s for ‘brekkers’, then off last as I let the slow drivers get a start. A leisurely drive up Route 7, right turn at Sriracha, left turn at Route 331, and there you have it, Noble Place in all its splendour. On this day when we set off, it looked a little grey but it was still a nice run till we hit the diversion on Route 7, then the Heavens opened, and I mean opened. It poured down, the worst I have ever seen on the way to a golf course. The roads were deep in water. All the way up to route 331 it was a curtain of rain and when we turned left onto 331 it got worse. Still we decided to complete the journey and have a cuppa, then come back.

Nigel Cannon (right) with Bert, Pu and Bob (left).

At the course I left the clubs in the car as it continued to pour down and walked inside to see wall to wall golfers waiting to tee off. I had forgotten, ‘ No Rain Check’ and indeed talking to one or two of the other drivers I found that those who had left 15 mins early, and come up route 331, had missed the rain entirely. The place was ankle deep in water, but surprise, surprise we could take a cart on the path. Soon it slowed to a drizzle, and those who had already paid, went to the B Tee, whilst those of us with clubs in the car, sighed and followed suit. As we drove off, the conditions were still far from ideal but after a few holes the rain stopped, the sun came out and by the time we neared the end of B course, the ground had drained and it turned into a great day. Of course the rough was difficult and the greens slow, but we could get by.

Back at Tropical Bert’s, hot food was waiting and Bob did the presentations to an easy winner in Nigel Cannon ahead of a second placed Stuart Thompson who got the nod over Derek Brook on count-back. A day that started so stormy finally ended in peace at Bert’s as the players settled back to sample the amber nectar. T.T.F.N.

Winner: Nigel Cannon; Second Stuart Thompson

Near Pins: Marty Allred, Frank Pilkington, Nigel Perry, Nigel Cannon (2), Thong Pavoinen, Derek Brook, Stu Hamsted

Long Putts: Bob Noble, Max Matthews, Marty Allred, Nigel Cannon.

52nd PSC Members Tournament

 Friday September 23 Mountain Shadow

Well, this was always going to be a real toughie, this being in the minds of all sensible golfers, the toughest test of golf in the area. It was always going to need a bit of luck and a well played round to win the ‘top’ prize of the day, the ‘Low Gross’.

A & B Gross winners receive their trophies from Chris John (center), PSC golf chairman.

In the last few Tournaments the ‘man’ has been Jeff Wylie and indeed he was in at the shake-up this time, but a 10 on his card saw him beaten on countback by Clive Bruce, both having a gross 81. Well done Clive, but watch out, Jeff will be back.

Last Friday, 118 golfers signed in to test themselves against this most difficult of courses, in the knowledge that if they shot their handicap they would be in at the shake up.

C & D Flight winners.

The course was in excellent condition, with manicured fairways and the fastest greens of the season. On the fairways all was fine, get off the short turf and the trouble started. Hit the ball into the trees and if you found it, quite often it stays up the tree, you have a horrible shot out. Here it does not favour the brave.

Tales of horror filtered back; Jimmy Flanagan went in after nine as he got lost in the woods, Kenny Mao had a 12 on a par three and Alan Pearce on a par 5. Other golfers kept their heads down, if you look at the winning scores with 118 playing, it will give you some idea of the fine play of the rest. As for the scribe, I found an excuse not to play. Lack of moral fibre.

Ladies flight winners.

In the A Flight the Winner of the Low Gross was Clive Bruce, on countback as said, with a gross 81. The Low Net was won by Erik Antonnin wit a net 73 and Second was Paul Smith with a Net 74.

In the B Flight the Low Gross winner was Paul Taylor with a Gross 89. In the net, the low net was won by Jean Paul Michel with a net 71, ahead of Dean Airey with a net 76 in third. He actually won on countback but I shall not prolong the agony.

In the C Flight we go into the realm of the Stableford. The winner was the President, Gerry Carpenter, with a fine 36 points. I say fine as one must look at the remainder. In second with 32 points was Gordon Ramsay, and in third with 30 points was a very surprised Herb Schweiterman.

To the D Flight, the winner with 34 points was Bengt Vinterskog, but only on countback over Arnet Skorge in second. In Third was Gordon Everingham with 33 points,

There were some good scores in the ladies class with the Low Gross winner being Moon Schwulera with a Gross 92. The high points was a score out of the average, in fact most impressive. The Winner was Beth Lill with 43 points, 6 shots better than anyone else on handicap. I suspect ‘Manuel’ is looming as she also had a couple of fine rounds at Tropical Berts. Sometimes it is difficult with a new golfer to see their potential, but I am sure she will come down fast. In second was Saen Jaroewong.

When the results were in, Chris John, PSC golf chairman, thanked the sponsors, Shenanigans, Blue Parrot, Harley Bar, TQ, McAllisters, Diana Group and Hot Shot Bar (Ploy ), and his team.

Next month it is requested all sign up at the PSC clubhouse, and it was also announced that a trip is planned to Phuket, 8, 9, 10 October, when amongst others, The Blue Canyon will be played. It is expected that the cost will be about 13,000 baht. Check with Alan.

Presentation over, all departed for the trip back, and another fine, long day drew to an end. T.T.F.N.
Results
A Flight: Low Gross: Clive Bruce; Low Net: Erik Antonnen, Second Paul Smith.
B Flight: Low Gross: Paul Taylor; Low Net: Jean Paul Michael, Second Dene Airey
C Flight: High Points: Gerry Carpenter, Second Graham Ramsay, Third Herb Schweiterman
D Flight: High Points: Bent Vinterskog, Second Arnet Skorge, Third Gordon Everingham
L Flight: Low Gross: Moon Schwulera; High Points: Beth Lill, Second Saen Jaroenwong.
Technical prizes
Long Drives: A3 Masayuki Matsamoto, Rob Aughton, Ramsay Smith, Bent Vinterskog and Moon Schwulera

Near Pins: A5 Marty Allred, Mike Guassa, Bob Rasmusson Duncan Lee and Beth Lill; A8 Ted Morris, Perry McNeely, Terry Curtis, Kevin Dinan, Moon Schwulera; B4 Postis Walfridson, Colin Cronin and Moon Schwulera

Long Putts: #9 Simon Walden (0 to 18), Dene Munday (19 to 36);

#18 “ Ebrahim and “ Keith Hodges