Birdie blitz at the ‘Mountain’

IPGC Jomtien golf

Monday, February 26, Mountain Shadow, Stableford
A large turnout today to this well maintained course but the expectations for a high score were almost nil according to the conversations in the bar before we left. An amazing four birdies were recorded however on the par 3’s, three of which went to division 2 players, Ben Findon, Bob Lathwell and Magne Gunnarson. Ted Morris won the only purse in division 1.
Magne and Ted also won the nearest the pin prizes with Targe picking up her first prize of the season. This wasn’t her only prize of the day as she finished top in division 2 in the stableford competition with 32 points. She was followed by Miss Nom on 30 points and Miss Am with 29.
In division 1, Ben Findon (35 points) beat Bob Martin on a 20/15 count back and 32 points secured Ted Morris third spot.
Wednesday,
February 28,
Treasure Hills, Stableford
Two tough courses in as many of days and the long journey still attracted a maximum turnout. This reflected in the scores today with Miss Srithong playing off an 8 handicap coming in third with 32 points whilst Nikjo finished second after losing on a 17/16 count back to Bob Newell’s equal score of 33 points.
Still improving and with a gradually reducing handicap, Miss Am scored 35 points to take the second division honours followed by Miss Nom on 31 and her old man, Ken Foster with 30 points.
There were no 2’s in division two but Jan Charles and Ralph scored a couple in the top flight. Miss Srithong claimed her first ‘near pin’ prize with her shot on the second; Nikjo Herman and Bob Lathwell were also winners.
Jomtien Golf meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Paweenas in Soi 5 Jomtien Beach Rd. at around 9am for a 10.30am tee-off time. Transport is available, please sign up in the bar or contact Glyn on 086 837 5464.

Banchang trip always draws a crowd

PSC golf from The Peacock Place

Monday, February 26,
Century Chonburi, Stableford
Our venue on Monday was Century Chonburi; always a popular location, not only because of the low cost green fees but also the layout of the course. If only the clubhouse could be brought up to standard.
We played a stableford competition and split the field into two flights. A flight 0 to 13 was won by Bob Philp with 37 points, in second place was Mike Waltschek with 33 points winning on count back from Jack Spencer. The B flight was won by our resident crooner Barry Rothberg with 35 points, in second place was Mick Leighton winning on count back from Alan Bishop.
2’s were recorded by Bob Philp, Matt Anderson and Mike Waltschek.
Wednesday, February 28,
The Emerald, Stableford
On Wednesday we were scheduled to play at The Emerald. This is one of our most popular locations and whilst the course is good, I can’t understand why it attracts such numbers! Our members are always slow to commit themselves beforehand and on the morning in question there was barely 6 names on the start sheet. By the time we were due to leave however our numbers had swelled to almost thirty.
A number of our young tigers announced that they wanted to play off the blue tees and pitch their skills against the full length of the course. Who were we to dampen their ardor? In the event this group was won by Steve Nowell H/c 8 with 33 points and the rest of the field trailed with 29 points and less.
The B flight was won by Mick Leighton with 34 points with Alan Haywood in second scoring 33 points and in third place was Stefan Hoge with 32 points. The C flight was won by Alan Bishop with a resounding 38 points followed by Barry Chadboure who scored 33 points and in third place was Wendy Khan with 29 points.
The only ‘2’ recorded was by Steve Nowell who had a tap in at the 7th. Steve was heard to mutter at the prize giving that it was well worth getting out of bed this morning. I say prize giving in the broadest terms as out of a total of 26 players only 7 made it back to the Peacock Place. The rest of the field were earlier to be seen heading for Bangchang Village never to appear again.
Come and join us if you would like a game of golf with a friendly society. We meet on Mondays and Wednesdays and our schedule appears in The Pattaya Mail. If you would like further information, telephone Bob on 087 941 2474.

Chiangmai Cricket Sixes - 20 Years of Fun

The 20th annual Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes will start on April 1, 2007 at the Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club cricket grounds, and it will be the largest Chiang Mai Sixes ever, with more teams and more matches and more fun than ever before.

The 20th Chiang Mai Cricket Sixes gets underway on April 1 and promises to be the biggest ever.

For one week, 33 teams from countries around the world will meet to play cricket and enjoy the warm welcome that Chiang Mai provides to its visitors. The sounds of willow bats striking leather cricket balls, the cries of “Howzat!” and the pleasure of a cold drink in the warm April sun will be enjoyed by everyone who attends.
So far, team entrants are from thirteen different countries for this year’s tournament, including Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, England, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand, UAE, Vietnam, and Wales. And then there is the one team billing itself as coming from “the rest of the world”. The week also includes matches by two women’s cricket teams and an “Old Crocks” game. A number of notable players with international experience are usually on hand and playing with some of the teams, so who knows what cricket star you might see?
So now is the time to dust off that old cricket cap and blazer and get along to the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes. Lots of action-packed cricket, lots of fun and a major measure of friendly socializing!
The Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club is situated on the old Chiangmai Lamphun Road just north of Nong Hoy Market (before the Sheraton Hotel) and is an easy tuk-tuk or songtaew ride from any part of Chiang Mai. Admission to the beautiful, spacious grounds of the Gymkhana Club is free and there is ample, shaded seating for cricket spectators. The Sixes is sure to be a fun-filled seven days and a big crowd puller for visitors to the northern city.

Cross fingers and hope to win

IPGC golf from The Haven

Monday, February 26, Eastern Star, Stableford
1st Trevor Schirmer 35pts
2nd Glyn Nicholas 34pts c/b
3rd Mikael Andersson 34pts c/b
4th Alan Griffiths 34pts c/b
5th Ole Stamnes 33 c/b
(Also 33pts Brian Kelly, Barry Traynor, John Murphy)
A short week for normal competition was started with a very well attended outing to take on the challenging Eastern Star. The greens had been allowed to grow a little on the long side, thereby giving them a lot more nap and grain than usual which in turn produced a very slow result. This affected many of the competitors, as they struggled to master the conditions on an otherwise almost ideally prepared layout.
Trevor Schirmer made up for a very ordinary previous week’s golf by heading the crowded leader board and finally taking the honours by a single shot for a group on two-over. These were led by Glyn Nicholas with an excellent back nine of two-under ahead of Mikael Andersson and Alan Griffiths, both with the same score but losing out on count back.
Ole Stamnes took the last podium position as he led another group one more back also on count back.
In the must be mentioned section, Barry Winton bumbled in with a very uncompetitive score that included three eagles and six birdies, to produce a very unusual Curates Egg, but as normal, he took it all in good spirit.
Max Arlen and Barry Winton had the only 2’s in the second and first divisions respectively.
Before presenting the prizes Richard welcomed new member Christopher Seaborn and welcomed back Ian Dale, John Mabry, Stephen Lewis, John Murphy and Ole Stamnes.
Wednesday, February 28, Plutaluang, Stableford
1st Tony Barritt 37pts
2nd Takeshi Hakozaki 36pts
3rd Roy Thornton 34pts
4th Roar Berger 33pts c/b
5th Trevor Schirmer 33pts c/b
“One off the bottom of the deck”, was how Barry the Bear described the long awaited win from Tony Barritt. This followed seemingly months of having to deal with endless questions about his highly unusual crossed fingers putting technique and the subsequent pressures that put on the rest of his game. But at last all has been vindicated as he swept to an imperious one-shot win over the almost amazed Takeshi Hakozaki. Takeshi must have thought the day was in the bag after closing out with a level par round over the very difficult North and West courses.
Roy Thornton continued his meticulous build up towards the AM-AM and not wishing to peak to early, dropped a shot or two over the last few holes but still did just enough to see off Roar Berger and Trevor Schirmer who, after being separated by count back, rounded out the podium.
Takeshi Hakozaki had the only ‘2’ in the first division whilst Alec Woods had the lone one in the second division.
Prior to the prize giving Richard welcomed back Gary Parks, plus a group from South Herts, the last club where he had been the professional before arriving in Pattaya, which consisted of Captain Bob Heath, Gerald Decio, Jimmy Norris, Peter Alexander, Ray Gibson, Jim Slattery and The hole in one wonder himself, George Oakley. George is hoping to add to his tally of two aces in Pattaya before returning to normality.

‘Ladies Day’ at Bangpakong

PSC golf from The Café Kronborg

Monday, February 26, Plutaluang, Stableford
The Royal Thai Navy Plutaluang North and West layouts were host to a stableford competition in two flights with the cut at Handicap 19. The course on the day was in good condition with fast greens. Sport Days start on March 1 on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 350 Baht Green Fee.

Thursday’s A & B Flight winners Sirkka Puikkonen (left) and Carole Kubicki.
Maurice Herberge took the A Flight with a best score of the day 37 points. In second place was Richard Kubicki with 34 points with Larry Simpson in third with 33 points and Rob Brown in fourth with 32 points, on count back from Alex Kazazis.
Colin Swann took the B Flight with 34 points ahead of Dave Richardson in second with 33 points, Carole Kubicki third with 32 points and Jannie Jasperse third with 31 points.
Near Pin: Graham Buckingham, Chris Bonnart, Dave Richardson, Elias Magnusson
Long Put: Ebrahim, Mike Rushant
Thursday, March 1, Bangpakong, Stableford
When you have to drive this far to play golf, the course had better be worth it, and as far as the golfers of the Cafe Kronborg are concerned, it is well worth it.
We were booked in quickly and soon on the first tee. The course as usual was in fine condition, and with only a little cooling wind it was a nice walk in the park.
I played with the eventual A Flight winner, and it was nice to play with a lady who hit the ball as far as most men, with a Red Tee distance 1,200 yards shorter, and straight at that. With 23 points on the front nine she was always favourite to win, and we expect to see her off a couple of shots less next week.
So round over, it was Sirkka Puikkonen who won the A Flight, 0 to 19, with a fine 43 points, ahead of Takeshi Hakozaki winning a three way count back on 35 points, to go into second place with John Ostrom in third and Richard Kubicki just losing out.
In the B Flight Carole Kubicki completed the ‘Ladies Day’ when she won with 39 points, with Neil Allison in second with 38 points and Harald Gruber in third with 35 points.
T.T.F.N.
Near Pin: Rada Frankhauser, Inge Nissen, Maurice Herberge, Derek Brook
Long Put: Bjorn Kristjohannson, Tony Mengatti

The Senator grabs two firsts

IPGC golf from Lewiinski’s

Sunday, February 25,
Green Valley – White Tees,
Stableford
A Flight
1st Bob Patterson (8) 39 points
2nd Chas Li (7) 38 points
3rd Joe Mooneyham (11) 37 points
B Flight
1st Mick Shrosbree (15) 41 points
2nd Ray Dell (13) 39 points
3rd Ian Grout (14) 36 points
C Flight
1st Fergus O’Brien (16) 41 points
2nd George Jackson (17) 40 points
3rd Eddy Beilby (19) 39 points
D Flight
1st Robbie Bennett (21) 38 points
2nd David Foulk (21) 36 points
3rd Barry Chadbourn (21) 34 points
NP’s: #2 Brian Cooper; #9 Eddy Beilby; #12 Mol Thongkiew; #16 J.J. Walsh
2’s: Eddy Beilby, Lou Szigligeti, Paul Henshaw, Ivan Wilberforce, Rick Holmes, Dene Heath
Mick Shrosbree, Esq. and the Right Honorable Fergus O’Brien were co-Men of the Match with 41 points apiece. Mick’s B Flight winning score was two clear of the “The Farmer in the” Dell and an additional three ahead of Ian “Tile” Grout. Fergus was one clear of One Ball and yet another in front of the 2007 Lewiinski’s Open Champion, Eddy Bee-ill-byy.
Our Title Lad topped out A Flight with 39 points, one clear of a continuing to improve Chas Li. The Groom, gimp knees and all, persevered for 37 points, and a third place count back victory over the Shack’s Paul Shaw.
Robbie Bennett put a two-point space between himself and D Flight’s second place man, and February Monthly Medal winner, David Foulk. Barry Chadbourn probably spent Sunday night on the couch as he edged his wife, Trudy, on count back for third place. Although it clutters the story line a bit, Joe Tynan, was also mixed up in that marriage threatening count back.
Monday, February 26,
Royal Lakeside – White Tees,
2-Person Better Ball,
Stableford
1st Bob Patterson (8) & Jon Haugen (8) 44 points
2nd Pat Regan (11) & Frank O’Hara (12) 44 points
3rd Lou Szigligeti (20) & Jim Bell (22) 44 points
4th Mossy Quaid (8) & Shay Mitchell (16) 43 points
2’s: Jim Bell (2), Jim Brackett, Colin Davis, Simon Philbrook
The Society decided to take the show on the road a wee bit and prattle on up to Royal Lakeside. This time the Senator/GM teamed up with motorcycle ridin’ Jon Haugen to accumulate 44 points, using 75% of handicap, and to take a three-way count back victory.
The Irish team of Pat Regan and Frank O’Hara had the second best of the count back imbroglio. Lou “Ziggy” Szigligeti and Jim Bell fell all the way to third with the poorest distributed 44.
A quartet of teams had 43 points and fought it out for fourth place. Two Irishman had the best of it in the persons of Mossy Quaid and Shay Mitchell. That was to the collective displeasure of the teams of Bob St. Aubin and Brian Wood, Eddy Beilby and Jim Brackett, and John Emmerson and Kris Kritsanajootha.
Wednesday, February 28,
The Emerald - White Tees, Stableford
A Flight
1st Marty Montry (2) 40 points
2nd Nick Payne (13) 36 points
3rd Simon Philbrook (6) 36 points
B Flight
1st Andreas Grunenberg (16) 35 points
2nd Lou Szigligeti (20) 35 points
3rd Eddy Beilby (18) 35 points
2’s: Nick Pyane, Linda Lee, Jon Haugen (2), Sugar Ray Handford, Charles Sheppard
The last fixture of the week, in deference to The Haven’s AM-AM which wrapped up the week on Friday, the lads and lasses went to The Emerald for a Stableford event.
Newcomer, and excellent golfer, Marty Montry topped A Flight, and the entire field, with 40 points. That figures out to a gross 70, given his skimpy 2 handicap. A trio was knotted at 36 points: Nick Payne had the best of the math and grabbed second, while Simon of Philbrook hung on for third. Hard luck Romanro Cerejo fell completely out of the money.
On this day of count backs, Andreas came out of a four-way count back in B Flight to claim the top spot. Ziggy took second and Eddy Beilby third. So much for the luck of the Irish as Tom Breslin was counted back right off the podium, despite having 35 points like all the B Flight money winners.

Frank unfazed by the weather

IPGC golf with the Caddy Shack

Tuesday, February 27, Greenwood, Stableford
A medal competition at Greenwood was interrupted for over 1 hour when thunder and lightning struck which left the golfers stranded all over the course. When play was finally able to resume, it was Frank Rigby with a fine net 67 off his 8 H/cap who took the day’s honours. He was joined on the podium by Andreas Grunenberg who shot a net 71, with Mark Joshua taking third on net 72.
There were no 2’s recorded on the day by any of the players.
Friday’s fixture was cancelled due to the IPGC Am-Am tournament taking place on the same day.

Cowling conquers Phoenix

IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the OK Corral

Tuesday, February 27, members of the Pattaya Golf Society reacquainted themselves with Phoenix Golf Club. The large party was divided into two playing flights cut at seventeen and under, and the competition got under way on the Lakes and Ocean Nines under an overcast sky and with a slight breeze to offer some comfort.
The top flight was led by Masayuki Matsumoto and John Cunningham whose net 71’s were a fine reflection of their respective prowess as low handicappers, whilst visiting lady golfer Srithong Tannert Huser struck a blow for political correctness by turning in a fine score of net 74 for third place.
In an excellent second flight Paul Brett confounded his playing partners with a fine display giving him third place with net 70 whilst Margaret Wilkinson took a leaf out of Srithong’s book by returning her best score with the group, a net 68 for a well-deserved second place. The best score of the day was recorded by Harry Cowling and his net 67 marked his finest return this trip and a thoroughly deserved divisional win.
There was only one birdie ‘2’ on the day and Uwe Schroder’s chip-in on Lakes Seven was enough to set the bells ringing on his table back at the OK Corral.
The many candidates for the Booby Bevy included the American visitor who had lost his hired set of clubs before the round began, and his wallet before it ended, and any of the five golfers who returned scores of more than ninety, but the sight of an impoverished Kris Pinyoun playing sixteen holes with cheap copied golf shoes bereft of soles was more than the presenter could bare, and he was compensated by the presentation of the beer “in absentia”. At least the golf at Phoenix had been the genuine article!
Perfect Partners
For the Pattaya Golf Society, March began with the usual “fun” format event, this time being the hugely challenging pairs stableford under the modified “South African” system, and on the currently tough track at Emerald.
The day was hot and eleven teams had entered the impossible-to-call event. The main aim of the format is to avoid the dreaded “scratched” hole and all teams were to struggle in this respect. Tony Kitchen and Paul Quodomine however, managed to shrug off eight such bloopers and use their portly handicaps to great effect on the 12th and 13th holes to post scores of nine and twelve points, which went a great way in helping them to a final total of 53.
Their third place finish was usurped by the current “SA” champions, Ben Findon and Les Hall, whose 58-point tally could have been much more if Ben had come to terms with some very patchy greens and uniquely Thai pin positions. Partner Les revelled with an individual score of 39 points, the best individual round of the day.
The winners, a mere point ahead, were the Finnish pairing of Vesa Turunen and lady golfer Sari Tamminen and their purple patch in the middle of the front nine was just enough to see them home.
There were two birdie 2’s on the day, both by John Mason, and he took the pot for his accuracy on holes 7 and 15. The Booby Bevy was enjoyed by Erik Anttonen and Jorma Liila for their collection of eight blobbed holes, due in part to Erik attempting to play the round sober! At the presentation later plans were revealed for regular Sunday golf from the OK Corral and details will be posted here next week when all the loose ends have been tied up. March had indeed begun in fine style.

The Beautiful Game?: Riz Taylor

Settled from top to bottom?

There comes a defining moment in each season that sees the Premiership campaigns of every club encapsulated in one snapshot, and last weekend brought just that at both ends of the table.
Liverpool’s long-awaited showdown with Manchester United at Anfield began according to plan for the home side as Liverpool dominated the early exchanges, but they were unable to turn their possession into goals and paid the ultimate price as substitute John O’Shea, a childhood Liverpool supporter, rifled home an injury-time winner to steal the game 1-0. With those three points came a lead of twelve (thirteen when you consider United’s superior goal difference) that all but sends the title to Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho will argue with that point, especially after Chelsea beat Portsmouth later in the day and with United still to visit Stamford Bridge. It’s not over yet, but should United go on and clinch the title it will be those final moments at Anfield that will live long in the memory for United fans.
At the other end, West Ham’s stay in the Premiership is surely at an end after throwing away three vital points against Tottenham on Sunday. In an absolute thriller, Bobby Zamora came on as a substitute and gave his side a 3-2 lead with five minutes remaining, only to see the fantastic Dimitar Berbatov equalise on 90 minutes and then reserve full-back Paul Stalteri seal what had looked an impossible win for Spurs.
It was a heartbreaking moment for Hammers fans as their opposite number enjoyed revenge of sorts for last season’s lasagne incident. Despite having witnessed one of the most bizarre seasons in the club’s history, many still believed that the squad still had the quality to turn things around. With the threat of a points deduction hanging over the club over the transfer of Argentinean pair Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez, they are surely doomed. Even before any points deduction they already find themselves below Watford, who themselves will feel cheated should they finish in anything but last place.
Unlike the relegation of a few years ago when the Hammers lost the likes of Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and later Jermain Defoe, you get the impression that the club would be better off losing a number of it’s current ‘stars’. It’s no secret that a number of divisions and cliques exist in the Upton Park dressing room, but after a season when the squad couldn’t keep themselves out of the news for the wrong reasons it seems that there are no depths to which the club won’t sink.
According to The Observer, a high-stakes gambling culture has infiltrated the club, with fortunes changing hands on the poker table. One player recently lost 38,000 in one hand on the team bus travelling to a game, and the newspaper suggests winger Matthew Etherington and goalkeeper Roy Carroll have already sought help for gambling addiction.
One first-teamer told the Observer: “I’ve never seen anything like it in my career. It’s one big mess here, the atmosphere is terrible, people don’t talk to each other. Players are losing up to ?50,000 sometimes. By the time we arrive [at the game] one player owes another and it’s terrible for the team and morale. They are always playing cards.”
There’s also said to be disharmony over the earnings of the new signings brought in to arrest the club’s slide into the abyss, particularly the wages of Matthew Upson and Lucas Neill. “It’s not rocket science,” said a well-known football agent. “If the established players see new ones come in for a lot more money it’s obviously going to cause problems.”
You can’t help but think that these problems are all of their own making, and that the club will have the mother of all clearouts this summer. For once though, and as bizarre as it may sound, going down might be exactly what the club needs. And who’s fretting about the loss of 30 million pounds television money when your owner is a billionaire?
But that’s enough about West Ham for another week. The tantalising conclusion to the Premiership race will have to wait as it’s a free weekend. But don’t fret as the FA Cup steps in to takes its place, with the small matter of a game in Glasgow on Sunday between Celtic and Rangers who, I’m told, don’t get on so well. Enjoy.
Another footballer nicked
Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard received an unwanted shock on arrival in Iberia for a golfing trip recently. Bullard, recuperating from a knee injury that has kept him sidelined all season, was immediately arrested at the airport and thrown into a cell.
We’re all used to seeing players behind bars, but rather than another example of footballers behaving badly it was a case of mistaken identity this time around. The former Wigan man was released after the bungling Spanish police realised that he wasn’t the same Jimmy Bullard wanted for several alleged crimes in the country.
Sevilla supremo sees stars
Astonishing scenes in Spain last week as Sevilla coach Juande Ramos was knocked unconscious by a bottle thrown from the crowd during a cup-tie against city rivals Real Betis.
Sevilla were leading 1-0 in the Spanish Cup quarterfinal, second leg when Ramos was hit on the head by a bottle, which appeared to be full. The derby tie, held at Betis’s Ruiz de Lopera stadium, was then abandoned.
Ramos spent the night in hospital, discharging himself the following day telling reporters that he could remember nothing from the previous evening. He immediately called on the Spanish FA to seek out and punish the culprit, saying, “If we don’t root out this problem we will end up like Italy and South American countries.”
Vote for me,
says referee
Referee-turned-politician Philippe Leuba is looking for a new gimmick to attract voters in the local elections of Vaud in Switzerland this week. The former whistle blower released a publicity photo of himself shaking hands with David Beckham ahead of England’s friendly with Argentina in Geneva in 2005 with a thought bubble emerging from the midfielder’s head saying: “I hope you are just as impartial in the state parliament as you were on the football pitch.”
The bad news for 41-year-old Leuba came when it emerged that Beckham’s people discovered the ads and gave them the red card, demanding that the pictures be removed from circulation.
“I won’t be using Beckham again,” said Leuba. “It was just a joke, a surprise that a friend arranged for me in the newspapers. I don’t think anyone in Switzerland seriously thought Beckham was backing my candidacy.”

Mike Wing’s it to monthly title

PSC golf from Tropical Bert’s

Tuesday, February 27, Greenwood,
Stableford
Arriving at Greenwood we all stumbled to the first tee to be told we were to play the A & C Nines, and we were soon underway under dark skies with a strong wind blowing. This day was also important because the ‘Golfer of the Month’ was also to be decided, and most of the front-runners were in the first few groups.

Mike Wing (right) receives his golfer of the month award from Steve Carleton.

The day progressed and the course was not in bad condition. It had obviously rained overnight and the ground was in fine condition, makes a change from the hard grounds of late.
As the first group got on to the last hole, the raindrops started to fall and by the time we were on the green the rain was falling steadily. Minutes later it was raining heavily, and after a quick shower, and sitting in the upstairs restaurant we could see the fairways fill up and the whole course disappear under water.
After watching for a while and seeing the soaked golfers from the later groups come in with scorecard, unfinished, it was decided to cancel the competition, and we could relax in the knowledge that we would be able to do it all again next week.
Back at Bert’s it made a change not to have to do a presentation for the day’s golf, but one thing we could go ahead with was to declare Mike Wing as the ‘ Alan Bolton Golfer of the Month’. This was quite an easy decision - nice one Mike.
T.T.F.N.