Pilkington takes it by two at Phoenix

PSC golf from Tropical Bert’s

Derek Brook
Tuesday, May 13, Phoenix – Stableford
It looks like the good times are here, and on this day we took advantage by playing Phoenix on their Tuesday special green fee of 700 Baht. The day was fine if a little windy when we started, and the test for the day was to be The Mountain and Ocean nines.
At the start a little early we were able to get off without too much wait, then it was sail ahead, and we did not meet anyone until well into the second nine.
The course was in fine condition, but these days, with some judicious and discrete redesign, it is becoming much more difficult. This was always one of the main points that the course was a little too easy, well no more. While not in the top few for degree of difficulty it provides a good test and is still a pleasure to play.
As we progressed the wind got up and we feared rain, but it held off. A couple of things reminded me not to get too complacent about where we were as a couple of times the ball was covered in red ants, and I hit the ball into a tree and as played my shot I was dive bombed by hornets (the big ones) and stung twice. Be careful all the time.
So round over the results came in and it showed that the players had done quite well. The winner with 36 points was Frank Pilkington, in second we had Dick Warberg with 34 points on count back over Mark Brenton and in fourth was Mashi Kenata with 33 points on count back over Colin Cronin. T.T.F.N.
Near Pin: Dick Warberg, Daryl Evans, Bill Knight, Mashi Kenata
Long Putt: Mike Gaussa, Bill Knight

Sus continues hot streak

PSC golf from The Three Sisters Bar

Herbert Ishinaga
Well, Sus did it again! He is running hot at the moment, and with the greens perforated it wasn’t easy. Sus came in with 37 points followed closely by Dale Murphy who came in with 36. The greens on the front were a little better than last week and hopefully they will be ready by next week.
We’d also like to see a few more players show up as they return from vacations so we can give Sus and Dale some competition. See you all next week.

Stuart Gordon scores a double

Phoenix Tuesday golf from Toy’s Music Bar

Mike Gerrard
Mountain and Ocean course was the challenge on Tuesday, May 13, and with the Mountain course open some 3 weeks now the greens are starting to get back to normal. I think after next week the Lakes course will be re-opened and the Ocean Course closed for a much needed rest and repair.

The happy band of golfers with the girls at Toy’s Music Bar.

We had a slightly higher turn out this week, with one or two new members joining us.
Stuart Gordon romped away with the spoils with a brilliant 44 points, playing off handicap 14. This was after also taking the winnings and the monthly mug last week.
His nearest rival was that canny Scott, Matt Anderson, in second place with 33 points. Both of these players were in my own match, and it was a pleasure to see them keep their cool whilst Peter Harris and myself played what could be considered the worst golf of our careers. Luckily for Peter he was Stuart’s partner and so he earned a few shillings at the expense of Matt and myself.
Then it was back to Toy’s Music Bar, where, as is now tradition, the winners paid for the first drink for those that come back for the presentation. There was just one more small prize for the also-rans, which is the lucky draw for the return of the 100 Baht entrance fee for the day. Peter Harris’s lovely young lass drew the card out and modesty (or shame for the way I played today) forbids me to say whose card it was.
A notable date is June 3, when we will run the monthly medal (stroke play from white tees). There is also the added prize (pewter mug) donated by the owners of Toy’s Music Bar. All other Tuesday’s we run a stableford competition.
Arrival time at Phoenix is 11.15am with first tee times from 12.00 midday. Registration by phone no later than 9.30am on the day. For further info call me, Mike Gerrard on 08 709 17565.

Ning & Mike keep it in the family

P.S.C. 78th Members Monthly Golf Open

Derek Brook
Friday, May 16, Greenwood – 2-Ball Better Ball Stableford
The problem as the competiton neared was the shortage of golfers around. This is not the busiest time of year but we will see an influx soon. Thus we had 60 or so players at the start, which meant a one-tee start and really that was not too bad.

The winners Ning and Mike Morris (left & center) with the Golf Chairman Tony Oakes.
Arriving we were met with the always pleasant Tim, who was looking forward to a long day. One thing new is that Tim had had a haircut. I really will have to stop calling him the ‘scarecrow’, bright and bushytailed was our Tim. This really is a tough job on your own, and he was well deserving of the many drinks bought for him by his ‘fans’. Mind, walking straight is not one of his strengths late in the day even with a walking stick.
Back to the plot, and stood on the first tee the plot was the A & C Nines, a tough test for the players with 0.75 Handicap. Mind, it was a ‘Better Ball’, so we would see if our expectations of a winning score of about Net 45 would pan out.
The course was in good condition, I never fail to be surprised how much this place has progressed since the early days, and it is now a pleasure to play and with the improvement in the road system it is becoming more usable.

The third placed team of Alan Pearce and John King accept their prizes from the Golf Chairman
Tim had been at work while we were out proving we were not as good as we thought we were. Not only had he sorted the results out, but he’d also spent the time proof reading my P.S.C. discount book. So be sure to get hold of the updated copy, available shortly, at the P.S.C. office.
We gathered upstairs to test some of their food and drink before the presentation, and actually here the food is well priced and quite good.
At this time Tony and the Emcee, for my sins me, got the results and the race was on. There is a long way back so hanging around was not a priority. So Tony said his thank you, to all his helpers, P.S.C., Tim and his sponsors, then ‘The Emcee’ got a move on.
The team in fifth spot was Geoff King and Ian Halfpenny with 38 points. In fourth was the team of Bob Lindborg and Peter Emslie with 39 points. Third came the pairing of Alan Pearce and John King with 40 points and in the runner up position was the team of Tony Oakes and David Richards with 41 points.
So to the champions, and with 48 points the winners by a street were Mike and Ning Morris. Well done to them indeed and we hope to see all the players at The P.S.C. 79th Members Open at Eastern Star on June 13.
Presentation over we then had the ‘Lucky Draw’ and got away to return to Pattaya at a reasonable time. T.T.F.N.
Long Drive: Eddy Bielby, Steffan Faessler, Ning Morris
Near Pin: Wayne Makintosh, Pinusa Tonkhoksoong, Ning Morris, Peter Henderson, Mick Moore, Phana Phuersa, Alan Pearce

Barry’s birthday surprise

Golf from the Travellers Rest

Saturday’s winners at Bangpra: Robert Lamond, Brian Holmes,
Eddie Townsend, Heather York, Frank Kelly & Barry Hooper.

Barry Hooper
This report is one of the hardest I have ever had to write because I have to write it about myself.
Saturday, May 17 was my birthday, so I decided to play at Bangpra with the TRGG as a treat to myself. But I never dreamt of the surprise that was to come. I have only ever played at Bangpra once before and as all my regular readers know, golf is a new sport to me having only started playing towards the tail end of last year.
I had a good round and achieved thirty-five points. Good but I was certain there would be better. Back at the Travellers Rest Fergus gave his report and you could have knocked me down with a feather when he announced that I had won the second division group on count back against two other players. My first ever win. What a birthday present.
Monday, May 12, Green Valley - Stableford
1st Ray Allison (14) 41pts
2nd Ted Senior (18) 38pts
3rd Paul Challis (30) 35pts
4th Frank Kelly (16) 33pts
5th John Pegrum (12) 32pts
Monday we visited Green Valley, a great course that keeps on getting better. The numbers were down mainly I believe because of the Tuesday outing to Laem Chabang.
The unfortunate thing on the day was that the card with the top score of the day could not be accepted as there had been an error made in the declaration of the handicap. The player in question accepted the situation very graciously.
So the winner on the day was Ray Allison with forty one points followed by Ted Senior with thirty eight and third was Paul Challis with thirty five. John Pegrum had the only ‘2’ on the day.
Tuesday, May 13, Laem Chabang - Stableford
1st Jack Mooney (12) 38pts
2nd Brendan Abbott (22) 37pts
3rd Robert Lamond (9) 36pts
4th Fergus Brennan (10) 35pts
5th David Snell (13) 35pts
Tuesdays outing was at Laem Chabang with a very large turnout and everyone was singing the praises of the course after the day’s play.
Jack Mooney (money) was to take the day with a fine round of golf and by just the one point with a thirty-eight. Brendan Abbott was second with thirty-seven, third was Robert Lamond on thirty-six and it was a count back fight of thirty-fives for fourth between Fergus Brennan and David Snell with it going to Fergus. Again only one ‘2’ on the day and that was from Roger Wilkinson.
Thursday, May 15, Emerald - Stableford
1st Robert Lamond (9) 36pts
2nd Eddie Townsend (18) 34pts
3rd Brendan Abbott (22) 34pts
4th Phil Knight (11) 34pts
Thursday saw a visit to the Emerald where we had a moderate turn out.
Frank Kelly is finding his form again after his recent eye surgery and he beat Robert Lamond on count back for the win with thirty-six. Third was again a three-way count back fight on thirty-four between Eddie Townsend, Brendan Abbott and Phil Knight with the honours going to Eddie.
Again just the single ‘2’ to pick up the roll over pot and that came from steady Eddie who promptly rang the bell in celebration. Frank found that his win meant that he was cut from fifteen to fourteen in his handicap.
Saturday, May 17, Bangpra - Stableford
A Flight (0-16)
1st Brian Holmes (15) 37pts
2nd Robert Lamond (6) 33pts
3rd Frank Kelly (14) 33pts
4th Phil Knight (11) 31pts
B Flight (17-up)
1st Barry Hooper (36) 35pts
2nd Eddie Townsend (18) 35pts
3rd Heather York (27) 35pts
4th Ted Senior (17) 31pts
Saturday and off to Bangpra as our usual weekend course at Eastern Star is undergoing major work. However, it has to said that Bangpra is also having major work undertaken with the main clubhouse out of action (a temporary arrangement using the accommodation block etc.) and lots of new buggy paths being created. The course played well but the greens had recently been cored and left a little to be desired.
The first division win went to Brian Holmes with a fine thirty-seven pointer followed by that man again Robert Lamond who is playing some quality golf of late. He beat Frank Kelly on count back, both with thirty-three’s.
Division two was also a count back fight for all the three places with all players shooting thirty-fives. The surprise was that your scribe took his first ever win just beating steady Eddie Townsend and a lovely lady player visiting with us for the first time, Heather York.
Three 2’s on the day to Steve McGrath, Frank Kelly and Mod Chaviraksa

New shorts just the ticket for Moori

PSC golf from The Outback Golf Bar

Joey’s Column
Monday, May 12, Burapha - Stableford
Fifty-one golfers played today, the usual Outbacker numbers swelled by the visiting MBMG Pattaya Matchplay Golf League team from ‘The Golf Club.’
Burapha was very quiet and we were able to split the tees, 7 groups off the C nine & 6 off of D. Although playing from the white tees, with the exception of Don Pavlovic (38pts), Pimusa (39pts) & Capt’ Bob (36pts), the course was the winner today.
A big hello to some more Norfolk boys, Richie & Colin, and congratulations on getting up so early!
Div A (0-15)
10 players
1st Don Pavlovic (15) 38pts
2nd Bob Philp (6) 36pts
3rd Brent Dalby (15) 34pts
Div B (16-18)
10 players
1st Bob Martin (16) 33pts
2nd Frank O’Neill (16) 32pts
3rd David Headington (17) 31pts
Div C (19+)
11 players
1st Pimusa Tonkhoksoong (19) 39pts
2nd Cambell Potts (20) 32pts
3rd John Stafford (20) 31pts
2’s: Richard Burton, Sugar Ray, Ian Moore, Bruce McAdam & Neil Hughes
Tuesday, May 13, Phoenix - Stableford
Ode to Moori
As he picked himself up out of the Queensland dust,
Just a couple of yards from the gate,
He looked up at me with his lopsided grin
And said, “where’s me passport mate?”
Apparently Ian Moore, aka Moori, was coming for a week’s golf with his mates Dalby & Bryce. On the Sunshine Coast, at 2.30 in the afternoon on Thursday, he was hitching a trailer up to his Ute and drove off leaving his passport and puncture repair kit on the roof. When he discovered the loss, he franticly telephoned everybody explaining his predicament but resigned himself to waving goodbye to his two mates.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, as luck would have it, his mother ran over the puncture repair kit and remembered that Moori had said, “My passport is with the puncture repair kit!” She stopped immediately and began searching along the side of the road, and there it was, covered in dust but in one piece. A high speed drive from the airport to home and back followed in time for them all to catch the midnight flight.
Isn’t that what Mums are for?
Eleven Outbackers turned up for the early morning TOOs at Phoenix, and one of them was Moori. He was to be unlucky again and one of the marshalls explained to him that he was not allowed to play in his designer ‘billabong’ denim shorts. They were smart but rules is rules, so off he went to change. Nobody knows what he paid for the new pair out of the Phoenix pro shop, but he played the whole round will the label still on, I wonder if he took them back!
Nothing flusters this man, having won A Division on Friday at the Navy with 38 points (off h’cap 4), he won again today with 41 points, 71 gross off the stick!
Well done mate!
1st Ian Moore (4) 41pts
2nd Norm Martin (23) 37pts
3rd Brent Dalby (15) 35pts
2’s: Nick Falconer & Bob Philp
Wednesday, May 14, Mountain Shadow - Stableford
Geoff Doody, sponsor of the 5th Outbacker Birthday Cup, was joined by 21 other golfers to celebrate his special day. The winner of the cup was David Evans with an outstanding 36 points round this tricky course. The A & B division winners, May & Bryce also played well, each scoring 35 points.
There was a quite remarkable 2’s story on the short Par three 5th. The Doody’s (in the news again!) and Trudy Chadbourn were all in a line on the green. Geoff, who was farthest away, putted first, ‘you’ll get a good read off this,’ he said, and no sooner said, holed it for his ‘2.’ The two girls promptly followed him, both also holing the putts for their 2’s.
Geoff, who was joined by many more friends later in the day back at the ranch, treated everybody to cottage pie in addition to ringing the bell on numerous occasions. Congratulations from The Outback Golf Bar and thanks from all your friends and fellow golfers.
Overall Winner
David Evans (13) 36pts
Div A (0-16)
1st May Larose (15) 35pts
2nd Frank O’Neill (16) 34pts
3rd Ian Moore (4) 31pts
Div B (17+)
1st Bryce Stick (17) 35pts
2nd Bruce McAdam (20) 33pts
3rd Trudy Chadbourn (24) 33pts
2’s: Geoff Doody, Trudy Chadbourn, Kathy Doody & Pimusa
Friday, May 16, Plutaluang -
Here we are again, two Friday’s in a row at the ‘Navy’ course, as a result of last week’s unofficial holiday, and Eastern Star asking for holiday rates!
May Larose was there again and Bruce McAdam, who looks after the Outback Golf’s Bar summer eclectic at Burapha, also had a good round. W J King took Div C with an unusually low score of 32 points.
This is a popular venue but the exclusive deal agreed with Siam’s new Plantation course, means that the home every Friday of the Outback Golf Bar will be Siam Plantation at 10am.
Div A (0-16)
11 players
1st May Larose (15) 37pts
2nd Don Frances (12) 35pts
3rd Dennis Persson (16) 32pts
Div B (17-21)
11 players
1st Bruce McAdam (20) 36pts
2nd Barry Chadbourn (18) 34pts
3rd Kathy Doody (19) 33pts
Div C (22+)
7 players
1st William (John) King (25) 32pts
2nd Ray Underwood (26) 29pts
3rd Trudy Chadbourn (24) 28pts
2’s: Kathy Doody
Note: The Outback Golf Bar is situated about 6km from Sukhumvit Road along Soi Siam Country. All are welcome to come and join us for a beer and a hit. Just call in and put your name down on the list or give Bob a call on 087 941 2474.
Now we have our own minibus and have started regular Pattaya pickups on our golf days and have an exclusive deal at Siam’s new Plantation course every Friday, starting 23 May. More information can be found on our website www. outbackgolfbar.com.
Our Bus Trip this month is to Kiarti Thanee on Weds. May 28 & don’t forget the complimentary food back at the bar afterwards.

Peter ends Pattaya stay with ‘Monthly Mug’ victory

PSC golf from The Café Kronborg

Derek Brook
Monday, May 12, Treasure Hill – Stableford
Treasure Hill was host to a stableford competition in one flight. We were delayed on the first tee for about 20 minutes due to a brief shower, but the day turned out very nice, with a refreshing light breeze.
Martyn Topham won the day with 36 points ahead of Jean Claude Lhoste in second with 35 points and Henry O’Brien was in third with 33 points.
Thursday, May 15, Phoenix – Medal
The really observant will have noticed we have changed location for the Monthly Mug to Phoenix. This will be so for the near future and will give all our players a chance to prove themselves on this testing course. Mind, it is also a much better prepared course than the opposition at present, but who knows what the future brings.

Bjarne (right) presents the Monthly Mug to Peter Blackburn.
The test on this day was to be the Mountain and Ocean nines, to my way of thinking the best 18 holes. We were actually off a bit early, and all in all had a nice clear run that saw us around in well under 4 hours.
The course was, as is usual at present, in fine condition but a stiff wind made the day difficult. However great things were expected from the players.
Round over and back to The Cafe Kronborg, where we were able to do the presentation at an unseemly early hour. Still, all the winners were present, and why not.
The winner of the one flight was Neil Skilton with a net 73 on count back over J.C Lhoste in second, then we had Henry O’Brien in third with a net 75 before a count back on net 76 saw Norm Martin in fourth and Walter and Lionel just losing out.
So to the winner of the Mug, and it is surprising how often the winner is just about to go home. So it was that the winner on this day with a net 72 was Peter Blackburn. Well done and have a good trip. T.T.F.N.

Gardner on form at Plutaluang

PSC golf from P J Pool Bar

Thursday’s winners: (left-right) Colin Cronin, Bruce Lawrence,
 Mike Jackson and David Gardner.

Ian Campbell
Tuesday, May 13, Khao Kheow -Stableford
1st David Johnson (21) 37pts
2nd Neil Duncan (14) 35pts
3rd Ken Hole (14) 35pts
A small, select group of 11 players today at this lovely venue, once again playing the B and C courses (a passing glance at the A course showed it to be undergoing some major excavation).
Near pin winners were Jim Fortune, David Johnson and Ken Hole, while the longest first putt on 18 was holed by David Gardner. The average was a fraction above 28 for the 11 cards returned and a comparison of the leading scores to the average confirms that somebody (no names) had a bad day!
Thursday, May 15, Plutaluang S & E - Stableford
1st David Gardner (7) 35pts
2nd Mike Jackson (16) 35pts
3rd Colin Cronin (15) 34pts
4th Bruce Lawrence (11) 32pts
Fourteen players today on a relatively quiet course for a Sports Day, our first group being unaware of anybody ahead of them (most enjoyable).
A very reasonable average score of just under 30 points on the day on which the near pin prizes were taken by 2 ‘hotshots’, namely Paul Smylie and David Gardner, each having 2, while the long putt (if you could call it that) on 18 went to Bob Drumm.
The winner of the Paradise Bar shirt for getting full value for the green fee was Mark Brenton.
Note: Information on the group’s venues can be obtained by visiting P J Pool Bar & Restaurant on Soi Boonsampan (Soi Khao Noi) or phone Ian on 087 834 1025.

Monsieur Claude shoots a ‘quarante-quatre’

IPGC golf from Donovan’s

Monday, May 12,The Emerald (White Tees) - Stableford
1st Pierre Bietry (16) 39pts
2nd Steve Mascari (3) 37pts
2’s: Simon Philbrook, Jan Eriksen
Given the success of the French this week I have half a mind to write the column en Francais (can’t make one on my keyboard but that little goatee under some French “c’s” is termed a cedilla). I do believe half a mind would help if I were to do so but that would limit the readability of this column to people in France, Quebec, Indochina (but not Thailand!), West Africa, Madagascar, New Orleans (the swamp, not the restaurant) and Au Bon Coin (the restaurant not the swamp).
Now that would be an improved readership compared to the current state of affairs. However, so that your Thai girlfriend can read it I will go with the standard American English where football is called soccer.
Anyway Monsieur Pierre but a two-point whupping on The President, although the latter still bettered his handicap. It was nice to see Simon of Philbrook who has been hard at work, as his ballooning handicap would suggest, and The Quiet One who is in town for a couple of weeks. Both old friends had 2’s on the day
Thursday, May 15, Green Valley (White Tees) - Stableford
1st Andreas Grunenberg (15) 41pts
2nd Alec Hoare (17) 34pts
3rd Seamus Cotter (12) 32pts
If restricted readability was one reason to use the old Anglais, certainly the risk of offending the perpetrator of the day’s best round, Herr Grunenberg would have been another. Two neutrals graced the balance of the podium in the persons of Irishmen Alec Hoare and Seamus Cotter.
Saturday, May 17, Green Valley (White Tees) - Stableford
1st Claude Schumacher (14) 44pts
2nd Vic Hester (14) 39pts
3rd Ian Grout (10) 37pts
Ladies Flight
1st Gib Rykke (36) 29pts
2’s: Ian Grout, Eddy Beilby, Pierre Bietry, Mark Wood
Ah the Tricolors were run up the mast yet again as Monsieur Claude had the best of a big Saturday field with a superlative 44 points. The Inflictor and The Tile rounded out the well paying single flight day. Mrs. Oddvar Rykke captured the Ladies prize for the second week running.
Thanks to Jonny Haugen for sponsoring the Near Pins on the day. It was a generous offer from an old friend.

The Beautiful Game?:

Pompey play up

It’s no use. I can’t lie to you, dear readers. Yours truly didn’t watch every kick of the FA Cup Final last Saturday.
I know, I know. As a highly paid journalist reporting on English football’s showcase match of the season for Pattaya residents desperate to know what happened, my behaviour was inexcusable. Let me assure you that this will never, ever, happen again.
But in my defence it is surely hard to deny that the game, billed as the ‘People’s Final’, was about as exciting being stuck in your ‘loom’ for a week with food poisoning and nothing but Fox News for entertainment in between very frequent visits to the bathroom. Believe me, I know.
If that was the ‘People’s Final’ then, frankly, the people are more than welcome to it. Portsmouth’s extra class told on the day, their five-man midfield proving too strong for Cardiff City to break down in the second half. I’m not sure about you, but I gave up around the hour mark. If you made it past that point you’re either a supporter of either side or extremely dedicated. My hat goes off to you.
Not that the Cup Final wasn’t entertaining in places. Cardiff set about Pompey as if their lives depended on it and would have deserved a lead had they been able to stick the ball in the net, but alas it was not to be. The Welsh side showed us that there’s not that big a gap between the Championship and the Premier League, but in the second half Portsmouth confirmed that there is a gap none the less. Credit to Cardiff for a fine effort, plucky performance and all that, but the better side deservedly came away with the trophy.
It’s easy to complain, but you can’t have everything. Had the final been yet another clash between two of the ‘Big Four’ the game itself would have had every chance of being more dull, perhaps even more so. I’m not sure about you but I feel like I’ve seen enough of these duels during this season to last me into the next lifetime and beyond. Writing this on Monday, I’m hoping, praying almost, for a decent Champions League final that makes staying up worth the effort.
Despite all the negativity this is Portsmouth’s week. They beat everything that was put in front of them and did a fine job doing so. I’m pleased for their players, such as David James picking up his first proper honour as a footballer just when it seemed too late, and for a bunch of fans that fill out Fratton Park and make more noise than several other Premier League stadiums put together.
More on the aftermath of the Champions League final next week, but the domestic football around Europe is over. Well, almost, there’s the small matter of the playoff finals to finish us off with, starting with Bristol City against Hull City at Wembley on Saturday. I have absolutely no idea who’ll win that one; I’m still coming to terms with the notion of one of these sides heading into the Premier League next season. Really, I just can’t get over it.
In Division Four – alright, League Two - striker Lee Thorpe faces a miserable summer after breaking his arm in three places while arm-wrestling with a Rochdale team mate on the bus taking the team to a playoff match at Darlington. Thorpe now faces surgery on the arm injury, the club said.
“It was an unfortunate, freak accident occurring during something we have been doing all season,” manager Keith Hill told the club’s website. “No-one is to blame and it is certainly not that we are unprofessional but it is not something we will be doing again. We have learnt a valuable lesson from what might occur.”
Rochdale, who have been in the bottom tier of the league for 34 years, managed to beat Darlington 5-4 on penalties, taking them through to a playoff final with Stockport County on Monday night Pattaya time. In the League One playoff, Doncaster and Leeds face each other for a Yorkshire showdown on Sunday night.
Exeter avenged last season’s play-off final heartbreak with a 1-0 victory over Cambridge at Wembley to earn promotion to the Football League following a five-year absence. City lost 2-1 to Morecambe at the same stage last season but Rob Edwards’ first-half header ensured their second visit to England’s showcase stadium was a successful one.
Money! Money! Money!
Here’s the prize money for the Premier League sides this year. TV cash isn’t counted, obviously.
1 £14.44m Man Utd; 2 £13.68m Chelsea; 3 £12.96m Arsenal; 4 £12.24m Liverpool; 5 £11.52m Everton; 6 £10.8m Aston Villa; 7 £10.08m Blackburn; 8 £9.36m Portsmouth; 9 £8.64m Man City; 10 £7.92m West Ham: 11 £7.20m Tottenham; 12 £6.48m Newcastle; 13 £5.76m Middlesbrough; 14 £5.04m Wigan; 15 £4.32m Sunderland; 16 £3.6m Bolton; 17 £2.88m Fulham; 18 £2.16m Reading; 19 £1.44m Birmingham; 20 £720,000 Derby.
Recognise this?
We all know about FIFA, the governing body of world football, many of us will have heard of UEFA and other continental organisations, but now there’s another to add to your memory banks.
NF, an acronym which originally stood for nothing but now means New Federation or unofficially “Non-FIFA”, was set up in 2003 to accommodate regions that were not affiliated to FIFA. The second Viva World Cup for unrecognised countries takes place in Lapland from July 7-13 with Provence, Kurdistan and possibly Gozo, the island off Malta, among the entrants.
“We don’t want to draw new frontiers. We just want to play football with new identities,” NF board founder Jean-Luc Kit told Reuters last week.
“We have a Norwegian player who doesn’t want to play for Norway and prefers to play for Lapland, it’s a crazy situation,” added Kit, who was a soccer statistician working with FIFA before coming up with the idea for the NF Board.
Organisers hope the first World Cup game in Lapland can be played under the midnight sun. As to who qualifies to play, the NF leaves it up to each individual association to decide which players are eligible. Early favourites are Padania - a northern region of Italy who hope to become a sovereign state - who dispatched Tibet 13-2 last Wednesday thanks to a number of players who used to be in Italy’s professional leagues.

‘The Bear’ is superb with a 69 & 72

IPGC golf from The Haven

Monday, May 12, Green Valley - Stableford
1st Roar Berger 39pts
2nd Bubbles Davies 37pts
3rd Glyn Nicholas 36pts
4th Don Everett 36pts
5th Peter Sumner 36pts
Even with eight players playing separately in the International Pattaya Match Play League match, there were still enough players from The Haven to make a very competitive game at the very popular Green Valley course.
Roar Berger, who is in the throes of packing for his summer holidays in Norway, still managed to slip in a good return to take the day’s top honours. Bubba Bubbles Davies may have regretted not being a bit stricter on the rules with his playing partner, as he slipped into second place a couple of shots or penalty strokes adrift.
Glyn Nicholas, showing a welcome return to some sort of form, led in a gaggle of players at level par by count back.
Don Everett was just unable to keep it going over the last six and therefore finished in fourth spot rather than at the top of the list. Peter Sumner took the last mention with a weaker back nine.
Taking a rest from the pressures of Match Play golf, Phil Groves had the only ‘2’ in the first division whilst once again there were none in the second division.
Before presenting the prizes The Doc welcomed back Bob Maloney, Don Everett, Noel McKenna, Geoff Braimbridge, Alan J. Parker, Gavin Leong, Darrell Paull, and Terry Hodgekiss all from Gosnell Golf Club in Western Australia. He also regretted no longer being able to greet Fred Streeter with the rest of the party, after his sad demise.
Wednesday, May 14, Phoenix - Stableford
1st Barry Winton 44pts
2nd Bob Maloney 37pts
3rd Norman Isherwood 35pts
4th Trevor Schirmer 35pts
5th Gavin Leong 34pts
6th Alan Griffiths 34pts
7th Peter Sumner 34pts
Following a swift rearrangement due to a difference of opinion on the green fees, the competition was moved to Phoenix at the eleventh hour but with the tom toms working well, a large number managed to turn out for the day.
Barry Winton has been steadily returning to his best form following a drop in total mobility, fuelled by buns and sticky rice, but the day was to prove to be a real success and the culmination of long hours spent on the range and encouragement from his chums.
Normally when one sees a 44 pointer, the immediate thought is, bandit, but it is not so easy to be much of a bandit off of a 5 handicap and Barry’s score on this day of gross 69, made up of 36 out and 33 back with only two 5’s on the card and the rest 3’s and 4’s could only be marveled at by the rest of the competitors back at The Haven. It also drew a well-merited, long round of applause.
Bob Maloney had a good round but was unlucky to find ‘the Bear’ in such good form so he had to be content with second spot ahead of Norman Isherwood and Trevor Schirmer, who both had to be separated by count back.
Gavin Leong led a group of three by count back from Alan Griffiths and Peter Sumner.
Trevor Schirmer slipped in the only ‘2’ in the first division and Alan Griffiths and Geoff Picken at last cleaned out the multi carry over in the second division.
There were no welcomes or welcome backs but there were farewells to Roar Berger and Alan Griffiths, one leaving for work and one for play.
Friday, May 16, Eastern Star - Stableford
1st Barry Winton 41pts
2nd Takeshi Hakozaki 40pts
3rd Kinya Akiyama 36pts
4th Terry Hodgkiss 35pts
5th Gavin Leong 33pts
While many of the regulars were away playing ‘Millionaires Golf,’ there were still enough quality players to travel to Eastern Star, where the course, while now featuring 3 temporary greens, still affords a great test of golf. Apart from the temporaries, which are in fairness not that bad, the rest of the course is in superb condition and the scores attested to that.
Barry Winton was again in great form as he cruised round for the second time in succession without a six on his card in amassing a score of level par, consisting of 3 birdies, 12 pars and 3 bogies. Surprisingly all the bogies came on par threes with the rest of the round highlighted by excellent iron play to the greens. Barry’s latest effort ensures that he will be down to 4 next week.
Takeshi Hakozaki must have been a little disappointed to have come across a better score on the day as he put together his best round for some time at four under-gross 78 and 40 points to easily lead fellow countryman Kinya Akiyama in third spot, although Kinya was pleased to once again be featuring on the podium after an extended absence from high places.
There were no 2’s in the second division but Barry Winton made up for his three par 3 bogies with a birdie on the last one to sweep the pool in the first division.
Before presenting the prizes The Doc welcomed back Kinya Akiyama and Karl Holm.

The Haven remain unbeaten

The International Pattaya Match Play League

Jomtiem Golf vs. The Haven - May 12, Green Valley
Following the last match against Lewiinski’s when they had to give shots in every match and an average of nearly three per game, once again The Haven were obliged to give shots in every match but this time the total over the eight matches was 63, averaging nearly eight per match, but they still managed to prevail in a close fought encounter over the Green Valley course.
Once again Barry Winton led off for The Haven and bettered his last draw with a win, after again going 2 down after five. Al Keith, who is proving to be the real rock of the side, once again won even giving ten shots, to be the only team member with a 100% record so far.
Harry Riley proved to be too strong for the ailing Rick Holmes, later diagnosed with respiratory problems, in match 3 as he strode in 4 & 3 after receiving 6 shots. Rocky Exley could not keep up the high standard he set for himself as he went down 2 & 1 to Kari Aarnio having given 9.
Barry Traynor showed some of his old wiles as he cruised in 4 & 2 against Cully Monks after giving up ten shots and Tony Barritt made a welcome return to form with a 3 & 2 win over Jack Hinchley after also giving up ten shots.
Trevor Schirmer returned the match winning score of 3 & 2 over Joe Kubon after giving 9 shots and lastly Alan Griffiths lost on the final hole 1 down to William Chang having given 8 shots.
At the end of the days matches all the participants returned to Siam Cats to join in a post match get together where a few beers were exchanged and a few new friends met and made.

The Haven 5                    v 3 Jomtiem Golf
Barry Winton (won 3 & 2)   v Andy Mills
Al Keith (won 4 & 3)           v Hamilton Wilson
Rick Holmes (lost 3 & 1)    v Harry Riley
Russell Exley (lost 2 & 1)   v Kari Aarnio
Barry Traynor (won 4 & 2)   v Cully Monks
Tony Barritt (won 3 & 2)       v Jack Hinchley
Trevor Schirmer (won 3 & 2) v Joe Kubon
Alan Griffiths (lost 1 down)   v William Chang

The Square Ring: by Howie Reed

Back in the day, John L Sullivan would walk into a bar and yell, “I can whip any man in the house.” If he were alive today upon entering a beverage establishment he’d have to state, “I can whip any man, women or anything in between in the house.”
John L was a guy that could and did back up what he said. He fought from 1879 to 1892 fighting almost everywhere including an 1888 bout in Cardiff against William Samuells. Sullivan’s only loss came in his last bout when he was KO’d by Gentleman James Corbett in 21 rounds at the Olympic Club in New Orleans, or N’Awlins as locals call it. Mr. J. Brown claims that the fight was actually held in Metairie, Louisiana, which is next door to N’Awlins.
John L’s bragging ways have carried on in today’s boxing. There are those though that subscribe to the theory that, “if you say it and deliver, then it ain’t bragging.”
Just shut up…Please!
WBA super-middleweight champion Anthony Mundine is one of those whose “big mouth” usually overloads his talent. Now that usually isn’t a major problem as the sport has come to expect “donkeys and jackasses” braying at the moon, with the moon being played by boxing writers and fans.
Next Wednesday, Mundine will defend his title against fellow Aussie Sam Soliman (35-10) in Melbourne. As Mundine KO’d Soliman in 9 rounds last year, another win is expected. Mundine, for those that may have forgotten, said days after 9/11, “America had it coming.” When involved in “footie” in Aussie Mundine whined his way to becoming the most unpopular person in the game. His latest outburst is beyond the pale though.
“I’m a Muslim and I can’t allow myself to lose to a Christian. My people are persecuted all over the world and they need inspirational figures like myself, Zinedine Zidane in soccer and also fellow fighters like Sugar Shane Mosley to look up to.”
Yes, one can see his viewpoint in regard to his “people” being persecuted as folks tend to shy away from those “people” who have bombs strapped to their bodies – not wanting to get blown up. Imagine that!
Charlie Gergan, who trained and managed Mundine’s father, the great Tony Mundine, fired back: “Anthony has made some silly statements regarding he can’t lose to Sam Soliman because he is a Christian and not a Muslim. That is stupidity. Anthony must realize that the three boxers who defeated him - Sven Ottke, Manny Siaca and Mikkel Kessler were not Muslim. He also said Shane Mosley is a Muslim. That is also wrong. Anthony is a good boxer but is not nearly as good as his father Tony. I am sure his father would have defeated him easily had they both met at their best.”
Sir Frog’s pal Mikkel Kessler laid an “ass kicking” on Mundine with a blowout 120-108, 117-113 and 116-112 back in 2005. Mundane has been “ordered” by the WBA to defend against Mikkel Kessler after Soliman. The “Muslim role model” is now running from the Kessler fight like a cat with battery acid on its butt.
“I can be a six-time world champion in three different weight divisions. I will definitely finish a great fighter. I will be the best athlete ever overall, “ says Mundine.
What a load. He’s never fought outside Aussie and couldn’t beat fellow super-middleweight Joe Calzaghe or middleweights Jeff Lacy or Arthur Abraham. He’d get “incinerated” by Kelly Pavlik.
Farming new ground for boxing
With most of the boxing old grounds barren, it’s wise for those that farm for boxers to find new acreage. Last year the seed was planted in Sweden but as of today the crop has failed to flourish.
Next came the UAE with their latest crop, Dorine-Huseine, with that dying before it started. Mother Russia had a couple of heavyweight championship fights that did absolutely nothing in Moscow.
Give boxing promoters one thing, they very seldom give up and do actually search for more fertile lands. Next up may be Odessa, which as almost no one knows is the largest seaport in the Ukraine.
While maybe opening new lands, the promoters are also to some degree going “back to the future.” They are recycling David ‘The Tuaman’ Tua (49-3-1) and present heavyweight prospect Roman Greenberg, who at 27-0 has yet to face a warm body.
Now some could argue, count TSR as some, that a match between The ‘Tua Man’ and Greenberg would be interesting. The problem is that they won’t face each other but rather members of the largest family in boxing - the TBA’s. Also considered for the card are Serbian Enad Licina (31-1) as well as Ukrainian Jewish New Yorker Dmitry Salita and Yuri Voronin (25-8-2) from Odessa. The latter is only 2-5-1 in the last 8.
Asia has been a fertile ground for boxers that has been greatly overlooked, and there are more reasons for this than a “Teelocks” excuse for going home to visit her family.
Golden Boy Promotions may have finally realized that fact by signing the 20-0 Indonesian featherweight star Daud Chino Yordan. The youngster packs a punch with 15 KO’s. Yordan has a five-year contract with 4 fights a year and could open Asia up for other promising boxers in the region. His first fight was to have been May 31 as part of the undercard of Mosley-Judah in Las Vegas.
Highly Anticipated
Boxing columnists with way too much time on their hands, little talent or knowledge are constantly scouring the worldwide web looking for boxing news. A term that is used to death in these stories is “highly anticipated.” The next words spoken should be, “by who?”
The term, “highly anticipated” flows from a boxing flak’s computer with that same ease as the term “I love you too much” does from employees at most of Pattaya’s better refreshment venues. When heard, “I love you too much” should be followed by, “for now.” It’s just like 2 following 1 and preceding 3.
There is though one match up that probably is “highly anticipated’ in Thailand. That would be he rubber match between Jeff Fenech and Azumah Nelson in Bangkok on June 24. Fenech, a little long in the tooth at 43, is the youngster against 50-year old Azuma Nelson.
The spin out of ‘Aussieland’ by his trainer John Lewis is, “He’s been sensational in sparring sessions with former IBF 130 pound champion Gairy St Claire. What Fenech is doing in the ring is freakish.”
Nelson is always in shape so it’ll be interesting to see how these old timers do in the ring. When they fought back in 1992 in Melbourne they drew 37,000 fans. Be interesting to see the turnout in Bangkok, which as you know is the City of Angles except “no wings, no dance.”
If I were a hack I would type that the Chris Byrd’s (40-5-1) match against Shaun George (17-2) last Saturday night in Las Vegas was the “highly anticipated” return of Chris Byrd to the light heavyweight ranks. But I’m not, so I won’t.
Chris Byrd was a darn good middleweight in the amateurs but being smarter than most knew he had to move up in weight in the pros to make big money. He became a “very elusive” heavyweight who won a heavyweight tile when Vitali Klitschko quit on his stool when he “hurt” his elbow in 9th round of their title fight. Klitschko was leading by a wide margin on all three cards.
Bryd would then lose on a UD to Wladimir Klitschko. He would then collect the IBF title against Fres Oquendo only to lose it first time out to? Yep, Wladimir Klitschko. And the term “very elusive?” Hard to hit, moved a lot and hit like a feather duster.
The venue for his return to the light heavy division, he had one previous pro fight at that weight, was the Cox Pavilion on the campus of UNLV. He opened the Cox to boxing in 2001 when he laid a whipping on David Tua. That one was memorable because TSR bet on Byrd at 13-1. Nice pay day.
Byrd’s fight last weekend could have ended in disaster. He got knocked down three times before referee Jay Nady stopped the bout at 2:45 of round 9. Byrd had dislocated his left shoulder at sometime during the fight.
While in the dressing room afterwards, a doctor administered a combination of valium and morphine to relieve Byrd’s pain. When Byrd became unresponsive he was rushed to a Las Vegas hospital unconscious. He was later revived and released but his career is over in the ring.
“I’m not letting him fight anymore,” Byrd’s wife Tracey told boxing writer Tim Smith. Sometimes the wife knows best.
Jeeves time
“Your Lordship, more than 18,000 packed the bullring in Agua Calientes, which means ‘hot water’, to watch ex –champ Jorge Arce (49-4-1) and Thailand’s Devid Lookmahanak (18-2) go ‘mano-e-mano’ in a bout that could have gone ether way.
“Arce squeaked out a majority decision 115-113, 115-114, 114-114 that would have been a draw but for a ‘flash knockdown’ in the 7th. Lookmahanak, fighting for the first time outside Thailand, will certainly be a name to take note of in the super-flyweight division.
“Arce now gets a rematch and a title shot against WBC/WBA champion Cristian Mijares who unified the titles with a split decision win over Alexanander Munoz last Sunday. When Arce and Mijares met the first time, Mijares came away with a lopsided UD.
“Next Sunday, Rocky Hatton (43-1) gets back in the ring before upwards of 55,000 fans at the City of Manchester Stadium against Juan Lazcano (37-4-1). Lazcano is perfect and should be a nice showcase for Hatton’s talents.
“In the semi main, if Paul Malignaggo (24-1) puts on a good a show against Lovemore ‘Not Less’ N’dou (46-9-1) then he’ll get Hatton in September. Readers in the UK can watch the fight live on Sky Box Office while USA readers can see the fights live on VERSUS at 3:30 PM Eastern Time. Thai fans? ‘No Eye Deer’ but it would be 3:30 in the AM on Sunday.
“William Sergeant wishes to disagree with Teddy Atlas on his contention that Oscar de La Hoya was never in his fight against Floyd Mayweather jr. ‘Teddy Atlas must need glasses cuz Oscar was jabbing the hell out of Mayweather till he stopped late in the fight. I still feel Oscar won on points!’
“Your Lordship I heard that your pal and TV star Benny ‘I keek a touchdown’ Ricardo’s son ran a lemonade stand to raise money for cancer research. A little bird told me that between just you and Hugh Hefner he raised $25,025 US dollars. How much of that did you give your Lordship?”
Just bring the lager, cigars and Fleetwood Mac for the DVD, Jeeves.

“Wireless” lights up the medal

IPGC golf from Lewiinski’s

Sunday, May 11, Green Valley - Monthly Medal
A Flight
1st Brian Wilkinson (13) Net 63
2nd Steve Mulberry (11) Net 67
B Flight
1st Geoff Doddy (21) Net 65
2nd Joe Tynan (28) Net 65
Thirty-seven golfers set out to play the Monthly Medal at Green Valley, but no one could have foretold that you would need Net 65 or less to get in the frame. Truly amazing golf, with eight scores in the sixty’s.
The “Wireless” turned up, and blasted the field to take the premier division, and Monthly Medal for May with an amazing Net 63. Brian did have a fright however when Joe Tynan entered the club house, and declared a card of Net 60. Brian’s face looked like a Blackpool donkey at Bank Holiday fortnight. Alas Joe had forgotten to enter his score on the last hole. Good try Joe. The runner up was Steve Mulberry with an excellent Net 67.
B Flight was just as tight as it took a count back to separate Geoff Doddy and Joe Tynan, both on Net 65. Geoff took top spot, with Joe in second place.
Back at the ranch the “Wireless “ was in full flow explaining to all and sundry why he could have broken 60, but in true Lancashire spirit, refused to ring the Bell. However, the runner up in A Flight and fellow Lancanstrian Steve did the honours to great applause, Brian then offered to go halves.
We can only thank our lucky stars he’s only here on holiday.
Tuesday, May 13, Khao Kheow - Stableford
A Flight
1st Don Lehmer (13) 35pts
2nd Dene Airey (13) 35pts
B Flight
1st Terry Wagner (17) 33pts
2nd Colin Davis (14) 32pts
Twenty of Lewiinski’s regulars traveled to Khow Keow, to play this splendid course where Don Lehmer took the premier flight with 35pts on count back over Dene “Scary” Airey.
B Flight was also tight, as Terry Wagner with 33pts edged the G M by a single stroke.
Wednesday, May 14, Greenwood - Bob’s Birthday Bash
1st George Jackson (16) 43pts
2nd Bob Lindburg (16) 41pts
3rd Vic Hestor (13) 40pts
A small contingent of thirteen played Greenwood and Bob Lindburg kindly sponsored two nearest the pins to celebrate his birthday.
George “oneball” Jackson won the day with an amazing 43 points. George, a man of few words, plays off sixteen and isn’t exactly known for his patience when things go wrong on the golf course. So, it is a tribute to his new found demeanor that he recovered wonderfully from a twenty-yard drive on the first, to pulverize the rest of the course.
Bob the Birthday boy was second with a good 41 points, leaving Vic Hester in third place with a more than useful 40 points. Guess who had 37 points?
Friday, May 16, The Emerald - Stableford
1st Terry Wagner (17) 41pts
2nd Seamus Cotter (12) 38pts
2’s: Seamus Cotter
A small group of Lewiinski’s best traveled to the ever-improving Emerald.
The smiling Seamus Cotter won the day in grand style with a superb 41 points, forcing Terry Wagner in to second place on 38 points. The G M missed the podium by a couple of strokes.
The week’s golf ended with Seamus grinning like a Cheshire cat, as he walked off with the only ‘2’ of the day.

Paddy Wilson’s 39-pointer is best of the week

Jomtien Golf with the IPGC

Monday, May 12, Green Valley – Matchplay/Stableford
In our annual IPGC Matchplay competition against our other five member societies, we chose Green Valley, as we were the home side, for our inaugural match against the Haven Hotel. The full results of this match can be found on page 55.
For the remaining 12 players, a single divisional stableford game with a 2’s competition was run as well. It was a close affair with Ken Foster finishing fourth on 33 points, and three others finishing one point ahead on 34. The subsequent count back saw Ben Findon in third, Mam Morel in second and Les Hall coming out on top.
A birdie on the 12th gave Bev Ewens the 2’s pot for the day.
Wednesday, May 14, Treasure Hills – Stableford
Our first visit here for some considerable time and for most the course was still considered to be in reasonable condition.
Only a single division today and in form Mam Morel took first place with 35 points after beating Cully Monks on a 20/15 back nine count back. Daz Martindale’s 33 points was enough to give him third place ahead of arch rival Les Hall on another count back.
Friday, May 16, Eastern Star – Stableford
Another small turnout for our regular Friday visit here on what was a very hot and sultry day. The three temporary greens are up to expectations so we are told, so we will look forward to the opening.
Miss Oam’s 34 points earned her third place, one behind Bob Green in second, while Paddy Wilson was today’s winner with 39 points.
Note: Jomtien Golf meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday’s at Siam Cats, Soi 5 Jomtien Beach Rd, at around 8.30am for a 10.00am tee off. Please sign up in the bar or contact Glyn on 086 837 5464.

Riley runs the show

IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the OK Corral

The Pattaya Golf Society was represented at Eastern Star on Sunday, May 11, by a small but quality field, who played their regular weekend stableford event on the course, now using three temporary greens as the management try to get to grips, yet again, with the malaise which has blighted them for some years now.
The course closure a few years ago and subsequent promotion gave cause for joy but the greens have reverted back to their inconsistent and frustrating state. However, the rest of the course was in good condition and the competition got underway in a humid atmosphere.
There was to be disappointment for Stuart Thompson, so consistent of late, as the third hole gave him his first “blob” in 156 consecutive holes and the ‘favourite’ finished the day on 31 points. It was not good enough as the Japanese duo of Stan Kure and Kazu Agune shared third place with 34 points each.
In second was the PGS stalwart Chris Voller, his 37 points showing his welcome return to form was continuing and his 79 represented the best gross of the day.
The winner was old friend Harry Riley who never seems to stray far from the course these days and his local knowledge was invaluable in recording a score of 39 points. Harry’s golf is unconventional at times but certainly effective and he enjoys nothing better than “nurdling” out some good scores on a testing course.
There were no birdie 2’s again and the chase will be on next week for a share of the booty.
Denis Smith showed his birthday scramble form had left him with a desire for more and he played well in recording 33 points but he decided to award the Booby Bevy to himself as it was his birthday proper and the day ended with cheers all round at the OK Corral.
Kaz steps on the gas
Tuesday, May 13, a very full Khao Kheow golf club entertained the Pattaya Golf Society on a humid and overcast day so they could play the first of their two monthly “merit” events, this time stableford off the yellow tees over the B and C nines.
As there were two ladies in the field it was assumed that the 1,600 yard shorter course off the reds would be to their advantage but it was not to be. David Thomas fulfilled expectations with a finely crafted 35 points, which included two consecutive bloomers on C5 and C6, and he easily secured third place, a point behind a mystery golfer from Ban Chang, who prefers to be known as “Kermit.”
The day’s winner produced the best golf of his short two-year career, taking the day with 38 points. Kazu Agune is the OK Corral’s most improved golfer over the last two years and well does his straight hitting and deadly putting deserve the win. The quiet Japanese does not always get the plaudits for his game but on this occasion there was nothing better on show, especially as he took two shares of the 2’s pot as well, almost holing out in one on the infamous “Island” hole, B8.
Three other golfers shared the birdie bonus as well, namely Dave Wilkinson, Stan Kure and Stuart Thompson.
John Schroeder suffered a poor day when nothing had gone right, a reflection no doubt of the time wasted the previous evening in pursuit of pool excellence and the Booby Bevy came as a welcome surprise for him. But the day had been all about Kazu Agune and his memorable win will stay with him a while yet.
“Lefties”
get it right
A small but quality field of golfers represented the Pattaya Golf Society at Royal Lakeside on Thursday, May 15, playing a stableford event on the all but empty course. As usual the course was exceptionally well turned out with probably the best greens many have played on.
The course itself is famously forgiving and designed with right-handers in mind. The hazards, mainly the wet variety, are all down the left and the copious bunkers were still damp from two days of heavy rain.
It was the end of seven days to remember for Denis Smith as he again played himself into the frame with a fine 35 point score for third place. The left-hander managed the course well but stumbled at the final two holes to mar what could have been his best ever round. One point ahead was Evan Millar whose 21-point front nine was the highlight of the day.
The winner was John Schroeder, another southpaw, who found his first visit to the course was definitely to his liking with a three-hole “purple patch” in the middle where he picked up eleven points to cement his victory.
There were no birdie 2’s and the Booby Bevy went to a count back with Peter Duncan just shading out David Thomas for the amber liquid. With an average score of 33 points, the day had been one of good quality golf at Royal Lakeside.

Bill Key, P.K. & Nual Russell: only bowlers to go over 200

Pattaya Sports Club Friday Bowling League

P.K bowled a 220 game, 513 series and Tue rolled a 524 to lead Café Ole to a three point win over VFW Post 9876 but both teams look like they are out of the trophy race with only 5 weeks to go in this league.
Nual bowled a 203 game, 542 series and Bill Key had a 202 game, 529 series, to lead Diamond Shop to a three point win over Jack Tar. Barry rolled a 563 series for Jack Tar.
Brother D played against Café Kronborg and they each came away with two points and remain tied for first place. SaBai Friday split their match 2-2 against House of the Golden Coin whilst Canada took three points from Balls Galore and Montana won all four points from Beaver Bar & Grill. Jan bowled a 519 series for Montana.

A ‘League of Their Own’

by Howie Reed
On April 19, 1951, General Douglas MacArthur, while addressing the American Congress, ended his speech by saying “old solders never die they just fade away.” Now, like those warriors of World War II, the greats of the ‘golden age’ of darts have become legends and have mostly faded away.

Former three times world darts champion John Lowe will be one of the star players in the newly formed ‘League of Legends.”

Some like Leighton Reese, Alan Evans and Thailand’s Nicky Virachkul have passed on to the final tournament in the sky. Others like John Lowe, Eric Bristow and Bobby George have continued to be a significant force on the sometimes lucrative exhibition circuit in and around the UK.
One who has never stopped thinking ahead to the future is “Chairman of the Boards” John Lowe. In the late 1990’s it was John, along with Eric Bristow, that led the professional players in forming the PDC (Professional Darts Council), which has become the driving force in professional tournament darts today.
As the PDC evolved with more tournaments and longer formats, older players began to fade away. The years of travel had taken a toll on those that were the backbone of the game. The game they nurtured and fed had grown up to be the “adult that shunned them.” Most players were no longer able to compete on a regular basis but still had the basic skills that made them greats. They just didn’t have those skills as often.
Those that have read the Phil Taylor dart autobiography, written with Sid Waddell, will have noted it describes a sport foreign to most pub darters. The book makes the case, either correctly or not, that today’s professional dart players of the PDC (Professional Dart Corporation Players) are finely tuned athletes who neither drink, carouse nor identify with the common players who toss the arrows at their local. Maybe true, but this “description” is a disassociation from the ‘Mother and Father’ of darts, which is the local pub.
Noticing this disconnect, John Lowe came up with a series of joint exhibitions with “arch-rival” Eric Bristow calling the events “The Legends of Darts.” From that grew the recently announce League of (Darts) Legends. The league goes “for the bull” for the first of eight nights of play on May 30, 2008.
This “League of Their Own” is headed by true legends of the game in John Lowe, Eric Bristow, Bob Anderson and Bobby George. Added to the roster of players are the always-charismatic Cliff Lazeranko, the terrific scoring of Dave Whitcombe and two players in Keith Deller and Peter Evison who also had their moments in the sun. It’s a nice roster with a little bit for everyone.
Over the first 7 weeks the players will play a round-robin event with the top four playing a semi and final round on August 22 at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet, Essex, England. The playing format for the early rounds will be of best of 12 legs -501, with that going to 21 in the semi’s and best of 31 for the final.
What happens with the “Legends” this year will set the tone for either success or failure down the road. Partnered with Setanta TV, there will be 45 hours of live coverage on year one of a two-year contract.
There are lots of plus points going in with the familiar names: a pub style format, live TV and the involvement of Betfred.com. The future is unlimited as year 2 could see an extended field with names like Dennis Presley getting involved.
There are though pitfalls that must be avoided at all costs. If the players involved treat the “League” as just an exhibition the venture will be short lived regardless of any contractual obligations. As “Betfred.com”, a betting company, is involved there can be no hint of any betting misdeed or “shame” performances.
Should the powers that be decide to promote the events as just another show as opposed to a sporting event then this “league of their own” won’t survive. Only time will tell.
Next week we’ll take a look at first round draws and more on the players involved.
On March 20, 1942 General Douglas MacArther said after leaving the Philippines in the early stages of World War II, “I shall return.” Like MacArther these “legends of the dartboard” are back. Good for them.