PATTAYA, Thailand – The week began on Monday, July 6, at Pleasant Valley following a weekend of torrential rain. Despite the course’s mixed reputation, it attracted a large field, resulting in a slow round of more than four and a half hours—more typical of the high season than the current low season.
The recent rain left the course damp, so pick, clean and place was in effect throughout the round. Although threatening skies lingered for much of the day, the rain stayed away and golfers finished in bright sunshine, with high humidity making hydration essential.
Rob Folland continued his impressive recent form to claim victory with 39 Stableford points. Michael Brett finished runner-up on 37 points, while Alan Sullivan took third with 33. Sullivan also dominated the nearest-the-pin contests with two successes, while Frazer Davy and Michael Brett claimed one each. Near pins: Frazer Davy (1), Michael Brett (1), Alan Sullivan (2).
On Wednesday, July 8, the society was scheduled to play the North and West nines at Plutaluang but, after being delayed behind a slow six-ball on the North course, switched to the South nine for the second half of the round to enjoy a much quicker finish.
Despite the recent heavy rain, the course was in good condition, although the greens proved slower than many expected. The society also continued its new tradition of drawing playing groups at random, giving everyone the opportunity to play with different partners each week.
Alan Sullivan produced the standout performance of the week, compiling an excellent 42 Stableford points. His superb putting repeatedly rescued his scorecard and proved the difference. Frazer Davy also played well with 38 points but had to settle for second, while Michael Brett finished third on 32. Nearest-the-pin prizes went to Les Cobban, Luc Albert and Frazer Davy, who claimed two.
The week’s golf concluded on Friday, July 10, at Bangpra Golf Course, where golfers enjoyed beautiful weather and found the course in excellent condition. Strong, blustery winds from the white tees, however, made scoring far more difficult than expected.
Michael Brett opened with a birdie and added another later in the round, helping him secure first place with 36 Stableford points. The challenging conditions took their toll on the rest of the field, with Rob Folland finishing a distant second on 25 points and Luc Albert recovering from a difficult front nine to claim third on 17.
Slow play again proved frustrating, with another four-and-a-half-hour round behind a particularly deliberate fourball testing everyone’s patience.
The society now looks forward to next week’s fixtures at Burapha, Bangpakong and Pattaya Country Club, where higher scores are expected. Near pins: Michael Brett, Rob Folland and Luc Albert.
