The Pattaya Links Golf Society
Monday, July 17, Royal Lakeside – Stableford
A Flight
1st Toby Glass (14) 35pts
2nd Maurice Roberts (13) 35pts
3rd Kevin Rogers (12) 35pts
B Flight
1st Mike Firkin (22) 38pts
2nd Barry Oats (26) 37pts
3rd Mick Coghlan (22) 37pts
Heavy grey skies greeted 22 avid golfers ready to take on the picturesque and score-friendly Royal Lakeside. However, once again we outsmarted the “weather gods” and got away with a light sprinkle for only about 5 minutes.
We were informed by the starter that carts could go on the fairways and decided to play the ball ‘as it lies’. After walking the first two fairways we started to think it was maybe a big mistake. The ground was quite soft underfoot in many places, but to our pleasant surprise we were able to play shots normally, albeit picking up some mud at times.
The greens were rated at 10, but most believed 9 would have been closer to the mark. However, they played quickly enough and ran truly. No complaints here.
With no-one in front of us our lead group completed the course in 3 hours 25mins.
B flight led the scoring today with Mike Firkin, who has been in good form recently, taking the honours with a steady 38 points. Barry Oats is usually consistent and got second place by way of a count back over Mick Coghlan, both with 37 points.
In the A flight a three-way tie had to be separated yet again by count back. All had 35 points for the day, but it was Toby Glass taking the first spot narrowly over Maurice Roberts with Kevin Rogers in third.
The best nines by non-winners came from Mike Wilsher (22pts front) and Chris Walsh (18pts back).
Wednesday, July 19, Khao Kheow B & C – Stableford
1st Tom Marshall (7) 38pts
2nd John Pierrel (13) 33pts
3rd Maurice Roberts (13) 33pts
4th Len Jones (29) 32pts
Khao Kheow is one of the best golf courses in this area of Thailand and is always presented in great condition with fresh mown fairways and good paced greens.
Today was a hard slog for all of the golfers, as the fairways have taken a lot of water of late, and not helped by a big shower the night before our arrival. Naturally carts were restricted to the paths, so most decided it was just as well to walk. With so much rain, the rough has grown and at times made looking for a ball an exercise in frustration. Some balls never to be seen again.
Scores here are not usually at the higher end and today was no exception, but one, Tommy Marshall, showed that a good golfer is going to handle these conditions better than the higher handicappers. His 38 points (that’s 77 gross) left the others in his wake.
Even John Pierrel, who has been in great form, could manage just 33 points to take second place on count back over another in-form player, Maurice Roberts.
We had only 12 players today, but went to a fourth place, and here Len Jones took the count back ahead of two others on the same score of 32 points.
Friday, July 21, Pattavia – Stableford
1st Mike Allidi (3) 34pts
2nd Maurice Roberts (13) 34pts
3rd Toby Glass (14) 34pts
4th Tommy Marshall (7) 33pts
5th John O’Sullivan (23) 31 pts
Pattavia is always a nice course to visit. Check-in is efficient, there is a very good starter/marshal at the first tee to make sure everyone is in order, the fairways look a treat and on this day the greens were running faster than on our recent visit, almost back to the treacherous “keep the ball below the pin” that we know.
Today was very busy but we still got away at our scheduled time. You get that sometimes on a popular course, and the 950 baht green fee and caddy along with the 150 baht food/drink voucher keeps ‘em coming.
Considering the very good conditions, course and weather wise, it was somewhat of a surprise at the low scores turned in, even from the “good” golfers. John O’Sullivan took fifth place with 31 points, fourth went to Tommy Marshall on 33 and then a three-way tie on 34 points needed some count backs to decide the winner. Toby Glass got to third place, losing to Maurice Roberts, and then he in turn lost out to Mike Allidi.
Mike Allidi wore a confused look on his face as Phil was trying to get the green jacket on him later. “Why?” He asked. Not believing he could win with only 34 points. That’s how golf goes sometimes.
One who was certainly not confused was the clear winner of the “wig”, John Anderson, who reckoned that the only way to get in on the photo op was to score 5 points on the back nine.
