Press Archive 2008

Here we have all the press reports for 2008. Click on a month to navigate and read the reports.

The new golfing year began in fine style at the OK Corral on Thursday, 3rd January, as the popular Pattaya Golf Society took to Greenwood for its pipe-opener, a pairs stableford event under the "South African" formula, multiplying partners' scores per hole together. Beware the dreaded zero of course! The course was in magnificent shape with greens as fast as anyone could remember and it was in the face of this challenge that the nineteen teams set out. From the outset it became clear that the scores would be far better than in previous events of this nature as four teams raised high standards of forty plus points for the first nine, over the relatively easy "A" track at Greenwood. Could the standard be maintained over the tougher "C" nine? Eventually five teams posted scores of sixty-plus with Ian Wilson and Simon Kendall notching up a New Year podium place with 67 points. First-footing in fine style ahead of them were Len Jones and Andy Parkinson and their 69 points could have been so much better if they had come to grips with the racing greens sooner in their round. Lording it with a tremendous back nine of 48 points was the pairing of Peter Masters and Mark Graham, whose golf at times belied their ranking, and if their 79 points were to be a taste of things to come in the next twelve months, roll on 2008! The first birdie twos of the year went to Peter Duncan on "A" 6, Len Jones on "C" 3 and Helene Lindberg on "C" 6, whilst the hapless newbie pairing of Andy and Lee took the first Booby Bevy of the year with their paltry score punctuated with seven scratched holes. A stuttering start for a first run-out with the PGS. It had been a wonderful and good-humoured start to the new golfing year from the OK Corral.

The Pattaya Golf Society's first Sunday outing of the New Year saw a large field travel to Plutaluang on the sixth to play a stableford event over the North and West nines, which were generally in good condition but with uncut greens making putting a work of art, yet again on the inconsistent surface. Old and new friends were welcomed and the competition was destined to be tight with Andy Parkinson amassing 33 points for third place and slowly finding his Pattaya form. Just one point better were Tony Kitchen and Chris Walsh, the latter having overcome back problems to post his best score this trip. The winner was Thai lady golfer Mam Morel who again impressed with a level-par round of 36 points, much to husband Jean's delight as she kept up a fine family record on the course. Chris Voller, Richard Newman, Paul McNally and Lyndsay Joshua all shared the birdie twos pot and Ian Wilson secured the Booby Bevy for his sartorial challenge, blending as he did, subtle pinks with lavender balls! It takes all sorts, doesn't it.

On Tuesday, 6th January, the Pattaya Golf Society kept it's long-awaited appointment at The Emerald for a strokeplay event on the well turned out course but with some decidedly wicked pin positions, the result, no doubt of an over-exuberant greenkeeper. How else can one explain pins situated within three yards of the fringe or halfway down a slope. Obviously the large group of Scandinavian "tortoises" playing in front of the large field found the same problems. The field was kept as one flight for the Order of Merit event and competition was tense, especially amongst the distinguished low handicappers making up a quarter of the group. In fourth place with net 75 was Emiel van der Wiele and his score emphasized his current consistency. Ahead of him in third was Paul McNally and the Tynesider's best gross of 73 included an eagle on the third, his accurate sandwedge complementing his 320 yard drive. His net 72 was a shot behind Andy Parkinson, one day wed, and his one-under total will be almost as memorable as his honeymoon no doubt! The day's winner was Simon Kendall, an excellent ten-handicapper who fired net 70 for a thoroughly deserved win. Joining Paul McNally with an eagle was David Wilkinson, on the stroke one hole no less, and the more standard twos of David Thomas and Craig Boyd all took a share of the large twos pot. Canny Scot Craig was also involved in a "flutter" with partner Chris Hardy and when the latter five-putted on a par-three hole Craig's banter showed no mercy, until he later five-putted himself, thereby losing his "challenge" by one shot. He picked up the Booby Bevy as a consolation. The Emerald had shown its teeth yet again but its bite had been no more than a nip.

The Pattaya Golf Society's Sunday roadshow continued at Plutaluang on 13th January, when a crowded South and East combination greeted the group and the prompt start-time disguised what was to be a three hour front nine until the annoying Japanese slowcoaches took a meal break after nine holes and the whole process speeded up. The course was quite well prepared but the uncut greens left them inconsistent and very slow. Good scores were therefore at a premium and Alex Sala, in his final round before returning to "Oz", joined Jean and Mam Morel on 32 points for a deserved share of the minor places. The finest performance of the day was that of the genial Japanese giant Kasuo Takimoto and his best gross of 75 gave him a score of 37 points for a fine win. His card also included the day's only birdie two, a prodigious effort on E5. The Booby Bevy went to Werner Lang, not because his score was only average, not because he was soon to return to work in a freezing Europe, but because he had successfully avoided the quizzical glare of the organiser during his month in the Kingdom. All things come to those who wait, Werner!

The Lady Survives the Cut

On Tuesday, 15th January, the Pattaya Golf Society forsook the solace of the OK Corral in Soi Rungland for the bustle of Bangpra on another day when the visiting Japanese were literally "on tour", fleeing from one empty tee, in search of another, to the anguish of marshalls and other more "correct" golfers. The tournament was stableford and playing the course the wrong way around did not help either. The two flights were cut at nineteen and under and in the first flight Werner Pausch pressed a claim for a place with a hard earned 30 points, joining David Thomas as one of the joint runners-up. The flight winner was Stuart Thompson, who put aside his genuine concerns about the validity of clubs and other rulings, to focus on his game with a fine 35 points. In the second flight scores were slightly better with Len Jones taking third place with 32 points, a distant five points off the lead with winners Rob Dolan and Helene Lindberg establishing their credentials with fine 37 point cards. For Rob it was his first win in months and for Helene it was significant because only a week earlier she had undergone an appendectomy. The only two of the day was scored by Ed Findlay, playing his first competition round in Pattaya since the old Bunker days in Soi Chaiyapoon and the Booby Bevy went to a returning Carl Lovatt for his paltry contribution to the scorer's lot. Nevertheless it is lovely to have this quality golfer back in the fold after a few wearying months in UK. As a footnote to the day's events Mr. Denis was later heard muttering something about an "operation" to improve his game. And we all thought he had had it already!

Double Top for Helene

Flu' ridden organizers, Messrs Len and Denis, were shunned by their golfmates on Thursday, 17th January, as David Thomas splendidly marshalled the Pattaya Golf Society for their outing to Mountain Shadow to play a stableford event. The course was in fine condition but a strong breeze blew all day and, coupled with some uncharacteristically slow and inconsistent greens, it made the going tough for the two flights, cut at sixteen and under. Conditions on the testing track suited none but the straightest hitters and in the top flight there is no-one straighter than David Thomas, who took the win with a moderate 32 points, from Erik Antonnen, 31, and Mikael Lindberg on 30, making the frame for the first time this trip. In the second flight lady golfer Helene Lindberg made it a weekly double with a fine 32 points, winking at her husband, Mikael, as she nudged Jorma Liila and Chris Walsh, both on 30 points, into the minor placings. It had been a good week for the reinvigorated Swedish lass, having won also on the previous outing! The day's pair of twos went to Emiel van der Wiele and Erik Antonnen whose efforts on the fifteenth gave them a share of the spoils and Chris Walsh celebrated his swansong this trip with a well-earned Booby Bevy, after one of his finest performances to date. All being well there will be a full turnout next time as the antibiotics take control and the Pattaya Golf Society will be at its competitive best.

Banjo Strikes the Winning Note

On Sunday, 20th January, the Pattaya Golf Society visited Plutaluang to play a stableford event over the North and West Nines, on a very busy golf course. Able-bodied pirates, barnacle scrapers and mermaids were enlisted as caddies and the single flight accepted the challenge. In fourth place was Paul McNally, his gross 78 being by far the best of the day, and his 32 points was only one behind third-placed Peter Masters, enjoying a day off from his teaching duties. In second place came the skilful Scot, Craig Boyd and his 36 points score represented a fine return for the very able golfer. The day's winner was Richard "Banjo" Bannister who fired an impressive 39 points to take a handsome victory. "Banjo" was merely continuing a fine family sporting tradition as his grandfather had won the Grand National and the Isle of Man T.T. races in the same year back in the thirties and for Richard the day was far better than "When I'm Cleaning Windows" or "Leaning on the Lamp-post". The day's two's pot was shared by Craig Boyd, Tony Kitchen and Werner Pausch, and, if for no other reason, the Booby Bevy went to Kasuo Takimoto, the PGS' "Player of the Month" for December, on the eve of his return to Japan. The day had certainly been memorable for "Banjo" and his smiles at the presentation told the story as magically as only grand-dad George could have done!

Erik 's Back at the Top

Eastern Star was the venue for the Pattaya Golf Society on Tuesday, 22nd January, as their monthly schedule continued with a stableford round over the popular course. As usual there was a large field for the second monthly Order of Merit event and a fresh breeze and some awkward greens added some zest to the proceedings. It turned out to be a very tight affair with Jorma Liila finding his game to share fourth place with Mikael Andersson and their 32 point scores were only one behind the joint third placed players, Ian Hart and Magnus Hagesjo, on 33. On 34 points was the runner-up Stuart Thompson, thankfully getting back to his old form after a traumatic few months with a serious shoulder injury. The day's winner was the astute Finn Erik Antonnen whose form has been woeful by his own admission since his return, but he showed the consistency we all expect from the fine golfer to take the major honours this time with 35 points. The best gross of the day was again produced by Paul McNally, an excellent 79, and it included the day's only birdie two, a tap-in no less on the sixth hole. The special prize generously donated by Ian Wilson and Simon Kendall before their recent return to UK was held over to the next outing at The Emerald because of technical problems - the lead group had left without the marker! - and the day's Booby Bevy prize went to "Banjo" Bannister who followed up his excellent effort at Plutaluang the previous event with a dismal round which gave him fully twenty points less. It was not helped by a soaking on the seventh hole when he foolishly tried to play his ball from a submerged lie. It's a pity grand-dad had not won an Olympic gold for diving! The fun days are certainly back at the OK Corral.

Big Bob's Winning Return

On Thursday, 24th January the Pattaya Golf Society visited the Emerald golf club at Ban Chang play its weekly stableford event on the well-turned out course with some teasing pin positions. There was even a dab or two of unseasonal rain to cool the golfers down as the round tookshape.In a tight top flight, divided at sixteen and under, Andy Parkinson found form at last after his recent wedding to post a near-par score of 35 points which took third place, only one behind the excellent round by Mikael Andersson who occupied second with 36 points. The winner of the flight was David Thomas and his 37 points also featured as the lowest gross of the day, 77. In the second flight new member Petri Frisk established his credentials with a steady 32 points for third place, a country mile off the runner-up Emiel van der Wiele whose consistency continued with a fine level par performance. The best score of the day was that recorded by big Bob Martin, returning after a few months in the golfing wilderness and his 39 points registered the best PGS score of the year so far. The only birdie two if the day was scooped by Mikael Andersson on the fifteenth and the special technical prize kindly donated by Ian Wilson and Simon Kendall was won by Len Jones as he eased his wedged second shot to within five feet of the tenth pin. The Booby Bevy went to an anxious Jorma Liila who managed to scratch eleven of the holes, having performed manfully on the previous outing. Full marks to Big Bob then, for his fine score as The Emerald again proved a popular venue.

Old Hands Take Control

On Sunday, 27th January the Pattaya Golf Society found to their delight that the North and West nines at Plutaluang were sparsely populated when they called to play their regular Sunday stableford event. The greens however could have been more consistent but, as they say, "it's the same for everyone". Two players shared fourth place with scores of 31 points and for both Trevor Robins and Shuichi Kodaka it was their first taste of success at the OK Corral. Ahead in third place was Tony Kitchen, no stranger to being on the podium here and his 34 points came on the back of some strong and accurate hitting. There were joint winners and as the PGS does not operate a countback system both David Thomas and Jean Morel shared the prize for their solid 35 point cards. Both are "old hands" at playing the course and they have probably won more often there than any other PGS player. Full marks indeed to them. There were a brace of birdie twos on the day, the lucky golfers being Werner Pausch on W3 and Andre Fortis on the Lighthouse hole, N3. Paul McNally is an accomplished two-handicapper but he struggled all day with the wind - internal not external - and the organiser presented the Booby Bevy to him "in absentia", as his condition had restricted him to twenty-nine very brave points and it one of those days when no relief was to be given. You can't hide at the OK!

Tough Times are Back

The Pattaya Golf Society revisited Treasure Hill on Tuesday, 29th January, to play a stableford round with the "B" flight going off the usual white tees and the "B" flight going off the more relenting yellow tees. The course was in fine condition and of the large field there were those who had never played the course before. What a treat lay in store for them! In the top flight, cut at eighteen and under, the golfers found the day a tough one with only two golfers managed to post scores of thirty-plus. In third place was Chris Voller, making his first podium appearance since relocating before Christmas and he could be forgiven for feeling a little embarrassed returning a score of 29 points. Tony Kitchen, a virtual stranger to the course, allowed nothing to faze him and his thirty points took second, three behind the winner, Andre Fortis, whose skill helped him score 33 points for a deserved victory. In the second flight Kazu Agune and Ray Underwood fired 33 points each for a share of third place whilst Emiel van der Wiele continued his current fine form with 35 points for second. It was left to Ian Hart to post the best score of the day, 36 points and he joined the ranks of the Pattaya Golf Society in winning but not breaking par. There were no birdie twos and the group waited in anticipation of some fun at Green Valley next time out. The recently returned John Mason was heard to say," If this was in England I would have had 37 or 38 points by now" as he studied his meagre ten-over card and the Booby Bevy had found its rightful owner, as it so often does at Treasure Hill.

Andy Caps a Fine Month

Green Valley is a wonderful respite from bustling Pattaya and so it was on Thursday 31st January when the Pattaya Golf Society took a large party to play its final stableford competition of the month. The course was in fine condition and the stiff breeze which held up all day offered some relief to the golfers in the heat. Of course, it also added another dimension to the day's proceedings. The two flights were cut at eighteen and under and in the second flight Len Jones and John Mason posted scores of 34 points for a share of third place, one behind the sole lady golfer Yui Duangkaew whose 35 points showed evidence of yet another skilful Thai lady golfer. The flight was won by the ever popular Finn Jorma Liila who capped a good week with his 37 point winning score. In a competitive top flight Stuart Thompson, Erik Antonnen and Richard "Banjo" Bannister stood in third with 33 points each, three behind runner-up David Thomas and yet another par round. The star of the day, as he was throughout the same month last year, was Andy Parkinson. Playing off thirteen his back nine of 40 "off the sticks" went a long way to establish his winning score of 39 points. It also saw him snatch the Society's "Player of the Month" title from David Thomas who needed only to par the final two holes to take the award. In the end he stuttered with two bogeys. Well done Andy! The biggest winner on the day was Len Jones who recorded the only birdie two of the week to reap a handsome pot, and of course the dour old gaffer did the correct thing and set the bells ringing back at the OK Corral. Paul McNally received the Booby Bevy at last for cocking a snook at the truest saying in golf - "It's not how, it's how many". On the short par five fourteenth he launched a prodigious drive and put the subsequent wedge through the green and ended the hole with a par, losing the hole and a side bet to a conventional birdie from David Thomas. Both had the honour of the best gross of the day, 78, so in a sense things stayed all square at gorgeous Green Valley.

February 2008

On Sunday, 3rd February the Pattaya Golf Society visited Plutaluang to play a stableford event over the North and West nines on a very stormy day. The weather was destined to play an important role in the day's proceedings as the golfers got underway. The course was also full and the sight of a Korean fiveball with five golfcarts did nothing to appease those in the group who were unable to get one. The regular single flight found the going tough but for Andre Fortis it was little more than a Sunday stroll as he lodged 34 points with the recorder for third place to find that he was sharing the place with Richard Bannister. One of Plutaluang's regular players, Jean Morel, used his knowledge of the course to post a score of 37 points, yet again beating par here, but it wasn't quite enough as Shuichi Kodaka went one better with an excellent 38 for a deserved victory. He also had a share of the twos pot with a birdie on W3, the other winners being John Mason for a long chip-in on W8 and Don Nellis for a conventional birdie on the Lighthouse hole, N3. The weather had spoilt the day for a few but poor Keith Rhodes fared worse than the rest as he damaged tendons in his elbow on the first hole and had to sit the rest of the day out. For him there was nothing but the consolation of the Booby Bevy. Hopefully he will make a swift recovery to join us again on the golf course.

The Pattaya Golf Society's monthly team event took the shape of a pairs scramble at The Emerald on Tuesday, 5th February, and twenty teams took part in a very successful competition. Scores were extremely good and the return of old friends made the day very enjoyable. In third place came the surprise new members Mike and Yvonne Earley and their 61.4 points turned heads at the presentation as it was their first competition in the Kingdom. Second place belonged to the inveterate duo of Roy Thornton and Jeremy Masse who could not have played better in recording net 60.8, which included a back nine of 32 gross. The winners were Jeff Johnson and Doug Watkins, freshly returned from the USA, and their score of 58.2 defied jetlag and the humid conditions. There were seven birdie twos on the cards also and the lucky pairs took a share of the large pot. The Booby Bevy was reserved for the laggers of the day, Chris Voller and Rob Dolan whilst Paul Quodomine, currently injured out of the game, turned up at the OK Corral later just to celebrate the Superbowl victory of his favourites, the New York Giants, and duly rang the bell for the huge gathering. Cheers Paul, it doesn't get much better than this.

On Thursday, 7th February, three dozen golfers represented the Pattaya Golf Society out of the OK Corral in Soi Rungland at the ever attractive course at Bangpra for a stableford Order of Merit event on a hot and humid day. The greens were back to their racing best and despite the ongoing construction work the course is still an eagerly awaited monthly fixture. Sharing fourth place were Stuart Thompson, Vic Barton and Pierre Bietry, all on 33 points whilst Andre Fortis maintained his current good form with a fine 34 points for third. Only one over par was Emiel van der Wiele and his 35 points continued a fine record this year. The day's winner was Big Bill Pickersgill and this former rugby league player brutalised the course with some savage hitting to record his short career best score of 38 points and give the handicapper some more work to do this weekend. Three of the four birdie twos came from the same playing group, the accurate putters being Stuart Thompson, David Thomas and Carl Lovatt and the fourth share of the pot went to Don Nellis. The Booby Bevy went to current PGS "Player of the Month", Andy Parkinson, for his failure to emulate the others in his group with a birdie. It also helped to celebrate the granting of a UK visa to his new wife and was a fine way to end an excellent golfing week at the OK Corral.

On Sunday, 10th February, The Royal Thai Navy course at Plutaluang welcomed the Pattaya Golf Society for its weekly single flight stableford event and the North and West nines were again the chosen track. The day stayed humid throughout and those recently returned from Europe found the going difficult. It was to be a day for old hands or old heads. Paul McNally has yet to play to par off his handicap of 2 and on this occasion he managed to fire the best gross yet again but remained on 33 points to share fourth place with David Thomas and Stan Everingham, the steady Canadian golfer. Ahead of them on 35 points was Phil "PJ" MItchell and he found form at last with a well constructed score which gave him third place. Sunny Khanna did what he does best, finding success immediately on his return, and his 37 points came despite three day old knee surgery which saw him take a golf cart for probably the first time in his life. But it needed to be turbo-charged to catch the day's winner, Craig Boyd, whose 39 points has been a long time coming and it was an overdue and welcome win for the amiable Scotsman. Sunny and "PJ: shared the twos pot for their efforts on N3 and W3 respectively and a wilting Jim Bell found comfort in the shape of the Booby Bevy after his dismal "first day back" display. Perhaps the major shock of the tournament was the demise of perennial Plutaluang prizewinner, Jean Morel, but a glass of red wine encouraged him to comment that he would be back. That he will, and the many others who enjoy their Sunday PGS golf at Plutaluang.

The Pattaya Golf Society's Sunday roadshow continued at Plutaluang on 16th February when the South and East nines were the chosen track, on a fine day and an empty course. As usual the single flight took to the course in eager anticipation of a good day and hopes were high as some of the fancied candidates and usual contenders had returned to UK. Japanese golfer Kazu Agune is still here however and his steady 36 points took a share of third place with newest PGS member Mark Morris who debuted with a similar score. One point ahead was the ubiquitous David Thomas whose consistency was rewarded with 37 points for second place. The day's best gross once again was achieved by Paul McNally, a fine 76, but the main honours were reserved for the performance of Richard "Banjo" Bannister whose fine 39 points were the epitome of a man in form. He currently leads the group's "Player of the Month" standings and he will take some beating over the next few rounds. An example of the honesty of golfers was the case of Jim Bell's putt on the first when, unknown to him at address, his caddy had placed the wrong ball down and only after he had holed out did Jim realise his mistake, and called his infringement. That's what golf is all about. That's what brings us back. The day's birdie twos pot was shared by Bob Boyle, Syd Harrison, Vic Barton and Mikael Lindberg and for Syd there was also the Booby Bevy as he had chosen to return to the UK after this round. He'll be back for more golf with the OK Corral later in the year.

The most important competition in the month for the Pattaya Golf Society at the OK Corral is the strokeplay medal event and this month Greenwood was the chosen course on Macha Buccha Day, Thursday, 21st February. Needless to say the course was full but the quality of the course is such that a large field turned out to play. Greenwood didn't disappoint and the course was finely set up with some very fast greens and Thompson's passion for reading every green carefully was to pose problems for those golfers with "temporary" caddies. Scores were destined to be tight on the C and A nines and David Thomas, Stuart Thompson and Vic Barton did well to come in with net 71's for a share of second place. The best golf of the day was exhibited by Peter Masters and his net 68 celebrated his week's break from teaching chores. It was quality all round and two under at the turn only strengthened his resolve to build on it and his similar back nine emphasized his consistency. The three birdie twos gave shares of the pot to "Banjo" Bannister. Mike Earley and John Mason and Len Jones's day was complete when he was awarded the Booby Bevy after a trying day coping with some reluctant reception staff, telephonic interruptions and his own inability to focus one hundred percent. But golf was to be the winner on a day when Peter Masters' performance helped to set up a tight race for the Society's "Player of the Month" trophy with only three events to go.

The Pattaya Golf Society's final Sunday outing at Plutaluang before moving to Saturdays, came on 24th February and the North and West nines were the choice for the single-flight stableford event. The course was relatively empty and well prepared and a good day was in prospect. A multinational field saw Aussies Peter Masters and Jim Bell secure a share of third place with steadily worked scores of 35 points, only one point behind the ultimate winners Mark Morris and Swiss golfer Freddy Braun on 36 points. For Freddy it was particularly memorable being his first PGS win and his first round since his recent return only twenty-four hours earlier. After twelve holes he was sitting on thirty points and a major score looked in prospect but jetlag and the heat took its toll on the golfer more used to freezing temperatures, winter greens and preferred lies currently en vogue in Zurich. The day's only birdie two went to Alan Taylor, the steward of Newton Stuart Golf Club in Scotland, an IPGC member to boot, and he will have an occasion to ring the bell on his return no doubt. Colleague Jimmy Clay received the Booby Bevy for his lacklustre 21 points but it was his first round in the Kingdom after all, and what are Booby Bevvies for! Next week the party continues at Plutaluang but potential players are reminded that Saturday is the day for the fun for now on.

The Pattaya Golf Society visited a slightly jaded Mountain Shadow golf club on Tuesday, 26th February, to play a stableford event off the blue tees. The fairways were showing signs of the constant pounding of high season feet and the greens, legendary for their challenge, were inconsistent and on the slow side. Nevertheless the two flights, cut at sixteen and under, set about their task manfully. In the second flight Jim Bell and John Mason tied for third with meagre scores of 30 points and Len Jones went two better for the runner-up spot. The flight winner was Scot Ronnie Ramsay whose 33 points was a steadily crafted affair. In the top flight Steve Weller and Steve Mulberry took a share of second place with 34 points whilst it was left to Mike Earley to post the day's best score of 35 points on his last outing this trip. It was a fitting way for him to end his first visit to the Kingdom and he has promised to be back soon with more of the same. Mike also had a share of the twos pot with David Wilkinson and John Warren and the sight of Vic Barton drying his golf gear with a locker-room hairdrier was too much for Mr Len to resist in considering the Booby Bevy. It was, after all, the second time that Vic had forgotten his change of clothing for a golf outing. Thus the day ended in fine style back at the OK Corral as thoughts turned to Ban Chang two days later.

On Thursday, 28th February, the Pattaya Golf Society made a welcome return to friendly Ban Chang to play a stableford event over the testing Emerald course. Typically at the end of the high season the course is showing signs of fatigue and the greens maybe had lost a little of their consistency but it was still enough of a challenge to frustrate all but one of the large field in their efforts to break par. The cut was at twenty and under and in the second flight Len Jones concluded a reasonable week by sharing third place with Jim Bell, their 34 points reflecting the occasions when they three-putted. Pat Murphy emerged from the pack to post a creditable 35 points for the runner-up slot whilst Helene Lindberg made a happy return from a niggling wrist injury to take her first victory in a while. It's always nice to see a lady on top in Ban Chang! In the top flight Helene's husband Mikael enjoyed a level par round for a share of runner-up place with David Thomas, for whom the best gross honours beckoned again after a canny round of 78. It was also good enough to give him the Society's "Player of the Month" title for the first time in a while. The day's best round was achieved by John Fitzgerald whose 37 points followed a frustrating previous week with the Lewiinski's four-day event. The twos pot was shared by David Thomas, Jim Bell, Pat Murphy and John Fitzgerald whilst the saga of the Jim Bell-Mark Morris "flutter sideshow" concluded with the award of the Booby Bevy to Mark, minutes before his return to UK. Needless to say his first taste of golf in the Kingdom has whetted his appetite for more, especially at Ban Chang.

Saturday, 1st March, saw the Pattaya Golf Society's switch to Saturday golf with a visit to Plutaluang to play a stableford event over the South and East nines and the immediate impression was that of a more relaxed and less phrenetic round on a virtually empty course. The field got under way on time, carts were available for those who needed them and a good day was in prospect from the start. Golf and good scoring is never easy at the venue and so it was that Chris Voller's 30 points was good enough for third place, two behind the old warhorse John Mason whose 32 was restricted by an inability to score on South two and three. The best score of the day came from Freddy Braun whose 37 points reflected his final Sunday score last week. The Swiss golfer is not long but invariably straight and this is the recipe for success on this course. There were no birdie twos and the pot was rolled over until next weekend. On the eve of his departure for UK Denis Smith must have had "check-in" on his mind as he failed to check out of a bunker on East 7 and the excess baggage of his unsuccessful attempts gave him the unwanted upgrade to Booby Bevy class! The transition to Saturday golf had been seamless and the group from the OK Corral is looking forward to more of the same as the year progresses.

On Tuesday, 4th March, a large group represented the Pattaya Golf Society in a pairs better ball tournament at Eastern Star on a warm humid day. The course has stood up reasonably well to the rigours of the recently departed high season but the greens were on the slow side and quite inconsistent. Fifteen teams took part and with the strokeplay format the scene was set for the lower handicappers to make their mark. Scores were indeed good with the average for the field standing at a very healthy 69 but a glance at the finishing leaderboard showed that the first single figure handicapper was only in fourth place and that honour went to the redoubtable duo of Paul McNally and David Thomas, with net 68. They had been usurped by Len Jones and Freddy Braun whose net 67 was a reward for some fine golf by the Swiss maestro Freddy who has found a rich vein of form of late. They were joined as runners-up by the Swedish husband and wife pairing of Mikael and Helene Lindberg whose game was in obvious harmony. The winners on the day were another matrimonial duo Dave and Margaret Wilkinson and their net 64 was due in no small part to Margaret's fine birdie on number three which also paid her handsomely. The absent pairing of Keith Stanbury and Bill Whiter at the presentation meant promotion to the Booby Bevy berth for Jim Proctor and Evan Millar whose game may have been in desperate shape but it was played with some fine good humour, as befits the noble game. It had been a day to savour for the golfers and rest assured there will be more like that to come.

In the whole of the province the golf club at Bangpra is currently in the finest condition of any course and it's all the more surprising because in parts the course resembles a construction site with heavy digging machines and countless excavations as the new management attempts to upgrade the course with cart-paths, some new tees and some subtle rerouting of holes. The greens and fairways are in excellent condition and the club was the perfect host on Thursday, 6th March, for the Pattaya Golf Society's stableford event. The large field, cut at twenty and under, took to the first tee well before time and the joy of playing on an empty course was apparent to all. There were to be some excellent performances and in a competitive top flight Stuart Thompson fired 35 points for third place, just one point behind runner-up Phil Mitchell, his 36 points giving him his best performance this trip. The flight winner was Paul McNally and his best gross of level par 72 gave the accomplished golfer a points tally of 39 for his finest round since arriving in the Kingdom four months ago. In the second flight the consistent Freddy Braun ended a fine week with a share of second place, matching his 33 points with that of Ronnie Ramsay. The day's best stableford score was recorded by wily Pat Murphy and he took the flight with 41 points, his best tally for many a month. The large twos pot was shared by Len Jones and Chris Voller, the latter's chip-in on the twelfth matching the subtle long putt of the former on the eighth. The Booby Bevy went to Jim Proctor for picking up the wrong golf bag on his way back, thus leading to the organiser's extended telephone debate with an anxious Scandinavian all the way down Highway Seven. All's well that ends well and ultimately everyone enjoyed the joke at the end of a fine day at Bangpra.

Saturday's stableford event at Plutaluang over the South and East nines was abandoned after four holes when the heavens opened and left the course flooded. A small group continued after an hour or so and played social golf. They had avoided the worst of the storm as they had reached a watering hole when the rain began. All others were thoroughly soaked of course. The leaders at the time of the abandonment were John Mason, John Schroeder and Len Jones, all three under par. Sod's Law at its infuriating best in Pattaya!

On Tuesday, 11th March, the Pattaya Golf Society took the ever-easing journey up route 331 to glorious Greenwood to play a stableford round over the A and C nines. The day remained hot and humid but the threatened rain never came to spoil the fun for the two flights, cut at 20 and under. Scores were to be excellent with an average of 33 points and in the top flight Emiel van der Wiele took yet another podium place with a steady 35 points for third, a mere point behind runner-up Jesper Hansen. John Mason took the flight and he was disappointed with 37 points because at one stage he threw away points unnecessarily after a caddy had not raked a bunker properly, leaving him an almost impossible shot. In the second flight Len Jones, Peter Marsh and Evan Millar all shared third -place with 35 points whilst Paul; Quodomine went two better with a carefully constructed 37. The day's best score was recorded by Ray Underwood and his 41 points could have been even better had he not squandered points with just six holes to go. It represented his best score since a net 63 on the same course last year. Greenwood is "Dreamwood for" Mr. Underwood! There were no birdie twos and a handsome pot would be rolled over at Eastern Star two days later. Paul Quodomine received the Booby Bevy as a result of a late arrival back at the OK Corral and all the talk of breakdowns, thermostats, gaskets and tow trucks went over the heads of those who listened. It also served as a "thank you tipple" for the man who had spent hours slaving over a hot, and sometimes very testy, computer, putting the finishing touches to an excellent video of the recent visit by our Canadian golfing cousins. Cheers Paul and Cheers Ray, for your excellent performances.

Because of an enforced cancellation at Emerald due to a double booking with a large Thai competition the Pattaya Golf Society had the pleasure of an empty Eastern Star golf course on Thursday, 13th March, when they played the first of their two Order of Merit events for the month. The course was well-turned out with the greens more consistent than usual and the scene was set for some fine golf in a strong breeze. The single flight was not to be disappointed with both Mikael Lindberg and Roy Thornton sharing third place with excellent net scores of 75 as the wind got stronger through the afternoon. Chris Voller loves playing in Ban Chang and amazingly he held his concentration to post a very creditable net 74 for third place but the finest golf the course has seen for a long time was played by the gentle Japanese giant Kasuo Takimoto. His gross 73 included four bogeys and three birdies, giving him a net score of 69. No-one could have performed better in the circumstances and even his fellow single-digit handicappers stood in awe watching his impeccable iron play. There were no birdie twos for the second successive round and a large turnout will be anticipated at Phoenix in a few days time. Old friend Rob Heath was making a very welcome return to the group, enjoying his annual holiday from work in Bangkok, and his lack of practice on all except driving ranges showed in his performance, which had his playing group listening to the word "seven" so many times. It was inevitable that his return would be marked with the Booby Bevy on a day when Eastern Star had succumbed to the skill of Taki-san.

Another large group represented the Pattaya Golf Society at Plutaluang on Saturday, 15th March, playing a stableford event over the testing North and West nines. The day remained hot and humid throughout and for some the round became an ordeal as exhaustion set in. Holding down fourth place were the duo of Kazuo Takimoto and John Schroeder. shortly to return "stateside", their scores of 32 points being sufficient for the minor placing. In third place was Ken Lankshear, one of our Canadian "brothers", and his round of 33 points was an appropriate way of ending his current stay. One point better saw Emiel van der Wiele end a fine week with yet another placing, his 34 points almost doing enough to ruffle the feathers of the eventual winner, Bruce Dreon. His 35 points marked his first round in a long time with the group and it was a fine winning return for the golfer from Arizona. Paul McNally managed the first Saturday birdie two in three outings and took home the large pot whilst the day's organiser, Mr Denis, took a large draught of the Booby Bevy after a round which saw him struggle to get the ball off the tee all day. After all he had just returned from a freezing visit to UK and sitting, huddled in front of a glowing fire is not the best practice for success at Plutaluang.

Ecky Thumps Phoenix

On Tuesday, 18th March, the Pattaya Golf Society returned to Phoenix after an absence of four months to find the course's latest scam in operation, a 100 baht caddy booking fee, to go with the region's most expensive cart rental service ("Yes sir, but we do have air-con..."), and the most expensive F & B in the province. It was therefore no surprise to find an empty Lakes and Ocean course and the day was set for some good golf. The field was divided into two flights at twenty and under and in the second flight Pat Murphy and Helene Lindberg tied for third place with 35 points each. One point ahead as runner-up was Mr Denis, the OK Corral's smiling host, and his level par round dismissed the blushes of his previous encounter with the noble game. The flight winner was none other than the returning Tony Duthie and his 37 points was a fine return for the cheerful chappie. In the top flight Larry Slattery took third place with 37 points on his first game at the "OK" since last summer and Chris Voller's 38 points took second place and was a further sign of his consistency. The day's winner was Keith Hector, playing his first PGS competition this year, and his forty points was more than enough to take the main prize. The day's best gross was returned by Paul McNally who fired a gross 74 playing the course for the first time. For the third consecutive round there were no birdie twos and a healthy field was anticipated at Mountain Shadow two days later. The Booby Bevy was awarded to newest IPGC member Andreas Bardill and his 25 points marked his entry to the club in style. The day had been a good one, with some fine golf on show.

Ton Takes Big Win

The Pattaya Golf Society's second monthly Order of Merit event was staged at Mountain Shadow golf club on Thursday, 20th March, on a steamy day when the wind chose to blow just to make it a little more of a challenge. The large field set out on time and good stableford scores were at a premium. In fourth place was Ian Hart, recording 31 points, closely following David Thomas' 32 point card. Paul McNally showed his class with a gross 76 off the blue tees giving him second place with a score of 34 whilst the straight hitting of Umalai "Ton" Chaysa gained 35 points for the narrowest of wins. The highlight of the day was the firing of the first birdie two in four trips from the OK Corral. Amazingly we had to wait for so long but when Paul McNally hit a six-footer into the hole on the seventeenth it gave him the biggest rollover prize in the Society's history. This followed on the heels of his rolled-over Saturday Stableford two and the week's goodies left him seriously in danger of losing his amateur status, under "The Rules of Golf"! Of those in the frame for the Booby Bevy Chris Walsh had a strong claim having started the round with wet trousers as a result of an accident with a leaking water bottle and finished with some pretty dismal scores, including playing to the wrong green on the seventeenth. But he was usurped by a dose of mediocrity rarely seen as Fiz Kamruddin made a welcome return after a few months of inactivity. It had been a tough day at Mountain Shadow but the thoroughly deserved plaudits went to Umalai Chaysa and Paul McNally.

McNally Masterclass

On Saturday, 22nd March, the Pattaya Golf Society made their weekly excursion to Plutaluang to play a stableford event over an empty South and East combination. The strong field held an average handicap of 15 and it was to be a day of fine golf. Sharing third place wereTerry Burgess and Jean Morel with 33 points each whilst Kazuo Takimoto posted a level par 36 for the runner-up place. For Paul McNally it was all about "class", from his fine two-iron second shot to within three feet of the pin on the par five first to his unfortunate slip on the final hole, his gross 73 giving a score of 38 points. Long hitting is his strength and his return of eagle, birdie, birdie, bogey on the par fives gives an accurate measure of his skill. There were five birtdie twos after a barren couple of weeks with Chris Walsh, Peter Duncan, Jean Morel and Tanaguchi (2) all taking a meagre share of the pot and the breaking news that Peter Duncan was to be a Dad earned him the Booby Bevy by way of celebration on his final round this trip. It had been another fine day's golf out of the popular South Pattaya venue.

Ferris Gets it Right at Crystal Bay

On Tuesday, 25th March, the Pattaya Golf Society visited a jaded Crystal Bay golf club to play a stableford event over the A and B nines. The course is disappointingly showing signs of a heavy high season and resources seem to have been directed at the development of a new accommodation block rather than specific course maintenance and locker-room repairs. The greens were also inconsistent and slow. However a warm welcome greeted the golfers as usual and a fine golf day was in prospect. With two flights cut at nineteen and under Larry Slater, Stuart Thompson and Kazu Sakamoto took a share of second place in the top flight with 35 points each, two behind the winner, David Thomas, who shared the best gross hon ours with Paul Menially and Tai-san. The second flight saw some fine golf with Emiel van deer Wiele and Pat Murphy sharing third place on 35 points, one behind Ian Hart's level par runner-up position. The best score of the day was recorded by Jim Ferris, who has promised much but has been frustratingly inconsistent until today. His card of 42 points represents his best efforts in Thailand and contained a 19 - 23 split of which he will be proud. The birdie twos achieved by Chris Walsh and Helene Lindbergh on A8 gave them a share of the "twos" pot and Larry Slater received the Booby Bevy as compensation for breaking his 3-wood, following through against a tree. He had used it for thirteen years and, like an old friend, it will be hard to replace. But there were better memories for Jim Ferris after an outstanding contribution to the day's golf.

Super Mac Outstanding

Green Valley was the venue for the IPGC Pattaya Golf Society on Thursday, 27th March, when the group played a stableford event in two flights, cut at twenty and under. It has to be said that the course has been in better condition but the recently cored greens will be all but a memory in a week or so. The day was to throw up one of those sublimely memorable performances but firstly, in the second flight, Pat Murphy and Ann Silawong tied for third place with 32 points each, behind runner-up Len Jones and his 36 points. The flight winner was Swiss golfer Andreas Bardill whose 40 points reflected some accurate play from the fairways, something lacking in his game previously. In the top flight Stuart Thompson took third place with 37 points and Kazuo Takimoto again emphasised his skill with an excellent 39 point haul. The hero of the day was Paul McNally who played the best golf of his life in scoring a gross 68 on the challenging course to achieve a stableford score of 42 points off his handicap of two. It included an eagle-eagle-birdie combination on holes seven, eight and nine in a frightening four-under front nine. Surely it was the finest golf performance ever seen with the PGS. It goes without saying that "SuperMac" took three shares of the twos pot, along with minor shares for Stuart Thompson, Taki, Bill Quon and Emiel van de Wiele. As a celebration of his retirement two years ago Paul Quodomine generously sponsored four technical prizes and near-pin vouchers were won by Stuart Thompson (two), Brett Warnock and Paul McNally. The Booby Bevy was awarded to the sartorially challenged Chris Voller as a reminder that standards are high at the OK Corral! But the day will be remembered for the stunning golf produced by Geordie Paul McNally on one of the toughest tracks in the area. It doesn't get much better than that.

Ian Hogg's the Limelight

On Saturday, 29th March, the Pattaya Golf Society visited Plutaluang to play a stableford event over the North and West nines, only to find that a Thai field of eight five/six-balls had occupied their tee-off slot, thus delaying the start of what was to be their regular weekend event. No golf carts were available, leading a number of the competitors no option but to withdraw and the rest of the field were left watching complete novices tee off as a "five" or "six". Later the sight of twenty-two people on the par three N6th, at the same time, almost proved to be the end, but undaunted, the group patiently completed their six hour competition and sensibly then made a conscious decision to transfer their future Sunday golf to Ban Chang instead. On the day John Rehm scored 34 points for third place, with Peter Masters taking second with 35 whilst fellow Aussie Ian Hogg took a debut win with 36 points. No birdie twos were scored on the painfully slow greens and it was with relief that the group took their leave of Thai naval hospitality in favour of a more welcoming administration a few "klicks" further down the road. 'Bye 'bye Plutaluang, enough said.

April 2008

Big Scoring Day at Lakeside

On Tuesday, 1st April the Pattaya Golf Society banished all thoughts of an April Fool and took to the immaculate course at Royal Lakeside to play a stableford competition on a hot and occasionally overcast day. As usual a fine course brings out a large field and this time a ladies' flight complemented the usual two flights, cut at nineteen and under. Scores were destined to be good and the full field average was 33 points. In the second flight Ray Underwood's stuttering back nine held him back but his 37 points was still good enough for third place, one behind John Rehm's 38 point second place finish. The flight winner was "Tuesday Man", Jim Ferris who crafted an excellent 39 points to repeat his win at Crystal Bay the previous week. In the top flight David Thomas, Ray Jackson, Bill Quon and Chris Voller all came good with 39 points for a share of second place whilst Austrian golfer, Peter Ditz, ruled the roost with a fine 40 points. The day's best score was found in the Ladies' flight where the straight hitting of Umalai "Ton" Chaysa took the honours with an astounding 43 points. Her score easily eclipsd those of her rivals even though they all produced good cards in themselves. Surprisingly there were only three birdie twos with Ray Underwood and Bob Boyle (two) sharing the spoils. The Booby Bevy seemed destined for Trevor Lazowski after his catalogue of mistakes, disasters and delays in trying to make the course on time, but it was briefly sidetracked as John Mason provided photographic evidence of a golf ball impaled on a metal fence, but, as it was OB it didn't count, and the award went to Len Jones for his worst-of-the-day scorecard. Occasionally even the Boss gets to enjoy a beer! Royal Lakeside tends to get overlooked as a venue because of its location but the trip is always well worth it and a little over an hour in air-conditioned transport is a small price to pay for the pleasure.

"Urban" Golf at Bangpra

When a new company takes over a golf club it is expected that changes will be made to reflect the new owner's identity. At Greenwood and The Emerald these changes were for the good and were made in an unobtrusive way. At Bangpra however the course is currently a vast building site with huge tracts of bare compressed clay where there was once rough and the lack of any GUR signs makes serious golf there a waste of time. Such was the case on Thursday, 3rd April, when the Pattaya Golf Society called to play a combined stableford pairs event over the parched fairways. Older members cannot remember seeing less water on the course and even the monkeys seemingly stayed away. Eighteen pairs comprised the event there was a three-way split for second place with Chris Hardy and Craig Boyd sharing the spoils with Ian Hogg/ Paul Quodomine and David Thomas/Chris Voller on 67 points. Amazingly there was only one sub-par team and that was the Swiss combination of Andy Bardill and John Rehm, their 73 points being mainly due to the impressive 43 point score of the latter. Craig Boyd managed a brace of birdie twos to share the pot with Jim Ferris and Stuart Thompson. The day had begun badly for Jim Ferris when he missed the 'bus and an expensive baht bus journey from Pattaya led to him receiving the Booby Bevy by way of compensation. Bangpra in transition is no treat and as one member later put it, "Century Chonburi was probably the better option for a day's golf." The highlight of the evening was the award of the Society's March "Player of the Month" award to Paul McNally after a sizzling few week's golf which has set a high standard for others to follow.

Tough Times at Eastern Star

On Sunday, 6th April, the Pattaya Golf Society swapped the crowded fairways of Plutaluang for the solitude and fine welcome at Eastern Star as they played their first Sunday stableford event in Ban Chang. The atmosphere was very humid throughout the day but thankfully the thunder, which was roaring all about, did not pose significant problems and the competition took place on greens which were relatively slow and fairways which were a little softened by the previous day's rain. Twenty golfers made up the usual single flight and Paul Quodomine eclipsed his front nine efforts with a sparkling back nine of 22 to post a score of 34 points for third place. Three golfers shared the win with Helene Lindberg joining David Thomas and Stan Everingham at the top of the list with 35 points. There were no birdie twos for the second successive Sunday and Paul McNally is rueing his decision to return to UK next week, missing a second chance to take the big 'un! The Booby Bevy went to Masaaki Sugaya, an eighteen handicapper, whose round was so inconsistent that he described his irons as "mai sabai". He has booked them in for radical surgery before his next round with the Pattaya Golf Society.

Australia Day at The Emerald

The Emerald at Ban Chang was the venue for the Pattaya Golf Society on Tuesday, 8th April as they played a pre--Songkhran stableford event over the ever challenging course. The only disappointing aspect was the slow speed of the greens and the large field, swollen by the inclusion of many Aussies - friends of friends, etc - was cut into two flights at nineteen and under. In the top flight Chris Hardy struck a blow for the old country by posting 34 points for third place whilst Australia went one and two. Steve March hit a level par 36 points for second. The flight winner was Ray Jackson, his 38 points bearing testimony to his exceptional long game. In the second flight Len Jones and Helene Lindberg tied for third with 36 points whilst Paul Quodomine made it a trio of second place finishes with a well constructed 37 points, his back nine being an excellent 21 points. The day's best score was posted by Aussie Ian Hogg with 39 points for the divisional win. Ray Underwood and Chris Hardy took shares of the twos pot for their efforts on the par-three fifteenth and the Booby Bevy was rolled over because of the lack of suitable candidates on the golf course.

Ms Lindberg Caps a Fine Week

Thursday, 10th April, was a very hot and humid day and was the day the Pattaya Golf Society chose to play its monthly stableford merit event at Phoenix. The Lakes and Ocean nines were well turned out and the greens were quicker than those faced earlier in the week at Emerald and Eastern Star. The course was relatively under-occupied but an unconditioned group in advance of our first group delayed their game so as to make the round last an incredible five and a half hours, in that heat! The single flight found that those willing to suffer the constant breaks in concentration and rhythm found some consistency and Len Jones, Peter Ditz and David Thomas all posted scores of 34 points to share third place. Ahead of them with 35 points was the in-form Swedish lady, Helene Lindberg, and she posted a second place finish to complete a full set of honours for the week. The day's winner was Tim Williams and the American's level par contribution of 36 points represented a round of fine concentration. Len Jones and Peter Masters both managed birdie twos for a share of the substantial pot and a very much "under-par" Masashi Iizumi took the Booby Bevy for a card containing nine ones and three "blobs". Phoenix was a treat as always, shame about the golfing "snails".

Lindberg Flying High

A warm welcome at Eastern Star on Sunday, 13th April, was the prelude to a wonderfully relaxed stableford golf tournament for the Pattaya Golf Society. The day was hot and sultry and the course was in fine condition. Good scores were in prospect and to emphasize the point Eamonn Fahey posted 34 points in his first PGS outing for third place. Scoring 38 points was Chris Voller and his good score was sufficient only for third. Masaaki Sugaya's previous outing at ESR a week ago had brought him the paltry score of twelve points but this week a resurgent Japanese golfer amassed forty points for nothing better than second place. An outstanding round was being played by Swedish lady golfer, Helene Lindberg, and her 46 points represented her best ever round. Every shot was true, every hazard avoided, serious putts were nailed and she enjoyed the course so much, posting her second successive weekly win there. The added irony was that husband Mikael recorded the day's worst score and he was left to prop up the field with a total of 28 points less than his wife. Truly a tasty Swedish smorgasbord! Paul Quodomine and Stan Everingham made sure that the majority of the rolled-over twos pot went trans-Atlantic leaving Chris Voller the sweep up the crumbs, sweet as they were, whilst the aforementioned Mikael Lindberg took the Booby Bevy for his sins. But, secretly, he had enjoyed seeing his wife enjoy the best golf day of her life.

And Greenwood Makes Five!

On Tuesday, 15th April, Greenwood was the venue for the Pattaya Golf Society and their weekly stableford event, which was played over the A and B nines. The latter track has been closed for many months and has seen no water in all that time, it seems, and the overall impression was of playing on two separate courses. Masashi Iizumi and Peter MacKay shared third place with 34 points each, one behind David Thomas, his steady 35 points marking his return to form. For the fifth consecutive event Helene Lindberg found the top three and, whilst eyebrows may be raised elsewhere, those at the OK Corral who have played with her regularly know that the Swedish lady has history. Forty competitive rounds or more in the last six months have seen her form culminate in such success recently that she is starting to regret returning to Sweden in a week or so time. This time her winning score was forty points. There were no twos on a day which saw John Mason very generously sponsor near-pin prizes on the par threes and these were won by Tim Williams, Len Jones and Stuart Thompson. The Booby Bevy went to Pat Clarke for his shabby score but his smile had "winner" written all over it. As did Helene Lindberg's.

Quality From Quon

A warm welcome awaited the Pattaya Golf Society at Eastern Star on Sunday, 20th April, when they called to play a post-Songkhran stableford event in Ban Chang. The course was relatively empty and a three-and-a-half hour round awaited the multi-national field. In fact the first nine players represented nine different nations as they got to grips with the inconsistent greens and the strong breeze. The straight hitters would benefit from the conditions and Len Jones whose driving continues to become longer and straighter with age posted 33 points, scratching the last in an unraked greenside bunker, for third place. Runner-up was oilman Ronnie Ramsay who began this, his latest "break", in fine style with a 35 point card. The winner was Bill Quon whose back nine of twenty points belied some fine golf to give him a subpar 37 points for the win. There were no birdie twos on the slowish greens and Masaaki Sugaya ended his stay in the Kingdom with a well-earned Booby Bevy after yet another round patiently trying to overcome a sickly set of irons. At the end of the day the plaudits were reserved for Canadian Bill Quon and his gesture of celebrating his fine win with golfers' drinks all round back at the OK Corral. Cheers Bill and well done!

Kazu King for a Day

On Tuesday, 22nd April, the Pattaya Golf Society took to the popular course at Green Valley for a stableford event and found the course improving after the tough routines of the high season, with better fairways and much truer greens, if a little slow. This time of year always sees a transition as the seasonal long stay visitors return to their homes and fresher faces return. Thus it was that the group welcomed back many old faces for this event. One of these, Paul Brett, joined Erik Antonnen in third place on 32 points whilst Peter Biggs took second with a steady 33 points. The winner was Kazu Agune who has spent the last month in the golfing doldrums but on this occasion his game picked up to return 34 points for the best of the day. Thai lady golfer Na Srionrod took the rolled over twos prize for a fine birdie on the picturesque short par-three twelfth hole and duly celebrated by ringing the bell back at the OK Corral later in the evening. Chris Voller volunteered for the Booby Bevy award with the lowest nine hole score, the greatest difference in the two nines totals and the overall mediocrity of his card. How can an organiser resist such a request! Regulars may wish to note that Greenwood on 8th May will be the venue for OK Corral's host Mr Denis' annual "Birthday Bash" which will again be in the form of a four person scramble. Entry forms are available from the bar and the day will end with a free buffet party back in Soi Rungland after the event.

Finnish With a Flourish

Thursday, 24th April saw the Pattaya Golf Society take to Eastern Star Resort to play its most important round of the month, the strokeplay order of merit event, under warm skies and on a course which is slowly improving. Underfoot the fairways are fine and the bunkers are tolerable and even the greens on this day were more consistent. The course is always a challenge with the expanses of water and extensive OB areas and accuracy rather than distance is the order of the day. Stuart Thompson, Finnish golfer Niilo Olonen and Thai partner Na Srionrod performed well to take a share of third place with fine scores of net 73, with Stuart once again emphasizing his accuracy. The winner was another Finn, Erik Antonnen who forsook his heavy artillery on the tees to craft his round and his mid-round burst of 3-3-5-3 helped give him a back nine of 39 gross. His winning total was a level par net 72 and reflected the thought he had put into course management. In-so-doing he joined Niilo and Stuart with the best gross of the day, eighty-one. The only birdie two was secured by Chris Voller on the twelfth. Amongst those with strong claims for the Booby Bevy were Mikael Andersson and Ian Hart but eventually its destination was decided by an errant cell phone, some quite awful approach play on the middle six holes and a stuttering presentation by Len Jones. All in a day's work, of course, at the OK Corral.

No Surprise for Na

The Pattaya Golf Society continued its enjoyable Sunday stableford experience at Eastern Star on 24th April when a large field turned out to take on the course under bright skies and with a fresh breeze adding a little more challenge to the event. The fairways were in fine shape but the greens as usual were a little inconsistent. With the single Sunday flight augmented by old friends pickings were rich and the added spice was a large rolled over twos pot. Kazu Agune continued quietly with his consistent game and found himself in more exalted company in third place as his 35 points was matched by the scores of Erik Antonnen and Harry Riley. In second place Ian Hart had the temerity to rub shoulders with David Thomas, his well-deserved 38 point score matching that of the canny Kiwi. One point ahead though was the ubiquitous Thai lady Na Srionrod and her customary straight drives were matched by a good short game to produce a three-under card of 39 points to take the major prize. David Thomas had a double share of the large twos pot for his efforts on the sixth and twelfth holes whilst Ronnie Ramsay took the minor share for his chipped-in birdie on the sixth. The OK Corral's host Mr Denis ignored his own valid claims for the Booby Bevy, presenting it instead to Derrick Jones who was playing his first round with the group and suffered accordingly the usual PGS welcome. The group always welcomes the company of ladies in its competitions and when the feminine contribution is as positive as that of Na Srionrod and the current "Player of the Month", Helene Lindberg, golf's true spirit comes to the fore as the warmth of the plaudits showed.

Chase the Lady at Crystal Bay

Tuesday, 29th April saw the conclusion of the Pattaya Golf Society's golfing adventures for the month with a stableford round at Crystal Bay, over the B and C nines. The large low season field was divided into two flights at sixteen and under and the competition played itself out against a backdrop of a tense "Player of the Month" scenario. Could David Thomas win with a sub par round and head off the leader? Time would tell. The course is still in quite shabby condition and the greens were as slow as the previous month. However in the second flight Evan Millar and Ray Underwood made a fist of it, both scoring 35 points for a share of second place. The flight winner was Len Jones with 37 points. In an open top division Takeshi Hakozaki took third place with 35 points, three behind Erik Antonnen's second placed 38. Finnish golfer Erik is currently enjoying a rich vein of golf and it was no surprise to see him in the frame yet again. The same could be said of the winner, Na Srionrod, whose form continues to amaze as she put together another astonishing round, having volunteered a cut in handicap, posting a score of 40 points to take the honours with ease. It was helped by a birdie two on the C7th hole, joining Helene Lindberg and Paul Quodomine in the race for the twos pot. Helene and Mikael Lindberg were playing the final round of their stay and sponsored prizes for the lowest score of the day, leaving Margaret Wilkinson to enjoy the prospect of a free golf lesson at the Diana Driving Range, whilst Paul McNally took a slightly more tasty prize as the player with the best total on the two easiest and two hardest holes, ten points helping him to pop the particular cork with passion. It was a especially fitting way for the popular Swedish couple to end their stay as Helene had taken the "Player of the Month" award with aplomb, holding David Thomas at bay on the final day. Well done ladies!

On the first day of May the Pattaya Golf Society visited The Emerald golf course to play a pairs event with the intriguing "South African" multiplicator very much in evidence as pairs battled it out over the demanding track. Conditions were tough as the greens were slow, a strong breeze was present all day and at the back of everyone's mind was the fear of scratching a hole. This is the format which really strains golfing friendships. Roy Thornton, playing as well as ever he has at The Emerald, paired with Rick Holmes to produce a score of 57 points for a surprising third place. In second came the pairing of Jean Morel and partner Mam, the latter producing the best individual round of the day, and their score of 62 points seemed unassailable for a long while. It was left to the antipodean pairing of Stuart Thompson and Alex Sala to post the best score, 67 points, and take the win, Alex's game holding up very well. There were no birdie twos and the Booby Bevy went to the two "Blobbies" of the day, Chris Voller and Bill Quon, although in Bill's defence it must be said that he was playing the course for the first time. It was not the best of introductions for him after all. But the rest of the field had been there, done that and still found it just as frustrating as Bill had.

Heavy and ominously thick overcast skies greeted the Pattaya Golf Society at Eastern Star on Sunday, 4th May, as the small field arrived to play a stableford event over the course which is still holding up despite remedial work being done to some of the greens. Wonderfully obedient, however, they held back and only a smattering of rain came towards the end of the round, otherwise the conditions were very comfortable and almost European Spring-like. Regarding the oft-maligned greens, as one experienced golfer said, "At least they are attempting to do something to improve the course". Now, there was a time in the West - it may even still apply - when the golf course on a Sunday was a bastion of male domination. Ladies beware, who's cooking the lunch, eh? Not in Pattaya it seems. For four competitions out the last five ladies have ruled the Sunday roost (roast?) with this one going the way of the others. Kazu Agune pushed himself to a tidy 31 points, one behind Harry Riley's third placed total of 32 but David Thomas could not master the score of Mam Morel, both tying for the top with 36 points each. David had the honour of the best gross figures of the day, 78 shots, but straight hitting Mam off the red tees is a match for any golfer. There were no birdie twos on the slow greens and the Booby Bevy went to Endo Nohiri for playing more shots off the wrong fairways than off the correct ones. With the exception of a US Navy three-ball on the fourteenth tee diving for cover as a thinned bunker shot near the previous green burst into a steel litter bin, reminding them that there was no hiding-place these days, everyone at Eastern Star seemed to enjoy the day. Even the men!

The Pattaya Golf Society was represented at Eastern Star on Sunday, 11th May, 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 twos 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.

On Tuesday, 13th May, 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 nine. As there were two ladies in the field it was assumed that the 1600 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 twos 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.

A small but quality field of golfers represented the Pattaya Golf Society at Royal Lakeside on Thursday, 15th May, 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 twos 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.

Sunday, 18th May was a fine and warm day in Ban Chang when the Pattaya Golf Society visited Eastern Star to play a stableford competition over the course currently undergoing extensive green repairs.The temporary greens being used at present are no substitute for the real thing and the society is seriously thinking of relocating its Sunday golf until the repairs are complete. However, on this day, Harry Riley found the podium for the third successive weekend as his 36 points showed the mark of a man returning to the peak of his game after many months of golf exile. Only one point ahead was the group's senior pair of players, Len Jones and David Thomas with 37 points each and both showed an improvement in their current form. The winner shot a tasty 38 points in his own inimitable style, a mixture of quiet enthusiasm and gentle accurate hitting giving Kazu Agune yet another slice of Sunday success. Already points ahead in the race for the "Player of the Month" Kazu is making the best of the few weeks remaining in his current stay. For the third week there were no birdie twos and the competition the next week was sure to be more intense but the Booby Bevy found a fitting recipient in the shape of Shaun Donovan, many months away from the game after a serious accident, but his smiles said he was just happy to be back. Eastern Star? Great course, shame about the greens.

On Tuesday, 20th May, Green Valley welcomed both The Golf Club and the Pattaya Golf Society for their first International Pattaya Matchplay League fixtures of the season and the course was well prepared and it was also a treat to be putting on fast greens after a series of plodding affairs elsewhere. Some golfers claim that the format is the truest form of the game and to pit one's game against an opponent and not the course is the real test of the golfers skill and acumen. So it was that the eight ties were played in a very friendly manner but the rivalries were still there under the surface. Success for the PGS came in the unlikely form of Evan Millar and Len Jones, both winning well after good starts and Tony Kitchen, in only his second round this trip, managed a very creditable "all square" tie with his opponent. Paul Quodomine only lost out at the bitter end and Chris Hardy and Peter Duncan also came very close to causing upsets. Disappointment greeted the result of captain David Thomas' tie but he was up against some classy golf, as was Chris Voller, and the day finished with The Golf Club winning by 51/2 to 21/2. It had been a wonderfully testing competition and everyone is looking forward to the reminder of the eight ties this season.

On Thursday, 22nd May, the Pattaya Golf Society made its second visit of the week to Green Valley, this time to play a strokeplay event over the excellent course which had hosted the society's first matchplay league tie earlier. A large field for the low season turned out and saw some fine golf. Harry Riley just missed out on a share of the spoils with a hard won net 72, level par being a fine day's work on the testing track which suffered a storm mid-round and left the back nine saturated. Tying for second place were David Thomas and Jon Haugen and their returns of net 70 reflected their powers of resilience. The day's winner was the Ban Chang resident otherwise known as "DS" who had taken the event at Khao Kheow earlier in the month. This time an excellent best gross score of 74 left him ahead by just one shot. The rolled over twos pot was shared by David Wilkinson and Mark Wood for their efforts on holes nine and twelve respectively whilst Kazu Agune, currently riding high in the monthly stats, received the Booby Bevy for a nil return which started with three tee shots into the drink at the fifth, effectively ending his day then. Green Valley twice in a week? It doesn't get much better than that!

On Sunday, 25th May, the Pattaya Golf Society visited Eastern Star golf club to play a stableford competition, temporary greens and all, when a large field turned out on a fine hot day. The attraction may have been the triple rolled over twos pot but for the regulars it was good to welcome a few old friends again as Rick Schramm, Brian Beaupre and Bruce Ogilvie joined the ranks. Brian Beaupre indeed fired the day's best gross of 80 to share fourth place with Gilles Akoum, both posting scores of 34 points. Paul Quodomine took third place with a splendid back nine performance helping him to a level par 36 points. Ya Riley played her first round for a while and found she had lost none of her touch as she recorded 37 points for runner-up place but the day belonged to Kazu Agune, ending his current stay with another personal best, this time recording 39 points. In his month long visit he has come down three shots in the handicap lists and is currently by far the most improved player with the group. Hopefully he will not lose too much enthusiasm before his next return in a month's time. The twos pot was shared by David Thomas and Ya Riley for their accuracy on the sixth hole and the rest of the field were treated back at the OK Corral with the ringing of the bell. The Booby Bevy went to Michael Sim for the day's low score. The society is now switching between ESR and The Emerald for its Sunday golf until the greens have been repaired, beginning at The Emerald on 1st June.

On Tuesday, 25th May, an empty Crystal Bay hosted the Pattaya Golf Society for a stableford round over the B & C nines, the latter greens still showing signs of deep coring more than two months ago. The day was fine and the small low season group was to witness some fine golf. Takeshi Hakozaki and an un-named Ban Chang resident tied for third place with 34 points whilst Chris Voller put aside his eight putts on the first two holes to record a fine second placed score of 35 points. After that came the spectacle. Paul Brett is an awesome sight on the golf course. The gentle giant plays left-handed with a right-handed grip and has a limited swing length but his immense strength helps to generate a lot of power. Such was the case on this day when he threw off the shackles of convention to post his best ever score, giving him 42 points for the win. His putting got him out of jail more than once and fourteen points on the par threes indicated a delicate touch for such a large man. His birdie two on C7 took the twos pot and all things considered it had to be his best day on the course. The Booby Bevy went to an embarrassed David Thomas who managed to sink a brand new Pro V1 without ever hitting it, the ball being propelled off the tee by a large sod. "Appropriate" many people said! Good fun at Crystal Bay but the course still needs some remedial repair work to bring it back to its best.

On Thursday, 29th May, the Pattaya Golf Society played a stableford competition at The Emerald on a course which was in the process of having the greens aerated and heavily sanded. Naturally there was no warning of this for fear of withdrawals and the large field suffered greatly under the almost intolerable conditions. For the single-figure handicappers in the field almost half of their total shots were on greens like peanut brittle at best or egg boxes at worst. It was amazing that David Thomas was able to post a score of 38 points to share the victory with Mam Morel. But even David recorded thirty-five putts during his best gross round of 76 shots. round. Chris Voller and Mikael Andersson also came good returning scores of 35 points for a share of the minor spoils. Chris Hardy recorded the day's only birdie two on the thirteenth hole to take the twos pot and Ron Bardel celebrated his birthday a day early with a long overdue Booby Bevy for his 5-14 points split. The Emerald was certainly not the gem it usually is on this occasion.

The Emerald was the venue for the Pattaya Golf Society on Sunday, 1st June, for the group's weekly stableford event. The course was quite full as the group got away on time and the course was in much better condition than a few days previously when the greens were being cored and sanded. Indeed it was to be a day when a fifth of the field broke par and almost half the field managed the elusive birdie twos! Sharing fourth place with 37 points each were Chris Voller and Mod Churaiska, the latter making a welcome return after many months playing with PSC groups. In second place were Rick Schramm and Frenchman Gilles Akoum who both recorded creditable scores of 38 points. The day's winner was another Frenchman, Jean Morel, still smarting from his wife Mam's fine results of late, and his 40 points took the top prize in fine style. As mentioned at the top of this report there were a clutch of birdie twos, making shares of the pot pretty meagre for Sunny Khanna, Peter Masters, Bob Lambert, Chris Voller, David Thomas and Mod. It had been a much better experience at the popular Ban Chang golf course.

The Pattaya Golf Society visited Phoenix on Tuesday, 3rd June to play a stableford event over the Mountain and Lakes nines and found the course in fine condition on a steaming humid day. Uncomfortable as the conditions may have been there was once again some quality golf on display as the field, with its average handicap set at fifteen, made good headway on the busy course. Sharing third place were Brian Beaupre, Chris Voller and the unconventional but steady Paul Brett. All scored respectable level par-rounds of 36 points. The runner-up was Sunny Khanna, so often in the frame on his return to the Kingdom, this time recording a score of 37 points. Kiwi David Thomas was still smarting from a heavy matchplay defeat on the same course twenty-four hours before, when his iron play was so uncoordinated, and he took his revenge on the field with a staggering gross 73, giving him 41 stableford points, which included a back nine of only 35 shots. It was quality with a capital "Kiwi" and no more than the talented golfer deserved. His birdie two on Mountain 4 was matched by David Wilkinson's effort on Lakes 2 and the latter also shared the Booby Bevy with Len Jones for an otherwise lacklustre performance. Twelve pars and three birdies had said it all for the winner, David Thomas.

The Pattaya Golf Society returned to The Emerald for the second time in a week on Thursday, 5th June, to play a stableford competition and were disappointed to find only very slow progress being made on the heavy greens repair work, which detracted from the fun of the day. The single flight welcomed the return of Bill Hewitt and Keith Hector after an absence of three months and indeed Keith was to show that his game had not faded with the absence. A winner on his previous outing he again held all the aces with a fine 39 points, just shading Bill Quon's excellent round of 38 points to take the honours. Old stalwarts David Thomas and Jean Morel continued their fine form with 36 points each to take a share of third place. It was probably fitting that Bill and Keith took the twos pot as well for their efforts on hole fifteen and the Booby Bevy went to Evan Millar for his 8-24 point split. Perhaps playing the course in reverse had an unseen influence on his approach to the round. Clearly at present the course is not up to competition play so full marks to the group as a whole for making such a good fist of it.

On Sunday, 8th June, the Pattaya Golf Society visited Eastern Star to play a pairs better score stableford event on the course where currently there are four temporary greens. Many people may think this odd but the temporary greens are of good quality and the group's philosophy is not to ignore a course when the management are spending money to improve the conditions for all golfers. Seven teams had entered and play got underway on time in good golfing weather. The secret of this format is for the pair to "dovetail" as there will be good holes and bad holes. The winners will be the ones who do not suffer bad holes as a pair. So it was then that Harry Riley and newly returned Don Nellis put together a score of 45 points for a very good third place, only one point behind the fancied duo of Sunny Khanna and Mod Churaiska. The winning team was that of Len Jones and John Schroeder, the latter having an excellent round and holding the pairing together to come up with a winning score of 47 points. John's individual score was forty-two and would have easily won any other event. He also has one of the only two birdie twos, sharing the pot with Mikael Andersson. Traditionally in pairs events the Booby Bevy goes to the back markers and the award was made to Chris Voller and Peter Masters for their 39 point haul. Chris insisted it was a little unjust as he had recorded 35 stableford points himself and he was to be reminded that a partner's contribution, good or poor, was part of the deal. Eastern Star in its current condition is still better than some courses in the area and the usual warm welcome will mean a hasty return to the course for Sunday golf.

A visit to Greenwood is always a "lipsmacking" affair and the course hosted the Pattaya Golf Society on Thursday, 10th June, for a stableford competition. The course was full, a testimony to its excellent condition, but the group still managed to make good progress down the verdant fairways. Not even the interruption by a heavy storm dampened spirits and the result of a very tight contest saw three tied at the top, namely David Thomas, Ronnie Ramsay and Alan Freeman, for whom the round signalled his best with the IPGC. All three posted scores of 38 points. Chris Voller and Margaret Wilkinson joined David Thomas in shares of the twos pot, David even adding a second one just for good measure. Only Carl Lovatt and Len Jones failed to break thirty points and the latter's 7 - 20 split saw the harassed organiser get to enjoy one of his Booby Bevies at last. In the opinion of most of the PGS players Greenwood at present is one of the finest courses in the area and deserves the good custom it is getting.

The Pattaya Golf Society chose Green Valley as the venue for its stableford competition on Thursday, 12th June, and found the course in excellent condition, indeed much better currently than many others in the province. Fairways were lush and the greens were very consistent and running at a slick pace. The scene was set for a fine competition and old adversaries Don Nellis and Harry Riley went head-to-head forcing themselves into third place with 34 points each. One point better in second place was Bill Hewitt. Since relocating to the Kingdom in November 2007 Chris Voller has played in some seventy PGS competitions with greater or lesser success but has recently shown good consistency and it was fitting that he chose this event to take his maiden victory with an excellent best gross score of 78 giving him 39 points. Yasuo Suzuki headed the Japanese contingent in the event and took the twos pot with the only birdie two of the day, on hole twelve. Mr. Denis, the boss at the OK Corral, received the Booby Bevy by way of a welcome back after a short spell in the UK and he later had the pleasant duty of presenting David Thomas with his "Player of the Month" award for May following his record 49 points total. Congratulations all round but especially to Chris Voller on the first of what will surely be many good wins.

A hasty reassignment on Sunday, 15th June, saw the Pattaya Golf Society re-route from The Emerald after it was discovered the club had contrived to replace our booking with that for a huge Thai group occupying the tee for most of the day and the welcome we received at ESR more than made up for the disappointment. The impact of the temporary greens was more than offset with the placing of the white tees immediately in front of the blues on those four holes and the course was as long as it ever had been. The heavy early day rain had abated and the scene was set for some good golf. Returning friends Tony Thorne and Simon Kendall had their say with two fine 33 point scores which shared third place with Ya Riley, whilst husband Harry kept up the family celebration by going neck-and-neck with the current in-form golfer at the OK Corral Chris Voller, to share the victory on 34 points. There were no birdie twos and the Booby Bevy went to Len Jones for the second successive event after submitting a card only "Mr Blobby" could emulate! It may have been a disappointing start to the day but it ended in fine style with some excellent golf.

On Tuesday, 17th June the Pattaya Golf Society visited Khao Kheow to play a stableford round over the C and B nines on a course finely prepared for the purpose. The fairways are lush with the seasonal rains and the greens have good pace and are consistent. Playing from the yellow tees the course was to play long. Leading a small Japanese group of players was Kazuhiko Asada whose 33 points was good enough to take third place but the day's honours went to David Thomas and Len Jones who shared the victory with 35 points each. For both it was a good comeback after ineffective rounds the previous time out. Len also had a close call for an ace on B3, his tee shot finishing within a foot of the hole on the 170 yard par-three but he had to be content with a share of the twos pot as Yusuke Watanabe's effort on C3 also merited a "two". Simon Kendall had performed well on his previous outing, his first this trip, but he showed that we all have the capacity to go from "hero" to "zero" in this fascinating game and he picked up the Booby Bevy for his indifferent round. The day had been thoroughly enjoyed by the group at Khao Kheow.

Highway reconstruction is almost complete now and a trip to Royal Lakeside is even more of a treat for Pattaya's golfers and so it was that on Thursday, 19th June, the Pattaya Golf Society left the OK Corral for the course to play their monthly strokeplay Order of Merit event. The course is always immaculately prepared with splendidly consistent greens and usually offers the opportunity for good scores with the flat riverside layout. The only drawback on a day when it had rained heavily a few hours before were the myriads of mosquitoes but the caddies were well prepared with creams and lotions. Elsewhere it was not just the mosquitoes who were buzzing. As usual the scores were good with "Leftie" Mr. Denis, host of the OK just missing out on the prizes with another fine level par score on the course which basically favours orthodox players. In third place were Mikael Andersson and Harry Riley with net 71 but they were a good way behind the joint winners, Ban Chang's "Kermit" and Bill Hewitt who both recorded the day's best score of net 68, the former posting the day's best gross figures of 73. Bill also had the honour of taking a share of the twos pot with Mikael Andersson and Martin Solberg also being successful.The Booby Bevy was reserved for Bill Pickersgill, recently returned from the UK, and it reflected the welcome he was to receive from his colleagues and the paltry score he managed on his first round back. Once again it had been a pleasure to play on such a fine course.

Eastern Star may not currently be the choice of a great many golf groups with its temporary greens and back tees but it has always been a favourite of the Pattaya Golf Society and they visited there on Sunday, 22nd June to play a stableford competition on the empty course under a bright warm sky. A glance at recent scores from Pattaya's golf groups show that the course is not easy at present and winning scores are generally average and no more, so it was good to see one of the group coming good at last. Tony Thorne and Bill Pickersgill managed only 32 points each for a share of third place whilst Mod Churaiska went one better taking second with 33 points. It was Denis Smith who was the hero of the day, firing 37 points to take his first solo win in nearly four years of trying. And what a good performance it was, with nine net birdies and only one scratched hole. He has finally come to grips with his game, using the clubs he is comfortable with to good effect and hopefully the rhythm will continue. Ya Riley and Ian Hart took the rolled over twos pot with birdies on thirteen and seventeen respectively and everyone had enjoyed the day immensely.

On Tuesday and Thursday, 24th/26th June the Pattaya Golf Society held a rare two-day stableford eclectic event at The Emerald in Ban Chang. The first day took place under cloudy skies but the rain stayed away allowing the field to make good progress on the empty course. Sadly the fairways are currently a little jaded with some bare patches developing and the greens are still showing signs of the very heavy coring of three weeks ago. At the end of the first day Len Jones's seventeen points(!) off the first five holes had been whittled back to an overall level-par 36 points for third place but the target on the second day would be to eliminate the excessive three and four putts he endured on four of the back nine holes. Ahead of the field were the redoubtable Ban Chang duo of Harry Riley and "Kermit" sharing the first day lead on 37 points, the latter's gross of 76 being the highlight of the day. Chris Voller took the twos port with a fine birdie on the par three fifteenth whilst David Thomas failed in his two brave efforts to prove that Pro V1's can float and received the Booby Bevy for his efforts.

There were high hopes at the start of the second round as four players were in contention and the final grouping was to be a taut affair with Harry Riley and "Kermit" going all out to establish bragging rights. It went to the very last hole as the latter took the extra point with a fine par to Harry's bogey. Elsewhere in the field movers and shapers included little fancied Bill Pickergill and Paul Quodomine who both held their game together well. Paul and Harry ended the day in second and third place respectively with Bill joining Harry on 34 points whilst "Kermit's" second sub-par round, an excellent gross 75, gave him absolute control of the destiny of both prizes at stake. He won the day and also the eclectic prize with his 45 points, one ahead of Paul Quodomine and Harry Riley, both on 44. At the other end of the leaderboard David Thomas took back-to-back Booby Bevies for his second failed attempt to defy nature on the same hole he had failed at previously. In his defence it must be said that he is currently reinventing his swing and such accidents will always happen. The Emerald may not have been at its best but the golf with the Pattaya Golf Society certainly was.

On Sunday, 29th June, the Pattaya Golf Society visited The Emerald once again to play a stableford round ion the course which is slowly recovering from the recent excessive zeal of the greenkeepers and getting back to a more normal layout. The weather was fine, bringing out a large crowd and play got underway on a crowded course. Scores were to be better than when the group recently played there with the whole field average this time peaking at 32 points. Some old friends had returned, none the least of them being Erik Antonnen, and his boast that his game had been revitalised appeared true when he returned a score of 37 points on his first round back, just enough to snatch third place from a steadily improving Paul Quodomine. Above Erik on 38 points was the wily New Zealander David Thomas and he once again showed his resilience in bouncing back from two easily forgettable rounds to make the frame again. It also guaranteed him the society's "Player of the Month" title for the second successive month. Lording it over the field was Don Nellis, playing his best golf for many a year in the Kingdom, giving him 42 points for a huge win. Nine pars had given him 34 points after merely thirteen holes and it was a round he will remember for a while to come. There were no birdie twos and the pot was carried over until the next Sunday at Eastern Star. The Booby Bevy went to Azerbaijan lady golfer Nata Alakbarova who was completing her third card for a handicap assessment but methinks Mr Denis had other statistics in mind in deciding the award! It had been another fine day on the course in Ban Chang with quality golfers and good friends.

When the Pattaya Golf Society arrived at Greenwood on Tuesday, 1st July, they found an empty car park and locker-room. They could not believe that they were the only golfers at the club on a reasonably fine day and the thoughts of a stress free round of stableford golf on an empty course delighted the golfing palates. So it was to be and the whole of the field was back in the restaurant within four hours of teeing off. The course was in good condition and the greens were consistent throughout. Scores were therefore excellent as an average of 33 points showed. In third place was Japanese golfer Shuichi Kodaka after a fine one-under round gave him 37 points. The joint winners were the old heads of David Thomas and Len Jones, both of whom carded 38 points, and they thus repeated their success at Eastern Star some ten days previously. David had the honour of scoring the best gross of 75 for the second successive round and showed he is getting to grips with his new swing at last. He also shared the twos pot with Shuichi, his birdie on A6 matching that of the Japanese earlier on A3. Peter Masters' day had begun inauspiciously with the non-appearance of a breakfast in a Beach Road cafe and ended with the Booby Bevy after a round he described as "rubbish", his points score belying the mediocrity of his performance. As a footnote a total of twenty-nine golfers eventually played at Greenwood on this day, showing the full meaning of "low season" on the Eastern Seaboard.

On Thursday, 3rd July, the Pattaya Golf Society took on an empty course at Green Valley playing a stableford competition. The rain, which threatened all day, thankfully stayed away allowing the golfers to enjoy a good round. In third place with 33 points each were the single-figure handicappers David Thomas and Chris Voller, one point behind Don Nellis, his 34 points marking his second win of the week. His victory was down in large part to his front nine performance, as he wilted at the start of the back nine. Chris Voller scored two birdie twos and shared the twos pot with himself and the Booby Bevy went to David Thomas, who unwittingly signed for a five handicap, not his official six, for the third successive round, thus robbing himself of competition points and some all-important "readies". Green Valley was well prepared and the group, quality not quantity in the low season, had enjoyed some good comradely golf.

Eastern Star was the venue for the Pattaya Golf Society on Sunday, 6th July, as they continued their Sunday golf "specials" with a stableford competition over the well prepared course. With the white tees now back on the holes where the greens are temporary the course still retains vast elements of challenge that make a competition there great fun. A field of high quality with the average handicap approaching fifteen took on their task and found the course ready to match them. Five people just missed out on the podium with 31 points each and Don Nellis, Stan Kure, Chris Voller, Shuichi Kodaka and Ted Gardner could be forgiven for missing that one putt which could have raised their score. The joint runners-up were Tony Thorne and David Thomas who both garnered 34 points. The winner was Erik Antonnen, the returning Finn whose game has been revitalised over the winter in northern Europe. His 37 points included a front nine of just 37 gross almost matching his best ever nine hole gross score. The day's rolled over twos pot was shared by David Thomas, Paul Quodomine and, for the third successive event Chris Voller. The Booby Bevy went to David Ashman for his split of 4 - 15 points in this, his first competition round with the IPGC in three years. Well done Erik, if only your "Finnish" had been as good as your start!

On Tuesday, 8th July, the Pattaya Golf Society visited Khao Kheow for a stableford round over the testing C and A nines under brooding skies. A trip there now is "child's play" after many months of arduous driving during the highway reconstruction. They found the course in fine condition and, with the reintroduction of the A nine, playing off the yellow tees would be a daunting task, especially as the wind was up all day. As always the essence of a good round on this track is accuracy as the Bermuda rough can be a brute. Two in-form golfers held the minor placings as Erik Antonnen took third with 30 points and Don Nellis ended his current stay with 31 for second. It was left to the OK Corral's golf gaffer, Len Jones, to find the top of the leaderboard with a steady 32 points for a rare win. David Thomas and Erik Antonnen took the twos pot for their birdie efforts on C3 and A5 respectively and Chris Voller had the distinction of receiving the Booby Bevy for his shabby round, his putting touch having deserted him on the back nine, and failing to record a "two" for the first time in five rounds. Later at the presentation David Thomas received the Society's "Player of the Month" award for June after another series of high quality performances. Khao Kheow had once again been a real challenge and currently is very good value for money.

Any thoughts of a comfortable day's golf with the Pattaya Golf Society at Phoenix on Thursday, 10th July, were blown away as the golfers fought their way through a deluge on Sukhumvit only to find the approach to Phoenix was dry. Golfers never "count their chickens" and by the second hole on the Mountain-Ocean combination all thoughts of a good medal score in the monthly event were scuppered as persistent heavy rain had set in. Indeed four sensible souls had already left the course before nine holes were completed. Those who chose to continue found condiditions improved slightly as the day progressed but the effect on the scores was already punitive. In third place with net 76 was the steady Aussie golfer Evan Miller and he finished his round as he started it, with a smile on his face. One shot better was a drenched Bill Hewitt on 75. The winner was Chris Voller, taking his first monthly win, and his first nine gross of 38 at the height of the storm was a fantastic acheivement. Shots gained were then lost on the back nine and he finished with a very creditable level par 72. Understandably there were no birdie twos on the day and the two biggest losers, Len Jones and Bill Quon, who had left the course believing they were in the majority, enjoyed the Booby Bevy as a consolation. Ain't life a bitch in the Land of Smiles!

A large field representing ten different nationalities turned out for the Pattaya Golf Society's weekly Sunday stableford competition at Eastern Star on 13th July. The course continues to be in good condition and the temporary greens are standing up well to their use. Recently the course has been a tough one to master and on this day it was no exception with only one player breaking par. In fourth place was the OK Corral host, Mr Denis who once again showed his credentials with a respectable 33 points. He was one point behind American Ted Gardner whose 34 points was also a satisfactory and patient acheivement. In second was Len Jones, slowly rediscovering some consistency after some good rounds recently, and it should have been much better but for a double "blob" start and only one point from the final two holes. The winner was the fine Thai golfer Wichai Tananusorn whose 37 points was the best of the day by a long way and which gave him his maiden win with the PGS. The only birdie two was scored with a chip-in on the seventeenth by Shuichi Kodaka, his smile at the presentation reflecting the size of the pot. Chris Voller's card was the only nil-return of the day and his excuse that it had been eaten by some mythical creature lurking at the far end of the course cut no ice with the organiser and his imagination was rewarded with the Booby Bevy. Sunday golf with the OK Corral continues to be very popular so come along and sign up for a good golfing day out with fine company.

On Tuesday, 15th July, the Pattaya Golf Society enjoyed the challenge of a stableford competition at The Emerald whilst the group was also represented in a Pattaya International Matchplay League fixture against Lewiinski's, simultaneously. A headache for the organisers, naturally, but such is golf in Pattaya. The Emerald has improved significantly over the last few weeks and the good news is that the greens are almost back to their tantalising best after the vicious coring of a few weeks ago. So the course was set for a fine day's golf. In the "B" feature Tony Thorne took the win with a level-par 36 points, one point ahead of David Thomas, on 35 and a three-way split for third place with Erik Antonnen, Bill Pickersgill and "Kermit" of Ban Chang sharing the minor honours. Ken Deringer took the day's only birdie two with a fine effort on the thirteenth. Tony Thorne took the Booby Bevy for later taking a good book into a Ban Chang bar. Nothing else to do apparently! The matchplay event was a tense affair and after seven of the eight ties had been completed the score stood at 3 and a half points each. The outstanding round of the day was that of Mark Wood, the Lewiinski's man shooting a gross 74 in his tie with Chris Voller. The final tie saw Evan Millar and Benn Nelson on the seventeenth with Benn lying one up. Evan, winner of both his ties so far this season, had a chip and a putt for a half to take the tie to the final hole but the golfing gods deserted him this time and Ben took the hole to win 2 and 1, giving a relieved Lewiinski's the narrowest of victories in the match.

"Kermit" of Ban Chang all aquare with Bob Newell
David Thomas won, two up, against Jack Spencer
Chris Voller lost 4 and 3 to Mark Wood
Erik Antonnen won 3 and 1 against Pat Regan
Tony Thorne won 3 and 1 against Seamus Cotter
Ken Deringer lost 4 and 3 to Peter Henshaw
Bill Quon lost 5 and 4 to Chaten Patel
Evan Millar lost 2 and 1 to Benn Nelson

The second round of the Pattaya Golf Society's eclectic challenge at The Emerald took place on Thursday, 17th July and found only seven players still in contention. The day was to throw up many surprises as first of all David Thomas played one under "off the sticks" to set himself up for a possible sub-par gross but the mindgame was too tough to handle, finishing as he did with a gross 78 for 35 points and a share of third place on the day with John Rehm whose score was a fine reward for some strong golf. Second on the day was Erik Antonnen, ending a good week with 37 points but trailing the winner, Kazu Agune, who played his best round again recording 40 points. Such was his second day showing that he shot up the eclectic leaderboard to finish second with 44 points, one behind Erik and his 45 point score. The day's only birdie two was shot by David Thomas on the seventh and it provided him with an substantial rolled over purse. The Booby Bevy went by way of a welcome to Chris Field and Pat Adland who had started the week playing with Lewiinski's but sharing a fourball with two OK golfers, and who ended it with a good day's golf with their new found friends. It's what we're all about at the OK Corral. That what golf should be all about in Pattaya and with less of the scheming and backbiting the city has seen recently.

The Pattaya Golf Society left a very wet Soi Rungland on Sunday, 20th July, to travel to a pleasantly dry and warm Eastern Star to play a stableford event on a virtually empty course. Low season has its benefits after all. It was to be a day to remember for one golfer in particular as retired Melbourne Headmaster Barry McIntosh taught the lads a thing or two about accuracy, getting the Society's fifth hole-in-one in four years. It came on the par three seventeenth as an assured five iron to the left front of the temporary green rolled imperceptibly into the cup much to the surprise of those on the tee. For Barry it was his second ace in four years, the first coming at Springfield in Hua Hin. Shuffling the memories of this to a temporary "back burner" we find in fourth place Dave Ashman and Ken Deringer taking a podium spot for the first time with 31 points each and sharing runner-up place Barry McIntosh and Kazu Agune, shortly to return to Japan, on 33 points. The day's best card was scored by Tony Thorne, a gross eighty-one giving him an excellent 37 points and it contained the day's only birdie two. Imagine Tony's surprise, as he was the only one not to hear of Barry's achievement until the presentation, to find it went unrewarded, but he did receive the Booby Bevy by way of consolation. Finally a properly clad David Thomas received the Society's "Golden Sarong" prize for the pert little number he had worn on his previous occasion as "emcee", attempting to cover up the results of an indiscretion in a 7-Eleven where the toilet was seemingly locked. But not to detract from the day's best story, Barry''s hole-in-one. One of the nicest golf companions, it had been, in his words, "a wonderfully memorable day" and it could not have been better received.

The Pattaya Golf Society golfers warmed up on the eve of the annual IPGC Championship with a stableford round at Bangpra on Tuesday, 22nd July, and found the course in good condition despite the reconstruction and realignment that is currently underway there. As expected the pre-major field was smaller than usual but they gave it their best shot. Sharing runner-up place were Bill Pickersgill and Peter Duncan, the latter delighted with his first podium placing in more than a year, both recording 31 points. The day's winner was Canadian Ken Deringer whose golf is very consistent and his 34 points was a respectable score on a course he had not played before. There were no birdie twos as golfers found the greens slow after some heavy seasonal rain and the Booby Bevy went to smiling Shuichi Kodaka to mark the end of his current stay. Bangpra had been an ideal loosener for the "major's" golfers.

At a superbly organised Annual Championship at Khao Kheow and Phoenix this week the players from the OK Corral did themselves and the Pattaya Golf Society proud with their display. Despite the deperately difficult nature of Khao Kheow and the powdery bunkers at both courses the golfers drew on all their resources of skill and experience to post some fine scores. The hero of the week was Swiss golfer John Rehm who fulfilled the promise he has shown this trip with a fine Third Division win with a net total of 151. Hot on his heels were Peter Duncan with his fine second day score of 39 points giving him the First Division Plate trophy and Carl Lovatt shaking off the effects of 'flu to post 38 points for the Third Division plate trophy. Special mention must also be made of David Thomas who shot the day's second best gross at Phoenix to finish at joint fourth overall, sharing the place with another OK stalwart, Dave Stockman, on 151. Also deserving of a special mention was the effort of Tony Thorne, the clubhouse leader after the first day at Khao Kheow, and he was to suffer from the peculiar greenskeeping habits here in Thailand when he entered seven Phoenix bunkers on the second day and took a total of seventeen shots to escape them. The Pattaya Golf Society wishes to join all IPGC golfers in thanking the organisers, especially Stephen Beard, for their outstanding contribution to another exciting Annual Championship.

On Sunday, 27th July, the Pattaya Golf Society visited a very full Emerald course in Ban Chang to play its usual Sunday stableford event over the course which is now in very fine condition. The field was a high quality one with the average handicap barely fifteen and it was a pleasure to welcome back Paul McNally, newly married and en route to his workbase in China. He found Ban Chang was still a tough nut to crack after a few months barren of golf however. Principals to feature were Larry Slattery in fourth place with a fine 35 points, and Chris Voller sharing second place with Wichai Tananusorn on 38 points each. The winner was John Rehm, following a very successful week at the IPGC Annual Championship, putting together a quality card of 40 points on the strength of some very sound iron play. He also had the honour of the only birdie two of the day, nailing a crucial ten-foot putt on the fifteenth. Len Jones had played the first nine in 22 points but then found the wheels coming off his wagon after the thirteenth and he ended up with the Booby Bevy for a paltry 33 point final haul. Four uphill putts on the seventeenth is enough to break anyone's soul! Regular Sunday golfers are reminded that the Pattaya Golf Society is back on schedule at Eastern Star every weekend until the end of October.

On Tuesday, 29th July, it was the turn of the Lewiinski's golf group to host the PGS in an International Pattaya Matchplay League round at, surely, the region's most difficult course at the moment, Khao Kheow, over the B and C nines. Accuracy is essential here as shots are given to the course whenever a ball enters the Bermuda rough. Indeed a ball is frequently "lost" just a metre off the fairway! The greens are immaculate however, which gives some balance to the challenge. The first event a few weeks ago was won by Lewiinski's by the narrowest of margins and the lads from the OK had come seeking revenge with a strong team. Dave Stockman's tight first tie was all square with Jack Spencer and in the same group captain David Thomas went down 2 and 1 to Lewiinski's captain Bob Newell. Chris Voller racked up his first matchplay point with a fine levelled tie against the first round hero Mark Wood and pity Peter Duncan who found Seamus Cotter in such form that he lost 7 and 6 to the man who fired a gross 76 on the day. Tony Thorne and Ken Deringer both took wins from their ties whilst late call-up Ronnie Ramsay stuttered to a 7 and 6 defeat leaving John Rehm as the OK's hero of the day winning his tie 2 and 1 against a competent Jez Lees with yet another thrilling individual performance. Thus the match ended with Lewiinski's shading it again 41/2 to 31/2. In Lewiinski's individual stableford event played concurrently the winner was Len Jones, shooting 34 points to blow away memories of his previous round in the IPGC Championship where bad luck had dogged him on a couple of holes. For the golfers the day surely begged the question,"Why choose a brutal Khao Kheow as a venue?"

The Pattaya Golf Society visited glorious Greenwood on Thursday, 31st July, to play a stableford event on the A & B nines. The course was beautifully turned out and the scene was set for some very good scores as the tees were well forward, giving even the shorter hitters more chance of "greens in regulation". So it was to be as Chris Voller joined Bill Pickersgill on 39 points for a share of third place, Chris using the bonus points to seal his first "Player of the Month award since relocating in November. A country mile ahead in second was Keith Hector on 43 points and he must have been disappointed not to win as John Rehm continued his exceptional form at the moment with a startling 45 points, to register the group's second best total of the year. Such has been John Rehm's form that in the space of a week he has taken a divisional victory in the IPGC Annual Championships and played two other rounds in a total of 13 under par! Golf is obviously a doddle for the Swiss golfer at the moment. Four people had a share of the rolled over twos pot with the lucky golfers being Bill Pickersgill, Keith Hector, Peter Duncan and Larry Slattery who chose to sink a pair from off the greens. Playing partner George Doyle found his first round with the group memorable as he picked up the Booby Bevy for his low score. At the end of the day, after a performance like that, John Rehm must be wondering what will happen next. For certain it's going to get tougher John.

Sunday, 3rd August saw the Pattaya Golf Society return to Eastern Star to play it's usual Sunday Stableford event, for many the golfing highlight of the week with the group from the OK Corral, with its customary large single flight. Let it be said now that Eastern Star is not the "doddle" it used to be, with the temporary greens adding a new challenge with their length, placement and slopes. Interestingly one has to go back quite a while to find winning scores well under-par. It was no different on this occasion with a stiff breeze blowing all day as Chris Voller, Dave Ashman and Peter Masters tied for second with 33 points each leaving Ronnie Ramsay at the top of the leaderboard on 35 points, giving him the honour of his first individual win with the group. True to his Scottish roots his generosity prompted him to ring the bell in celebration, back at the OK. There were no birdie twos leaving a large rollover for the following weekend. John Rehm has been very much the man in form recently. Only the previous week he played two rounds in a total of thirteen under par and the subsequent five shot cut in handicap put him under extreme pressure to come up with the goods again. The result was foregone as he left six balls in the water and one up a coconut tree to give him the Booby Bevy to start his final week's competitions with the PGS. Next weekend he'll be back at work in Switzerland whilst we other lucky souls return to take on Eastern Star again.

The Emerald was the venue for the Pattaya Golf Society's fourth International Pattaya Matchplay League match of the season on Tuesday, 5th August, when the opponents were Jomtien Golf. Successive defeats by the narrowest of margins at the hands of Lewiinski's had left the OK Corral team bent on revenge and the golfers from Jomtien were to feel the sting on the empty course in Ban Chang. At the top of the order Dave Stockman and home captain David Thomas took their ties against Keith Hector and Jim Lane, with Chris Voller adding a third scalp, beating Burnie Sinclair 4 & 2 in the third tie. Jomtien's Bryan Rought took Tony Thorne to the final putt before losing his tie and thus the PGS lay "dormie 4" at the halfway stage. Jitters took over as Peter Duncan found giving so many shots away to his opponent, Jomtien captain Glyn Evans, cost him the tie 5 & 3 but the nerves were calmed in the next tie as Ken Deringer came home 3 & 1 against Peter Grant. In the final two ties Carl Lovatt lost to Jomtien's Jim Johnson 5 & 4, leaving John Rehm to tie things up by defeating Robert Green 3 & 1 in the final tie. Full results (OK Corral names first):

In the associated stableford event, cut at nineteen and under, victory in the second flight was shared appropriately by the two organisers Len Jones and Glyn Evans with 35 points, Markku Tynell taking third with 31, and in the top flight Dave Stockman took the win with the best round of the day, 36 points, from Tony Thorne and Keith Hector on 34. Tony also took the twos pot for the only birdie two of the day on the fifth hole. He duly celebrated by ringing the OK's bell later at a relieved presentation which had seen the PGS take its maiden matchplay win.

Green Valley was the host for the Pattaya Golf Society on Thursday, 7th August as the group played a stableford competition on the well prepared course. Fairways are lush and the greens are acceptably slick. Playing off the forward white tees the course was not as testing as it usually is but it still made for a fine competition.Of those with hopes of a high finish "Kermit" of Ban Chang must have been disappointed that his 37 points did not rate a mention as David Thomas, Ken Deringer and Chris Voller all shared the win on 38 points, David registering the day's best gross figures of 75, despite three-putting the last hole. It should have been a gross level par round and the disappointment was etched on his face as he trudged off the last green. It was golf at its best nevertheless. There were no birdie twos on the fast greens but Peter Masters, playing with the triumphant trio, let the group down badly, coming up with only 28 points and thus he was rewarded with the Booby Bevy. In his defence it was amazingly the first time he had played the course after golfing with the group for more than a year. It was also an enjoyable experience because the course was vitually empty, but that will be a distant memory as the annual Asian invasion begins in a month or so.

On Sunday, 10th August, a seasonally smallish group representing the Pattaya Golf Society played a stableford round at an empty Eastern Star and found the course being its usual stubborn self and only giving up shots grudgingly. A trio of French golfers led the group off the first tee and at the end of the competition two of them had emphasised their presence with places in the top three. In joint second place was Jean Morel, his 33 points matching the score of Chris Voller, but one point behind the leader Jeremy Akoum, celebrating the opening of his new perfume blending business in Pattaya with 34 points. Once again breaking par was a tough test at Eastern Star. For the second successive Sunday there were no birdie twos, making for a large pot at the same venue next week. The Booby Bevy went to fourth placed Len Jones as consolation for his bad luck in missing out on the customary Sunday fourth place payout, the numbers game deciding on three places only. However, the friendship of the day more than made up for it.

The Pattaya Golf Society visited Greenwood on Thursday, 14th August, to play a stableford competition and found the club preoccupied with a later starting "in-house" tournament. The group were given the B/C combination and found the starting B nine in excellent condition with good fast greens. A notice had earlier been espied in the clubhouse informing that the C nine was closed and when starting the back nine it was obvious that the club had opened it only for our group, so as not to disrupt anything the other tournament had in mind. Thus we had to contend with nine holes which were under repair with cored and sanded greens and even the drinks kiosks were locked and unattended. Nobody was available afterwards to give an explanation and once again it shows how fickle local management can be in dealing with farang golfers who are charged more than locals for the pleasure. It preoccupied the golfers thoughts at the presentation when they were also celebrating Chris Voller's first success as the Society's "Player of the Month" after some fine individual performances throughout July. The results were: in third place Bill Hewitt with 32 points, in second Keith Hector with 34 and the winner was Jean Morel with 36. The rolled over twos pot was won by Bill Hewitt for his effort on B2.

The Pattaya Golf Society's weekly Sunday stableford competition was held at Eastern Star on 17th August and it was a joy to see the two temporary greens on the front nine now defunct as the newly seeded greens had taken shape. The course was virtually empty yet again and the conditions were good for a tight competition. David Thomas, Ronnie Ramsay and Peter Masters all had a share of third place with 35 points whilst, yet again, the winning score was just level par. Rookie Bobby Shirkey's short game was on song as he recorded 36 points and he could have been forgiven for thinking Sunday golf would be the same as in his native Scotland, where the Mams would be confined to the kitchen cooking the Sunday haggis, but not here in Thailand when the likes of Mam Morel appears and posts the same score! Mam also recorded the first birdie two of the day, on the third, and this was followed by David Thomas's chipped birdie on the difficult seventeenth green for a share of the large twos pot. One lady who would probably have been happier with her hands in the mixture was Mod Churaiska and she received the Booby Bevy award for her low score of the day. But it had been a day when Bobby had dazzled on the course and had shared the glory briefly with Khun Mam.

On Tuesday, 19th August, the Pattaya Golf Society played its eagerly awaited International Pattaya Matchplay League match against The Haven at the Emerald course in Ban Chang. Coming off the back of a fine first win against Jomtien Golf a week or so before, the team, captained by David Thomas, held high hopes of an upset victory against the pre-season favourites. Indeed, The Haven had not yet lost a match in the league. After nine holes the ties seemed to be going to form and the Haven held a lead of six ties to one, with one all square. The Haven's lead pair of Barry Winton and Al Keith had not yet lost a tie and the quality golfers were setting a high standard for their team-mates. But, incredibly, the PGS bit back with David Thomas taking his tie on the final hole and an out-of-form Al Keith conceding his tie five and four against Chris Voller. The balance of the match was restored as Russell Exley took a win over Tony Thorne, three and two, and Barry Traynor, playing clinically took out Wichai Tananusorn two down, the latter not playing a bad shot all day. Up stepped Ken Deringer for the PGS and stole a two and one victory against Trevor Schirmer to restore the PGS lead but Peter Masters just losing one down gave the balance back to the Haven. Roy Thornton survived from being two down very early in his tie to emerge a four and two winner against Jens Gunnarsson, leaving the final drama to be played out on the final green as Stephen Beard, needing a win to half the match for his team, missed a relatively short putt to finish all square against Evan Millar. The "comeback kids" from the OK Corral had done it and won the match by the narrowest of margins, 4 1/2 to 3 1/2. Barry Traynor won the associated stableford event with 39 points, edging David Thomas and Wichai Tananusorn into runners-up with their 37 point cards. It had been a memorable day in the life of the Pattaya Golf Society.

The end of the third week in August sees the birthday celebration of the PGS's golf organiser, Mr. Len, and this year a first visit was planned to the new Plantation golf course to play a stableford better-ball pairs event over the much vaunted course. True, the course is magnificent in its appearance, length and challenge but the staffing organisation on the day was chaotic and the words "pee-up" and "brewery" were distinctly audible as the golfers assembled to collect their caddies, bags and carts. Eventually getting underway on the "B" and "C" nines the large field took up the cudgels, many of them playing the course for the first time. A large contingent from The Haven had joined Mr. Len in his birthday event and opponents only 24 hours before were now partners. In what other sport would that happen we wonder? The competition was to prove very close and just missing out in fourth place was the PGS pairing of Evan Millar and Bill Quon whose 40 points fell just short of the joint runners-up Jens Gunnarsson and Ken Deringer and Chris Voller and Tony Barritt, their 41 points representing some fine golf. The winners were the redoubtable Ban Chang pairing of "Kermit" and Harry Riley and their total of 42 points was the best of the day, helped in no small measure by the best gross figures of 78 recorded by "Kermit". Technical prizes had been sponsored by Len Jones, Peter Duncan, Ronnie Ramsay, Bobby Shirkey, Robert Knutsson and Mikael Andersson and near-pins went to Tony Barritt (B3), Harry Riley (B7), Barry Winton (C3) and Len Jones (C8). On the famed triple green the longest successful first putt on C4 went to Jens Gunnarsson whilst Len Jones took the prize for the longest on C9. Mikael Andersson had sponsored the best individual score with a golf bag and this was deservedly won by Ken Deringer, his 36 points being the only level par round of the day. The Booby Bevy in the form of a pair of putting aids sponsored by Mr Denis, went to the low scoring pair of Peter Biggs and Phil Stevenson. At the presentation back at the OK Corral Khun Malee had come up trumps once again with a tasty buffet and the assembled golfers acknowledged the role played by the host Mr Denis, the girls in the bar and Mary Jones, and in particular The Haven regulars and the other golfers who had made the day such an enjoyable one.

The Pattaya Golf Society regularly visits Eastern Star for its Sunday special stableford event and on 24th August the golfers arrived to find the course hosting a children's event, not in itself a bad thing. However, to subject children to the current course conditions might be construed as child abuse. The re-opening of three of the greens closed for re-seeding is way too soon and some of the bunkers, freshly sanded with what appears to be self-raising flour, brings back bad memories of Phoenix three years ago. The course does not warrant special attention in its current condition. However, golfers will make a fist of any challenge and so it was with the PGS. The returning Ian Wilson, clad in blushing pink, shared third place with Mam Morel, scoring 34 points, only one behind the consistent Chris Voller who is making a habit of appearing on the podium. The day's winner was Aussie Tony Thorne and his round of 39 points was by far the best for a month or more with the Sunday group. Tony also had the honour of the best gross figures of the day, 78 representing some fine golf. The only birdie two was secured by Simon Kendall on his first round back after a summer in UK, the sixth hole confiding its putting secrets to him. Mr. Denis ignored the strong claims by the sartorially challenged Ian Wilson for the Booby Bevy, preferring instead to award it to Max Tolbert for his low round of the day. But it is probably true to say that the Eastern Star greenkeeper may have thrown his hat in the ring for that award as well.

The Pattaya Golf Society visited Bangpra on Tuesday, 26th August, to play a strokeplay event on the fine golf course. The newly refurbished clubhouse now features a wonderful new locker-room with state-of-the-art showers and toilet facilities and the general conclusion was that money was being well-spent both on and off the course. In the tournament itself things went to plan with the usual suspects in the frame. A packed middle order saw Bill Pickersgill emerge to take third place with an excellent net 75. One shot better, on net 74, was Simon Kendall and his round included the day's sole birdie two, a chipped-in effort on the eighth hole which surprisingly was played off the blue tee box. At twenty yards longer than usual it caught out some of the golfers. The day's winner, with the best gross figures of 77, was David Thomas and he was left to rue a lost ball on the seventh which cost him a sub-par round. It was golf of the highest order on a course never too forgiving. At the other end of the scale was the performance of Jean Morel who had a day to forget, arriving late at the course, shooting sixteen over and breaking down on the return journey on Sai Sam, in rush hour. It was no contest for the Booby Bevy. For lovers of Bangpra the course is almost back to its best after months of renovation but there will be a cost to pay in high season no doubt.

Thursday, 28th August saw the Pattaya Golf Society play its one hundredth competition of the year, this time at Phoenix, over the Lakes and Ocean nines. A large field turned out to celebrate the event with the added attraction of a ladies' fourball included for good measure. The quality field saw some fine golf with the average stableford score being almost 33 points. Sharing third place were Bobby Shirkey, David Thomas and Mod Churaiska all on 37 points, whilst Chris Voller reinforced his position as favourite for the group's "Player of the Month" title with an excellent 39 points for second place. David Thomas fired the best gross of the day yet again with an excellent 76. The day's winner was the diminutive Thai lady golfer Ann Silawong, whose recent introduction to the game saw her return 40 points on the course where she also caddies. Local knowledge is indeed an advantage and it marked her best performance with the group. There were four birdie twos, with David Thomas, Ken Deringer, Ann Silawong and Bangkok-based Michael Sim, making his debut in the lists with his best performance in Pattaya, all sharing the prize. Organiser Len Jones had checked his clubs earlier and found one extra in his bag and removed what he thought was a seven wood, only to find when standing on the first tee that it was his driver and he thus had the embarrassment of tracking back to the car park to retrieve his favourite club, thereby relegating his playing group to the end of the queue, and determining the destination of the Booby Bevy before his round had begun. It had been another grand day out at Phoenix.

Sunday, 31st August, saw another memorable day for the Pattaya Golf Society as they played out their usual Sunday stableford competition at Eastern Star. Almost four years to the day after Alan McGrory had come up with the group's first competition hole-in-one David Thomas added his name, the sixth, to the list. Most recently, at the end of July on the same course, Aussie Barry McIntosh had the honour with an ace on the seventeenth and this time the canny Kiwi fired another on the sixth, his six iron inexorably finding the bottom of the cup on the tough 170 yard par three. It marked his first in competition golf and it will remain in his golfing memory for a long time. Elsewhere it was to be a day for the ladies. In joint fourth place were Bobby Shirkey and Ken Deringer with 33 points each. Bill Fenton produced his best ever round to finish third on 35 points, a mere point behind local lady member Ya Chaiyanont who recorded level par figures for second place. Unusually Ya's best gross of 82 was matched by another Thai lady regular, Mod Churaiska and the benefit of a slightly higher handicap gave her the victory with 38 points. Old friend Masashi Iizumi had just returned to his golfing home at the OK Corral and recorded the day's only birdie two but his face retained the infectious smile as he acknowledged David Thomas's feat in scooping the twos pot. For Masa the Booby Bevy inevitably! It was also a day when Chris Voller cemented his second successive "Player of the Month" award with an all-time high score of fifty points, but he did not begrudge the canny Kiwi of the limelight. You never know in golf Chris, who's next?

The Pattaya Golf Society travelled to Greenwood on Tuesday, 2nd September, to play a stableford competition over the B and C nines and found the course bereft of golfers. It must be said that at present the course is not the challenge it normally is as the white tee pegs have been on the forward tees for more than a month now, making it a drive and a short iron track for the longer hitters. So it proved on the day as the results went completely to form. In joint third place were Chris Voller and Tony Thorne with 37 points each and sharing the victory were David Thomas and Rick Schramm, both recording 38 points. There were no birdie twos and the Booby Bevy went to Ken Deringer, no mean golfer himself, for his failure to break par, thereby letting his long-hitting peers and playing group down. Altogether it had been a bit of a yawn at Greenwood.

On Thursday, 4th September, the Pattaya Golf Society visited a very quiet Emerald course at Ban Chang to play a stableford event under brooding skies. Beginning well the group took advantage of the cooler conditions with many of the field returning good sub-par scores over the front nine. Then the inevitable happened as the thunder struck and lightning flashed, causing most of the field to seek the comfort of a kiosk. When play resumed after more than thirty minutes, not unexpectedly, scores began to change as stiffness and a loss of rhythm affected those restarting their rounds. Nevertheless Len Jones managed to hold his game together, returning 36 points for third place, his card showing a 21 - 15 split. Two points ahead were the joint winners Rick Schramm and Stan Kure, their cards showing a similar profile. It was especially pleasing for Stan as his previous visit had seen him fretting with a dose of the shanks. Obviously he had now found a "kure"! The large rolled-over twos pot was shared by Rick, Stan, Len, Chris Voller and Simon Kendall. The biggest loser on the day was Ian Wilson who had shared the lead at halfway only to find it dissipate on the back nine and he enjoyed the Booby Bevy at his leisure later back at the OK Corral. The day had been typical of golf in the wet season, good golf punctuated by frustrating delays.

If it's Sunday it must be Eastern Star, and the Pattaya Golf Society gathered at the OK Corral as normal on 7th September anticipating another fine day's stableford golf in Ban Chang. They were not to be disappointed as they returned to the scene of the previous week's hole-in-one by David Thomas. Once again Ya Riley came close but just faltered, dropping three points on the final four holes to leave her in fourth place on 33 points. In third place, one point better, was Masashi Iizumi, savouring the penultimate round of his short stay. The current "Player of the Month", Chris Voller emphasised his consistency with another fine round, posting the day's best gross figures once again, only to scratch the final hole, leaving him frustratingly on 35 points as runner-up. The day's winner with a level par round of 36 points was Harry Riley, another golfer enjoying a consistent run at present. Stan Kure and Chris Voller birdied the par three sixth and they shared the twos pot with Don Nellis after his excellent birdie effort on the tight par-three thirteenth. At the other end of the field a trio of Japanese golfers all recorded the day's lowest scores and when countback was invoked Stan Kure's eight "blobs" guaranteed him the Booby Bevy for the day. But no smile was broader than that of Harry Riley who had come up with another Sunday best.

The Pattaya Golf Society visited beautiful Bangpra on Tuesday, 9th September, to play a stableford event over the rapidly improving course. At the moment Bangpra is looking good with lush fairways and greens becoming more consistent by the day, and money invested by the new parent company has been invested well, but at what cost we may ponder? However, golf is golf and what quality golf was on display. With a third of the field managing to break par it was left to the usual principals to feature at the top of the leaderboard. Stan Kure rediscovered his form after a weekend to forget to post 38 points and just edge Rick Schramm out of the reckoning, on a course on which the latter is never happy. The top two players, Chris Voller and David Thomas went head-to-head throughout and the tussle went head-to-head until the final green where Chris used his extra handicap to good advantage, nosing to the top with 40 points from David's 39. It was appropriate that the newly crowned PGS "Player of the Month" should take victory on the day it was to be awarded. Thomas had the honour of the day's best gross figures of 74 which left him regretting dropping two shots on the opening three holes. Playing with them, Stan Kure secured the day's only birdie two, on the second and thus took the twos pot, leaving the outsider of the leading fourball, Masashi Iizumi, to pick up the Booby Bevy for a mediocre round and a final beer before returning to Japan for another few months. Bangpra had been all about quality on the day, the course and the golf being excellent.

Phone calls and texts flood the network informing players of the club's decision.

One hour later a call from a friend whose lady, a caddy at Phoenix, has called the club. Yes we can play. Nothing to do, of course, with wanting farangs to check-in, with no rain-check, and wile away a couple of frustrating hours waiting for the Starter to give the OK, whilst enjoying the most expensive refreshments this side of the Greenwich Meridian.

The Pattaya Golf Society visited Eastern Star on Sunday, 14th September, and found that despite the absence of golf carts, the course was relatively empty. It was not in good condition and as one player put it, "It was never as bad as this before I left five years ago." The greens are still a problem with their inconsistency and the introduction of the three newly laid greens is far too early in the opinion of most people. This has kept scores down for a few months and this day was no exception. Consistent Chris Voller came third with 33 points, one behind steady Kazu Agune. The winner began his round by losing the whole of his handicap after five holes and on the sixth tee literally kicked his own backside to play the next thirteen holes in just one over par. It was an incredible performance by David Thomas, the resolute New Zealand golfer. His 35 points was a result of a gross 78, by far the best of the day. Chris Voller had the honour of the day's only birdie two, on the tough thirteenth. There were the usual claims for the Booby Bevy including one from the returning Finnish golfer Hannu Kemilla after a long absence but it went ultimately to Mr Denis for his complete lack of rhythm and poor form after some six weeks in England or his sick-bed. Tough on the boss but thoroughly deserved nevertheless. The winning performance was more than the course at Eastern Star deserved however.

On Tuesday, 16th September, the Pattaya Golf Society revisited Mountain Shadow after an absence of three months and found an empty course in fine condition under brooding skies which led to increasing drizzle throughout the round. Thankfully the group were playing stableford golf as the greens were running very quick and the damp fairways gave little or no run in the uncomfortable conditions. It is a course which can bring out the best in a golfer, especially if fairways are found with regularity. David Thomas struggled to match his playing partner on the day and produced 31 points for third place. Bobby Shirkey is an accurate golfer, his tee shots usually finding the short stuff and his higher handicap helped him to 32 points for second place. David's challenger was Chris Voller and once again he produced quality golf to match his handicap recording 36 points for an excellent win on the day. There were three birdie twos with Alan Freeman finding the pot on hole 5, Tony Thorne on hole 8 and the ubiquitous Chris Voller on the seventeenth. The imminence of high season also saw the return of the Finnish duo Erik Antonnen and soul mate Jorma Liila and the latter picked up his customary Booby Bevy for a haphazard round after a night on the town. Tough course Mountain Shadow.

In order to give golfers a feel of the tension and challenge of top flight golf the IPGC celebrated "Ryder Cup" week with a matchplay tournament over two days on Thursday and Friday, 18th and 19th September. The chosen venue was The Emerald and teams representing the Pattaya Golf Society at the OK Corral bar and The Haven went head-to-head over two days replicating the actual Ryder Cup format with morning Foursomes and afternoon Fourballs format on the first day, followed by Singles on the final day. The course was well set up and the only downside was the heavily overcast setting on both days but thankfully the weather did nothing to spoil the tournament. Both venues put out quality teams and the first day began with the foursomes event. Representing the PGS as the top pairing were captain David Thomas and a "chum from Ban Chang" and they found that their Haven opponents, Tony Barritt and Alan Griffiths were no pushover as the latter took the lead match by two up. There followed two astonishing wins for the Haven with, firstly, Haven captain Russell Exley and Barry Traynor wiping out Tony Thorne and Wichai Tananusorn by 6 and 4, and Barry "The Bear" Winton and sidekick Stephen Beard following with a 6 and 5 demolition of Chris Voller and Harry Riley. It was left to wily Erik Antonnen and partner Ray Allison in the final match to save some of the PGS blushes with a comfortable 3 and 2 win over Al Keith and Pete Sumner. The foursomes had gone 3 - 1 to The Haven. In the afternoon the Fourballs were played and some balance was restored as Mikael Andersson and Roy Thornton representing the PGS defeated Al Keith and Jens Gunnarsson 4 and 3 with Harry Riley and Len Jones defeating the morning's heroes Barry Traynor and Tony Barritt 4 and 2 to tie the overall score at three wins each. The first day ended with one more win for both teams as David Thomas and Ray Allison were taken to the final green before defeating Mark Campbell and Mike Dabanovich by one hole and Russel Exley and Alan Griffith tied up the result at 4 - 4 with a 5 and 4 victory over Tony Thorne and Chris Voller. At four ties each the scene was set for the final day's twelve Singles.

With the match finely balanced at four points each both captains were keen to get a head start on the leader board and it was no surprise to find the first pairing for the OK was Dave Stockman and Dave Thomas the two lowest handicappers in the side. They were matched against Barry Winton and Peter Sumner.

Barry finally won his match on the 18 th one up against Dave Stockman to keep in tact his 100% win record in the match but Peter could only manage a tie at all square with Dave Thomas after having been 3 up at the turn, he was unable to match David's back nine. That put the match at 5.5 to 4.5

The second group was also expected to do great things on both sides of the board with Russell Exley taking on Chris Voller once again and Barry Traynor against Eric Antonnen. Once again the Haven players were both up at the turn, 1 up in both games, and once again the Ok boys came back with Chris securing a half and Eric just edging Barry out by 1 up on the last. So 6 to 6 and once again the match was balanced on a knife edge.

Next up were Trevor Schirmer and Tony Barritt both giving lots of shots, Trevor giving Len Jones 14 and Tony giving Evan Millar 13. It turned out to be a titanic struggle in both matches with Trevor just finishing ahead of Len at 2 up winning the last hole and Tony succumbing 5 & 3 as Evans game got better and better as the round progressed. So the match scored moved to 7-7. Mark Campbell and Mike Dabanovich both vowed to do better than their loss in the previous days Fourballs against Roy Thornton and Mikael Andersson, and both did with Mark running out the winner at 3 & 2 over Mikael and Mike getting a share of the glory at all square against Roy.

Now things were getting tighter with the score at Haven 8.5 to OK's 7.5 with four matches still out on the course. The next group on the course had Alan Griffiths playing Tony Thorne and Jens Gunnarsson play Wichai Tananusorn followed by Stephen Beard against Ray Allison and Al Keith playing Harry Riley.

In the event the group behind finished first with Stephen wrapping it up on the 15 th winning 5 & 3 to match his day one playing partners 100% win record as al Keith went down to a totally revitalised Harry Riley 4 & 2, which left the match at 9.5 to 8.5 and The Haven just needing a point from the last unfinished pair of matches. Playing the last two holes Jens was all square with Wichai and Alan was two down so things did not look so good for the Haven but when Alan won the 17 th and Jens halved things took on a better appearance. But then Wichai struck on the 18 th to put Jens away 1 up and leave the match poised level at 9.5 to 9.5 and with both Alan and Tony on the green in regulation and no shots given it looked all over for the boys from Soi 13. But then it all changed again as Alan to putt first put it to three feet and Tony followed with a nervy one that he left four feet short and then missed the next for a bogey. With all the teams now crowding round the eighteenth Alan stepped up for what have been one of the hardest putts of his life and calmly horseshoed it in for the win on the hole and a half in the game. All this excitement was almost too much but finding the end result 10 each everyone agreed it was in the circumstances a great result and a great end to two days of unforgettable golf played as golf was meant to be played.

The presentations and speeches back at the Haven by both captains reiterated that and they both thanked all the players for taking part in such good spirit whist looking forward to the next one. It was decided, following a coin toss, that the Cup should be held by The Pattaya Golf Society for the first period and then thereafter by The Haven with neither being considered the holders but as joint holders. The captains also thanked Len Jones and Stephen Beard for all their assistance in the build up and to Khun Lumyai and her staff for the fantastic free buffet they produced for everyone who attended the prize giving.

On Sunday, 21st September the Pattaya Golf Society visited Eastern Star for probably the last time in a long while to play its Sunday Stableford golf competition. The course at present is not conducive to an enjoyable golf day with the state of the "new" greens and the assortment of bunker conditions, especially after the apparent purchase of Phoenix's much maligned "talc". It was not the most auspicious start to the day but the PGS is adaptable and made a good fist of it. Mr Denis, mine host at the OK Corral, had his best result for a long while, his fine 31 points taking third place and sharing some illustrious company as Tony Thorne took second with a steady 34 points. There seems no way of keeping Chris Voller off the podium these days as David Thomas and some of the other obvious challengers are wilting under the stress of playing the course and Chris took the day yet again with a finely crafted 35 points. Tony Thorne recorded an excellent birdie two on the sixth and he was joined by David Thomas and Denis Smith whose chip-ins helped them to a share of the twos pot. For Denis it was his first birdie success in a couple of years and he savoured the moment. Later Mr Denis rejected the opportunity to present the Booby Bevy to the ESR greenkeeper and focused instead on Ron Barden whose welcome return was appropriately marked. Friends of the Pattaya Golf Society are invited to join us at The Emerald instead for the next few Sundays when, hopefully, better conditions will be found.

Some people think that the course at Royal Lakeside is rather bland with its flat riverside setting, wide fairways and lack of a really memorable signature hole, but it has the attraction that Phoenix once had, in that it affords confidence to a golfer adrift in the golfing doldrums. So it was then that the Pattaya Golf Society visited there on Tuesday, 23rd September, to play a stableford competition. As usual the course was well set up, with the exception of some recently cored greens, to welcome the group. The end of the European summer season sees the return of many golfing friends of whom David Wilkinson made the best impact squeezing 32 points out of the course on his first round back. Such was the quality of the field that the score almost went unnoticed as Shuichi Kodaka's 37 points barely made third place. The unorthodox Tony Thorne played well for his 39 points but it merited nothing more than second place as Evan Millar was running on turbo, crushing the course with an outstanding 44 points for the win and the second best round out of the OK Corral this year. Many people saw this round coming as Evan has played some impressive matchplay golf recently but so far has failed to turn it on in an individual event. He has now! Shuichi Kodaka and Erik Antonnen shared the twos pot with fine efforts on the 3rd and 15th respectively and the returning Finn, Petri Frisk savoured the Booby Bevy for his 9 - 22 point split in a real "curate's egg" of a round. However all had enjoyed a good golfing day at Royal Lakeside.

Green Valley was in its usual comfortable and well prepared condition on Thursday, 25th September when the Pattaya Golf Society made its monthly call, this time to play a medal Order of Merit event. There is currently great rivalry at the top of the monthly table and as the month comes to an end it is always good to see the main contestants going "head-to-head. Such was the case this time as current leader Chris Voller and nearest rival David Thomas were grouped together. The day saw Chris play the first nine in 35 shots, off the sticks, to really set things up but on the back nine, but by his own admission his interest and concentration waned and he scored a punitive 49 to put himself in line for nothing more than the Booby Bevy! Thomas, meanwhile was using all his guile to put together a round of gross 77, level par and push into a share of second place with the unsung golfer Tony Thorne also scoring net 72. Lurking in a later all-Finnish group was Erik Antonnen and unknown to all except his compatriots he had already eagled the seventh hole, a lusty five-wood and a nine-iron out of the fairway bunker finding the hole unerringly. This signalled an excellent round and the formidable Finn finished the day on net 70 to take a deserved victory. Erik was joined by David Thomas, Tony Thorne, Chris Voller, Mikael Andersson and Shuichi Kodaka for meagre shares of the twos pot but nevertheless he enjoyed his day and his first win on this trip.

A relatively empty course and a severe rain lashing welcomed the Pattaya Golf Society to The Emerald at the start of their Sunday association, having made the break with a below standard Eastern Star on 28th September. Ignoring the rumours that the ESR management had spent the previous evening in meditation in a local wat the golfers set about the stableford round with relish. Challenging for the "Player of the Month" title current holder Chris Voller was pitted alongside his old adversary David Thomas and their head-to-head added some excitement to the proceedings, but David came out on top, relegating Chris to third place with 35 points. David's best gross of 77 gave him a level par 36 points for second place but it hides the quality of his golf in testing and soggy conditions. The winner was the returning Swiss golfer, Andy Bardill and his summertime golfing on his local alp helped him to 40 points for a fine win. Chris Voller took some consolation with his two birdie twos, on the fifth and seventh and he shared the pot with Michael Sim whose perfectly executed chip on the fifteenth gave him his first prize with the group. Alex Sala returned to the group and showed promise with a twenty point front nine but fell away badly to add just twelve more points and the biggest split margin was duly recognised with the Booby Bevy. Rain or shine The Emerald is always a course which golfers enjoy and on this occasion things were no different.

Tuesday, 30th September was an important day for the Pattaya Golf Society as they played their final stableford round out of the OK Corral. They visited Crystal Bay for the first time in a few months and found a much improved A & B course which was a little soggy after heavy rain. It was the conclusion of the group's "Player of the Month" competition and the two leaders, Chris Voller and David Thomas, were matched together again. Erik Antonnen's game is holding up well at the moment and his ball striking is sweet but he could only muster 32 points for a share of second place with Kazu Agune. Chris Voller held all the aces as he posted a score of 37 points to take the win and possession of his third consecutive monthly award. For David Thomas there was the consolation of the day's only birdie two, the chipping maestro working the oracle yet again on the signature A8 par three. Later, in the final presentation, the group said a temporary goodbye to Japanese golfer Shuichi Kodaka then turned their attention to their new "clubhouse" at Rabbi's Elephant Bar on Soi Buakhao where the warmest of welcomes awaits them for their next fixture. Full details at http://www.thebunkerboys.com

A new era dawned for the Pattaya Golf Society on Thursday, 2nd October, as they played their first competition from their new "clubhouse", Rabbi's Elephant Bar on Soi Buakhao. The spacious new premises welcomed the golfers and friends old and new and what better way to celebrate the auspicious occasion than by playing stableford golf at Green Valley! The course was fine but the remedial work on the fringes and surrounds of the greens caused some concern as the areas under reconstruction were not indicated as GUR. The only clubhouse notice said "coring". However, resilient golfers these PGS players. There was a tight finish as Ken Deringer, Andy Bardill and John Rehm all shared third place with excellent sub-par scores of 37 points leaving the master of Ban Chang, "Kermit" to his friends, to rule the roost with a splendid gross 73, 40 points. This was an outstanding round in the circumstances and it was pleasing to see one of the group's premier golfers take the inaugural victory at the REB. David Thomas and Andy Bardill both shot twos on the sixteenth for a share of the bonus pot and after a strenuous month of golfing distractions organiser Len Jones thoroughly enjoyed the Booby Bevy for his lacklustre performance on a day when his mind was anywhere but "at the races". The day ended with a warm presentation reception back at Rabbi's and the golfers were all of one mind that the future looked decidedly "rosy" at Rabbi's Elephant Bar.

On Sunday, 5th October the Pattaya Golf Society played its first weekend fixture out of its new "clubhouse", Rabbi's Elephant Bar on Soi Buakhao. The largest field in about three months enjoyed a good day at The Emerald under overcast skies and on a track which played long as a result of recent heavy rain. Always challenging, the course held almost everyone at bay with only two golfers breaking par. In fourth place was the consistent Swiss golfer John Rehm with 32 points, three behind the ebullient Bob Martin who enjoyed a good round despite the naggings of a sore back. In second place was the current PGS "Player of the Month", Chris Voller with a fine 37 points, his back nine making up for some uncharacteristic blemishes on the front nine. The day's best score was recorded by Sunny Khanna, His 38 points confirmed his position as bookies' favourite to win on his first round back this visit, as is always the case with the amiable golfer. He also had a birdie two on the tough fifth hole to share the twos honours with Chris Voller and Bob Martin who celebrated a similar feat on the fifteenth. The Booby Bevy was awarded to mine host, Jeff "Rabbi" Cohen, after three long uphill putting efforts on the fourth green were but a prelude for three more! Having thus joined the Booby Bevy club Rabbi can feel he has really "arrived" with the group on his first round out of his Soi Buakhao bar.

A peacefully quiet and empty Royal Lakeside course welcomed the Pattaya Golf Society on Tuesday, 7th October, to play its monthly Medal Order of Merit event. The large single flight had left its sumptuous new "clubhouse" at Rabbi's Elephant Bar on Soi Buakhao anticipating a fine day's competition and they were not to be disappointed. Royal Lakeside has been described as bland and forgiving but it still is a fair test of golf with its subtly placed fairway bunkers and copious amounts of water. Two players shared third place, both Tony Thorne and Andy Bardill recording net 73. In second place, for the second successive time, was the consistent Chris Voller, currently in the best form of his Thai career, and his net 71 was a fine result for some excellent short play. The winner was Sunny Khanna, again showing that a summer's golf in England has its advantages in terms of maintaining form. His net 68 was his second sub-par victory this week. The only two of the day went to John Rehm for his effort on the third hole and new member Dave Robinson enjoyed the Booby Bevy for his low score of the day, on his first visit to the course. Bland? Certainly not at Royal Lakeside.

The Pattaya Golf Society visited Crystal Bay for the second time in as many weeks on Thursday, 9th October, to play a stableford competition over the B and A nines, on a heavily humid day. The course was in good condition except for the very uneven rough and the slower than normal greens, a result of recent heavy rains. For the first time in a month or so the field was divided into two flights with the cut at sixteen and under. In the second flight Scottish oil man Ronnie Ramsay gave himself something to remember before his imminent return to Papua New Guinea with a third place 33 points which included a birdie two on A8. In second was Evan Millar on 34 whilst John Rehm again took the high ground with an excellent 42 points. Swiss teacher John is certainly a master on a well prepared and level course. In the top flight Ken Deringer scored 35 points for third place and full marks to David Thomas whose gross 75 was the best of the day, giving him 39 points for second place. It was a fine performance from the resolute New Zealander who is preoccupied with many other golfing thoughts at present. The winner was Sunny Khanna again, for the third time in the week, and his 43 points beggared belief. His driving was consistent and long, his touch around the greens was subtle and his putting ranked on the "special". He thus ended the week with the PGS on a staggering thirteen under and Rule 19 was immediately invoked. He also recorded a birdie two on the difficult B6 green whilst a third share also went to David Thomas for his chip-in on A8. The day ended with a packed reception at Rabbi's Elephant Bar on Soi Buakhao, to congratulate the three times winner of the "Player of the Month" award, Chris Voller, together with good company, refreshing beers and the inevitable calls of "Taxi for Mr Sunny"!

On Sunday, 12th October, the Pattaya Golf Society travelled to Ban Chang for its weekly Sunday stableford event, the large field, as normal, being retained in one flight to make the "goodies" more appealing. Once again old friends joined for their first taste of golf from the group's new "clubhouse" in Soi Buakhao and the day was set to be a good one with a large proportion of the field playing off single figures. Mention has to be made of Sunny Khanna whose outstanding week previously had seen his handicap plummet by four shots. Amazingly he managed to put all negative thoughts behind him and finish with a creditable 33 points, which even included two scratched holes. It wasn't quite enough though as Erik Anttonen and Booby Shirkey posted 37 points each for a share of fourth place, just one behind a superb round from Bob Martin, whose 38 points included a back nine of 38 shots, his best ever nine-hole performance. David Thomas came up with the best gross figures once again, his 74 giving him a score of 39 points for the second successive round. The winner was Dundee's Ronnie Ramsay, Scottish to the core, and a golfer of no little tenacity. His forty points represented his best round for a while and it will be a fine memory when he temporarily returns to Papua New Guinea in a few days time. Chris Voller achieved the day's only birdie two, a tap-in on the fifth and Russell Exley received his first Booby Bevy for changing caddies twice during the course of the first eight holes and then proceeded to set a blistering pace which just fell short of the leaderboard, his card showing an 11 - 21 split. Cheers Russell, but congratulations Ronnie.

The Pattaya Golf Society left the bustle of Soi Buakhao on Tuesday, 14th October, for the relative peace of Phoenix to play a stableford competition on the Ocean and Mountain nines. The course was in fine condition but the Ocean greens showed signs of recent coring, which made putting a little testing. Phoenix has a reputation for helping golfers out of a rut but it has considerably toughened up over recent years. Expect the lower handicappers to do well! In joint second place came a clutch of the latter with David Thomas, Bill Hewitt, Dave Robinson and Tony Thorne all posting scores of 35 points. Tony Thorne's front nine was indeed a gross 38 but the delicate balance of the universe was restored with his two uncharacteristic "blobs" on Mountain two and three. It was David Thomas who returned the best gross figures of 79. Wonderfully, the day's winner was a high handicapper and a lady to boot! Margaret Wilkinson used the forgiving red tee positions to record 36 points and her biggest payday yet in the Kingdom. Ron Matthews won the twos prize with the day's only birdie two, on the Mountain fifth and the Booby Bevy went to wee Bobby Shirkey who found out before his round that he had been playing of a lower handicap for more than a week, and it had cost him merit order points and no little cash. In addition he had arrived at Rabbi's Elephant Bar without his golf clubs and had to borrow a set from the Boss himself, Rabbi. It all made for another fun day at Phoenix.

The Pattaya Golf Society visited Bangpra International Golf Club on Thursday, 16th October, to play a stableford competition on the revamped course, in two flights, cut at eighteen and under. The day was fine and the only cloud on the horizon was the sight of a green "sander" somewhere in the distance. The field teed off early and signs were good for a successful day. Fears would become realised before the turn as the dreaded "sandman" decided to conduct his task in the middle of the competition leaving golfers standing in amazement on the fairway as they watched him spread his load on the green! But, as we all know, "planning " is not what Thais are about and the group had to make the best of it. In a tight top flight Garry Hartshorne, heading a large Aussie contingent, posted 34 points for a share of third place with Jari Heikkinen, whilst David Thomas went one better firing the day's best gross of 79 which gave him second place on 35 points. The flight winner was Erik Anttonen and his level par 36 points reflected a good round. Things were almost as tight in the second flight with Len Jones, Ray Underwood and Ian Hogg recording 35 points each for a share of second place whilst the heroine of the day was Margaret Wilkinson who nailed the first ladies' double with the group, following up her Tuesday win with 38 points. Husband Dave is convinced his wife's eye surgery is the reason for the difference in her game and it was good too see the old sparkle back. Don Nellis had an early birdie two on the second and he had to wait until the twelfth to see Ray Jackson and Michael Sim join him in a share of the twos pot. The Booby Bevy went to Aussie Ray Regan for his non-competitive round containing nine "blobs". Hopefully the phantom sandman of Bangpra will have moved on next time the PGS calls.

The IPGC Pattaya Golf Society left their Soi Buakhao "clubhouse" on Sunday, 19th October, anticipating another fine Sunday Stableford event at The Emerald course in Bang Chang. It's a sign of the approach of high season when bookings are changed unilaterally by the club to admit a large visiting tour group at last minute and shunt pre-booked groups out of the picture. Shame on you Emerald! Thus it was that an always obliging Eastern Star was able to accommodate the twenty golfers at a moment's notice so that the competition could go ahead. Robert Trent Jones' course has significantly improved since the group's last visit in August and it was pleasing to find excellent fairways and reasonably consistent, if a little slow, greens. The heavy humid atmosphere gave more than the hint of an approaching storm and the good Lord, working in his time-honoured "mysterious way", proceeded to deposit litres of rain on the perfidious club just down the road, allowing the group to play out its event unmolested by the deluge. Sharing third place were Chris Voller and Tony Thorne with 32 points each, coat-tailing the runner up Russell Exley whose best gross figures gave him 34 points. The day's winner amazingly was event organiser Len Jones, whose confrontation a few hours before had led to a drenching of adrenalin and maybe it was this that helped him to a score of 38 points and a well deserved and popular victory. There were no birdie twos and Peter Duncan celebrated his final round this trip with the Booby Bevy after putting together a score of which he was not proud. Needless to say the day ended in fine style at Rabbi's Elephant Bar after the earlier rebuff at Emerald. Sunday's will see a new venue from now on.

On Tuesday, 21st October, the Pattaya Golf Society visited arguably the best course in the area at present, Greenwood. The fairways are immaculate, the greens consistent , the welcome is warm and with the white tee boxes back to their testing best the course is a good challenge for all golfers. The agenda for the day included a stableford competition over the C and A nines and the day stayed dry but very humid.The monthly order of merit event attracted a good field and as usual it was restricted to only one flight. In order to celebrate the four hundredth competition organised by Mr Len technical prizes were set up for near-pins on the par threes and these went to Tony Thorne on C3, David Thomas on C6 and A2 and Wichai Tananusorn on A6. The main event proved to be very close with Len Jones, David Thomas, Tony Thorne and Khun Wichai all taking a share of second place with diligent scores of 35 points. They were to be usurped by big Bill Pickersgill on his return round after a few months in UK and he showed he had lost nothing of his form as he took the victory by one point. Surprisingly there were no birdie twos and the rollover kicked in for Burapha two days later. Jim Proctor received the Booby Bevy for his low score and Rabbi's sponsored shirt went to newbie Steve McGill for managing to play the round wearing a collarless garment, undetected by the starter. Next time get it right Steve, we have high standards to meet at the Pattaya Golf Society!

Burapha hosted the Pattaya Golf Society on Thursday, 23rd October, for the regular Thursday stableford event, this time over the C and D courses at the fine venue. The course was set up beautifully, as usual, and the field enjoyed a rare visit to the David Graham and Gary Park designed track. With tees well back and fairways softened by rain the course was to play long and the narrow fairways benefited the more accurate golfers in the field. In joint third place were Ray Jackson and Peter Marsh, the latter playing his first round with the group since March, and their 34 point scores were a fine reward for some accurate golf. In second place was Kazu Agune, enjoying the best round of his current visit and he recorded 35 points in his usual disciplined style. The winner was David Thomas whose front nine was level par against the card and included two fine birdies on the par threes. The "D" nine exercised some revenge however and he ended the day on 36 points, producing the best gross figures of 77. He shared the rolled over twos pot with Kazu who also birdied the short C8th hole. The Booby Bevy was reserved for Bill Pickersgill who had travelled the lonely "hero to zero" track since Tuesday and ended with the day's lowest score. So ended another excellent golf day with the PGS. Regulars may wish to know that the Society is playing its Annual Championship at Greenwood on 4th and 6th November and potential entrants need only to have completed three competition rounds with the group this year. Full details are available at Rabbi"s Elephant Bar in Soi Buakhao and on the Society website at http://www.thebunkerboys.com

On a stormy Sunday, 26th October, the Pattaya Golf Society left the comforts of Rabbi's Elephant Bar on Soi Buakhao for a day's stableford golf at Eastern Star. The course is improving slowly in readiness for the high season and the only damper on the day were the wet fairways and the ever-present threat of a downpour. Showers duly arrived and the course was to play uncomfortable and long. In joint third place came the duo of Len Jones and Tony Thorne with scores of 30 points each whilst Chris Voller went one better with a steady 31 points, sharing the day's best gross figures of 84 with David Thomas. The winner on the day was the popular Finnish golfer Jorma Liila who followed a poor front nine with a storming back nine of twenty points for a final score of 33 points. The rolled-over twos pot was shared by Tony Thorne and new IPGC member Matti Lindholm, the latter playing officially for his initial handicap, and chipping in from all of twenty yards uphill on hole number three. Beginner's luck obviously! Chris Hardy showed no sign of remorse when awarded with the Booby Bevy after his dismal round and as all golfers know a bad round is inevitably followed by something much better.

Khao Kheow B and C beckoned for the Pattaya Golf Society on Tuesday, 28th October, as the IPGC group from Rabbi's Elephant Bar in Soi Buakhao called to play a stableford round, on a fine day and on a course in good condition, if a little damp. The course is always a good challenge with narrow approaches to the greens and the abundance of Bermuda grass just waiting to grab the golf ball straying off the fairways and accuracy is usually the watchword for a successful round. Thus low handicappers usually benefit and in third place came Garry Hartshorne and "Our Man from Ban Chang", both scoring a surprisingly low 32 points. The group's most consistent golfer at present, Tony Thorne, found his commendable 35 points worthy of only second place whilst the deliberation and accuracy which is the hallmark of Kazu Agune's game, reaped the benefits with a level par performance of 36 points for the day"s honours. There were six birdie twos with Jari Heikkinen"s brace on the B nine sharing the honours with Len Jones' birdie on the Island Hole and David Thomas, Brian Jackson and Ray Underwood all repeating the feat on C3. The Booby Bevy went by way of welcome to Kazuo Takimoto, a non playing visitor to Rabbi"s and his return to his golfing home was warmly welcomed. The reason for the award? He had come this time for a beer not for a round of golf. That will come later and the PGS will benefit from his presence in future competitions. It had been a thoroughly pleasant day at Khao Kheow.

Mountain Shadow is always a pleasantly less stressful golf course in high season and for this reason, as the influx of seasonal Asian golfers gets under way, the Pattaya Golf Society chose it as its venue for the final monthly stableford event of the month on Thursday, 30th October. Always well prepared, the course is a challenge with its abundance of trees and large undulating greens, which were surprisingly slower than the posted 9.5 on the notice board. Virtually with the course to themselves the group began in high hopes of a good competition. Recent rains had made the fairways soft leaving very little run and the hopes of high scores rapidly diminished. Sharing second place were Brian Beaupre with his best gross figures of 82 and currently in-form Aussie Tony Thorne, both recording 32 stableford points. The best round of the day was recorded by Garry Olliffe, recently arrived for a short visit from Australia, and he took the day with 34 points. Chris Voller took another share of the twos pot, his effort on hole 5 being matched by Takeshi Hakozaki and Matti Lindholm. Tuesday's hero, Kazu Agune, became the day's "zero" with a poor round which saw him strike almost every tree, the ricochets giving the impression that woodpeckers had taken up residence on the course! The Booby Bevy convinced him that a week on the practice range would be in order. Always a good idea.

As a result of concerted high price hikes for the high season, throughout the Eastern Seaboard Association, the Pattaya Golf Society decided on a change of venue for it's Sunday stableford event and revisited the basic but homely club at Century Chonburi on 2nd November. There is nothing at all wrong with the lay-out of the Faldo-designed course and the challenge has always been there but the conditions on the course, in particular the bunkers, the "amateur" fairway maintenance, the basic clubhouse facilities and cold showers all tend to detract from the enjoyment of the day. However the addition of a tournament "local rule" to cover the bunkers on the day made the competition fair and enjoyable. Scores were destined to be low on a course with little or no run and Len Jones recorded 30 points for third place, finding himself in the frame with surprising regularity these days. It must be the air in Soi Buakhao! Peter Masters returned after a couple of months on the practice range and his patience and diligence were rewarded with a second place score of 32 points. "Mr Consistency", Tony Thorne, inevitably took the day with a fine 35 point card and he had the bonus of the only birdie two, on the seventeenth. Some of the prime candidates for the Booby Bevy had hastened away from Rabbi's Elephant Bar, fearing being a target, but the organiser has plans for their return. Maybe it will be at Century Chonburi next weekend?

On Tuesday and Thursday 4th and 6th November the Pattaya Golf Society held its Annual Strokeplay Championship at Greenwood over the A and B nines. The course was well presented and the large field competed for the title of PGS Champion, Net Champion and Eclectic Champion. There was thus something there to cater for all handicaps and the rivalry was intense. As the first day panned out it was obvious that the title would be hard fought even though four shots were to cover the first three golfers after the first eighteen holes. David Thomas fought against a viral infection and bravely posted 83 for third place whilst In-form Tony Thorne suffered two double bogeys on the back nine to finish runner-up on 81. Pre-tournament favourite, "Our man in Ban Chang", took centre stage with 78 in difficult circumstances on soft fairways and under overcast and humid skies. It was a fine performance on any stage and left the challengers in a determined mood for the final day's joust. With the leaders going out last in the same playing group it was almost a head-to-head event and by the tenth tee David Thomas had clawed back the five shots he needed to share the lead. It was a phenomenal performance considering his condition and spurred "Kermit" into immediate action. An unheralded double bogey on the final hole gave him a back nine of 37 to cap a fine display. His total of 158 marked a fine victory over the two rounds. Elsewhere Kazuo Takimoto was making headway after a mediocre first day and suddenly found himself in the frame after an excellent gross 79. This left three golfers on a 36 hole total of 162 and a countback decided the issue for runner-up with Taki taking it with 41 on the back nine, against the claims of David Thomas and Tony Thorne on 42. In the net competition Tony Thorne was able to hold his lead after the first day and his 142 just edged out the claims of Wichai Tananusorn with his 144. Elsewhere in the field the eclectic competition held everyone's interest until the final hole and an inspired back nine performance by Ann Silawong gave her a superb eclectic score of 63 for her first "major" title. The event had been a resounding success and the presentation party afterwards went on for more than a few hours, coinciding, as it did, with host "Rabbi"'s birthday and the experience had been a very enjoyable one. The acknowledgements included recognition for Harry Riley, Dale Shier and Dave Stockman for sponsoring the perpetual trophy and the eclectic prize and the hard work of Len Jones, his backroom staff and all at Rabbi's Elephant Bar in Soi Buakhao for a memorable Annual Championship.

On Sunday, 9th November the Pattaya Golf Society travelled to Century Chonburi for yet another Sunday stableford event on the course where punters get just a little more value for their money than at first thought. The layout is a good one, the greens are good, even the bunkers showed signs of having been raked at sometime during the week but the fairways still need a trim. A stiff breeze blew all day and the course seemed long by comparison. At the halfway stage it appeared to be anyone's game as the highest points total was well above par and a thirty minute hiatus for the insertion of a not-unexpected Thai sixball on the tenth gave the PGS golfers time to reassess their game plan. A dearth of good scores meant that the otherwise embarrassing totals of 28 points by Tony Thorne and Evan Millar went unchallenged for third place whilst Ray Jackson's final round before returning to Oz yielded 30 points for second place. Organiser Len Jones's back nine was exceptional. His last eight holes brought him 22 points, fourteen coming on the final four, and his total of 32 points was enough to win the day. Elsewhere Chris Voller and Tony Thorne took shares of the twos pot for their efforts on the fourth and seventeenth holes respectively and David Thomas was lined up for the Booby Bevy for failing to "honour the slut", the quaint Aussie celebration of buying the group a beer for failing to pass the ladies tee! He immediately withdrew to a darkened room and failed to surface for the presentation. It had certainly been cheap and cheerful at Century Chonburi.

Phoenix played the perfect host to the Pattaya Golf Society on Tuesday, 11th November, when the popular group called to play their monthly Order of Merit medal round. The Mountain and Lakes course was well set up, even though a little damp, and it was refreshing to notice the absence of other large groups on the track and more so the absence of the over fussy course marshalls hastening everyone up to squeeze more golfers in. The group got underway promptly and scores were difficult to maintain in the strong breeze. However Len Jones and Hisahiko Makino finished with net 71 for a share of second place, the former needing a par on the last for a 67 and then proceeding to register a nine after visiting trees bunkers and three putting! The leading group saw David Thomas putting a brave face on his chest condition and registering net 73 for third place. Playing partner, "Kermit", from Ban Chang showed his Championship winning form of the week before had not deserted him and bludgeoned a gross 73 out of the course for a tasty net 67. Included in that was a birdie two on Lakes 7 and Kiwi Thomas took some comfort in his brace of birdies on the Mountain nine par threes. Afterwards a crowded presentation party back at Rabbi's Elephant Bar on Soi Buakhao enjoyed the sight of a belated Booby Bevy being awarded to David Thomas for his failure to "honour the slut" on Sunday, choosing to hasten to his sickbed instead. Phoenix had been a pleasure to play once again.

High Season and Korean cancellations meant that the Pattaya Golf Society virtually had the course at Green Valley to themselves on Thursday, 13th November, when they played a stableford event in two flights cut at nineteen and under. Course conditions are not good at the moment because the impending Asian Tour Qualifying event in January has necessitated a lot of course maintenance including cored and sanded greens and the thickening of the rough. The top flight saw a very tight tussle between the usual contenders and Tony Thorne produced 32 points for third place. October's "Player of the Month", David Thomas, shook off the remnants of a chest virus to come second with 33 points, posting the day's best gross figures of 80, whilst the flight went to Chris Voller and his very creditable 34 points score. The secret of Chris's game at present is his ball-striking and when he readjusts his club distances he will be a threat once again. In the second flight Evan Millar stuttered on the back nine after turning at level par to finish third with 30 points, one behind Finnish golfer Matti Lindholm, gaining his first podium place with the group. The best points score of the day was recorded by Len Jones, currently enjoying his best spell in four years or more and his impressive 40 point haul belied the course conditions. Having sorted out his sad short game with a "belly chipper" he is now hellbent on muscling his way down the handicap list. His score was helped by an "almost" ace on the seventeenth and he shared the twos pot with Evan Millar and Tony Dixon after their fine efforts on the second and twelfth holes respectively. The Booby Bevy found its way into the hands of Freddy Braun for playing the wrong ball whilst Rabbi's Slammer went to Roy Mann for his very entertaining indiscretion in a Ban Chang bar later in the day! Needless to say that was the main talking point back at the Elephant Bar, leaving the winners to reflect on a fine day earlier at Green Valley.

On Sunday, 16th November, the Pattaya Golf Society visited the municipal lookalike course at Century Chonburi for a day's stableford golf on the popular Sunday track. As usual it was full but the group managed to get away on time. The front nine went like clockwork but the starter's insertion of a couple of sixballs at the tenth did little to improve the pace of play and things slowed remarkably after that. Nevertheless the returning Ronnie Ramsay put aside all thoughts of work and recorded 33 points for a share of third place with David Smith. David Thomas, usually so good on a tough track, came up with the goods again, scoring 35 points and registering yet another best gross, this time 79, to take second place. The day's winner was new member Michael Rozenbroek and his 38 points was a fine return on a track never played before. Rick Schramm and Steven Wilkinson took the twos honours and Chris Voller, so proud of finding his swing rhythm again, enjoyed the Booby Bevy after his meagre 26 point return. After a relatively good round and top-ten finish Roy Mann was surprised with Rabbi's Slammer after failing to reach the red tees on a couple of drives but took the honour in fine style. For "Rozey" it had been a good day but maybe for many golfers it had been a tough day at Century Chonburi.

On Tuesday, 18th November, the Pattaya Golf Society visited an empty Mountain Shadow golf club to play a stableford competition over the testing course. The two flights were cut at eighteen and under and with a blustery wind in evidence playing off the blue tees made the course a good challenge. Accuracy, not long hitting, is the key to success on this course with its fairway trees and huge greens and in the second flight good scores were at a premium. Evan Millar's thirty points was just enough for third place, one behind Roy Mann, making the podium for the first time in many attempts. Allen Dow, IPGC's newest member, from Dundee, returned 34 points from his first competition in the Kingdom for a deserved win. The top flight was a much tighter affair with Jesper Hansen sharing second place with David Thomas, the latter's best gross of 77 giving him 36 points. In itself level-par was a fine effort in the conditions but Rick Schramm went two better with 38 points for a conclusive victory. Jim Ferris found himself in exalted territory as he shared the twos pot with David Thomas for his fine effort on the fifteenth and Evan Millar showed his credentials from the Rob Dolan School of Navigation as he arrived at the tee barely in time after a tour of nearby Sri Racha and had to top up his tank with the Booby Bevy. Mountain Shadow is a fine venue for competition golf and once again the PGS golfers had enjoyed a splendid day on the golf course.

Greenwood proved to be perfect host yet again for the Pattaya Golf Society on Thursday, 20th November, when the group called to play a stableford competition over the A and C nines. The course was again in good condition and the large field was cut at eighteen and under for the second successive time. A stiff breeze blew all day and the result was that low scores were at a premium. In the top flight Rick Schramm, Steve Wilkinson and Jean Morel all scored 34 points for a share of third place whilst David Thomas and Dave Smith went one better to share the flight win with 35 points. In a competitive second flight front nine leader Len Jones found that his putter head that became detached on the sixth knocked him out of the picture in favour of Evan Millar and Bill Pickersgill who shared third place with 34 points each. Pat Murphy proudly took second place with a fine level par totalbut Ronnie Ramsay Jnr showed his dad how to do it with a splendid 38 points score which easily won his flight. There were no birdie twos and the obvious recipient of the Booby Bevy was Mr Len despite the major claim by Chris Voller after an lacklustre performance by him the day after an expensive lesson at the driving range. Rabbi's Slammer went to Tony Thorne after he was espied reading a golfing horoscope before the event which told him that "the figure six will be of special significance this week". It was. He had six of them on his card! Thanks, Greenwood, for another good golf day.

The Pattaya Golf Society returned to Eastern Star on Sunday, 23rd November to find that in their absence there had been some improvement in the greens condition but there is still scope for more in readiness for high season. Otherwise the course is quite acceptable and the large field, divided into two flights at 20 and under enjoyed the stableford event. In division two sloggers Jim Proctor, Glyn Jenkins and Kazu Agune all gathered 28 points for a share of a very ordinary runner-up place whilst Jim Ferris took his first scalp this trip with 29 points. In the top flight Aussie Tony Thorne entered his final full week before returning to Oz with a commendable 34 points for third place, one behind Dave Smith, playing his final round before returning to the frozen wastes of Hull in north east England. The winner, taking his first position on the PGS podium, was Ted Gardner, his 38 points being the best round of the day and the sole sub-par performance. Dave Smith and Bobby Shirkey shared the twos pot whilst Masanori Takano tasted his first Booby Bevy after a shabby 20 point performance which won the honour after a countback with the redoubtable Finnish duo Jorma and Matti.

On Tuesday, 25th November, the Pattaya Golf Society visited Bangpra to play its final "order of merit" event of the month on the beautifully presented course. The only downside of the day was the delayed start, caused by the insertion of a large Japanese group before the PGS, which resulted in the final group coming off the course as the lights came on. Amazingly one of the last group was to feature in the minor positions later. The two flights were cut at 23 and under with the top flight finishing with Tony Duthie in third with 35 points, Tony Thorne in second with 36 and Chris Holmes taking the flight in style with 38 points, his gross of 79 being the best of the day. In the second flight Pat Murphy ended his round with the lights on and found himself in third place on 30 points whilst Kazu Agune stuttered on the back nine to end with 33 in second place. Ann Silawong was to produce one of those rounds where everything went right and a score of 44 points reflected her skill off the more forgiving red tees. It was a major win for her and will kick start her progress down the handicap lists as she so eagerly wants. Dave Thomas took the healthy rolled over twos pot with a fine effort on the seventeenth but also put himself in line for the Booby Bevy for breaking the course dress code and sporting a "Tiger" style collarless shirt. Thankfully the starter was too preoccupied with kowtowing to the Japanese intruders to notice the infringement! All potential PGS players are reminded that in high season sign-ups must be made by 6pm the evening before the event and unexplained "no-shows" will not be accepted for subsequent trips.

With trepidation the Pattaya Golf Society had pencilled in a visit to Treasure Hill on Thursday, 27th November, for a stableford event, having given the club a wide berth for a number of months following problems at the turn of the year, and found the course in excellent condition with only some sandy greens spoiling the scene. Historically the course poses a huge challenge and the presence of a strong wind all day made the golfers dig deep to record good scores. The field was divided into two flights, cut at 20 and under, and those in the second division were given some relief by playing from the yellow tees. The unfortunates in the top flight struggled all day, with Yasuo Suzuki's 28 points being sufficient for third place. Faring better was Rick Schramm and his 33 points was a fine reward for some focused golf. The flight winner was Chris Voller who, having rediscovered his drive, returned credible figures of 34 points and the day's best gross of 82. In the yellow flight Kasu Agune's 33 points claimed third place in his final round this trip, one behind Jim Ferris's second place total of 34. The flight winner was Kazuhiko Asada, playing the course for the first time, and his innocence helped him to 35 points for his first PGS win. David Thomas's 7 - 17 split was overlooked for the Booby Bevy in favour of the experienced Scot Ronnie Ramsay's efforts which saw his father easily beat him in only his second competition. There's no hiding place at Treasure Hill and amazingly there was applause at the presentation when it was announced as the venue for the PGS's first high season Saturday outing on 6th December. Cor blimey, masochists these PGS golfers!

After a break of eight months the Pattaya Golf Society visited the Royal Thai Navy course at Plutaluang on Sunday, 30th November to play a stableford event and found the South and East nines in fine condition and relatively empty. In such circumstances the course is an absolute treat and all the factors were there for an excellent competition. The two flights were divided at 14 and under, a measure of the quality of the field, and the constant breeze meant that everyone had to be extra accurate. In the top flight a stranded Rick Schramm forgot his delayed flight to post 33 points for third place, only one behind the joint winners David Thomas and Tony Thorne, the latter confirming his "Player of the Month" status with his 34 points. In the second flight Jack Robertson made his first appearance on the PGS podium with a competent 33 points whilst the flight winners were Len Jones and Kazu Agune with the day"s only sub par rounds of 37 points each. It was a bonus for Kazu as he too was on standby for a delayed flight back to Japan. David Thomas and Rick Schramm scored the only birdie twos, both on South 7, and Roy Mann received the Booby Bevy for losing more balls than he scored points! He was also on standby for a flight back to UK and just being part of a good day at Plutaluang was a bonus.

Flight delays and the probable final appearance for a while of stalwart David Thomas in a Pattaya Golf Society competition, saw a large field turn out at Phoenix on Tuesday, 2nd December, to play a stableford round over the Lakes and Ocean nines. The course was eerily empty as the two flights, cut at 20 and under, took to the tee early and a fine competition was in prospect. The course was in splendid condition and scores were destined to be good with a whole field average of 32 as a result. In the second flight delayed passenger Roy Mann took advantage of his bonus round to erase all memories of his shabby previous outing with a career best 36 points in the Kingdom to share second place with an in-form Len Jones, the latter parring the last four holes on the Ocean nine to give his card respectability. The flight winner was Ann Silawong who played very well, albeit on a course a kilometre shorter than the men. Her 39 points came on the heels of her 44 on her last outing. The lady most definitely is in form at the moment. In the top flight Tony Thorne and Ray Banks were joined by Rick Schramm, another delayed but not frustrated passenger, in second place with deserved 35 point cards but all eyes were on Richard "Banjo" Bannister as his 40 points took the day in fine style. It more than made up for his disappointment at not being able to make his planned romantic trip to the Taj Hotel in Mumbai. The golfing gods indeed work in mysterious ways. Richard Chia scored the only birdie two of the day, on the Ocean sixth, to go home happy after his first visit to Rabbi's Elephant Bar and John Wassall took the Booby Bevy for his shameless twenty point total. The day ended on a high note with a farewell party in Soi Buakhao in which David Thomas's immense contribution to golf in Pattaya was heralded and the fine golfer and friend entertained the many guests with a brilliant cameo mimicking the eccentricities of his golf partners. The Pattaya Golf Society will sorely miss him when he eventually returns to New Zealand, and we wish him luck until he inevitably returns to his golfing "home".

The Pattaya Golf Society visited the sumptuous course at Royal Lakeside on Thursday, 4th December, to play the first of its two monthly Order of Merit events, on this occasion a strokeplay extravaganza on the beautifully prepared but generally forgiving course. Such was the quality of the field that the two flights were cut at thirteen and under and the average net score was destined to be an excellent level par 72. In the second flight Canadian Jack Robertson achieved third place with a net 71. Len Jones and Evan Miller, playing in the same group, went head-to-head in a fascinating duel with Evan producing a lifetime best front nine score of four over the card and eventually running out the winner on net 65, whilst Len stuttered to a net 69 for second place. The top flight was a thrilling contest as "Banjo" Bannister missed out on the placings with net 67 whilst November's "Player of the Month" Tony Thorne came up with the goods yet again, returning net 66 for third place. The joint winners of the flight were Chris Voller and Rick Schramm with 65 each and for Chris it was especially rewarding as he had been forced off the course at Phoenix two days previously with a vicious mystery virus. For Rick it was another bonus round as he was still waiting for a return flight to Taiwan. It was quality golf at Lakeside again. David Thomas. Chris Voller and Kazuo Takimoto all shared the twos pot and the Booby Bevy went to "Banjo" for failing to make the podium with his good card the day after his birthday, which was also the excuse for two poor rounds by hungover Roy Mann and Ray Banks. Lakeside always throws up good scores for golfers in form but on this occasion it had surpassed itself.

Saturday, 6th December saw the Pattaya Golf Society's first Saturday outing of the high season, a trip to Treasure Hill on a busy weekend. Imagine the surprise when the large field found a relatively empty golf course. With the wind up again the scene was set for some tough golf for the two flights, cut at twenty-one and under. Within a short time the euphoria which had descended after the excellent scores at Lakeside two days previously had all but gone and the usual Treasure Hill grind lay ahead. In the Yellow flight Jack Robertson came up with 32 points for third place, hanging on to the coat-tails of the joint winners Evan Millar and Rod Stevens whose 33 points took the win. In the White flight thirty-two points was also good enough for runner-up place as David Thomas and Ray Banks, the former enjoying a forced extension to his stay in the Kingdom, were to find. The best score of the day was Rick Schramm's fine 34 points and this came as his extended stay drew to a close. Rick, Chris Voller and Charles Sheppard shared the twos pot with their efforts on the second. sixth and seventeenth holes respectively and the Booby Bevy went to Len Jones who kept his best drive of the day for the par five twelfth only to have it pointed out that he had driven off the wrong tee, the two shot penalty thus costing him the points which would have put him in the frame. Always a test, the return visit to the course in the New Year was eagerly anticipated.

The Pattaya Golf Society visited an empty Greenwood golf club on Tuesday, 9th December, to play a stableford competition over the A and C nines and found the course in excellent condition with the best greens anyone could remember. It was to be a putting paradise for one golfer in particular. The field was divided into two flights at eighteen and under. In the second flight Pat Murphy finished in third place with 34 points and left the bar with a broad smile on his face, whilst Jim Ferris played to form with a fine 35 points for second place. The flight winner was wee Bobby Shirkey whose 36 points showed the improvement his new driver has made to his game. In the top flight Bill Hewitt's 36 points took second place, three behind Chris Voller who had the putting round of his life, registering only 24 putts on the superb greens. It was surprising then that his only successful birdie two came on the A6th hole whilst Simon Kendall and Paul McNally joined him with shares of the pot on C6 and C3 respectively. The Booby Bevy went to Jean Morel for having a full swing practice near the tenth tee contrary to the amended rules of the game. Greenwood in this condition will attract many satisfied Pattaya golfers over the coming months and is still very good value for money, even at high season rates.

The Pattaya Golf Society visited Eastern Star on Thursday, 11th December to play a stableford competition and found the course in need of water with tight fairway lies and hard greens. Having said that, the course was relatively empty and the welcome was its usual warm one. The field was divided into two flights at twenty-one and under and the return of many regular old friends made the day a pleasant one. In the top flight Richard "Banjo" Bannister continued his fine form with a third place finish on 31 points, one behind Peter Biggs. The flight winner was the in-form Chris Voller and his 36 points represented another fine day for his putter. It may be a "copy" but he would not swap it for the world at present. In the second flight it was good to see Finland's Jorma Liila back in contention as he jostled with Les Burns for second place. In the end both finished level on 31 points. The day's best score was the thirty-eight points of Jack Robertson giving Canadian Jack his first PGS win. The best gross score of the day was that of Chris Voller with 79. There was a trio of birdie twos on the tough par three third with David Thomas, Chris Voller and Jorma taking a share of the pot. The Booby Bevy found its way to Ray Banks after a round he will want to forget, his card showing an 8 - 17 split. As high season (what high season?) reaches its peak Eastern Star may well be advised that a little water will refresh the course and make the day a more pleasant experience than at present.

On Saturday, 13th December, the Pattaya Golf Society entered Greenwood's magic world to play a stableford event on what is probably the best course in the province at present. The fairways may be just a little tight but the greens are the finest with their pace and consistency. The B and A nines were the designated track and the group got underway on time on a not too crowded course. The late replacement booking meant half a dozen players were unable to play but in the single flight Ann Silawong added to her golfing CV with a fine 34 points to share third place with Frenchman Jean Morel. Jack Robertson, most recently a PSC winner, fired level par 36 points for second place but the whole field were completely blown apart by one of the rounds Peter Masters will remember as his 44 points set a personal record with gross 77, making it the PGS's third best round of the year. A true Masterclass by the Australian teacher. Ann Silawong, Jack Robertson and Chris Voller shared the twos pot, the latter notching up his fourth consecutive twos bonus. The return of Michael Lindberg almost guaranteed the destination of the Booby Bevy but he was denied after lady golfer Wan Meeraka was overheard on the first tee telling a friend "Tell Mr Len I drink 'Spy'". Her low score in her maiden competition was duly marked in fine style. The PGS had enjoyed a thoroughly good golf day again.

On Tuesday, 16th December, the Pattaya Golf Society decided to test themselves on the excellent Khao Kheow B and C track in the final PGS Order of Merit event of the year, on a course which currently must rank amongst the best in the province. The brutal Bermuda rough has been trimmed but the fairways are still tight and the greens tricky. There were two flights for the stableford event, cut at eighteen and under and in the top flight the scores were surprisingly low with thirty points being good enough for third place as Don Nellis and Alex Sala showed. The flight's winners were David Thomas and Ray Banks who tied at the top with 31 points each. Similarly in the second flight Ray Underwood and Ann Silawong shared third place with 29 points each, whilst newest member, Aussie octogenarian Rowley Morris went one better for second with his 30 points. The flight winner with the best score of the day was "Mr PGS", Len Jones and his 34 point haul suggested he may have now exited the golfing wilderness he has made his home for many months. The length was there, as was the accuracy and, whisper it lowly, the chipping "yips" had taken flight! Erik Anttonen, Don Nellis and Carl Lovatt took shares of the twos pot and Carl had also sponsored near-pins in celebration of his birthday, the winners being Matti Lindholm, Peter Briggs, Evan Millar and Tony Kitchen. Unable to hide any longer, Michael Lindberg took the Booby Bevy as losing captain in a Sweden - England sub plot and failing the pass the red tees on one hole. All good things come to those who wait as Len and Michael can readily testify. Khao Kheow had been a splendid host for the day.

On Thursday, 18th December, the Pattaya Golf Society travelled to Bangpra for a stableford competition. The field, bereft of some senior members who were playing in a charity event at Eastern Star, was divided into two flights at twenty and under and they found the course in excellent shape. The greens in particular were lightning fast and scores were destined to be unremarkable. In the top flight Evan Millar joined Alex Sala in third place with 31 points whilst Simon Kendall took the win with 32. In the second flight Bill Pickersgill took third with 30 points whilst Jim Ferris again found some consistency with a good second place finish on 31. The best score of the day was that of senior golfer Rowley Morris - no relation to "Old" and "Young Tom", but almost a contemporary! Rowley's 38 points defied the course conditions for a fine win. The only birdie two came from a David Thomas "special", a chip-in on hole 8 and Ray Banks' "hot and cold" round received the Booby Bevy after a card bearing an 18 - 3 split. Thanks must go to Stuart Thompson for his successful on course management debut in place of Mr Len whilst the latter was unwinding at Eastern Star in the build-up to the PGS's Annual Scramble which is to be held at the course on 29th December.

On Saturday, 20th December, the Pattaya Golf Society left Soi Buakhao for the relative peace of a day's competition golf at The Emerald course in Ban Chang and found the course in reasonably good condition but with tight lies on the fairways. The day was set for a close stableford event with the two flights cut at seventeen and under. In the second flight it was "colonials" nearly all the way as Canadian Jack Robertson and Ann Silawong tied for third place with 27 points, a long way behind runner-up Rowley Morris whose 33 points showed that seniority comes with consistency. Aussie Alex Sala took the flight honours with 35 points for a long overdue win. The top flight saw much better golf as Peter Biggs and Wichai Tananusorn tied for second with level par thirty-sixes. The day's best gross was 76 but the eleven handicap of Ray Banks gave him 43 points for his best ever round in the Kingdom. It was an astonishing performance from a golfer who had carded 18 - 3 for the Booby Bevy only two days previously. The twos pot was shared by.Ray, Stuart Thompson, Peter Biggs and Rowley Morris and the Booby Bevy went to Dave Cadwallader who was so excited at a return to PGS golf that he left Rabbi's Elephant Bar without his sports bag at the start of the day. It had also been a debut in on-course management by Chris Voller and all the players thanked him for his efficiency. The Emerald had thrown up another fine golf day.

As a pre-Christmas warm-up the Pattaya Golf Society visited The Emerald course in Ban Chang for their weekly stableford event on Tuesday, 23rd December, and found the course in need of some festive cheer with parched fairways and tight lies. Having played the course only three days previously most hopes were high of repeating the good scores of that occasion, but on this day things were different as a strong wind blew for a few hours at the start. Despite this a few golfers got off to a flying start with Chris Voller's nineteen points on the front nine holding promise of another fine round. But, as the wind dropped so did the scores and ultimately David Thomas and Bill Pickersgill found themselves in third place with 32 points each. One point ahead in second was Ray Banks, his score of 33 points being ten less than his epic card from seventy-two hours previously. Evan Millar had scratched the first hole and then amazingly recorded twenty five points on the next nine holes. Surely this heady stuff could not continue? Two more scratched holes in the final five put paid to any hopes the canny Aussie had of breaking par and he ended with 35 points for a hard won victory. Dave Cadwallader and Paul McNally shared the twos pot, the latter recording his birdie on the thirteenth which was played from the blue tee box for the first time in many people's memory. The aforementioned Chris Voller suffered the Booby Bevy as the wheels came off his round "big time" with only seven points being recorded on the back nine, his 19 - 7 split just edging out Evan's 23 - 12 contribution. But that's golf as we all know it, hot and cold in one round, a heady mix of elation and frustration. Tell us of anything in life that is a finer challenge.

The ninth Annual Pattaya Golf Society Scramble was held at Eastern Star on Monday, 29th December, on a course at present set up to play very tough and the competitors also had a strong breeze to contend with all day. It did not detract from the fun however as the teams set out to end he year in the finest possible way on the golf course. The format puts extra onus on putting and the greens at Eastern Star have yet to become consistent. Maybe it was for this reason that the favourites amongst the large field struggled to get away from the rest of the teams but, for whatever reason, the contest was destined to be very close. Tee off rules for mixed teams had been modified since the previous event, in the interests of equity, and it is amazing in this age of instant communication that a few teams chose to not read the information sheets provided, thus unwittingly "dequeueing" themselves. The more fastidious mixed team of Pat Murphy, Jim Ferris, Dave and Margaret Wilkinson had done their homework well and taken seventh place with net 59.5, less than two shots off the top slot. Above them were the Birdie Boys, perennial favourites, the quality team of David Thomas, Rob Lamond, Matt Gibbons and Bubbles Davis, and the PGS ACE team of Stu Thompson, Alex Sala, Ray Banks and Jack Robertson. In third place was the lesser fancied Haven outfit of Brian Libbey, Alan Pilkington, Rod Howett and Fred Chadwick and their net 58.5 was destined to be close. Amazingly the runners-up were the unglamorous and hastily assembled "Booby Bevy Beware" team of Dave Thompson, Steve Howard and Masashi Iizumi, expertly led by Len Jones, and the captain's experience of the Max 5 system was put to good use throughout in assembling a score of net 58.3. They were to lose out by only 0.6 of a shot to the "Ireland's Choice" team of the Higgins's and John O'Shea whose net 57.7 was the best recorded score of the day. In true "Irish Joke" fashion they chose to pay their entry fee, play their golf, win the day and then miss the presentation altogether! Rabbi's Elephant Bar on Soi Bukhao is not too difficult to find and amongst those successfully navigating down the crowded soi were the Near Pin winners Jack Robertson, Chris Voller, Mikael Andersson and Bob Newell, and close behind were the Long Drive winners Michael Dige and Frazier Davy. The third flight winner Ian Higgins had obviously gone back to ESR to look for his ball! The lowest handicapped golfer in the field was Mike Moir, playing off 0.4, and he generously sponsored through his IT company, "MAX iT", a lucky draw for an LCD plasma monitor screen and this was won by Colin Davis, as well as a consolation prize for the last placed team. Finally the Booby Bevy prize went to Chris Voller's team for the captain's failure to read the rules, thus wiping out an otherwise winning score of 57.5. At the crowded presentation Len Jones applauded the warm support he had received from Roy Thornton, Colin Davis, Bob Newell, Russell Exley and Tony Duthie, as well as the unstinting support of his usual registration and recording team of Mary Jones, Pennipha Ratchakit and Khun Doungrudee. Final thanks of the evening went to the hosts Rabbi and Pueng and their attentive staff for their magnificent buffet and finally the many golfers themselves, without whom the PGS Annual Team Scramble could not happen.

Technicals: Jack Robertson, Chris Voller, Mikael Andersson and Bob Newell for Near Pins

Other prize winners: Colin Davis, Tony Duthie, Michael Dige, Dave Richards and Daz Martindale, courtesy of the warm generosity of computer company MAX iT and its local manager Khun Wan Meeraka.

The Pattaya Golf Society drew the curtain on its golfing year on Tuesday, 30th December, with a trip to Ban Chang for a stableford competition at The Emerald golf club. It marked the 145th competition of the year for the group and all the regulars turned out for the end of year event. The large field was cut at 14 and under and the course was showing signs of distress with bare tight lies and greens which were desperate for a cut. However the course is usually a good test and so it was on the day. In the second flight Larry Slattery, Sharon Burton, Ann Silawong and Steve McGill all shared third place with 31 points each whilst Brian Kelly went one better to nab second place in an unaccustomed second flight. The winner was Phil Burton, his 33 points taking a rare win on this his final round this stay. In a competitive top flight Wichai Tananusorn's 35 points took third place whilst Harry Riley enjoyed the day with 38 points for second. The winner was Erik Anttonen and his 39 points gave him the best gross figures as well, an excellent 79. He had the pleasure of a brace of birdie twos to join Peter Masters and Helene Lindberg in a share of the twos pot and Michael Lindberg unbelievably had a "nil return" which, in a stableford round, guarantees the player the Booby Bevy. Thus the golfing year ended for the Pattaya Golf Society. It had been an eventful one, looking back, but the group is already anticipating the new year and would like to thank all the many friends who have supported us all year. Here's to the next one!