UPDATE as at October 19th, 2019
THAILAND 2019
FINALE:
As per tradition, following the last tournament day (Friday 18th October, 2019) we had our usual slide presentation at the Retox Bar across from the Baybreeze Hotel, with Dean (the Manager) kindly allowing us to use the venue for the slide show while also putting on some free finger food for us all.
This brought down the curtain on a successful trip, weather wise we did not get rained on once, and while some of the courses were very challenging, I think all enjoyed it.
Kevin Flatley was awarded ‘Player of the Tournament’ having a record of 3 NTP’s, one First place, Two 2nd’s, one NAGA, and of course one “Hole in One”.
We look forward again to our next trip commencing play on Monday October, 12, 2020.
Stephen Peters
Pattaya
Week-2: Game-5 News – Oct 18 2019
Treasure Hill Golf Club
Well, all good things have to come to an end and today we set out at the usual 7am for Treasure Hill Golf Club and as today is the first time we have had every one of the twelve players available to play, we decided to play a LOAN RANGER STABLEFORD, as this has become somewhat a tradition to play this format on the last day of the golf trip.
We split up into 3 flights of four players:-
Flight One consisted of Neville Chandler- Cross (Captain), Joe Giovenco, Manoj Singh and Stephen Peters.
Flight Two was Dave MacKenzie (Captain), Kevin Flatley, Phil Nelson and John Sourk.
Flight Three contained Brad Armstrong (Captain) Brenden Anderson, Keith Doyle and Hans Hauser.
The course was undergoing maintenance on some of the greens, this seems to be the case on a few of the courses this year, maybe they are getting the courses up to scratch for the upcoming ‘high’ season beginning November 1.
RESULTS
Flight One took out the honours with 85 points, and Flight 3 came in second after a countback from team two with 79 points, so not much in the final result.
NTP Hole 6 was Manoj Singh and NTP Hole 17 was Neville Chandler-Cross.
Nearest the Pins
Week-2: Game-4 News – Oct 17 2019
Emerald Golf Club
Today we headed out to Emerald Golf Course, a Nick Faldo designed course featuring undulating fairways and rough and small and elevated par three greens, it is a tough course but very picturesque.
Phil Nelson and Dave MacKenzie joined us from their sick beds, great to have them back. We were also joined by Randy Tusing who was a friend of Brenden Anderson who unfortunately could not make it due to a bout of Dysentery.
We had two flights of four and one threesome playing Single Stableford, and we teed of just a little late as we were late leaving Pattaya due to a collapsed battery in one of the vans which necessitated a jump start, and a replacement battery while we were playing golf.
RESULTS
Winner with 39 points – Manoj Singh
2nd with 37 points – Kevin Flatley
3rd with 36 points – Hans Hauser on-count-back from Dave MacKenzie
NAGA: Joe Giovenco
NEAREST THE PINS
Tomorrow we travel to “Treasure Hills” for the last game in this 2-week trip
Week-2: Game-3 News – Oct 16 2019
Parichat Golf Club
Today is hump day with only two more days after we finish playing today, and today we went to play a course we have never played before.
Parichat Golf club is near Pattaya Country Club so only a short 25 minute trip to a course where we have read it having a lot of water carries, and they were not kidding, almost every hole we hit over water at some time. What people had failed to mention however was the greens, whoever did the design had a weird sense of humour as they were small, undulating and in some cases very elevated.
All that said it was a good day out, although the course was very busy as there was a sports day special of 1,250 Baht including green fee, caddy fee and cart.
Carts were allowed on the fairway so a manageable course.
Unfortunately, there were only 10 players today, as Phil Nelson is still battling illness and Dave Mackenzie has an upset stomach.
Not one of the 10 players hit the green on the two designated NTP par 3 holes so that prize money has gone into consolidated revenue
RESULTS:
Winner today with 39 points was Keith Doyle
2nd with 38 points John Sourk
3rd with 36 points was Manoj Singh.
NAGA: Hans Hauser with 29 points
Nearest the Pins: None
Tomorrow’s game will be at “Emerald Golf Club“
Week-2: Game-2 News – Oct 15 2019
Phoenix Golf Club
Today was back to Phoenix Golf Club and conditions were as last week with carts allowed on the Fairways with the exception of holes 6 and 7 of the Mountain course.
We played Mountain and Ocean courses which was a bit of a shame as these were the same nines, we played last week, it would have been good to play the Lake course for something different.
Course as usual was in great condition and some good scores were registered.
RESULTS
Today we played “Stableford”
1st with 44 points Stephen Peters
2nd with 41 points Dave MacKenzie
3rd with 37 points Neville Chandler Cross
NAGA: Kevin Flatley (too much celebration yesterday)
Other Good Scores: Brenden Anderson 36 points
Nearest the Pins:
Tomorrow we travel to “Parichat”
Week-2: Game-1 News – Oct 14 2019
Pattaya Country Club
Well after a weekend to recuperate from over indulgence it is back to the golf.
Yesterday and today are a public holiday in Thailand, yesterday was the Anniversary of the death of the last king, as well as being Budda Lent Day so all the bars were closed and alcohol could not be purchased from 12:01 am to midnight on Sunday, so a mostly alcohol-free day for the members of the trip.
As well as this a thunder storm hit around 12 midday which caused local flooding in the Pattaya area and we were a bit concerned as to the state of the golf courses in the area.
We set of at our normal 7am departure bound for Pattaya Country Club, on arrival we were told that golf carts were not allowed off the cart paths but after four hole this was changed to being able to travel on the rough but not fairways, so we were able to get close to the ball and reduce the amount of walking as the fairways were quite wet in places.
The course was in good condition considering and we commenced playing around our designated tee-off time.
Little did we know that today was going to produce one of things we all wish for ourselves whin playing golf, a “Hole In One“.
Yes, ladies and Gentlemen Kevin Flatley aced Hole #12 at Pattaya Sports Club and kindly shouted drinks for all when we got back to the Retox Bar.
RESULTS:
The tournament was a 2 man aggregate Stableford Competition, results are below:-
Winners: Manoj Singh and Alan Williams – 73 points
2nd Place: Brad Armstrong and Neville Chandler-Cross – 69 points
3rd Place: Brenden Anderson and Dave Mackenzie. – 67 Points
NAGA: John Sourk and Joe Giovenco – 49 points (But they won the most drinks going around)
NEAREST THE PINS
Tomorrow we go to Phoenix Golf Club
Week-1: Game-5 News – Oct 11 2019
Pattavia Century Golf Club
Well Today was the last day of play for week one of our trip this year and so far the weather has been kind to us rain wise. Still another hot and humid day greeted us as we made the hour and 5 minute trip to Pattavia Century Golf club where we were pleasantly surprised as to the conditions of the course.
This is a course which we have not played for many years and back in the day when it was just Century Golf Club it was often referred to as the Marina Hills of Pattaya, but apparently it has been taken over by Chang Brewery and things have certainly improved. With small but functional club house.
The fairways were great and dry with carts allowed onto the Fairways, unfortunately the green had been cored and sanded, but all greens were the same and they have to be maintained at some stage, we were just unlucky we hit the course just after the maintenance had been performed.
The greens were still tricky and would have been interesting, to say the least, if they were not sanded.
We were at full strength today today and the 11 player group photo is below:
RESULTS: Players battled to play to handicaps but the results are:-
WINNER: Kevin Flatley with 35 points on C/B from Neville Chandler-Cross
2nd Also with 35 points as mentioned was Neville Chandler-Cross
3rd Manoj Singh 34 points
Nearest the Pins
NAGA: Last but not least the NAGA was awarded to Keith Doyle after firstly being wrongly awarded to Joe Giovenco.
We have the weekend off to recover from what has been a tiring but good week of playing golf on challenging golf courses. Next Monday will see us at Pattaya Country Club
As I write this report on Saturday at 7am light rain is falling. How is that for organisation?
Stephen Peters
Pattaya
Week-1: Day 4 News – Oct 10 2019
Pleasant Valley
We set off at the usual time this Thursday but there was a strange haze hanging over Pattaya which sort of hung around all day, we made good time to the golf course and teed off earlier than our allotted 8:48 am tee time and although the fairways were a little damp carts were still allowed on the fairways, except for holes 9 and 18 which for some reason carts were not allowed, we were advised that it was because they can be seen from the club house.
RESULTS
Winner with 43 points Phil Nelson (he will be off HCP 17 tomorrow!)
2nd Joe Giovenco 39 points
3rd Dave Mackenzie 36 points
Nearest the Pins
NAGA: Hans Hauser 17 points
A few pics of the day
Tomorrow we are off to Pattavia Century Golf Club for our last game of the week
Week-1: Day-3 News – Oct 9 2019
Burapha
Due to heavy thunder storms in the evening last night the weather this morning was hot and humid and the course was still a little damp so carts were restricted to cart paths only, however after about 4 holes the Marshall came and changed to carts now allowed on the luff only which reduced a bit of walking, I have had to invent a new word to describe the course as we played C & D courses and the word is ‘bruteful’.
The course was is great shape but the luff was long and virtually impossible to get out of, once again this the course was set up to host the Singha Pattaya Tournament so the rough was a bit longer than normal.
We had 10 players with John Sourk taking a planned rest day, so that meant two x three balls and 1 x four ball flights.
Conditions did not deter our winner Neville Chandler-Cross who scored a magnificent 41 points.
Phil Nelson was 2nd with a creditable 35 points.
Brad Armstrong had 32 points and came 3rd
Nearest the Pins
NAGA (no it wasn’t Hans) but yesterday’s winner Keith Doyle with a miserable 17 points!
Tomorrow we are off to Pleasant Valley for Game 4.
Week-1: Day-2 News – Oct 8, 2019
Phoenix Gold Golf Course
We were greeted with sunshine on the leisurely 25-minute van trip to Phoenix Gold Golf club where 11 players had been assigned starting groups of one three ball and two four balls
Renovations to the Pro shop and locker rooms caused a little congestion and confusion but we were still in plenty of time for our allocated 08:15 tee time for the first group in fact we teed off a little early.
The fairways were good but the luff (rough) was just that and hard to find balls and even harder to hit out of.
Carts were allowed on fairways with the exception of holes 7 and 8 so a good day was had with the scores improving from Monday due to the shorter length of the holes.
Also yesterday it was decided that due to the aging demographics of our group, players 70 years and above could, if they wished play of the red tee and still be included in the tournament and NTP holes, Hans, Phil and of course John Sourk took up this option.
RESULTS
WINNER: Keith Doyle with a great score of 42 points (he now loses 6 shots for the effort!)
2nd: John Sourk 40 points
3rd: Neville Chandler-Cross 35 points
NTP: Hole 8 Mountain – Kevin Flatley
NTP: Hole 7 Ocean – Manoj Singh
NAGA: Hans Hauser 27 points (no picture…..ashamed perhaps!)
Tomorrow we go Burapha
Week-1: Day-1 News – Oct 7, 2019
Day One Bangpra Golf Course Pattaya
Over the weekend 11 players assembled for this years Thailand tour and although there were a couple of Thunder Storms during Sunday the skies were clear when we departed at 0700 hours for Bangpra golf club for our 08:36 tee time.
The course was in good condition and buggies were allowed onto the fairways at 90 degrees and we played Single Stableford with a 3 ball and two 4 balls. Some photos below.
The course was in good condition but the course was long with most of the Par 4’s around 400 yards. A lot of water carries and tricky greens limited the scorings of the players but we beat the rain (only just).
RESULTS
WINNER with 30 points Stephen Peters
2nd PLACE with 29 points Kevin Flatley
3rd PLACE with 28 points Manoj Singh.
NTP Hole # 8 Joe Giovenco
Tomorrow’s Game: Phoenix to again play Stableford
The courses we are playing, with tee times and costs are listed as follows:-
| Date | Course | Dep Hotel | Requested Tee time | Granted Tee time | Green fee | Caddy fee | Cart | Format | Remarks |
| Mon 7th | Bangpra 038 341 149-50 | 07:00 am | 08:30 am | 08:36 am | 700 | 350 | 600 | Stableford | |
| Tue 8th | Phoenix 038 239 400 | 07:00 am | 08:15 am | 08:16 am | 2000 Inc CF/C | Match Play | Sports Day | ||
| Wed 9th | Burapha 038 372 700 089 888 0648 | 07:00 am | 08:15 am | 08:13 am | 800 | 350 | 600 | Stableford | Cart Comp One Per Cart |
| Thu 10th | Pleasant Valley 038 110 778-9 081 410 5522 | 07:00 am | 08:45 am | 08:48 am | 1400 inc CF/C/ | Stableford | One per Cart | ||
| Fri 11th | Pattavia Century Golf Club 0813041545 | 07:00 am | 09:00 am | 09:00 am | 500 | 350 | 600 | Stableford Waltz | Can Share Cart |
| Sports Day | |||||||||
| Mon 14th Holiday | Pattaya Country Club 038 423 718-9 | 07:00 am | 08:15 am | 08:40 am | 1100 | 350 | 600 | Stableford | Holiday Rate |
| Tue 15th | Phoenix 038 239 400 | 07:00 am | 08:15 am | 08:08 am | 2000 Inc CF/C | Match Play | Sports Day | ||
| Wed 16th | Parichat 090 386 0002 | 07:00 am | 08:30 am | 08:30 am | 1250 inc CF/C | Stableford | Sports Day | ||
| Thu 17th | Emerald G C 086 816 2992 038 941 111 | 07:00 am | 08:45 am | 08:40 am | 1150 Inc CF/C/ | Stableford | Sports Day | ||
| Fri 18th | Treasure Hills 038 198 399 081 344 8002 | 07:00 am | 08:45am | 08:48 am | 1250 Inc CF/C/ | Lone Ranger | Sports Day |
.Transport and Caddy TIP are not included, costs are in Thai Baht
There is a new course ‘Parichat’ scheduled, as are a couple of courses we have not played for a while ‘Emerald, Pattavia, and Bangpra’.