Pattaya: October 2024, from Monday 14th to Friday 25th
Trip report Day 10 Friday, 25th October, 2024.
The last day of the tour arrived and the injured and sick bay was filling up so we had a two ball and 6 four 4 balls playing another single Stableford and a team event in line with tradition we played a Lone Ranger Stable Stableford in honor of Hans Hauser.
Playing at Silky Oak Course which is part of the complex consisting of Saint Andrew’s 2000 and Rayong Green Valley.
After a late change which caused chaos for a while, we started off holes 4,3 & 2 as #1 under maintenance for a couple of hours but available later.
We have never played this course before so was a new experience.
The course has a magnificent layout but many water carries but you had to be strategic in your club selection and have a good caddy or played before.
The winner of the single Stableford event was Stephen King with 45 points.
The winning team consisted of Brad Armstrong, Keith Doyle, Stephen King, and Brenden Andersen with 130 points.
NTP was won by Peter Harwood and Glen Butcher.
We all gathered at the Baybreeze at 6:30 for the usual presentation of Player of Tournament which was won by Brad Armstrong for the second year in a row, plus the swing analysis videos and some finger food to end the trip.
We will be having a hard look at what we do next year as we are all getting older and with all good intentions people can not play 10 times in 12 days so watch this space for information but we start playing next year, God willing, on Monday, October 13, 2025.
Day 9 Thursday, 24th October, 2024
Today we finished with 28 players heading to Khao Kheow Golf Club for another Single Stableford.
The weather has been fine since Tuesday and today was no different but still very hot.
Division one
The winner today is Jonas Flanagan 41 points
2nd Joe Souchak 40 points
Division Two
Winner Steve Turner 38 points
2nd Frank Rivera 37 points
NTP Hole B3 and C3 Joe Souchak
NAGA Stephen Peters again 12 Points.
Day 8 Wednesday 23rd October, 2024
A disappointing turnout today, despite 33 players having declared available, then advising Pattavia Golf to reduce to 24 the day before only 19 players turned out to play the course today.
Apart from not even covering the cost of the bus, the golf course was not impressed with so many tee times being canceled at late notice, especially being that today was a public holiday and they had refused bookings which was lost revenue.
We were to play a 4-ball Ambrose but with the reduced numbers the event was changed to a single Stableford.
Only one division was contested today.
Today’s winner was:-
Kevin Flatley with 41 points
Tied for 2nd were Brad Armstrong and Alan Williams
NAGA tied by John Boucher and Ted Lojszczyk
NTP Hole 4 Ted Lojszczyk
NTP Hole 13 Joe Souchak
Day 7, Tuesday 22 Oct, 2024
Today was the second of our now annual games against the guys from Dirty Nellie’s Bar, coordinated by Randy Tusing and Dereck.
With the help of a couple of guys literally off the street we were able to fill 16 flights (32 players)
The team event was a 4BBB Ambrose, with a single Stableford and three divisions, played from a modified shotgun start on holes 1 through 7.
The plan was that the 300 baht tournament fee be divided into 50B for any 2 scores, 50 B towards the buffet at Dirty Nellie’s after the game, and the other 200B towards prizes to be awarded to the first three placings in each division.
Unfortunately, a dangerous thunderstorm hit the course causing most of the players to abandon their games, with not all players playing the same holes it was not possible to establish even a nine-hole competition so the individual Stableford game was declared a no-game.
11 players bravely played out the 18 holes and were rewarded with 300Baht each.
The 4 players who scored 2’s on the par 3’s (two had 2 scores of birdies) shared the pool.
The Final result for the team event was decided by whichever team was ahead when play was abandoned.
Drawn 2 holes
Dryty Nellie’s won 5 holes
Balibago won 9 holes.
Balibago won the event and was awarded the trophy.
It was decided to donate the remaining money to a local charity.
Many thanks to the Owner Tom and his wife Apple who worked from 7 am to provide an appetizing buffet.
We look forward to doing it all again next year.
Day 6, Monday 21 Oct, 2024
2nd Jonas Flanagan 42 points
Week 2 started with 32 players traveling to Mountain Shadow Golf Course To play a single Stableford competition.
We played this course a couple of years ago and the course was in terrible condition but we were more than surprised at the difference in the course this year.
Division 10-20 H/c
Winner Mike Harvey with 43 points
3rd Ben Madden has 37 points
Division 2 20>
Keith Doyle had 41 points
Frank Rivera has 37 points
John Boucher 37points
NAGA 21 points 21 points
Day 5, Friday, 18th October, 2024.
Well, here we are already on the final day of week one of the ‘24 BSGC Thailand tour.
Today we are off to Plutalaung or Navy Golf Course which is a spectacular course with many elevation changes thru the course as well as many water hazards.
Unfortunately, this course does not handle wet weather very well at all and we were restricted to carts on cart paths only, so we made some quick decisions and ruled the bunkers out of play, and players who needed could have caddy bring the ball nearer the cart path (no nearer the hole) without penalty.
We played a ‘skins’ game with each hole worth 20 Baht.
Rain came with most players battling through to finish the last 2 holes of their round in the wet.
The results were:
Flight 1 Keith Doyle 0, Frank Rivera 6, Dave Bowman 6, Wayne Cotterall 5.
Flight 2. Chris smith 4, Bruce Telfer 7, Tony Witham 2, Herve Poulard 4.
Flight 3 Brad Armstrong 8, Fernando Ada 2, Mike Harvey 7, Thomas Grow 0.
Flight 4. Peter Harwood 1, Larry Olsen 7, Mick Dittman 3, Brendon Anderson 6.
Flight 5. Joe Souchak 1, Bill Meader 6, Keith Morell 4, Steve Fisk 7.
Flight 6. Glen Butcher 3, Stephen King 3, Peter Mc Garry 9, Keven Flatley 2.
Flight 7. Ron Carter 6, Stephen Peters 0, Carey Winston 11, John Boucher 0.
Flight 8. Dave Paliwoda 3, Allan Williams 9, Grant Patterson 2, Bob Ind 1
NTP Hole #3 Brad Armstrong, Hole #6 Bill Meader.
Steve King put his name on the NTP marker for the I Rover group who were playing the same course, to add insult to injury one of our group collected their NTP markers and brought them into the clubhouse.
Day 4, Thursday, 18th October, 2024.
Today was at Emerald Golf Club a two-man Ambrose event, unfortunately, it was a semi-holiday for Buddha’s Birthday which we knew nothing about until Wednesday.
So, no service alcohol but luckily Buddha likes golfers and we could get drinks at the golf club.
Because of this, we had to defer the Temple Tour until Friday as we figured they
would be full of locals.
Again, the rain pelted down when we had only finished 9 to 12 holes, and as not everyone had played the same holes, we were forced to call a no-game for today.
We did award NTP on Hole #13 to Steve Fisk and Hole # 15 to Troy Miller.
Day 3 Wednesday 16th October 2024
Away again at 7 am for the hour and 25 minutes towards Bangkok to play Bangpakong Riverside Golf course all hoping for better weather to allow us to play this immaculate golf course.
Carts were allowed on fairways and we had split tees front and back (9 & 10).
At the changeover, the skies were threatening and there was lightning and thunder but after about 20 minutes and a few drops of rain it was game on and all finished their rounds.
The format for today was a Stableford Waltz, in which the four-man team counts the highest-scoring player on the first hole, the two highest-scoring players on the second hole, and the three highest-scoring players on the third hole.
Then repeat for the 4th 5th and 6th hole and so on until all holes are played so 1,2,3, 1,2,3 1,2,3 thereby the name Stableford waltz.
Unfortunately, Stephen got on the drink and no photos were taken of the winners today. So here are a couple we prepared earlier.
Two teams tied on 93 points and they were:
The two Keiths, Morell and Doyle, Frank Rivera and Joe Souchak.
Ron Carter, Fernando Ada, Bruce Telfer and John Boucher.
Day 2 Tuesday 15th October 2024.
Everyone was up early for our normal 7 a.m. bus departure to Pattaya Country Club to play a round in preparation for our round against Dirty Nellies next week.
Unfortunately, it bucketed down rain before we all could finish our game so the competition was reduced to 9 holes.
Two groups stuck it out and finished in the rain.
Winners were:
0 to 20 tie with 21 points: Brad Armstrong and Tom Grow.
21 > Peter Mc Garry
NAGA Grant Patterson
NTP hole 7 Brad Armstrong Hole 12 Joe Souchak.
Day 1, Monday, 14 Oct 2024
After a weekend when the majority of our group arrived, after breakfast, it was on the bus for an on-time 7 a.m. departure of 36 golfers to Greenwoods Golf Club, which was a 1 hour 20-minute trip.
The weather was good and the course was in reasonable shape for a single Stableford competition.
Low Handicaps 1 to 20:-
1st Place Fernando Ada with 39 points
2nd Place 4 way tie on 38 points were:-
Steve Fisk, Joe Souchak, Brad Armstrong, Mick Dittman.
High Handicaps 21>.
1st Stephen King 36 Points
2nd Cary Winston 34 points
3 x 3rd Dave Paliwoda, John Boucher, Tory Miller all with 32 Points.
NAGA Grant Patterson 5 points
NTP Hole A 6 Brad Armstrong
NTP Hole C 6 Ted Lojszezyk
Hi guys,
Hope you are all doing OK.
Time is passing by quickly, there are only 9 more weeks until our golf tournaments start on October 14 in Pattaya.
I have attached a list of all players who have indicated that they are participating in this year’s trip, showing flight details arriving and departing, room type, and playing days.
Could you all check your details flight details, room type, and playing days carefully and advise if they are correct or need alterations, this is so I can confirm bookings with the hotel and golf courses.
Also, could you all advise the following:
1. Age as of 14th October
2. Nationality (required for Rest of The World V/s Australia competition.
3. An emergency contact phone number, with Country Code, Name, and Relationship of contact’ (we had an instance last year where one of our group was hospitalized).
4. All Rooms are Confirmed
Hi guys,
Hope your are all well and hitting them down the middle of the fairways. It is that time of the year again that we need to start thinking seriously about the annual trip to Pattaya, Thailand this year. If you are chasing it online, I have obtained the price list for the Baybreeze Hotel (now renamed ‘The One Hotel Baybreeze Pattaya). Unfortunately, like everything else, room rates have increased slightly, and breakfast costs have increased by 9 baht.
There are other categories of rooms available this year, like a “superior” room which is slightly bigger than the deluxe and Balcony 2 sq m. with a room rate between the Deluxe and Balcony rooms, and a Junior suite which I imagine would be suitable for a family.
Room prices in Thai Baht for 2024
De luxe: 1500 – 9800 p/w | Balcony 1800 – 1900 p/w | Superior 1600 – 10500 p/w – Junior Suite 2000 – 13300 p/w
The game days
Also attached is the first draft of an itinerary of the golf courses that we could pay, these rates again have risen, and unfortunately we have two playing days 14th and 23 of October that fall on Public Holidays this year. Following the success of the game against Durty Nellies last year we have again scheduled a 4 BBB event against their group this year on the second Tuesday 22nd October.
I was looking to play one of the Siam courses on the Wednesday following this game as a lot of the players took this day as a rest day, but as mentioned this is a holiday and the rates are even more expensive. Maybe another year.
I am hoping that some of the courses will lower rates as the low season continues and adjustments will be made to keep the costs to the minimum as well as play-maintained golf courses.
As usual, you can come for two weeks, the first or 2nd week, or any day that you choose, just let me know when you decide on your travel arrangements.
Let me know also If you require a room booking at the Baybreeze, with your desired room type, you can let me know your room number from last year if it was suitable to your needs, and I will contact P’jow (manager) to make a booking for that room if not already booked.
It is a little over six months to the start of our tour and time will pass quickly, so I would suggest you do a dummy run on airline bookings and let me know your proposed arrival, departure, and game days sooner rather than later so that we can tie down rooms and courses early.
All the best and hope to hear from you soon, by email whether you will be attending this year or having a rest.
If you know of any other interested players, have them email me so I can include them in future correspondence.
This is a first draft. Things can change, I keep you posted.
Cheers
Stephen Peters
The games schedule
All games are 2-ways except for the Nellies vs the Balibago’s which is a shotgun starting at 9:26 on 7 tees.
All caddy tips are 300 Baht. The bus transport is 400 Baht pp. Most of the courses are one per cart except Pattaya CC and Khao Kheow.
Thursday 17th includes a temple tour on return, marriage with your caddy in front of the Buddha is not included.
Monday 14th and Wed 23rd are Holidays
Thailand trip 2024 Schedule
| Date Oct | Course | Dep Hotel | No. Payers | Fees INC cart + caddy | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 14th | Pattaya G.Cent Cl. | 07:00 - 70m | 1850 | Stableford | ||
| Tue 15th | Pattaya CC | 07:00 - 40m | 1500 | Stableford | ||
| Wed 16th | Mountain Shadow | 07:00 - 50m | 1250 | Stableford Waltz | ||
| Thu 17th | Emerald GC. | 08:15 - 50m | 1250 | 2b. Ambrose | ||
| Fri 18th | Plutaluang Navy | 07:00 - 50m | 1500 | Skins | ||
| Mon 21st | Bangpra | 07:00 - 60m | 1650 | Stableford | ||
| Tue 22nd | Pattaya CC | 08:15 - 40m | 1500 | Nellies vs AC | ||
| Wed 23rd | Greenwood | 07:00 - 65m | 1650 | 4b. Ambrose | ||
| Thu 24th | Khao Kheow | 07:00 - 60m | 1700 | Stableford | ||
| Fri 25th | Silky Oak | 07:00 - 60m | 1900 | Lone Ranger Stableford |