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Are golfers just plain mad?

Chiang Mai Pool League

Are golfers just plain mad?

Sandy Lie
Golf has been called an obsession, an addiction and even a disease. The noble art has caused broken marriages and grief to golfing widows, and damaged health both mental and physical. But once hooked on the game, the true golfer plays on regardless.
In an Old Ben Society meeting at England’s Bramshaw GC, an injured Walter Parker was carried by his partners between playing shots through the last two holes, after his ball had rebounded off a ladies tee box and struck him in the testicles.
In 1974, American professional, Mike Reasor, needed to complete 36 holes in order to avoid pre-qualification. With one arm in pain, he played two rounds one-handed and recorded scores of 123 and 114.
So, perhaps it was little wonder that despite the monsoon conditions at the Highlands Golf and Spa Resort, only two of last week’s Royal League contestants cried off, and their reason for that was stranded in floods.
Conditions at the Highlands were a credit to the designers and ground staff, with perfect greens holding nicely, but a lot of casual water lay on the fairways. In driving rain that didn’t stop all day, the mad Royal Leaguers teed up on the first, watched by their bemused but equally sporting lady caddies.
Drenched to the skin, Steve Polaski was at his usual best, recording two birdies and one double bogey in a back nine of 38 shots. His 71 net score was enough to tie in first place with Thomas van Nes, whose consistent approach play and putting paid dividends.
Grahame Curry and Jon Haid shared third spot on a net score of 74 strokes, with the former blaming an 8 on the par 4, 8th, and the latter parring only two holes, for not doing better.
In more clement weather, the Happy Bar Stds. Golfing society teed off last week for their fourth meeting at Maejo Golf Club. This new group of currently 12 members meets on Monday and Friday mornings and, unlike the Royal League, they compete in an eclectic competition.
For those who don’t know, an eclectic tally is where the best stroke-play scores on each hole are accumulated over a given number of rounds. The player with the lowest accumulation at the end is the winner.
Dennis Woerner recorded the best score on 28th August, while David Cameron took the honours on the following Friday, but Bill Miles is the eclectic leader in the clubhouse.
New members are very welcome to join this exciting format on a different course and for more information either call in at the Happy Bar, Moon Muang, Soi 2 or ring Noel on 089 256 5705.

Highlands from the clubhouse.

Chiang Mai Pool League: Moon champs again

Pat Black
Last Friday, Half Moon Pub made sure of the Chiang Mai Pool League Championship for the third time in four seasons by beating second placed Friend’s Corner in a thrilling encounter.

100% Concentration from Ian of Happy Bar.

The Moon took the early initiative by winning the first singles, but Friend’s hit back twice to lead 2-1 and 3-2 before both sides entered halftime all-square. The Lunatics started the doubles as they did the first half – Friend’s replied to level – and as often the case, The Moon’s Steve polished off the remaining balls on the table to win the deciding frame, and this time the title.
While The Moon stands three points clear of Friend’s Corner with only two matches left this season, Friend’s are now in danger of losing out on second spot to Chiangers and Bangers, who are one point behind them.
Last term, Chiangers was deprived of runners-up spot at the eleventh hour and so this time they’re determined to reverse the situation at the expense of Friend’s. Bangers took a step towards achieving that aim with a comfortable win at La Villa. The away side romped into a 4-0 lead before The Pizza Boys came in with the last two singles. The home team’s recovery was short lived, however, as Chiangers made sure of the match in the next two frames and La Villa took the last for consolation.
Two of the three teams on 14 points are enjoying their best results ever, but Out Back had to come back from the dead to make sure they would win more games than they lose this season. In their home clash with close rivals Happy Bar, the away side took control of the first half after their debutant, Nae, made a seemingly impossible cut that also knocked his last ball off the rail – leaving the black standing over the pocket.
At 4-2 up, Happy looked on their merry way to a fifth successive win until they lost the first doubles, and then the second in a long grinding frame. With three balls left on the table, Happy’s Nae turned from hero to villain when he failed to make contact in a snooker attempt and Dave stepped in to bag the easiest of blacks for Out Back.
December Bar is also experiencing its first season in the league’s top half. They hiccupped, however, in a ding-dong battle at Enjoy Place. December led 2-1 and trailed 2-3 before they leveled with Enjoy before the break. Although the doubles were tight, December wilted under pressure.
The Wall is the third member of the 14 point group, and they went down to Blue Sky Garden in a match they never looked like winning. They were 2-4 down at halftime, and although they managed to win the first doubles, they failed to impress in the next one.
In a foot of the table confrontation, Rock Hard Bistro opened the gap from rock bottom with a 6-3 win at The Local. The home side never really got going and at one stage found themselves 1-4 down. The Rock continued to capitalise by easing into an unassailable 6-2 lead.
Nevertheless, The Local has warned that this season is a mere glitch and several of their previous championship winning players will return next season.
Lastly, Blue Sky Bar opened their new and attractive premises last Friday at 8/1 Moon Muang, Soi 5. The celebration party replaced their match with Number 1 Pub, which was postponed until the following Wednesday.

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