Scribe Report

May Away 2014

Chiang Mai

The KLOGS Away Tour from 22nd to 25th May 2014, went off without a hitch, thanks to the meticulous planning by VP Rick Brown. The participants leaving from KL all had the good sense to fly in one day earlier, meeting up with the rest of the group who arrived from other parts of the world.

We checked in at the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel, a comfortable 4-star with a good breakfast spread.

Initially the Tour group consisted of 11 members and 3 guests. To everyone’s surprise Jimmy Leggett’s son, Jimmy Leggett II, joined the Tour as an additional guest for the duration of the Tour. This meant we had one 3-ball and three 4-balls for all events.

Interestingly Jimmy II, a commercial fisherman, spent one season on the Northwestern, featured in the TV reality show “Deadliest Catch” hauling in C. opilio crab in the Behring Sea while hammering off ice.

In contrast, we enjoyed excellent weather throughout the Tour, albeit somewhat hot on some days.

As some may remember from previous Thailand Tours, our tour guide on the bus was none other than Paula.

The bus was perfect for our needs and even accommodated the 15 bottles of Baileys. Unfortunately, some sod bought a bottle of Baileys Caramel and the culprit did not own up. Perhaps an inspection upon arrival is necessary with a strong penalty if this happens again.

1st Day – Monthly KLOGS Medal – Chiang Mai Inthanon Golf and Natural Resort

This is one of those quiet rural golf courses enjoyed by all. The course is a scenic delight with panoramic vistas of Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain, dominating the background. The greens were quite tricky and rather slow. Sanding on some greens made putting an adventure. As on all days, we played off the white tees.

The results of the day are as follows:

Colm O’Donovan came in best with an excellent 89 off 19 and 38 points. However being a

guest, he could not win the trophy. The official results are therefore:

• 1st – Jimmy Legget with 100 for 36 points cut 4
• 2nd – Bernie Schobert with an impressive 86 for 35 points cut 2
• 3rd – Gary Cooney with an equally impressive 87 for 35 points cut 1
• NTP front nine – Martin Walsh NTP back nine – Colm O’Dononvan
• Longest Drive – Jimmy Legget II Lowest gross – Bernie with 86
• Last Birdie – none

VP Rick Brown welcomed everyone, specially the guests and then presented the KLOGS May trophy to Jimmy Legget. Bernie’s wine prize for coming in second will be presented to him in June and the members attending the June game will be happy to relieve him of the burden carrying it home. Novelty prizes were tossed to the winners after which VP called for COTD nominations.

• Jimmy I: – for shouting in frustration on the last 4 holes
• Bhavish: – for asking Paula on the bus if he/she is married (priceless!)
• Tom: – for spending much time getting out of a bunker (4 shots)

Bhavish was awarded the prestigious title of COTD.

Martin Walsh, acting Moneybags collected a number of fines on the return bus for various misdemeanours. The one where all those who were not on the official flight from KL were fined was particulary devious and appreciated by all.

On the way back the draw for the horse and rider combinations was carried out. 1st pair and 10th pair would be in the money after the two day competition. VP Rick was lucky to draw himself thereby being horse and rider.

2nd Day – First Day of Competition – Alpine Golf Resort

As anticipated, this golf course alone is worth the visit to Chiang Mai. The course and clubhouse are immaculate. The consensus was that playing on this course from tee to green is a delight as long as you stayed on the short stuff.. But then!!!! The first cut, let alone the real rough, was impossible to play costing many a stroke for most. Picture a full swing five iron from the rough going 30 yards and you get the idea. This was due to the fact that Alpine is preparing for an Asian Tour event in July! This makes one appreciate the difficulty the pro’s face.

Only half of the players managed to break 100. The Irish bandit Frank lead the first day with a score of 89 for 38 points. That cost him a 2 stroke handicap cut. VP presented Frank with an Alpine golf shirt. Since nobody else was around on the golfers terrace we did not make Frank do a cat-walk. COTD went to David for trying to murder Rick with a shank. Bhavish narrowly missed COTD after avoiding Paula on the bus.

On the way back to the hotel VP Rick Brown announced that the Thai Armed Forces had staged a coup. We were later informed that a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. would be enforced.

Some claimed VP Rick Brown attracts such events having been in several wars, numerous skirmishes and other peacekeeping efforts.

3rd Day – Second Day of Competition – Chiang Mai Highlands Golf and Spa Resort

15 fully rested and sober players assembled on the bus on time. This must be a first for a KLOGS Away!

Set in the foot-hills east of Chiang Mai, Chiangmai Highlands gives golfers the distraction of magnificent views on every hole. Chiangmai Highlands was voted among the top new courses in Asia while some say it is arguably the number one course in Thailand. The consensus amongst us was that this is a truly magnificant course. The only downside was that most of the greens were guarded by severe bunkers.

Winner on the day was VP Rick Brown with a strong 96 for 40 points.

The combined results of the 2-day competition to determine the Tour Champion were as follows:

Congratulations to Frank for putting in two very consistent and impressive score together, specially since his handicap was cut 2. The lucky rider was Richard Green. Rick Brown’s blistering 40 points on day 2 jockeyed him into 10 place taking the money for both horse and rider.

Gary had such a serious lapse of etiquette that there was only one COTD nomination possible: One of Gary’s numerous phone calls – of a private nature of course – took place on the first tee. Not only did that get him the COTD but a fine for telephone abuse.

The official dinner was held at The River Market restaurant. VP Rick delegated the task of selecting this venue to past president Richard Moss, the epicurean. Thank you Richard! A truely splendid choice. At the end of the evening Frank gave a speech thanking everyone in sight. The curfew allowed most to have an early night. Wake-up call next day was at 6 a.m. with a 7 a.m. departure to the last venue and subsequent departure to the airport (for those flying back to KL or other destinations).

4th Day – Money Game – Royal Chiang Mai Golf Resort

The Royal Chiang Mai Golf Course was designed by Peter Thompson, five times British Open Champion. The design is reminiscent of a traditional British Parkland course with some interesting “links” additions. The course is heavily tree-lined and water hazards are in play on almost every hole. Again a very beautiful mature course. Beware of the trees though!

As is customary the money game paired the winner of the Tour championship with the player having the least stableford points, second with second last and so on……. The 2-man teams scored by using the better individual stableford based on the current handicap. In some cases the sequence of top player to last player was determined by ocb.

Team 5 made up of Rick supported marginally by Klaus totalled 45 points and took the money prize. Notable were two par 3s which Rick birdied resulting in 5 points each.

The COTD went to David “hasty” Hewitt for playing a wrong ball and therefore incurring a 2 stroke penalty. Had this not been the case, David and Hans would probably have won the money game.

In closing the Tour VP Rick Brown thanked all participants, especially those for overseas, Simon Ng, Liberty Travel and wished all a safe trip to their next destinations.