Golf challenge 2010

Just a quick report about this years' annual Chiang Mai v Isaan challenge match held at Singha Park and Dancoon golf courses in Khon Kean.
About 40 players contested this years event, with most taking advantage of the excellent room rates offered to us by the Kosa and Pullman Hotels.
We all met up in KK on Monday evening and after a short meeting to explain the rules of the competition and give some local information to those visiting KK for the first time, it was off on the town for many people to renew the friendships from previous years and meet new friends who were competing for the first time. An early night was had by all (not), although a few did get back before midnight I hear (some people are far too serious about their golf !!).
Next morning the competition started at Singha Park with the pairs event taking place.
Hangovers were soon forgotten as the battle commenced, with most matches changing leaders on several occasions. When the “dust had settled” and everyone was back in the clubhouse, the first day points were added up, and Isaan held a slender 2 ½ point lead. Discussions then took place about all the stunning shots (and many far from stunning ones) that had been played whilst we enjoyed the free barrel of beer that had been laid on.
The following day it was back to Singha Park for the “off day”. A modified Texas scramble is usually played between the two Competition days, as this gives a chance to “mix the teams” with each team being made up of both Isaan & Chiang Mai golfers, thus giving everyone a chance to have a bit of fun and play alongside friends from the “opposition”. Two teams returned to clubhouse with scores of 5 under (67), so it was decided to call it a draw and award prizes to all eight golfers involved. Another free barrel of beer was then consumed and everyone returned to the hotels for an early night ……….. it was after all the eve of the singles matches !!
When I walked/staggered/fell out of the bar at about 2am, there were still several players from both sides who, obviously feeling the need to cement relationships between the two teams further, were about to get another round in.
The final days play, the singles, was to be played at Dancoon Golf Club, and as some of the Chiang Mai guys had played there last year they chose to leave the hotel early and get a few practice putts/chips in before the rest arrived. The main group arrived about 30 mins later, and comments were made that the “early birds” must be on the range, as there was no sign of them near the clubhouse. How wrong can you be? A phone call minutes later which provoked the response “well how the hell do I know, I can’t see out of your windscreen from here” confirmed our worst fears, and it turned out that they were in fact about 40km away heading in the wrong direction. Someone was quickly found to give our “Geographically challenged” players directions back to the course whilst the rest teed off. The “stragglers” arrived about an hour later, and their matches quickly got under way. Now it might just be coincidence, but the late arrivals were all guys who played off the maximum allowed handicap, so perhaps we shouldn’t have been surprised when they “drove” off in the wrong direction. Anyone who knows me (or has had the misfortune to play golf with me) will be aware that the “strong point” of my game, is my ability to recover golf balls from the water (they don’t usually go that far in anyway), and it won’t come as a surprise to hear that I was in the last group. As we (the last group) approached the last green (a Par 5 with about 80yds of water in front), is was really nice to see about 30 odd guys (beer in hand) crowded around the green to watch us, and cheer us, as each ball “sank without trace”.

After a quick count up, it was the Chiang Mai guys who had come out on top (for the second consecutive year), and they will retain the trophy, until next years comp, when we will bring it “home” again after holding it for the first 5 years.
Everyone returned to the clubhouse where, thanks to one of the competitions main sponsors, the Tourist Authority of Thailand, a free buffet and two free barrels of beer were consumed, whilst the trophy was presented.
I should here, if it is OK with Lee and the Udonmap team, like to say a big, big thank you to all of this years sponsors, The Kosa and Pullman hotels for providing heavily discounted accommodation for players and guests, together with several prizes of free accommodation, free meals etc; as mentioned above, TAT for providing the buffet and beer for the presentation evening, My Bar for providing a “rather rique prize” which thankfully was won by one of the “single” Chiang Mai guys, to both Singha Park and Dancoon for providing courses in excellent condition as well as many prizes and great hospitality, to both the Chiang Mai golf societies who participated and Isaan Golf society for providing many prizes, and players to make the competition such a success, to Steve Hoss, who, although his work commitments stopped him competing this year, still paid for one of the barrels of beer (cheers Steve) to Tim Seitz, who managed to negotiate the TAT sponsorship for the second year, and the massive hotel and golf discounts that we all enjoyed, and who, I know, had to make several extra (unpaid) trips to Khon Kean to organize everything, and finally a special thank you to the Tourist Police who provided a police escort (complete with flashing lights and sirens) to make sure that we all got back to our hotels safely (and without having to stop at those irritating red lights !!)
Here’s looking forward to the Eighth Chiang Mai v Isaan Challenge to take place in 2011