Pieman

Welcome aboard Comrade urmy. For your next trip here do check out the Aeroflop schedules - assuming that your mill owning bosses give you a day or two off per annum. Cheers Pie

I'm game for that and 1000 sounds about right. If there is more interest then we can keep it amongst those who want to add a bit of spice and the highest placed amongst the "punters" (even if not the eventual winner) grabs the loot. Anyone else interested ? Cheers Pie

Thanks for that - will do. Hopefully we'll get a few more guys from here participating (where art thou Ben ?) and once the first week has passed and we can see each other's teams, let the pisstaking begin............ Cheers Pie

Concur with the others - the Royal Wing is definitely THE best place to stay in Pattaya. The last I heard the rack rates were around 13-14K baht but as it is low season you will probably get it for little more than half that. I haven't stayed there for a while but they used to run at around 20% occupancy at this time of year, so you have a fair bit of bargaining power. If they won't play ball then there is a board member here that I can put you in touch with who can get you a rate that's around the 7K mark. Cheers Pie P.S. Yousee - Whilst the Hard Rock is reasonably well located the fact is that, given the state of Beach Road and its traffic (especially at weekends), it will probably take you longer to get from there to Walking Street than it would from the Royal Cliff 7 times out of 10. I live next door to the RC and it takes me about 3-4 mins to get to the car park I use by WS.

It's called course management and if you are really keen on winning you'd do well to read page 1 of the manual on "Use of Reverse Mulligans". Seriously, great to hear that you are def going to make it - wouldn't have been the same without seeing you attempt the back 9 after a several Tetley's at the halfway house. Did you manage to get a flight that lets you play in the Catz open too ? (I see both Doggie and Robert replied re tee times so I didn't add a 3rd). Looking forward to it even more now - especially the chance to lead a newlywed astray post golf. Cheers Pie

OK guys - I'm in. This could be fun - although expensive as a Weekly Telegraph will now be required reading to keep up with team news. Cheers Pie

No date has been fixed yet but there will definitely be the annual birthday party that used to be at Kittens (Catz this year) some time around then which many of the guys usually attend. Our birthdays are on the 13th but as we will be on the road to Chiang Mai then, my guess at this stage is that it will be held on Friday 11th - so you might want to avoid that date. Having said that, at that time of year there are always shitloads of board members in town so you need not fear being shorthanded whatever date you choose. If you can avoid the 11th for your party that´ll be good as I´ll be able to attend then as well. Cheers Pie

Dearest Rolls, It's been a while since you had a go at one of my posts - most refreshing. Although perhaps I should have mentioned a "decent" curry to be fair. As taking them in turn.......... the one on Pattaya Klang near Beach Rd AKA - Ali Baba's. Overpriced, over-hyped garbage - wouldn't survive 30 seconds in Cleethorpes. Avoid at all costs. the one along from TQ's on Beach Rd AKA - Sher-E-Kebab (with two other Pattaya branches) Again overpriced for what you get - but still one of the best of a bad bunch. the one just opened opposite Malibu show Seen it but not tried it - reviews welcomed. the one opposite Soi Pattayaland Not sure which one you are referring to. The new one next to Bruno's - Indian by Nature (or some other poncey name) - isn't bad either but they charge like a wounded rhino. The truth is though, in my experience at least, that a good "english" curry is bloody hard to find. I'm back in the UK next week for the first time in ages and the first thing I'll be doing is going for a ruby. What's on offer in Pattaya doesn't come close to just an average curry house in the UK. Cheers Pie

I strongly resent this. I'll have you know that I am most particular as to who I will allow to pay bar for me. Cheers for the heads up re the curry house though - they are few and far between in this neck of the woods and I'll give it a whirl sometime. Cheers Pie

Nice one A rather fetching little number - red lingerie has always done it for me. I wonder if Mackie's "Miss Whiplash" loaned it out ? November - it's gone. I'm looking forward to your presence SO much more now. .............A dish served cold ?? Cheers Pie

Great pics Deuce - a few cracking memories although it feels years ago now. Roll on the next one. Hub - you can't see my hump from the front - silly boy. I had a couple of beauties of your good self on one of the occasions in the FLB when you were a bit fast out of the gates but sadly they were on the now defunct old PC. Rest assured that when you are next in town I'll bring the camera out every night and repay your kindness. Sleep with one eye open. Cheers Pie P.S. Hub - been feeding the ducks (their starter) yet ?

Very effing clever .............thin ice china, thin ice. More seriously, count me in for both - Chiang Mai during Loy Kratong is something I've long wanted to do. Only possible problem for me is a departure on the 13th as that's the birthdays but what we'll probably do is bring the party forward a couple of days and have it on the 10th or 11th. I know we discussed it a short while back but on reflection I don't fancy the journey by road. So if you go that route then, no worries, I'll sort a flight out and meet you up there. If you go with one of the other options (and I like the U-Tapao idea) then include me in the arrangements please. Should be a great couple of weeks - top effort in putting it together. Cheers Pie

12 golf balls Hardly worth dragging the clubs all the way there for one round. Cheers Pie

Greg, Lest any inexperienced travellers are innocently misled, I feel I should point out that you ommitted something VERY important with your extract from the Thai air website..... "For travel To/from Canada and the U.S.A., the following regulations apply: Passengers in all classes of service, from First to Economy, are allowed two pieces of luggage. The sum of the three dimensions (length + height + width) for each piece cannot exceed 158 cm. (62 inches) and the weight of each piece cannot exceed 32 kgs. (70 lbs)." Stoace is presumably not travelling from the USA or Canada so these rules apply to him and all others that fly from anywhere other than North America (also from Thai website).... "The luggage allowance for Royal First Class is 40 kg. (88 lbs.); for Royal Executive Class passengers: 30 kg. (66 lbs.); and for Economy Class passengers: 20 kg. (44 lb.)." There are additional allowances for Royal Orchid Plus silver/gold members. Basically your check in allowance is by number of bags to/from N. America but by WEIGHT to/from ALL other destinations. Cheers Pie

There is no definitive answer to this as all airlines apply different rules. Steveo quotes the rules for BA/Qantas - it seems they carry a golf bag for free with no weight limitations. Other examples being.... SAA - will carry a golf bag for free up to 15KG, anything over that is part of your baggage allowance. However your ticket/their computer system will still show you as having a 20K baggage allowance, assuming economy, and if you don't present a golf bag at check in then 20K is all you get. SIA - if you contact them beforehand they will give you an additional 10K for "sports equipment". Whilst your ticket still shows 20K they alter their computer system to show that you have a 30K allowance which you still get if you show up without a bag. I've used this a couple of times when I knew I was going to be seriously over my allowance. Quite simply the best route is to check with Thai airways or, better still, assuming you booked through an agent, get them to earn their comission and do it for you. Cheers Pie P.S. Greg, if I'm reading you right you are suggesting that allowances are by the bag and not by weight. That applies to all flights to/from the states but all other flights are by weight not bag for ordinary luggage and for golf clubs it varies enormously. I have to think I misunderstood your post given you work for an airline !!

Doggie, Just caught up with this thread after a Songkran enforced absence. Firstly, count me in for the Rideher - sounds like there could be quite a crowd this year which is great news. Are you going to bring "son of Lobin" ? Perhaps his girlfriend might be a good idea, it could lead to some interesting forfeits at the party for shortest drive, most balls in the water etc etc. As for the Kittens open, I'm sure we will be repeating it but things are a bit up in the air on that front at the moment - more on that when you hit town at the weekend. Cheers Pie P.S. Steve - your fiancee was in good spirits last night as she eagerly awaits your return. She looked a little thirsty though so, knowing that you wouldn't want the poor girl in a distressed state, I suggested she just order what she wanted and keep the check bin behind the bar for when you get here. Hope I did the right thing....

Others might be able to answer this better than I but the ones I looked at varied from 190m to 330m so are pretty big and, if in decent condition (which all the ones I looked at were), seem to be 50K a month and up. Mine is 3 bedrooms - one of which has been converted into an office - with separate kitchen and lounge/living room. I don't know if there are any smaller ones but I suspect not, certainly in the Towers A or C where the design is for 2 or 3 Condos per floor. Again - I haven't looked at them all so I could be wrong. Cheers Pie

I'm in a condo at the Royal Cliff but most such condos are for minimum 6 month let and usually 12. You then need your own direct phone line. Rest is easy. Cheers Pie

I stayed recently at the Nova Park for 3 months. A 1 bedroom apartment with a small kitchen/sitting area and separate bedroom was 18,000 a month plus water/electric and maid service. Fairly new, so everything in good condition. The studios (didn't look at one) are 15,000 a month for long term stay. It's a 5 minute walk to 2nd road (you come out at the top of Soi 6 ) so the location is good. V nice pool area and there is Jameson's Irish pub which recently opened on site - excellent food/service on your doorstep. I think it's very good value and might have stayed there longer but the only internet access is via dial up and that wore me down in the end so moved to a place where I could get ADSL. Cheers Pie

According to the rumour mill the developer has run out of money. Building work has stopped but it is said that it will start again around June/July when said developer realises funds from another project. Cheers Pie

Nice pics Deuce - thanks for the effort involved on this and the other post. As Dungheap says it seems ages ago - but here's to the next one. Cheers Pie

Hub, Nice report and as you say, a top day. Before you give the erroneous impression I can play the game, you might have pointed out that those flukey 2 holes were my only contribution of the whole round and were entirely due to the fact you'd got me pissed on Tetley's by then. Thus you are solely responsible for America not winning - I hope you are ashamed of yourself. I wish we could do it every week, that day and the Kanchanburi trip will live long in the memory. I look forward to a repeat next year - doggie and I want our money back. Cheers Pie

Doghaus, I'll have you know the only reason I considered this trip was as a means to escape the debauchery and drunkeness of Pattaya for a couple of days. The big appeal of it is I've heard it's pretty much lights out at 10.00pm in that neck of the woods and that suits me just fine. So, I'm sorry to disappoint but if you fuckers plan on boozing after the golf then you're going to have to count me out. It's dinner and bed (alone) for me. I'm still massively looking forward to it though. I'll bring my own Evian. Cheers Pie

amphora, As someone pointed out on another thread recently, it is easy for you to get your money back. Just telephone your credit card company and tell them that you were not provided with the services that you paid for. They will refund your money and charge back to the con artist. Only if he can prove that you are being untruthful (and he can't) will he get the money back and you charged again. Cheers Pie

Tom, I can understand that you are not only excited about you first visit to LOS but want to plan ahead and absorb as much info as possible. However, I cannot stress highly enough that plans, and especially at this early stage, are futile. My recommendation would be to read this board (and others) on a daily basis, from which you will glean a great deal of information. Then perhaps make another post asking who is going to be around on your first night a LOT nearer the time - maybe a couple of weeks ahead. Your best possible result would be to find an experienced LOS visitor who is willing to show you the ropes on your first night (and if I am around at that time, which is highly likely, then I'd be more than happy to do so), and then, familiar with the lie of the land so to speak, you'll be "good to go". If you draw a blank on the guide front then the FLB as a starting point is a very good second option. Cheers Pie