Thai NDT team wins the Camel Winter Classic, 2009.

Great support sees a large amount raised for the St.Camillus Foundation.

The Camel Winter Classic, 2009.

Saturday, 12 December – Emerald Golf Course, Banchang.

The 9th annual Camel Winter Charity Classic took place at the Emerald Course in Banchang. The weather was glorious with blue skies, cool temperature and 138 congenial golfers played in support of this most worthy of causes, for the St. Camillus Foundation which run the Camillian Social Center – a relief center for HIV/AIDs people, just out of Banchang, in Rayong. This winter’s tournament raised a total of 247,450.00 Baht for the Camillians. The Summer Classic tournament and the Winter Classic tournament, since inception, have now raised over 3.5 million baht for the St Camillus Foundation.

Golfers from Banchang, Jomtien, Pattaya and Bangkok teed off from 06:30am and the organizers, once again, had everything arranged and in order, from the easy registration (a special thank you to Bob, Vanessa, Steven, Klaus and Kh Tong), to the carts, drink stands and all of the technical prizes. Tournament shirts and caps were given to all golfers. Banners for hole sponsors were located on each tee box and the course was in fine condition. The organizers extend warm gratitude to the management, greens keepers, caddies and staff from Emerald for turning the course and facilities out so very well.

The format was a Texas Scramble with teams taking an aggregate handicap based on a finely tuned calculation to make the chance for a win for all teams as even as possible. With such a large number, golfers were teeing off until just past 12:30pm but there were no delays and the teams generally managed to get around in better than 4 hours. The Camel Pub had strategically placed huge buckets of the finest Bloody Marys in just the right places to keep golfers strength up and their concentration focused.

After the game and some welcome refreshments at the clubhouse, most golfers made their way, by 5:30pm, to The Camel Pub, Banchang’s largest and finest pub/ restaurant. There, The Camel had prepared a delicious buffet for the golfers and their families to enjoy along with the continuing refreshments.

Prize giving and presentations to the successful golfers commenced just after 6:30pm with hosting done by Rod C and ably supported by Steven and Vanessa to ensure the right prizes got to the right folks. A general and special raffle with some excellent prizes including a set of Kasco clubs/ bag and two Craighton putters (donated by locals Alan A, John G and Rod C) were held and contributed greatly to the final amount for the charity. Many kind donations were made by some very generous folks and the organizers extend their generous thanks.

The tournament champions for the Camel Winter Classic, 2009 are the Thai NDT team of  John Deacon, Jimmy Deacon, Sam Peerles and “The Chairman”, with a brilliant net score of 55.4. The Champions were presented with individual crystal trophies and associated prizes. The Runners Up are the Steve Hubbard team of Steve Hubbard, Alex Dixon, Kh Ben T and Kh Duang with an also excellent net score of 57.5. The Runners Up were presented with crystal trophies and associated prizes. Congratulations to 2009 champions and Runners Up.

For the technical prizes, there were 2 longest drives, one longest putt, one closest in two and 4 near pins. The technical prize winners were: Near Pin Hole 5: Kh Saranya Chaiyaron, Near Pin Hole 7: Kh Saranya Chaiyaron, Closest to the Pin in two Hole 8: Phillipe Martin, Mens Long Drive Hole 9: Alex Dixon, Near Pin Hole 13: Glen Ebert, Longest Putt Hole 14: The Chairman, Near Pin Hole 15: Bruce Kaspar, Ladies Long Drive Hole 18: Kh Supin Stewart. Congratulations to the technical prize winners.

The Camel Pub wishes to sincerely thank the many contributors for the generous support and for making the tournament a great success. Specifically, Terry wishes to thank our corporate and other donors of cash, prizes and hole sponsors. They are Modec, ALE Heavy Lift, Faces Bar, Nevada Bar, CEA, Chevron (Offshore) Thailand Ltd, CR Asia, Deborah Services Ltd, Foster Wheeler, LPL Thailand, LS Cargo, Plexal Group, The Stoat, Sarens, Thai NDT, Western Foods,  and of course, The Camel Pub.

Additionally, The Camel Pub also wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the following local establishments for a bottle of spirits each: The Bar, Blackcat Bar, Beaver Bar, Offshore Bar, Cupids Bar, Moonshine Bar, Good Luck Bar, Kiwi Bar, McAllisters Bar, Jigsaw Bar, Faces Bar (2 bottles), Rainbow Bar, Ship in the Hole Bar and Wherehouse Bar. Finally, generous support was received from local folks, Alan Abernathy, Ray Barrett, Trevor Whittle, Rod C, Norm A, Anne Shop and Noi Shop.

Hearty thanks from the organizers to all who supported and played in this fine tournament. We hope to see you all and your friends back for the Camel Summer Classic, in June 2010.

More information about the St. Camillus Foundation of Thailand and the Camillian Social Center can be found at: http://www.camillian-rayong.org

• Camel Winter Classic 2009 Pictures
• Camel Winter Classic Presentation to the Camillian Centre