The truth can indeed be stranger than fiction, 5 years ago I was at the green Valley Golf and Country Club. Before my eagerly awaited round I was, as is my habit, enjoying a nice cup of coffee, in the pleasantly decorated clubhouse. A man I had known for many years here in Pattaya, Andy Anderson joined me at the dining room table, and after the usual pleasantries, commenced to tell me of an occurrence during his last visit, a week earlier.
He told me a story that was amazing, and so unlikely that I was not inclined to believe him, and wanted the facts verified, I would add that I had never known Andy to lie or exaggerate before.
He said the week before he was in a four ball, which included the Professional Glyn Jenkins, the other two players were people I also knew, Milano and Daryl White.
Both Daryl and Milano, are well known for their drinking ability, both are never seen to be intoxicated, and yet both consume large quantities of spirits during their round of golf.
Milano is a true 17 handicap, and Daryl plays off of a 15 Handicap.
After an uneventful 14 holes, Milano suggested to the pro, that it would be more interesting for them both, if the pro agreed to a wager of 10,000 Bht per hole for the last 4 holes.
Only Milano and Glyn were party to this wager, and the pro protested that really he didn’t want to take Milano’s money.
Milano retorted that he could afford to pay should he lose, and accused the pro of cowardice. Glyn accepted the wager and the round continued. The most eventful thing that happened after this was Milano’s right shoe split, and the sole came apart from the upper, Milano continued with the bet, and although he had an electric golf cart, continued walking for the rest of the round.
After 3 of the last four holes had been played it wasn’t any surprise that Glyn had won all 3.
Standing on the 18th Tee Milano who had the caddies falling down clutching their sides in agony with laughing so much, Milano had pushed his foot through his right shoe and turned the shoe onto his knee.
Having every one enjoy his silliness, so much, and in the spirit of the moment, he asked Glyn to accept a double or nothing bet for the last hole.
After a moment of protesting the professional accepted the 60,000 Bht or nothing bet.
This is where the truth that is stranger than fiction became fact, Glyn Jenkins having won the previous holes teed off, as usual his drive went a good distance, not as far as his usual 280 yds around 250 yds.
Milano who especially when drunk can hit a really good drive, one out of 5 connected with the middle of his driver, and the ball traveled from the sweet spot to around 260 yds.
As Milano was walking still with his right shoe on his knee, and as he had hit further than the Pro, Glyn Jenkins played his shot to the green first, Glyn said his ball was no more than 3 feet from the whole and with a virtual certain birdy putt was counting his 60,000 bht to come.
Milano eventually got to his ball, and with his shoe still on his knee playing with a sock on his right foot, played a pitching wedge to the green from 135 yards.
Glyn said he was standing near the green and could not believe the shot, the ball hit the green and bounced straight into the hole for an eagle.
Glyn said for fun, when Milano got to the whole and asked where his ball had finished, that the ball had gone into the rough, and made Milano look for his ball for two or three minutes.
This true story was first told to me by Andy Anderson and later verified by Glyn and Daryl only Milano denied it was a true story saying the other 3 had made it up.
Author of this true story Terry Patterson
CEO Sunny Golf Holidays Co., Ltd. |
