The official 10th anniversary of the Inaugural General Meeting held at the "Aussie Cafe" in April 2004 which resulted in the formation of our golfing society "Chiang Mai Social Golfers" is fast approaching and it was decided to ask some of the original members to provide a brief history of events leading up to the formation of the club and a timeline of events since its formation. If anyone has any further information or any old photos they would not mind sharing (these are from my own personal collection), especially from the old wing 41 course or Sand Creek, could you please forward to www.chiangmaigolfers.blogspot.com

In 2002 there was a small but keen group of expats who enjoyed the occasional social round of golf and who regularly gathered at the Aussie Cafe. The cafe was run by Mark & Tae Ellenden and Mark was an ex teenage professional golfer from Australia. The Aussie Cafe was used at the time for pick-up & drop-off by Ric Cameron who had bought a mini bus and did Visa rus up to the border a couple of times a week. When not doing Visa Runs Ric would take a small group of us in his van to the various golf courses in and around Chiangmai.

Ric and Mark decided to put up money to form the club in an attempt to get discounts for us at the various golf courses and a 'Kiwi' named Tama Ruru provided free advertising. Tama ran several small businesses including a magazine where he advertised Ric's visa runs and eventually the golf outings. After about 12 months Mark returned to Australia and Tama returned to NZ and Ric managed the club until he very generously handed it over to the members after the club was officially formed at the AGM in 2004.

TIMELINE:

2002/2003
 

Club formed and operated out of the 'Aussie Cafe' (opposite Prince Hotel) by Ric Cameron & Mark Ellenden.

Mark had the Cafe & Ric ran golf tours/visa runs from the cafe via Tama's Asia Trading website.

When Ric's van was available he would transport us to the various golf courses.

Courses Played: Gymkhana, Wing 41, Green Valley, Royal CM, CM Lamphun Golf Courses. Around 2003 Maejo opened as a 9 hole course.

 

2004 (Inaugaural Meeting)

Chairman: Eddie Millar
Secretary: Garry Walker
Treasurer: Ric Cameron

Committee: Les Harvey (handicaps?), Shaun Stewart, Guy Lock

Annual General Meeting: Aussie Cafe.

Away Trips: Chiang Rai, Tachilek Myanmar.

Maejo GC opened as 18 hole course.

 

2005

President: Garry Walker (donated President's Cup)

Sec/Treasurer: Les Harvey

Committee: Roger Mack, Malcolm Tetley

Annual General Meeting: Gymkhana Club

Annual Tournament: Mid October Maejo. stableford team event. Low Gross: Jack Cooper. 36competitors. Function - Bears Den (sponsor)

Presidents Cup: (Points awarded for games played in comps throughout the year and also for relevant placings) Winner - Kim Gillies.

Trips Away: Bhumipol Dam Tak & Mae Moh.

Highlands & Hang Dong golf courses opened.

 

2006

President: Kim Gillies
Club Captain: Garry Walker
Sec/Treasurer: Les Harvey
Handicapper: Roger Mack (introduced club charter)

Annual General Meeting: Gymkhana Club

Annual Tournament: Lanna, CMLamphun, Royal CM,

Presidents Cup: (Best 3 net scores) Scott Lumsden

International: Lanna. Winner - Team USA
Trips Away: Udon Thani Chiangmai-Issan Challenge. Winner - Issan. Also Chiang Rai.
Wing 41 GC closed to be redeveloped as Stardome.

Noel from Happy Bar running regular group at Maejo.

 

2007

Club Captain: Garry Walker
Sec/Treasurer: Les Harvey
Handicap/Rules: Roscoe Butler
Special Events: Scott Lumsden
Webmaster: Garry Walker

Annual General Meeting: January at 'Nr 1 Pub' (sponsor)

Annual Tournament 13-23 August (Lanna1&2, CM Lamphun, Lanna 1&3, Green Valley) 24 Competitors. Function held in CK Steak restaurant.

Presidents Cup: (Best Net in annual tournament) Kieran Savage

International Winner: 17 April at Lanna. Winner - Scotland. 8 Teams 29 Competitors.

Away Trips: Queen Sirikhit Dam Chiangmai-Issan Challenge Winner - Issan.  Chiang Rai.

Club Shirts donated by sponsor Nr1 Pub.

Weblog introduced to club by Andy Burgess/Garry Walker 16/3/2007. In June Posted separate Maejo Page on CMSG website with Noel departing with the idea that regular groups would continue to play at Maejo. This page was discontinued in May 2008 and amalgamated onto one 'match reports' page on the CMSG website.

Stardome GC opened

 

2008

Club Captain : Garry Walker
Sec/Treasurer: Les Harvey
Handicapper: Scott Lumsden
Webmaster: Garry Walker

Annual General Meeting: 21 January at 'Nr 1 Pub' (sponsor)

Annual Tournament: August (Lanna, Royal CM, Maejo, Green Valley) 27 Competitors. Function at 'The Pub' restaurant.
Presidents Cup: (Best Net/Stableford 3 rounds in tournament) Dao Viraya.

International: 25 March at Lanna - Winner Australia - 11 Teams 44 competitors.

Chiangmai-Issan Challenge - played at Gassan Khuntan, Green Valley, Lanna. Function Tiger Bar.

Gold Mountain GC opened

CM Lamphun GC sold/altered and reopened as Alpine GC

2009
 
Club Captains & Handicaps: Garry Walker/Gary Lyon, Scott Lumsden
Sec/Treasurer: Christian Friis
Special Events: Malcolm Tetley
Webmaster: Garry Walker/Guy Merrett

Annual General Meeting: 2 Feb at "Nr 1 Pub"

Annual Tournament: Sept/Oct (Lanna, Maejo, Highlands, Royal CM) 27 Competitors.

Presidents Cup: (Best three net rounds in Tournament) Guy Merrett

International: 19 March at Gold Mountain. Winner - Team Asia. 14 Teams - 54 Competitors

Away Trips: October - Udon Thani for Chiangmai-Issan Challenge. Winner - Chiangmai

2010
Club Captains: Gary Lyon, Yung Beece
Sec/Treasurer: Christian Friis
Handicapper: Gary Burke
Webmaster: Guy Merrett

Annual General Meeting: 25 Jan at "The Old Bell"

Annual Tournament: Aug/Sept (Lanna, Maejo, Highlands, Doi Inthanon) 24 Competitors. Function at Gymkhana.

Presidents Cup: Yung Beece

Ladies: Junjira

International Winner: 25 March at Doi Inthanon. Winner - Australia. 10 Teams - 40 Competitors.

Knockout: Kieran Savage

Away Trips - Khon Kaen for Chiangmai-Issan Challenge. Winner - Chiangmai. Also, Chiang Rai, Mae Moh, Gassan Khuntan.

2011

Club Captains: Gary Lyon, Jack Kuzina
Sec/Treasurer: Les Harvey
Handicapper: Gary Burke
Webmaster: Garry Walker

Annual General Meeting: 17 Jan at Gymkhana Club

Annual Tournament: October (Lanna, Highlands, Maejo, Gold Canyon) 40 Competitors. Function at Miguel's.

Presidents Cup: Len Sparrow

Ladies: Ram Taylor

International: 17 March at Doi Inthanon. Winner - Scandinavia. 12 Teams - 48 Competitors.

Knockout: Nigel Jones

Away Trips - November to Khon Kaen for Chiangmai-Issan Challenge. Winner - Issan. Also, Mae Moh, Chiang Rai.

2012

Club Captains: Gary Lyon, Jack Kuzina

Sec/Treasurer: Christian Friis

Handicapper: Frank Schwarz

Events: Ted Taylor

Webmaster: Garry Walker

Annual General Meeting: 23 Feb at Gymkhana Club

Annual Tournament: Oct/Nov. Courses played: Gold Mtn, Doi Inthanon, Lanna, Maejo.

Presidents Cup: Ken Nalder

Ladies: Chawinee Ongkasul

International Winner: 15 Mar at Gold Canyon. Winner: Australia. 14 Teams.

Knockout: Not held this year

Away Trips: November to Khon Kaen for Chiangmai-Issan Challenge. Winner - Chiangmai. Also MaeMoh & Chiang Rai

Koolpuntville 9 Mezzanine GC opened in July. Temporary closure of Gassan Courses. New Course in Chiang Rai.

Club Sponsor - Living Room Bar donated towards Club Shirts

2013

Club Captains: Gary Lyon, Lesley Mullen/Jim Hopkins.

Sec/Treasurer: Christian Friis

Handicapper: Frank Schwarz

Webmaster: Garry Walker

Annual General Meeting: 30 Feb at Gymkhana Club
International Challenge: 21 Mar at Gold Canyon. Winner - Europe (odds'n'sods)
Away Trips: Khon Kaen

Annual Tournament: 21 Oct - 31 OctLanna, Gassan Khuntan, Maejo, Inthanon, Function Sat 2 Nov at Gymkhana Club.

Presidents Cup:

Ladies: