IPGC Golf from The Haven
Monday, May 16, Crystal Bay B & C – Stableford
CSS 75 NC
1st Markku Tynell (23) 30pts
2nd Daryl Burkett (12) 30pts
3rd Phil Cass (17) 30pts
4th Mike Hill (20) 30pts
A tough week saw the return of rain clouds to the area after several very dry weeks that had left many of the regular courses on the schedule badly affected. And on Monday those rain clouds turned into thunderstorms accompanied by lightning strikes that caused some stoppages and made the day a bit of a trek around a very wet course. This was highlighted by the low scores returned and the CSS for the day moving out to 75, with the event becoming non-counting for upward review of handicaps.
Vincent Gras.
The continuing problems at this course of the grass mixture on the greens also added to the difficulties faced by the players as they struggled with the extremely variable pace, where even on the same green they were having to hit the putt through three or four different paced areas.
Markku Tynell took the day’s win after edging a four-way count back at six over handicap. His win came as he scored 7 from the last three holes against second placed Daryl Burkett’s 6 after they had tied the nine on 17 and the back six on 12 apiece.
Phil Cass took third after an even 15 split for the two halves and Mike Hill came in fourth, having totted up just 14 on the back nine.
In keeping with the difficulty with which the course was playing there were no ‘2’s in either of the divisions.
Wednesday, May 18, Pattana A & B – Stableford
CSS 74
1st Daryl Burkett (12) 37pts
2nd Mike Hill (20) 33pts
3rd John Tallett (23) 33pts
4th Gary Hookey (17) 30pts
5th Phil Cass (17) 29pts
Daryl Burkett.
Following Monday’s golfing traumas it was an absolute pleasure to play at Pattana, the regular twice a fortnightly venue which is currently in the best condition of all the courses on the schedule and seemingly total unaffected by the variance of the recent weather. Even golf carts were allowed on the fairways despite the heavy overnight rain in the region. With the greens playing fast and true after holding the approach shot it all made for an excellent day’s golf.
With the course in such good shape it was a little surprising to find that the CSS for the day had edged out an extra shot over the standard par of 73.
Daryl Burkett continued his fine run of form with another win at one under handicap, with his worst hole of the round being (what should have been an easy par for him) the par six A5 where a wayward tee shot went from bad to worse as he progressed slowly down towards the green to single putt for the one point.
Mike Hill then won a count back for second place with a better 17 to 16 to leave John Tallett in third, with the latter ruing the zero-pointer on B9, his last hole that should have switched the order in his favour.
Gary Hookey slipped into fourth another three behind and one ahead of fifth placed Phil Cass.
Once again there were no 2s in the first division but Phil Cass had a fantastic eagle on the par four A6 hole after a great drive and a seven iron found the bottom of the hole to sweep the pool in the second division.
Friday, May 20, Greenwood A & C – Stableford
CSS 71
1st Vincent Gras (19) 39pts
2nd Ray Daws (15) 35pts
3rd Gary Hookey (17) 35pts
4th Mike Hill (20) 35pts
5th Mark Cooper (12) 35pts
6th Daryl Burkett (12) 34pts
Markku Tynell.
Another course that always appears to be in good shape was the test for the Bank Holiday Friday when at variance with almost all other courses in the area they were charging the normal weekday prices. They were repaid by being almost totally full over the three nines with well over 200 golfers playing in the morning alone, but everyone moved on at a good pace with all the entrants in the competition finishing in just over four and a quarter hours.
The biggest problem was the return journey to base which took almost two hours as the preparations for Triathlon activities the next day caused traffic mayhem. Nothing new here of course!
Vincent Gras had a day when he stopped spraying and finished up on the top step of the podium with his first win for some time as he has been struggling to fit some work into his extremely busy travel and golf schedules between Darwin and Pattaya. As always he was at his most benevolent following the presentations.
Second place went to another four-way count back which Ray Daws won with the best 20 points after a slow start to the day.
Gary Hookey took his second podium placement in the week after winning a count back over Mike Hill with a better 14 to 13 over the last six following a tie on 17 apiece over the nine.
Mark Cooper was disappointed to finish only fifth after he had closed out the front half with twenty points and was looking every part the winner with all systems firing, but a slightly tired last three holes finished his chances for the day.
That left Daryl Burkett in sixth place after he struggled through the first nine at three over handicap.
Surprisingly, with half the field in the first division, once again there were no ‘2’s in that division but Vincent Gras and Mike Hill shared the depleted second division pool.
Note: If you would like to play with The Haven group, you can contact 094 465 5002 or call in to The Haven, 315/13 Soi Lengkee, situated between Third Road and Soi Buakhao. All transportation to the course is arranged and you do not need to sign up prior to the day, but you should be there by 8.15 on a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on the days that you wish to play. A schedule of courses to be played throughout the year can be found on the web site at www.thehaven-hotel.com.
The Haven offers good parking facilities but sadly no room for club storage. Whilst the kitchen in being renovated, there is a limited range of food available, but the supply of beverages continues, at ice cold temperatures.
