IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, September 8, Greenwood B & C Courses – Stableford CSS 72
1st Mathew Badman (11) 37
2nd Bruce Hilde (17) 36
3rd Allen Raaen (7) 33
Three great courses were on the schedule for the week, all at very affordable prices, so the group set off from Soi 13 in high spirits expecting great things. Most were disappointed on this day but Mathew Badman took full advantage of Greenwood’s B & C nines, after finding them in tip top shape. But with a variable wind seeming to be against whichever way the tee was facing, his final score was a much better result that it would appear at first glance. A solid start to his round set the tone for the day as he ended the front nine in one under handicap and followed that up with a level handicap back nine to run out the winner by one point.
Don the nearly man, John Carlin & Shuichi Kodaka.
Second place man Bruce Hilde was ahead after nine and still in front standing on the fifteenth tee but then slipped in a couple of single pointers to allow the winner to catch up. He could then only garner the standard four points from the last two against the winner’s five points, which left him in second place but well ahead of third placed Allen Raaen on three over handicap.
There followed a count back for fourth which Rod Crosswell won with 18, which left Don Everett in fifth with 16 and Terry Hodgkiss in sixth with 15.
There were no 2’s in either of the divisions.
Before the presentations were made there was a welcome for new member Walter Panichi together with a welcome back for Vincent Gras.
Wednesday, September 10, Khao Kheow C & A courses – Stableford CSS 72
1st John Carlin (18) 36 cb 20
2nd Vincent Gras (16) 36 cb 19
3rd Rod Crosswell (15) 35
On the previous occasion that the group had played the course just a couple of weeks ago the winner, Phil Cass, had strolled in with 45 points with second placed Shuichi Kodaka amazingly only second with 43. But this time around it was business as usual as the course bit back to leave the hopefuls a lot less ecstatic at the end of a grinding eighteen that saw a level handicap score return to the top of the podium.
John Carlin was the player standing on the top tier after winning a close fought count back by the slimmest of margins after a strong 20 points on the C course which was in fact the first nine to be played. But tradition is, count backs are taken on the back nine on the card and so with 19 on the back Vincent Gras had to settle for a second place having had one too many zeros on his card.
Rod Crosswell took third place after he had started extremely well on the first nine returning 21 points, but a weaker back nine saw him slip down the pecking order after gleaning just two points from the last three holes.
That left Kevin Townsend and Don Everett contesting a count back which Kevin won with a better 16 to 12, as Don finished strongly on the course but had begun the day a little too slowly, scoring just 12 points, as he creaked into action. That left Allen Raaen in sixth but once again amongst the notables.
Prior to the presentations there were welcome backs for Jens Gunnarsson and John Carlin and a farewell for Rod Crosswell.
Once again there were no 2’s in the first division but Jens Gunnarsson having moved divisions recently took the roll over pot in the second division.
Friday, September 12, Mountain Shadow – Stableford CSS 71
1st Shuichi Kodaka (17) 43
2nd Don Everett (19) 37
3rd Bruce Hilde (17) 36
Following his close encounter with the winners step a couple of weeks earlier when the same score was not quite enough, Shuichi Kodaka was much relieved at the post-event press conference as he discussed his concerns that once again seven under, on a tight and tough course that is renowned for not giving up good scores easily, might not be enough as he waited for the rest of the field to arrive at the scorers desk. But on this occasion five under handicap on the front and another two under on the back, after having been cut two shots for his previous efforts, ensured that his best ever return in competition would this time be well rewarded with the winner’s accolades.
Don Everett rounded out a good week, during which he appeared three times amongst the podium places, in second place with a score that on many other times would have proved to be the winner but with Shuichi in such sparkling form it was not to be.
Bruce Hilde almost took second spot away from Don but a misjudgment of holing out from the green with the flagstick still in the hole meant a two shot penalty and third place, and a hard learnt lesson to add to the experience bag.
Vincent Gras took his podium tally to two out of three with a one over handicap round as he prepared to pack his bags once again and head of for a few days in Darwin, finishing in fourth at one over. This left previous winner John Carling in fifth and Trevor Schirmer in sixth after he had won a count back with John Yarrow with a better 19 to 16.
Allen Raaen made up for what was for him a disappointing week, having had no wins and just three long drives, as he took the triple roll over in the first division 2’s.
Don Everett added to his day’s pot when he almost denied Allen with a hole in one, and missing out the Golf Bag on offer as always from the IPGC, as he just slid past the hole to leave a four incher for his two.
Back at The Haven before the presentations, there was a welcome back for Alwyne Burley and a farewell for Jens Gunnarsson after a flying visit.
Note: If you would like to play with The Haven group, you can contact mobile 094 567 5726 or call in to The Haven Hotel at 185 Soi 13, between Beach Road and 2nd Road. 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 Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on the days that you wish to play. A schedule of courses to be played can be found on our web site at www.thehaven-hotel.com
