IPGC Golf from The Haven
Monday, March 2, Khao Kheow A & C – Stableford
CSS 73
Division 1 (0–11)
1st Neil Skilton (7) 35pts
2nd Jon Yarrow (11) 34pts
3rd Mark Williams (6) 33pts
Division 2 (12-18)
1st Phillip Cass (15) 35pts
2nd Trevor Schirmer (14) 34pts
3rd Jens Gunnarsson (16) 33pts
Division 3 (19+)
1st Frank Hughes (19) 33pts
2nd Patrick Scullion (22) 32pts
3rd Don Everett (19) 29pts
With the high season coming rapidly to a close there still seems to be quite a few golfers around, but some of the courses have already begun to offer their low season green fees from the beginning of March. There seems to be a big divergence in market approach, with the courses that have many local members, and therefore many low income green fees, lagging well behind in offering competitive rates against those courses that depend on non-member green fees. Khao Kheow is one of the managements already offering good low season rates so they can expect a good following in the coming months, while others may well regret taking a dyed in the wool attitude to change.
Andy Pedlar (left) & Frank Hughes.
With the good turnout, three divisions were needed and cut at 11 and below for the first which Neil Skilton led in with a hard earned one over handicap, with Jon Yarrow one behind in second and Mark Williams as usual showing well another point back in third.
The second division was headed by Philip Cass, also at one over handicap, as Trevor Schirmer chased him closely in second and Jens Gunnarsson got the nod for third after winning a count back over Arun Varma with a better 19 to 17 over the C course.
The third division was taken by Frank Hughes, again by a single point from Patrick Scullion, with Don Everett third three more back as the severity of the course tested the higher markers. In fact the course really showed its teeth on the day with the CSS going out to 73.
Trevor Schirmer and Jun Ishihara shared the first division 2’s while Jens Gunnarsson and Frank Hughes did likewise in the second division.
Wednesday, March 4, Greenwood A & B – Stableford
CSS 73
Division 1 (0–15)
1st Trevor Schirmer (14) 38pts
2nd Bob Heath (13) 37pts
3rd Neil Skilton (7) 35pts
4th Mark Williams (6) 32pts
Division 2 (16+)
1st Andy Pedlar (22) 34pts
2nd Frank Hughes (19) 32pts
3rd Steve Burton (28) 30pts
4th Don Everett (19) 28pts
Greenwood is another course where the management takes a very positive view and always tries to offer the golfer some of the best value in the area, and will no doubt reap the benefit of this policy as the expected extra low season gets into full swing. This venue can also always be relied on to provide a good test of golf over the well prepared three nines.
Philip Cass.
A fairly strong breeze and surrounded by swirling storm clouds, that fortunately never reached the course, and some difficult pin placements meant another day when the CSS went up again to 73, even though the conditions of the A and B courses were excellent.
With just short of the numbers for three divisions, two were cut at 15 and below for the first which Trevor Schirmer, who had the best round of the day, won by just edging out Bob Heath by a single point. The latter finished strongly over the last four holes but, having dropped a couple on the tricky par five 4th, he had to settle for second spot as Trevor stayed steady to the end with a level handicap back nine.
Neil Skilton took third after another one over handicap round, with Mark Williams not quite back on song in fourth place three more behind.
The second division was won by Andy Pedlar, completing his first win after almost twenty years of playing with The Haven Group (and previously The Hare House) in Pattaya, and it earned him a long round of applause with some of the men even standing to attention while celebrating this long awaited victory. But being his last outing on this trip he will have to wait a bit longer to attempt to emulate it again, hopefully not for quite so long next time.
Frank Hughes slipped into second place ahead of first time podium place winner Steve Burton as Don Everett just squeezed out Mike Korney for fourth after winning a count back with a better 14 to 11.
There were no 2’s in the second division but Bob Heath, Neil Skilton and Erik Donnestad shared the first division pool.
Friday, March 6, Treasure Hill – Stableford
Division 1 (0–16)
CSS 77 NC
1st Jens Gunnarsson (16) 31pts
2nd Mike Remington (15) 31pts
3rd Allan Hanlon (13) 28pts
4th Peter Skinner (11) 27pts
5th Gary Brown (8) 27pts
6th Mark Williams (6) 27pts
Division 2 (17+)
CSS 75 NC
1st Markku Tynell (22) 31pts
2nd Don Everett (19) 29pts
3rd Benny Hansen (25) 27pts
4th Shuichi Kodaka (17) 27pts
5th Terry Hodgkiss (24) 27pts
6th Russell Gilroy (18) 27pts
A hastily rearranged fixture after having been told the group would have had their tee time put back an hour and a half from the booked 10.30 to 12 noon, presumably to accommodate another group earlier in the day at Eastern Star, resulted in a longer drive but an excellent day’s golf. As usual, the difficulty of the course made for a tough day for scoring with both divisions being declared non-counting for handicap as the CSS for both the white tees (Div 1) and yellows (Div 2) went up three strokes.
The first division went to Jens Gunnarsson after he won a count back over Mike Remington with a better 14 to 13 as they had the equal best points of the day at five over handicap from the white tees. Allan Hanlon took third place, with Peter Skinner winning a three-way count back for fourth with a best 17, with Gary Brown on 15 and Mark Williams on 9 after the latter had looked like walking away with the win following a sparkling front nine.
The second division was won by Markku Tynell on his return to Pattaya by two from Don Everett, who claimed his third podium of the week. Benny Hansen won a five-way count back on the most popular nine over handicap score for the day, with a best 13 on the last six over Shuichi Kodaka who had 11, which left Frank Hughes, Terry Hodgkiss and Russell Gilroy out in the cold.
Unsurprisingly there were no 2’s in the second division but surprisingly there was one in the first division which was knocked in by Allan Hanlon on the 6th, the shortest hole on the course but on this day the pin was almost hidden in the corner making for a fairly straightforward three but a very difficult two.
Note: If you would like to play with The Haven group, you can contact 038 710 988 or call in to The Haven Hotel, 185 Soi 13, situated 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 a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on the days that you wish to play. If you would like to leave your golf clubs at The Haven there are usually lockers available at a nominal charge. A schedule of courses to be played can be found on our web site at www.thehaven-hotel.com.
