IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, April 22, Bangpra – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Allen Raaen (9) 34pts
2nd Trevor Schirmer (15) 33pts
3rd Benny Hansen (25) 30pts
Allen Raaen played very solidly to win a closely fought round with Trevor Schirmer, showing that he is really recovering well from his knee surgery in second place, and Benny Hansen returning to take a well earned third spot on a course that is always in great shape but needs to be respected when approaching the greens. Any misdirected shot to the wrong part of the green can mean a three-putt or even worse.
There were no 2’s today in either division.
There were welcome backs for Benny Hansen, Jan Deenoi, Peter Newham and Murray Frost.
Wednesday, April 24, Treasure Hill – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Trevor Schirmer (15) 35pts
2nd Terry Hodgkiss (23) 33pts
3rd Markku Tynell (25) 25pts
Treasure Hill was once again a pleasure to play with the general condition superb and the greens as usual fast and true, although the strong wind made for difficult conditions and worse than usual results from this popular course.
Allen Raaen.
Trevor Schirmer took yet another podium position with a solid round of one over handicap, with Terry Hodgkiss taking second two points back.
Once again there were no 2’s in the first division but surprisingly, under the very difficult conditions, there were two in the second division as both Mike Hill and Hal Hart slipped one in each.
Friday, April 26, Eastern Star – Monthly Medal
Division 1 (white tees)
CSS 73
1st Allen Raaen (9) net 77
2nd Trevor Schirmer (15) net 80
Division 2 (yellow tees)
CSS 73
1st Vincent Gras (19) net 69
2nd Terry Hodgkiss (23) net 79
Following the recent changes at Phoenix, the groups were unable to take up the usual venue for the Monthly Medals and the competitions were then held at Eastern Star where the conditions were found to have improved compared with a few months previously.
Vincent Gras.
Allen Raaen booked his place in the end of year Gold and Silver competitions in the first division with a less than sparkling round but one that was good enough by three to see off the challenge of the in-form Trevor Schirmer in second place.
Vincent Gras continued with his fine form, following his renewed interest in Pattaya and golf which has seen him regularly appear on the podium, as he left the rest of the second division trailing in his wake with a stunning three under handicap return. Terry Hodgkiss settled for a very creditable second place some ten shots behind but well in front of the rest of the pack.
On a difficult day for almost everyone nobody had a ‘2’ and there were precious few threes either in either division.
Back at The Haven there was a farewell for George Pittam.
Monday, April 29, Khao Kheow (yellow tees) – Stableford
CSS 71
1st Markku Tynell (25) 34pts
2nd Trevor Schirmer (15) 34pts
3rd Vincent Gras (19) 31pts
Khao Kheow is one of the favoured regular courses that are to be scheduled twice a month during the low season in consideration of its general condition, ambience and cost of play. Once again the players were not disappointed in every aspect of the day with the course in great condition although the pin placements and the wind made for lower than normal Stableford scoring.
Markku Tynell at last reached the top of the list with a solid round that got better as it progressed and thus won the count back with an excellent 22 points as the ever-present Trevor Schirmer could muster only a solid 18 for second place. Vincent Gras showed well, even though his score did not quite reflect the better parts of his game, as he took third.
Trevor Schirmer at last took the first division 2’s pool that included several rollovers whilst Markku Tynell added to his day’s haul with the only one in the second division.
Prior to the presentations there was a welcome back for Jamie King.
Wednesday, May 1, Mountain Shadow – Stableford
CSS 75 NC
1st Trevor Schirmer (15) 32pts
2nd Allen Raaen (9) 31pts
3rd Vincent Gras (19) 30pts
4th Markku Tynell (25) 25pts
May Day Bank Holiday at most courses means total sell out and Mountain Shadow was no exception with the car park full when the hopefuls arrived. After much coming and going amongst the caddies and caddy master it seemed for a short while that it was going to be another holiday nightmare. But these fears were soon allayed as within five minutes of the allotted tee time the first group was away followed by the rest of the competition and the rounds went as quickly and as smoothly as on any other non-holiday day.
Playing from the blue tees, Trevor Schirmer led in the group with a round that had been painstakingly built as the greens were found to be as hard as usual with too many three-putts thrown into the mix.
Allen Raaen was again in contention but also missed to many on the greens after good play off the tees so he settled for second on the day, with Vincent Gras another of the usual suspects together with Markku Tynell in third and fourth respectively.
There were no 2’s in the second division but Allen Raaen had one in the first division to scoop the pot.
Before the presentations were made there were welcomes for new members Perry Attfield, who had been unable to complete the round due to a back injury, and Arthur Barbara.
Friday, May 3, Greenwood – Stableford
CSS 71
1st Vincent Gras (19) 40pts
2nd Trevor Schirmer (15) 38pts
3rd Darryl Kellett (16) 37pts
4th Hal Hart (22) 35pts
5th Terry Hodgkiss (23) 35pts
It is always a pleasure to travel up the 331 to the furthest regular course that is played by the group as it is also one of the favoured group of courses, to be played twice a month, with a management that is only too pleased to find ways to improve the relationships between themselves and the paying public. Added to this, the course is one of the best designed for the average golfer and unlike some other courses built by the same course designers it has not been altered to its detriment.
Vincent Gras again showed his potential as he went four under handicap to win against stiff competition as at last the weather was in the players favour with only light winds and clear skies and the high scores meant that the CSS for the day reduced to 71.
Once again Trevor Schirmer stood on the podium, with a score that will ensure that his handicap will be reduced, in second spot one ahead of Darryl Kellett in third. The extra numbers turning out meant a fourth place for Hal Hart after he won a count back over Terry Hodgkiss, in fifth, with 21 to 14 as Terry unfortunately had his 21 points on the front nine.
There were no 2’s in the first division but Vincent Gras and Terry Hodgkiss shared the second division roll over pool.
Back at The Haven there were welcome backs for Darryl Kellett and Rusty Barfield and farewells for Vincent Gras, Peter Newham and Murray Frost.
Note: If you would like to play with The Haven group, you can contact mobile 082 219 0965 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.
