IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, Jan. 20, Khao Kheow B & C – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Markku Tynell (24) 37pts
2nd Alan Hanlon (13) 35pts
3rd Shuichi Kodaka (18) 35pts
4th Mike Dabanovich (13) 35pts
5th David Lowe (6) 33pts
Now that all the three nines have been renovated this outstanding course is a pleasure, whichever ones are in play, but it is still a stern test of golf with the course designed to trap the unwary and the foolhardy. For once the course did not exact too much havoc amongst the field and the CSS for the day remained at 72, but with only one player managing to better par it showed it still needed respect.
Markku Tynell led in the field with a splendid one under handicap return which included a four-pointer on the difficult seventh on the B course after dropping in a single putt.
John Carlin.
Alan Hanlon led in a trio on one over with a better 19 in the count back, with Shuichi Kodaka claiming third on 17 and Mike Dabanovich fourth with 16.
David Lowe made it a happy return to Pattaya golf with a ‘2’ and fifth place, just a couple behind.
There were no 2’s in the second division but Alan Hanlon and David Lowe had one each in the first division to share the roll over pool.
Wednesday, Jan. 22, Green Valley – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Philip Cass (20) 37pts
2nd Don Everett (19) 37pts
3rd Patrick Scullion (21) 34pts
4th Mike Hill (21) 34pts
5th Terry Hodgkiss (25) 33pts
6th Shuichi Kodaka (18) 33pts
At last a return to Green Valley after a long hiatus, being unable to reserve tee bookings at reasonable times, due no doubt to the many touring groups that now seem to spend months in the course accommodation.
Markku Tynell.
The increase in high season throughput may well be the reason for the introduction of 6 minute tee times for a group of four, but after clearing the tees in the allotted times at that rate the course was found to be chock-a-block, as it would appear to be impossible to complete a round at the same pace. The outcome was a five hour round even with the first group following and waiting every hole for a two-ball immediately ahead.
Aside from that the course was in excellent condition as the scoring attested, so most of the players left fairly pleased with their day’s golf if a little weary.
Philip Cass failed to get a ‘2’ on this occasion but did enough on the back nine to win a count back over Don Everett, carding a better 21 to 16, to win and leave Don ruing the missed opportunity on the seventeenth. There was also a count back for third with Patrick Scullion prevailing over Mike Hill by a margin of 17 to 14 as Terry Hodgkiss won the third count back of the day to deny Shuichi Kodaka with a 13 to 9 score on the last six after they had tied the nine at 17 apiece.
Kevin Blake slipped in the sole 2 in the first division whilst Philip Cass added to his day’s haul with the only one in the second division which cleaned out the multi roll over pot.
Friday, Jan. 24, Pattavia – Stableford
CSS 75 NC
1st John Carlin (16) 33pts
2nd Mark Armstrong (25) 33pts
3rd Allen Raaen (8) 32pts
4th Alan Hanlon (13) 31pts
5th Patrick Scullion (21) 31pts
6th Graham Howard (27) 31pts
Another visit to the renamed and renovated Century Chonburi where work on the new clubhouse continues at a fair pace and which should see it finished in the very near future. In the meantime the course has been improved beyond all recognition and with a total cost that was 750 baht cheaper for a cart rider than the previous competition played, it will certainly be featuring regularly on the schedule during the months to come.
Philip Cass.
John Carlin took another win following his increase in handicap, albeit at three over par and after having to win a count back, which he did, with a better 7 over the last three as Mark Armstrong could garner just the standard 6 points after they had tied the nine at 17 each, and the back six at 10, and so he had to settle for second place.
Allen Raaen took third just a point behind after turning in a very uncharacteristic card that contained too many zeros.
Alan Hanlon won a three-way count back for fourth, finishing with 19 after a very slow start, and Patrick Scullion ended up with 15 for fifth place while Graham Howard took his first podium of the holiday despite severe gout problems, managing to complete the back nine with 14 points.
There were no 2’s in the first division but very surprisingly there were two in the second division with Philip Cass, as usual and Markku Tynell getting one each.
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.
