IPGC Golf from The Haven
Monday, August 1, Crystal Bay B & C – Stableford
CSS 71
1st Trevor Schirmer (13) 35pts
2nd Mike Hill (21) 34pts
3rd Shuichi Kodaka (18) 32pts
4th Benny Hansen (27) 31pts
A smaller than usual group set off from The Haven with spirits high but wondering in what condition they would find the course on this occasion. They were pleasantly surprise to find that there had been great improvements made since their last visit and when added to the lack of other golfers to be seen anywhere, it made for what is generally described as “millionaire’s golf” and a terrific day’s entertainment at a very reasonable cost.
It was also a great pleasure to find Trevor Schirmer at the head of the field, playing his last round with the group this trip, and returning his best round since March ’15, even going below handicap on the outward nine and but for a very tired finish he would have seen his handicap reduced for the first time since then.
Mike Hill, who has spent the last few weeks on tenterhooks awaiting the arrival of additions to both the family and the northern herd, took advantage of the wide open spaces afforded by one of the friendliest local courses to claim second place just a shot back, with Shuichi Kodaka and Benny Hansen close behind in third and fourth spots.
There were no 2s in either of the divisions.
Wednesday, August 3, Khao Kheow A & B (yellow tees) – Stableford
CSS 73
1st Neil Skilton (5) 37pts
2nd Phil Cass (16) 32pts
3rd Chris Smith (0) 32pts
4th Larry Gibb (21) 30pts
5th Mike Hill (21) 29pts
6th Peter Skinner (11) 28pts
A much tougher proposition was Wednesday’s test which saw Neil Skilton winning once again on what is surely his favourite layout. Whilst not doing quite as well as the last time he still managed to beat the CSS by two and got his handicap down another point to just over 4 after carding an extremely tidy one over par with just the one blemish of a net bogey.
Phil Cass had one of his “good days” when most things went according to plan, which contributed to him winning the count back for second place over scratch golfer Chris Smith with a better 17 to 16 return.
Larry Gibb, having been resting for a couple of events, returned to take fourth place ahead of Mike Hill and Peter Skinner in fifth and sixth places respectively.
There were no 2s in the second division but Chris Smith made up for the earlier disappointment in the count back with his solo effort to take the first division multi roll over pot.
Friday, August 5, Phoenix Gold (Mountain & Lakes) – Stableford
CSS 75
1st Mark Armstrong (27) 39pts
2nd Jon Batty (8) 33pts
3rd Phil Cass (16) 32pts
4th Peter Skinner (11) 29pts
5th Shuichi Kodaka (18) 28pts
6th Tom McCarthy (21) 28pts
The last event of the week was a chance to play the course that had recently been used for the King’s Cup and had surprised the professional players from the Asian and European Tours with its difficult greens that, while being very flat and fast, were hard to read and very difficult to predict how shots into them would react on the differing surfaces. In our favour was being able to play it as a par of 72 and from tees a little further forward, the pros having played it as a par 70 from the very back tees.
Mark Armstrong, Master Chef of great renown from Sydney, won his first event for a very long time with a performance that equaled that of the pro winner’s average for the four rounds, and underlined the quality of his effort in winning by a margin of six shots over the rest of the field.
Jon Batty, having been out watching the experts last week, could only wonder how he had managed to get so far ahead of him in second place, having played the course pretty well himself. Indeed the CSS for the day moving out as it did to 75 underlined the difficulty with which the course was playing.
Phil Cass had another “nearly” round in third place, vowing to try and eliminate the zero scoring holes in the future.
Peter Skinner took fourth ahead of a count back for fifth and sixth that Shuichi won over the departing Tom McCarthy with a better 16 to 10.
In keeping with the difficulty that the course was playing there were no 2s in either of the divisions.
Note: The Haven golf group has now relocated to Soi Lengkee, on the corner of the road leading to the Vogue Hotel, where there are good parking facilities. Following the kitchen renovations the venue is having its almost Grand Opening on Friday the 12th August with a special party to celebrate Mother’s Day and the event from 1pm until late, with free food, when the supply of beverages will be continuing at ice cold temperatures and with the hotel section in full swing.
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.
