The Haven Weekly Report w.c. 13.03.2011
Sunday, March 13, Green Valley – Stableford
CSS 71
Division 1 (0-15)
1st Steve Mulberry (10) 40pts
2nd Peter Skinner (8) 38pts
3rd Andy Bardill (15) 37pts
Division 2 (16+)
1st Sean Hallahan (18) 38pts
2nd Ben O’Neill (20) 37pts
3rd Ted Murphy (22) 33pts
Steve Mulberry, having not played with the group for some time, took full advantage of his handicap to register a two shot win in the first division ahead of ever-present Peter Skinner, whose two under return left him right on the cusp of another one shot drop in handicap to add to the three already earned during the last month. Andy Bardill was unlucky to find these two in such good form and after a one under return had to settle for third.
The second division was a two man race with Sean Hallahan taking the top spot by a single point from Ben O’Neill, with Ted Murphy four more back in third.
Roar Berger.
The 2’s were shared between Steve Mulberry, Neville Duncan, and Russell Goldsworthy.
Presentations were conducted as usual at the Golf Centre Bar on the course with amiable hosts John and Geoff, assisted by their lovely staff, taking excellent care of the golfers.
Monday, March 14, Khao Kheow – Stableford
CSS 72
Division (0-13)
1st Alan Pilkington (9) 34pts
2nd Phil Groves (11) 34pts
3rd Bob Heath (13) 33pts
Division (14+)
1st Trevor Schirmer (15) 37pts
2nd Pat Prendeville (15) 35pts
3rd Stephen Lewis (18) 34pts
4th Robin Peach (15) 34pts
Alan Pilkington.
Although the going was fairly tough, the scores were almost there but only Trevor Schirmer managed to better his handicap and that was easily enough to leave him the winner of the second division after a quiet period during which positioning in Pattaya took precedence over positioning on the leader board. This day’s score surely indicates a return to his past lower levels of handicap, especially as Khao Kheow is considered one of the hardest courses to get the better of in wet conditions.
Pat Prenderville had a nice farewell round before returning to the Emerald Isle for another year and took second place, with Stephen Lewis claiming third after winning a count-back over Robin Peach with a better 17 to 15 on the back nine.
The first division was a much tighter affair with Alan Pilkington winning out by a count-back with a better 10 to 8 over the last six after he had tied with Phil Groves on 16 a piece for the nine, leaving Phil, who will soon be playing from his old handicap once more if this form continues, in second and Captain Bob Heath third another point behind them.
In line with the results from the first division there were no 2’s achieved but George Oakley wangled one in from twenty seven feet to clean up in the second division pool.
Before presenting the prizes Stephen Beard welcomed new member Michael Steele and also welcomed back John Howard and Mike Flynn and gave a sad farewell to Mike Sanders who has been recalled to the land of gnomes to mow the lawn and have a count up.
Wednesday, March 16, Crystal Bay – Stableford
CSS 71
1ts Roar Berger (27) 44pts
2nd Phil Groves (11) 43pts
3rd Alan Pilkington (9) 41pts
4th Jim Slattery (11) 40pts
5th Trevor Schirmer (15) 38pts
6th John Howard (12) 38pts
Following a very hard slog during the previous outing, golf got decidedly easier when the Soi 13 group took on the Crystal Bay C and A courses with their wide open fairways and benign rough and with the fairways in excellent condition, even following the recent heavy weather, scoring was found to be at its most easiest, which was borne out by the CSS for the day reducing to 71.
Brian Libby.
With far fewer players than the usual fields of late, due no doubt to the poor maintenance programme of the clubhouse and surrounds which leave this once immaculate facility looking tired and shabby, those that did make the trip found the golf very rewarding, especially Roar Berger who took the day’s top honours by four shots with a stunning eight under handicap display, recording in the process his lifetime best round.
Roar denied Phil Groves his moment of returning glory by a single shot as Phil returned an excellent seven under handicap and his first round under 80 for more than two years, but it was enough for second place which returned a half smile to his face at the prize giving.
Alan Pilkington also had a great round with his best effort in Thailand at five under his new and lower handicap to claim third ahead of Jim Slattery in fourth, who whilst still not hitting the heights that he is used to at his home course of South Herts, still turned in his best ever card in Thailand.
Trevor Schirmer did well to hang on to fifth after a count-back with John Howard, finishing with 8 on the back three, to John’s 7, after they had tied the nine at 21 and the six at 14.
Because George Oakley was very unlucky with yet another thirty-footer that lipped out, there were no 2’s in the second division but Phil Groves and Bob Heath slipped in one each in the first division.
Friday, March 18, The Emerald – Stableford
CSS 74
1st Brian Libbey (9) 34pts
2nd Frank Dunstan (25) 31pts
3rd Yasuo Suzuki (10) 31pts
4th Peter MacKenzie (28) 30pts
5th Mark Armstrong (25) 30pts
6th Russell Gilroy (17) 29pts
Another hard day to score, even with the course in excellent condition and the greens exceptionally fast and true, left Brian Libbey the winner after a steady if unspectacular round of two over handicap proved to be good enough by three to win. The difficulty of the course was shown by the increase of the CSS to 74 on a day when scoring was definitely at a premium.
Trevor Schirmer.
Frank Dunstan squeezed into second place with a better count-back of 16 to 12 over Yasuo Suzuki after the latter had gone out in some style only to falter heavily through the last four holes, scoring just one point.
Peter MacKenzie was also quite surprised to pick up another podium placing with a less than outstanding round but at least won the count-back by a huge margin of 17 to 11 as Mark Armstrong struggled on the back nine following a very nice outward half.
Before the presentations Glenn Eldershaw was welcomed as a new member and there were welcome backs for Yukio Kikuchi, Russell Gilroy and Mark Armstrong.
Once again there were no 2’s in the second division but Yasuo Suzuki and Neville Duncan shared the first division pot.
Note. If you would like to play with The Haven group you can contact mobile 084782 4582 or call in to the 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 8.30 on Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays and Sundays on the days you wish to play. A schedule of courses to be played can be found on our web site at www.thehaven-hotel.com.
