IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, Nov. 4, Eastern Star – Stableford
CSS 75 NC
1st Phil Groves (7) 33pts
2nd John Carlin (16) 30pts
3rd Terry Hodgkiss (24) 29pts
4th Don Everett (20) 28pts
5th John Wood (24) 28pts
The eve of Guy Fawkes Day promised some early fireworks that in the event turned out to be a rather damp squib, with none of hopefuls managing to play to the standard and ensuring that the CSS for the day moved out to 75 to become non-counting for handicap upward adjustment.
Phil Groves.
Phil Groves did the best in almost reaching the mark of two over handicap, finishing at three over and a further three ahead of his closest rival to win yet again following the previous week’s successes in the Stableford and the Monthly Medal.
That second place was taken by John Carlin who literally strained every muscle and sinew in his efforts to keep up with the winner; so much so that he has posted that he will be on injured reserve list until his return to Australia later in the month with a severely strained back.
Terry Hodgkiss took third place just a further shot back but was well pleased to have got onto the podium with the conditions on the course extremely difficult. Terry outscored two of his playing partners, Don Everett and John Wood, who finished in fourth and fifth places respectively after a count back that Don won with a better 18 to 13.
There were no 2’s and precious few 3’s in either division.
Wednesday, Nov. 6, Crystal Bay A & C – Stableford
CSS 71
1st Vincent Gras (17) 40pts
2nd Hisahiko Makino (12) 39pts
3rd Don Everett (20) 37pts
4th Derek Johnstone (19) 37pts
5th Phil Groves (7) 36pts
6th Gary Duckling (8) 35pts
Vincent Gras.
Overcast skies but no hint of the forecast high winds and rain to the north of Pattaya made for the good scoring that had been expected on the previous outing.
Vincent Gras followed up his first and third places of the previous week with another well deserved win, although he needed to close out his round with a solid par for three points to deny the hard chasing Hisahiko Makino. Hisahiko was looking for his first win out of The Haven but missed out by just a single stroke after he managed just a bogey for two points on the last hole.
This outcome was totally at variance with earlier rumours that had filtered through from Darwin, Vincent’s home own, that reported he was spraying it everywhere before leaving for Thailand. It turned out that it was not golf balls that were being sprayed but golf clubs and almost anything else that did not move that fell within his reach. It may well be that this new venture into bespoke and exclusively designed paint jobs for woods and putters will attract a huge following, but equally it could be quickly shelved if it starts to interfere with Vincent’s golfing days in Thailand.
Slipping into third place and improving by one position on Monday’s result, Don Everett had to win a count back against the persistence of new member Derek Johnstone, but a better 20 to 15 over the inward half completed the job after Derek had scored an improbable 22 points going out.
Phil Groves had to settle for fifth place with a level handicap round that underlined the condition of the course compared to the previous outing.
Yasuo Suzuki took care of the first division 2’s pot whilst Don Everett did the same in the second division.
Before the presentations were announced there were welcomes for Richard Park and Gary Duckling together with welcome backs for Bill Park, Vincent Gras and Bill Roycroft. There was also a special welcome back for the “Yamahita Golf Tour” from Japan in the form of Masami Tagaki, Hisahiko Makino and Tatsumi Noguchi led as always by their intrepid leader and guide Yasuo Suzuki.
Friday’s competition at Emerald was cancelled after nine holes due to the weather conditions that saw the course completely waterlogged following a heavy downpour. This was after the whole previous night had seen a constant deluge, at least in the city areas. The course management were very fair in allowing rain checks for nine holes on the next visit.
Vincent’s spray job.
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.
