IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, Nov. 11, Khao Kheow B & C – Stableford
CSS 73
1st Vincent Gras (16) 37pts
2nd Terry Hodgkiss (24) 36pts
3rd Jon Batty (9) 35pts
4th Russell Gilroy (15) 33pts
5th Phil Groves (7) 33pts
6th Bill Roycroft (15) 32pts
Back to Khao Kheow on Monday playing the B and C courses, which are in great shape even following the recent heavy weather and at last the players are beginning to see at least a little bit of run when they manage to get it fairly straight off the tee.
David Ross.
Vincent Gras carried on with his previous week’s form with another under handicap round, even after having seen it reduced a couple of strokes, as he accumulated six three-pointers and a four to finish at the top of the podium by the slimmest of margins.
Terry Hodgkiss was his closest rival and could have done with Vincent’s three-pointer on the last, which would have seen him at the top, but it was a round that showed much promise for the future as he too had six threes and a four-pointer on his card.
Jon Batty took third place just one more point behind with just a lone blob to mar his card and two ahead of the next pair. These were Russel Gilroy and Phil Groves with the former getting the nod for fourth spot after winning a count back with a better 18 to 17.
Bill Roycroft rounded out the podium another point behind to record his first good result of his trip from the Philippines.
Lyle Blaw made it an extra happy return with the sole 2 in the first division whilst Vincent Gras added to his day’s haul with the only one in the second division.
Before the presentations were made there were welcomes for new members Graham Richards and Flemming Loekkeaard together with welcome backs for David Ross, Benny Hansen, Jan Wessells, Lyle Blaw, Markku Tynell and Jon Batty.
Wednesday, Nov. 13, Bangpra – Stableford
CSS 75 NC
Division 1 (0–15)
1st Masashi Tagaki (15) 33pts
2nd Yasuo Suzuki (12) 33pts
3rd Brian Beaupre (5) 31pts
Division 2 (16+)
1st Markku Tynell (23) 33pts
2nd Don Everett (20) 27pts
3rd Shuichi Kodaka (16) 26pts
Markku Tynell.
A good turnout required the formation of two divisions, a sure sign that the high season, if not here already, is at least on its way, with the cut coming at the usual 15 and below.
Bangpra has always been considered to be one of the toughest courses in the area due to the severity of the greens that are even more formidable when they have been shaved down to just below a five o’clock shadow, which was the case on this occasion, but thankfully the stroke index 1 sixth and the eighteenth had been left slightly longer with the possibility of keeping the ball on the green from above the hole.
Apart from the difficulties presented by the greens the course was in tip top condition and surely one of the best value for money venues around for the quality of the golfing experience.
In the top division Masashi Tagaki won his first competition on this tour after a terrific back nine of level par round. That was good enough by two to see off the challenge of his tour leader Yasuo Suzuki in a count back after they had finished level over the eighteen, which left Brian Beaupre in third place a couple of shots adrift.
Considering the condition of the greens it was always going to be a big ask of the second division to get somewhere near to their handicaps at the end of the round. And so it proved, with Markku Tynell well out in front being the best at three over handicap after he had started with a blob on the very long and difficult first hole.
Don Everett slipped into second place some seven strokes behind with Shuichi Kodaka another shot back in third, but there were many other players a lot further behind them in the final count up.
Vincent Gras.
Amazingly there were 2’s in both divisions, with Brian Beaupre claiming the first division pool having left it three inches short of an ace, and John Wood in the second division not quite as close as Brian but still close enough not to have to spend too long lining it up.
Prior to the presentations there were welcomes for new members Mick O’Donnell, together with Bill and Michael Tunbridge and also welcome backs for Tomas Nilsson, Peter Skinner and the “almost man” Brian Beaupre.
Friday, Nov. 15, Pattana B & C – Stableford
CSS 72
1st David Ross (9) 37pts
2nd John Carlin (16) 36pts
3rd Brian Beaupre (5) 33pts
4th Allan Raaen (8) 33pts
5th Frank Hughes (17) 32pts
6th Peter Skinner (10) 32pts
After the rigorous test of the previous outing the group took on the also long and difficult Pattana B & C courses, which featured much more friendly greens for the average golfer but still there were just two players able to equal or better par. And this despite the quality of the group being fairly high with six single figure handicappers in the field, of which half of them finished on the podium to underline the difficulty of the day’s golf.
David Ross at last won on Thai soil after many visits and many attempts, as he returned a very good card to win by the slimmest of margins over John Carlin in second place. John had miraculously arisen from his sick bed to play his best round in Pattaya and claim runner-up spot ahead of a count back between Brian Beaupre and Allen Raaen, with the former taking third with a better 16 to 14.
Fifth and sixth places also had to be separated by count back, with Frank Hughes taking the higher spot after scoring 7 on the last three as Peter Skinner could manage just 4 after they had tied the nine at 17 each and the last six at 12 apiece.
Back at The Haven there were welcome backs for Frank Hughes and Kevin Blake who is vying with Vincent Gras to be able to claim the longest yearly commute to work in any given year.
There was also a round of Happy Birthday sung to go with the cake knocked up in the kitchen after the players had left for golf for Don Everett as he celebrated his special day with a pleasant day on the course when he just missed out on the podium, returning a score that was just a few more than his years. This was followed by a celebratory round from David Ross to mark his return to being “a proper golfer”.
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.
