IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, Jan. 24, Crystal Bay – Stableford
CSS 71
1st Derek Holt (22) 40pts
2nd Warren Gallop (11) 39pts
3rd David Bowles (19) 38pts
4th Jens Gunnarsson (14) 37pts
5th George Pittam (18) 35pts
After several recent visits to the course it was a pleasure to find that it is at last returning to something like its old self with the general condition having improved dramatically in the last month and it is beginning to play like one of the best that it always was.
Derek Holt started slowly but steadily on the front nine before putting his foot down over the closing holes to finish with a four under handicap round that denied Warren Gallop his first win out of Soi 13 by a single point.
David Bowles slipped into third place with a better than usual round just one ahead of Jens Gunnarsson in fourth.
Derek Holt.
George Pittam closed out the podium just one in front of Trevor Schirmer, Russell Exley and Takeshi Hakozaki, all of whom had 34 points.
There were no ‘2’s in the second division but Russell Exley and Trevor Schirmer with two shared the first division.
Before making the presentation Stephen Beard welcomed back Takeshi Hakozaki.
Wednesday, Jan. 26, Phoenix Mountain/Lakes (Blue tees) – Monthly Medals
CSS 77
Division 1
1st Brian Libby (10) net 71
2nd Alan Hanlon (12) net 77
3dr Kevin Townsend (11) net 78
Division 2
1st Evan Millar (23) net 78
2nd Bill Hurd (19) net 80
3rd Rod Howett (25) net 82
An extremely difficult day after starting quite late seemed to extend into the early evening as play got progressively slower as the rounds developed due to a very full course. When this was combined with a very hot day, even though the wind was up in the stiff category, it all combined to cause the scores to soar.
Brian Libby.
Even with a third of the field being single figure handicappers the CSS for the day leapt up three shots on the day.
The exception to the rule was Brian Libby in the first division, whose one under par and six under the standard scratch for the day was an outstanding feat when all others struggled to get anywhere near to their handicaps. Alan Hanlon was the next best at five over handicap against par with Kevin Townsend taking third after winning a count-back over Bob Lamond with a better 38.5 to 39 on the inward nine.
The second division was led in by Evan Millar at six over handicap which doubly underlined the difficulty that the higher handicappers had on the day, with Bill Hurd taking second and Rod Howett in third.
The last significant fact was that of the no returns which numbered 25% of the entrants for the day spread evenly through the two divisions.
Not surprisingly there were no 2’s in either division.
Before the presentations, Ken Miller and Kip Lambert were welcomed as new members and Don Scott, Vic Reimer, Andy Robinson and Bill Hurd were welcomed back.
Friday, Jan. 28, Bangpra – Pairs Scramble
1st Barry & Ohn Winton (14) 48pts
2nd Shuichi Kodaka & Yoshitaka Iketani (14) 47pts
3rd Ole Stamnes & Kare Lunde (18) 44pts
4th Wilf Wellman &Vic Reimer (16) 43pts
5th Konrad Klama & Endo Norihiro (17) 43pts
6th Bubble Davies & Stephen Beard (16) 43pts
This month’s fun tournament took on the always tricky Bangpra layout, where any shots into the green that are left above or to the side of the pin, are punished with an extremely difficult putt for the next shot, and maybe the next three after that. But as usual the course was in tip top condition with only the newly laid 10th Green causing any dissatisfaction among the players.
Once again Barry Winton and his wife Ohn reigned supreme, recording almost the same score that earned them the win in last month’s two person scramble. This time they scored just one less at twelve under after they had dovetailed together well with Ohn especially good off the tee and taking the honours on the card on all the par threes.
Shuichi Kodaka and Yoshitaka Iketani were unlucky to find the winners in such great form as they also had a very good return of eleven under but had to be content with second spot.
Ole Stamnes and Kare Lunde combined well in their first time of playing in a competition as a pair to secure third place another three shots back. They were followed by Wilf Wellman and Victor Reimer who won a count-back from Konrad Klama and Endo Norihiro with a better 24 to 21 to head the honourable mentions, with Bubbles Davies and Stephen Beard slipping up badly on the inward nine after starting out looking like winners in sixth place with a meager 19 points in the three-way count-back.
Back at The Haven, Harold Hart and John Strickland were welcomed as new members and Garry Hookey, Chris Harkins, Endo Norihiro, Konrad Klama and Yoshitaka Iketani were welcomed back.
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.
