IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, August 12, Mountain Shadow – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Phil Groves (7) 35pts
2nd Trevor Schirmer (13) 29pts
3rd Benny Hansen (25) 25pts
4th Ray Daws (19) 23pts
It was a great value week’s golf, which included a holiday price day, totaling just 4,600 baht for three days golf to cover green fees, caddy fees and golf carts. A price that would be hard to beat anywhere in the world and demonstrates that if one is selective, the Pattaya area can still be a great and inexpensive place to spend a golfing holiday playing courses created by some of the world’s great course designers.
Phil Groves.
The day’s test was scheduled to be over a course that had been designed for golfers with handicaps of fifteen and below and always proves a difficult proposition for the fourth tier handicappers of 20 and above, but it also takes few prisoners from those below that level and today’s event underlined that fact.
The best of the day belonged to Phil Groves, whose one over handicap round proved to be good enough by six clear to take the top spot. But even Phil struggled over the front nine to play to his handicap as he just managed to keep the doubles off the card to allow him a surge to the end over the inward half, leaving playing partner Trevor Schirmer to watch him disappear into the distance, score wise, except for a stunning seven wood to the 17th that helped him claim second place.
Benny Hansen was the next best and another four shots in arrears, with Ray Daws playing his last game before returning to Adelaide two further back but with a lot of other hopefuls stacked up behind them.
There were no 2’s in the second division but Trevor Schirmer cleaned out the multi rollover pool in the first division with the shot that was almost a hole in one as it finished just six inches short of the cup.
Back at The Haven there was a welcome for new member Neil Vieth from Honolulu together with a welcome back for Benny Hansen.
Wednesday, August 14, Crystal Bay A & C – Stableford
CSS 71
1st Chris Setchell (15) 39pts
2nd Phil Groves (7) 37pts
3rd Vincent Gras (17) 35pts
4th Mike Dabanovich (13) 31pts
5th Don Everett (21) 31pts
Chris Setchell.
Following heavy and persistent overnight rain and the day set for Crystal Bay, where the lack of golf cart paths means there can be a problem, there was some thought about a possible change of course. But an early telephone call with the management, who are always very honest and forthcoming regarding the condition of the course, confirmed that there would be carts allowed.
Although there were areas of water collection these did not interfere or affect the day’s golf with scores being generally the best of the week.
Chris Setchell returned the second best card of the week as he took his first win with The Haven group with a fine three under handicap round that included just one blemish, a blob on the par five sixth on C. Chris stopped Phil Groves from claiming his second win in a row by finishing the last two holes with two pars and with a shot on each. Phil pushed to the end but even with a finish that included thirteen points from the last five holes he could not close the gap after a slow start and had to settle for second place.
Vincent Gras overcame a quiet start to the day before a solid last six ensured that he took a podium position that had looked far from certain a couple of hours earlier, but with a few libations on the way round the day just got better and better.
Mike Dabanovich had to win a count back over Don Everett, which he did with a better 17 to 16, to take fourth spot and consign Don into fifth place.
Once again there were no 2’s in the second division but Phil Groves added to his day’s winnings with the sole one in the first division.
Before the presentations were made there were welcome backs for Toshihiro Aoki from Japan and Vincent Gras from Oz once again. Vincent must have one of the longest commutes to work in the world as he travels between Perth and Pattaya on a weekly basis.
Friday, August 16, The Emerald – Stableford
CSS 75 NC
1st Don Everett (21) 40pts
2nd Chris Setchell (15) 32pts
3rd Hal Hart (19) 31pts
4th Ben Jackson (15) 30pts
5th Trevor Schirmer (13) 30pts
Don Everett.
This day’s event was scheduled for one of the courses in the area designed and set up by Sir Nick Faldo. It is basically a links style course with trees and mostly small greens except strangely for the par threes and fives.
At the present time the course is undergoing extensive renovations but with a judicious lift and place local rule it is very playable, although from the scores returned it was playing very tough, having been set up at almost the blue tee length and measuring around 6,500 yards.
Don Everett’s remarkable four under forty points has to be considered exceptional with so many lower handicappers unable to get anywhere near to his score on what was a very testing golf course as the CSS attested by moving out to 75 and becoming non counting for upward review. It resulted in an extra three shot value reduction for Don’s handicap which is now down to its lowest ever historical level, and which will surely see him walking with a bit more bounce along the fairways in the next few weeks.
Chris Setchell’s steady but unspectacular round some eight shots further back was good for second place as Hal Hart took third another shot behind him.
Ben Jackson claimed fourth place after winning a count back over Trevor Schirmer with a better 18 to 17 on in back nine.
In keeping with the difficulty of the course, the par threes had been set up on the blue tee positions with the shortest being the fifteenth at over 165 yards and with the other three at 180 yards plus it was not surprising to find that there were no 2’s in either division.
Prior to the prize presentations there were welcomes fro Peter Koha, Ben Jackson and Ian Tanner from Perth, Australia and Jan Wessells from Den Hague, Holland.
Note: If you would like to play with The Haven group, you can contact mobile 082 219 0965 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.
