IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, June 17, Pattana A & C – Stableford
CSS 73
1st Trevor Schirmer (12) 35pts
2nd Russell Gilroy (15) 33pts
3rd Terry Hodgkiss (23) 30pts
4th John Carlin (14) 28pts
Another very wet week started out at the always popular Pattana course where the A and C courses had been reserved for the group, and it might as well have been exclusively as there were no other groups to be seen either in front or behind, which made for a very comfortable round for all the players.
Hal Hart.
The only small problem was that once again golf buggies were confined to the cart paths only due to the heavey weather taken by the course over the previous days, but the day, apart from the fairways, stayed dry and a good day’s golf ensued.
Trevor Schirmer had one of his very steady days when he slipped in a few three-pointers and a few ones, but no zeros, to take the top step of the podium with a one over handicap round that was good by two to see off the challenge of playing partner Russell Gilroy. Russell also had a blob free round but not quite enough three-pointers to overtake the winner.
Terry Hodgkiss had a rollercoaster of a round that included four blobs but also five three–pointers, which helped him into third place ahead of the much improved John Carlin who is at last getting to grips with courses that usually include four par 5s and several par 4’s. He is hoping to soon be figuring amongst the top players regularly but he is not taking any bets as to how soon that will be at the moment.
There were no 2’s in the first division but Mike Hill slipped one in to clean out the second division pool.
Wednesday, June 19, Mountain Shadow – Stableford
CSS 75 NC
1st Terry Hodgkiss (23) 32pts
2nd Hal Hart (20) 30pts
3rd Allen Raaen (9) 30pts
Terry Hodgkiss.
Due to heavy rain falling for most of the night and continuing well into the morning in Pattaya, it was of little surprise to find the numbers well down for the usually well-attended trip to Mountain Shadow. Here the prices remain very competitive at 1400 baht including green fee, cart and caddy on whichever day of the week is played and no matter how many players play.
Arriving at the course the weather was found to be overcast but dry, affording almost perfect conditions for golf except that the whole course was still saturated from the night’s and previous day’s storms, making for a very long day from the tee and many difficult shots into what are in any event some of the most testing greens in the area. This ensured that the scores would not be of a very high order, with the CSS for the day moving out to 75 and becoming non-counting for upward review.
Terry Hodgkiss built as well as he could on his previous outing with a generally well held together round but one that again contained four zeros that kept the total down well below par for his handicap, but still sufficient to win the day. It surely cannot be too long before a blobless day appears and once again he will be hitting into the 40’s.
Hal Hart got the better of the count back with Allen Raaen with a 17 to 11 count back after Allen had gone off finishing the front nine with a stunning, certainly on the day given the conditions, 19 points.
Once again there were no 2’s in the first division but Benny Hansen made it many happy returns with the sole one in the second division, denying it was the first occasion when he had a ‘2’ with a putt.
Prior to the presentations there were welcomes for new members John Pinkowski and Neil Murray and a welcome back for Benny Hansen.
Friday, June 19, Greenwood – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Hal Hart (20) 36pts
2nd Lyle Blaw (12) 35pts
3rd Russell Gilroy (15) 32pts
4th John Carlin (14) 32pts
5th Trevor Schirmer (12) 31pts
Trevor Schirmer.
Yet another day when the very hopefuls left The Haven amidst rain and ominously overcast skies to find that on arrival at Greenwood the day would be dry, although, as was becoming standard, the course was extremely wet with the scores again suffering as everyone struggled to manage the added distances required to have any chance to play short into the greens.
Hal Hart had one of his very steady rounds with just one zero and finishing with a couple of three-pointers for an even handicap round that was just enough to squeeze out a win ahead of Lyle Blaw.
Fortunately for Hal his results against his playing partners were even better as he cleaned up front, back and total and was to be found once again savouring the Lobster Hawaiian in his after presentation celebratory supper. It was only a pity that Alwyne could not have been there to witness and at least partially pay for, an event for which he has already purchased a season ticket, but at a yet to be finalised price.
Russell Gilroy took third place with a well earned win in a count back over John Carlin, scoring 16 to 13 after John had a purple patch front half when he threatened to take his first win out of Soi 13, but sadly a couple of zeros and a couple of ones put paid to any hopes that he may have had. Trevor Schirmer took fifth place, another shot behind them.
Back at The Haven there was a welcome for new member Dave Lovell together with welcome backs for Lyle Blaw and Markku Tynell.
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.
