IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, Sept. 7, Greenwood B & C – Stableford
CSS 75 NC
1st Barry Winton (7) 31pts
2nd Steve Bickle (16) 31pts
3rd Doyle Robinson (10) 30pts
4th Gabe Dakwa (16) 30pts
5th Jamie King (16) 29pts
6th Markku Tynell (19) 29pts
Once again, with the C nine in the mix, the course was definitely the winner on the day with the CSS moving out to 75 and the event becoming non-counting for handicap review. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the condition of the layout but the length appeared to be the main problem for most of the field – even the prodigious hitting Barry Winton regularly failed to get up in regulation, with the par fives proving to be a real test.
Hal Hart (left) & Barry Winton.
Starting out on C, the hardest of the two nines, Barry took 18 points which proved to be the winning score in a count back over Steve Bickle as he struggled with the added length of the nine to take just 15, but he had managed to get into the count back after Barry had taken too many over the closing holes, gleaning just six points from the last four.
New member Doyle Robinson also had to win a count back for third, which he did with a better 16 to 15 over another newbie, Gabe Dakwa, the decisive points being made on the 8th and 9th holes on the B course which got him into the count back.
Jamie King took fifth after he was also involved in a count back with Markku Tynell and winning it with a better 17 to 15.
Unsurprisingly there were no 2s in either of the divisions.
Wednesday, Sept. 9, Phoenix (Mountain & Ocean) – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Hal Hart (20) 33pts
2nd Terry Hodgkiss (23) 33pts
3rd Bruce Hilde (16) 33pts
4th Steve Bickle (32) 32pts
5th Stephen Beard (24) 31pts
6th Markku Tynell (19) 31pts
A much easier day was expected for the group’s second test of the week, but Phoenix is now a much tougher proposition following the extensive renovations, with addition of many new bunkers and the reshaping of many that have not been moved and making especially some of the greenside traps a formidable hazards in which to find oneself. The scores reflected the difficulty of the day but at least the CSS for the day stayed at 72.
Hal Hart took a well-deserved win after he had got the better of a three-way count back over Terry Hodgkiss, in second, and Bruce Hilde, in third, as they scored 21, 16 and 15 respectively. Hal had started very slowly, taking just three points from the first four holes, but a stunning back nine over the Ocean course saw him round in three under handicap and was sufficient to give his first win of the week.
Steve Bickle just missed out in joining his second count back as he had a few mishaps to close out his front nine holes and so had to settle for fourth place a shot better than another count back for fifth place that Stephen Beard won with a better 16 to 15 ahead of Markku Tynell.
Once again there were no 2s in either of the divisions.
Friday, Sept. 11, Pattaya C.C. – Stableford
CSS 71
1st Hal Hart (20) 39pts
2nd Phil Cass (16) 39pts
3rd Don Everett (20) 35pts
4th Barry Winton (7) 32pts
5th Markku Tynell (19) 31pts
6th Shuichi Kodaka (16) 30pts
Another course that has gone through some extensive renovations and redesign is Pattaya Country Club which is now totally different from the old rendition, and with all of the greens reshaped and newly contoured it is becoming a real pleasure to play it. When the back nine greens have grown in like the front nine it will surely be a firm favourite with many golfers in the area.
It is important here to get on to the correct part of the green in relation to the hole, otherwise the dreaded three-putt will be the more probable outcome. The same can be said for missing the green on the right side, and failure to do so will usually make the first chip extremely testing.
Hal Hart had an even better day to follow his last nine holes in competition as he took his second win of the week with a three-under handicap return, but he needed to win yet another count back to do so. This he did with a solid one under 19 points to follow a very good two under front nine to deny Phil Cass and consign him into second place after he could manage just 18 after an excellent front half.
Don Everett took third place, in his swan song outing with the group for a few weeks, after he had also started very well with twenty points but a weaker back nine took him out of the reckoning for the top step.
Barry Winton also looked like a winner after nine holes but the last four holes again took their toll as he scratched together a meagre four points from them to leave him in fourth spot. Markku Tynell took his third podium place of the week just one a head of Shuichi Kodaka in sixth place.
Once again there were no ‘2’s in the second division but Barry Winton had a solo in the first division to clean out the rollover pot.
Note: If you would like to play with The Haven group, you can contact 038 710 988 or call in to The Haven Hotel, 185 Soi 13, situated 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 a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on the days that you wish to play. If you would like to leave your golf clubs at The Haven, there are usually lockers available at a nominal charge. A schedule of courses to be played can be found on our web site at www.thehaven-hotel.com.
