IPGC Golf from The Haven
Monday, April 4, Bangpra – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Shuichi Kodaka (18) 34pts
2nd Kevin Townsend (12) 33pts
3rd Wilf Wellman (30) 31pts
4th Chris Ross (24) 30pts
5th Bruce Kusyk (13) 27pts
Due to the high season tee times available not being suitable it had been almost six months since the group had last visited the day’s test and not much appeared to have changed in the meantime. The course was still long and the greens fearsomely quick from above the hole but still the CSS for the day remained at the standard 72.
John Carlin.
With the low season well into its stride there were sufficient players for just one division, which Shuichi Kodaka led in with a two over handicap return. Kevin Townsend just failed to continue his momentum through the back nine having gone out in two under for twenty points, but he then suffered from a very shaky first four coming home when he scored just three points and so had to settle for second place.
Wilf Wellman continued with his good run of form, taking third place one ahead of Chris Ross in fourth.
Bruce Kusyk started well on his second home course but then only just managed to get into double figures through the back nine and thus faded into fifth, but well ahead of quite a few others who were suffering even more with the difficulty of the course.
There were no 2s in either of the divisions.
Wednesday, April 6, Greenwood A & B – Stableford
CSS 72
1st John Tallett (24) 36pts
2nd Hal Hart (18) 35pts
3rd Kevin Townsend (12) 35pts
4th Markku Tynell (22) 32pts
5th Chris Ross (24) 32pts
An exceptional day’s value at Greenwood was well worth the little extra time taken to travel to the course, and it was again found to be in first class condition with a fair amount of run on the fairways with flat and true greens. So once again the scoring was good, with the CSS for the day staying at level par.
John Tallett.
It is encouraging for the future of golf in the area to find that when most other courses are still increasing their prices due to the public holidays, there are some managements that are prepared to try something completely different to increase the prospects of more golfers playing their course.
John Tallett took his first win with the group with a level handicap round that got better as it progressed as he finished with nineteen points from the inward half.
There then followed a count back for second which Hal Hart won after returning a better 18 to 16 to deny Kevin Townsend for a second time in the week as he took third place.
Markku Tynell also needed to win a count back for fourth, which he did with a better 20 to 17 after he had started extremely slowly, and so consigning Chris Ross down to fifth place.
Once again there were no 2s in either of the divisions.
Friday, April 8, Pattaya C.C. – Stableford
CSS 71
1st John Carlin (18) 38pts
2nd Peter Skinner (10) 37pts
3rd John Tallett (24) 37pts
4th Phil Cass (16) 35pts
5th Mark Armstrong (25) 35pts
6th Markku Tynell (22) 35pts
The best scoring of the week over the recently redesigned and renovated Pattaya Country Club layout was due in no small measure to the playability of the course, which was in tip top condition with the fairways exceptionally good and the greens also in great condition being flat and fast.
The scoring meant a reduction of one in the CSS down to 71.
Shuichi Kodaka.
John Carlin, having rested for a couple of events, cruised home into first place and spent the evening proving his adage that winners are grinners and basking in the limelight, after a solid two under round had denied the in-form Peter Skinner another win by the slimmest of margins. Peter had to win a count back for second place over the also in-form John Tallett, who found that on this occasion one under handicap was good enough only for third place after losing the count back by 14 to 19 following a stunning front nine of five under handicap including eight points on the first two holes.
Phil Cass won a three-way count back for fourth spot with a best 22 and taking nine points from the last three holes, but a very wobbly first nine had put paid to his chances of finishing in a better position.
Mark Armstrong took fifth place with 20 from the last nine after Markku Tynell tired badly through the nine, garnering just 14 after a very good start to the day and having to settle for sixth place.
Once again there were no 2s in either of the divisions prompting a few questions after the presentations regarding the stakeholder’s movements over Songkran, especially in view of the ill-founded rumblings and scurrilous rumours in the basements around town.
Note: If you would like to play with The Haven group, you can contact 038 710 989 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 throughout the year can be found on the web site at www.thehaven-hotel.com.
