IPGC Golf from The Haven
Monday, Nov. 9, Greenwood B & C – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Bruce Hilde (17) 36pts
2nd Miles Tunnicliff (+2) 35pts
3rd John Carlin (20) 33pts
4th Steven Downes (6) 29pts
5th Markku Tynell (21) 29pts
Greenwood is still suffering from the after effects of the recent rains although with the allowance of carts on the fairways a ‘lift and place local rule’ was not implemented on Monday. This proved to be a mistake as the course was very heavy with many well driven balls suffering from a coating of mud and affecting the subsequent shots to the greens especially for the lower handicappers. There was also almost no run at all for any of the players whatever their level of expertise.
John Carlin, Bruce Hilde & Philip Cass.
Bruce Hilde seems is now well recovered from his trek to the outer limits of Thailand as he returned a solid round to take the win, closing with a two under handicap back nine.
Miles Tunnicliff, playing from the blue tees that gave a measured course distance of just over 7,000 yards, slipped into second place as he finished with a gross 71. This was after playing the course for the first time and not missing a single fairway.
John Carlin took the first of his three podium places for the week another couple of points behind after struggling through the closing holes.
Steven Downes hit the ball a long way all day and won a count back for fourth over Markku Tynell, finishing with a better 15 to 14.
There were no 2s in the first division but finally the second division bonanza pot was cleaned out when Markku Tynell rolled in a five-footer on hole number six on the C course after hitting a solid five wood to the heart of the green. On the minibus back to base there was much talk as to whether the prize giving would need to be delayed for a trip to the local branch of the Bangkok Bank where the fund had been lodge for the last few weeks. Markku generously blew the horn following the handover of the treasure chest, to tumultuous applause.
Wednesday, Nov, 11, Khao Kheow A & C (yellow tees) – Stableford
CSS 74
Division 1 (0-17)
1st Hideo Akiyama (17) 35pts
2nd Tony Foster (10) 32pts
3rd Bruce Hilde (17) 31pts
Division 2 (18+)
1st John Carlin (20) 28pts
2nd Markku Tynell (21) 27pts
3rd Mark Armstrong (25) 26pts
Again the organiser would have been better advised to play ‘lift and place’ as the course was once more very heavy and offering no run on the fairways, but then hindsight is usually slightly better in retrospect.
With the numbers beginning to pick up as the traditional high seasons splutters into life there was a requirement for two divisions with the cut coming at 17 and below.
The first division was led in by Hideo Akiyama with the best round of the day, albeit still over handicap as he found the going getting tougher and tougher towards the end but he held on for the win.
Tong Foster also toiled through for second place, finishing one ahead of Bruce Hilde in third.
The second division suffered the worst as the conditions hit them the hardest making the yellow tees at just on 6500 yards seem like the blues at almost 7,100 yards. John Carlin was happy enough to take his first win of the week with a score well below his usual standard but crucially one ahead of second placed Markku Tynell who in turn was two in front of third man Mark Armstrong.
Once again there were no 2s in the first division but Hideo Akiyama had one in the second division, just a day too late, with a very nice one on the third hole of the B course where his seven-wood found the edge of the green to be followed by an excellent putt for the money.
Friday, Nov, 13, Pattaya C.C. – Stableford
CSS 72
Division 1 (0–17)
1st Philip Cass (16) 39pts
2nd Shuichi Kodaka (17) 36pts
3rd Jon Yarrow (6) 35pts
4th Tony Foster (10) 34pts
Division 2 (18+)
1st John Carlin (20) 40pts
2nd Vincent Gras (18) 31pts
2nd Gary Warren (18) 30pts
4th Kaneo Watanabe (21) 29pts
The closest golf course to base, at least in travel time, is quickly becoming also one of the most popular with both regulars and visitors as the redesigned and laid out nines grow in, although the back nine’s greens have a little way to go to match the front nine.
Again two divisions were required with Philip Cass going three under handicap for his first win of his current visit and three ahead of second placed Shuichi Kodaka, the stand-in guide for the “Hiyuka Tour” after he had returned his best round for a little while. Jon Yarrow ended up in third another one behind and one ahead of fourth placed Tony Foster.
John Carling crowned a great week of results with his best score and another win in the second division as he returned his best card in over a year, showing four under handicap and leaving him nine shots clear of his nearest rival.
That rival was Vincent Gras who thought he had a very good chance of taking the win so went back out after a stoppage for thunder, lightning and extremely heavy rain to finish the last four holes but sadly the stoppage had caused him severe stiffness in all the wrong places and may well have not been helped by the liberal application of fluids during the hiatus.
Gary Warren floundered into third place another one back and Kaneo Watanabe took fourth another one behind him.
John Carlin added to his day’s haul of goodies with the sole 2 in the second division while Jon Yarrow and Peter Skinner shared the rollover pot in the first division.
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.
