IPGC Golf from The Haven
Monday, June 20 Greenwood, C & A courses Stableford
CSS 72
1st John Carlin (19) 33 cb 17 b6 11
2nd Phil Cass (16) 33 cb 17 b6 9
3rd Jon Batty (8) 32
4th Dick Heaney (15) 31
5th Markku Tynell (22) 29
Following heavy overnight rain the course was extremely wet which affected the scoring with arguably the two most difficult nines in play for the day and none of the hopefuls able to make par against their handicap.
John Carlin ran out the winner after he won a count back with Phil Cass with a better 11 to 9 over the last six holes on the C course, that being the back nine on the card, even though the last nine played was the A, after they had tied the nine on 17 apiece.
Jon Batty took third place just a single stroke behind them and but for a poor start when he took only three points from the first three holes would surely have run out the winner.
Dick Heaney seemed a little off form allowing that he had spent the previous week playing every day as he slipped into fourth a couple of shots in front of Markku Tynell in fifth.
There were no 2s in the first division and once again none in the second division either.
Before the presentations were made there was a welcome back and a farewell for Dick Heaney on a quick visit between the Centara event in Hua Hin and his flight to Melbourne.
Wednesday, June 22 Khao Kheow, B & C courses Yellow tees Stableford
CSS 72
1st Neil Skilton (6) 45
2nd Mike Hill (20) 36
3rd Jon Batty (8) 34
4th John Carlin (19) 33
5th Phil Cass (16) 25
Once again following another night of heavy weather the usually great conditions at this venue were adversely affected and so the local lift and place rule was in play for the day.
Neil Skilton, who manages to play irregularly while in Pattaya and away from his home course of Lee-on-Solent, in Hampshire, England, had a day to remember as did the rest of his playing partners when following a fairly sedate opening nine holes on the C course when he accumulated 19 points, he proceeded to par the 10th then birdie the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th holes, slipped in a couple of pars then another birdie on 17 and a par on the 18th to finish with 26 points and a gross five under 31 for the nine. Which all added up to 45 points and a gross 69 for the day.
This was easily enough to win at any course, let alone one of the toughest that the group play regularly, and which was the case on this occasion by nine clear ahead of Mike Hill, who may well have thought that level par could possibly be a winning number but finally had to settle for a good second place.
Jon Batty took third place another two back and the in-form John Carlin fourth a shot adrift.
Phil Cass was the next best some eight shots further back, which underlined the difficulty that most of the field experienced with the conditions making Neil’s performance even more impressive.
Once again there were no 2s in the second division but Neil managed two, amongst his five birdies, to sweep the pot clean in the first division.
Prior to the presentations there was a welcome for new comer Not Yuenyadchai together with a welcome back to playing for the usual long driver Samson Beard.
Friday, June 24 Phoenix Mountain & Lakes Monthly Medals
1st Division 0 – 15
Blue tees
1st Kevin Blake (7) 70
2nd Tomas Nilsson (12) 73
3rd Jon Batty (8) 75
2nd Division 16 +
White tees
1st Phil Cass (16) 72
2nd John Carlin (19) 78
3rd Larry Gibb (20) 81
Once again the weather looked pretty dismal at 8.30 am, as it had started to rain during the night and was continuing at a steady rate. But as always the group was undeterred and their confidence paid off again as with just a short delay the Monthly Medals got off to a slow but soggy start.
In the first division, played from the blue tees but from a slightly more forward position as the course prepares for the King’s Cup event to be held at the end of July, Kevin Blake took his first Medal of the year to qualify for the end of year Gold and Silver playoffs with a solid two under handicap return that was good enough by three strokes to consign Tomas Nilsson into second place, but one that also earned him a qualification spot. Jon Batty took third place rounding off a good week with the group having earned three podium placements.
The second division was taken by Phil Cass, who was surprisingly to be a first time winner this year after eight events, winning by a clear six shots ahead of John Carlin who was again left waiting for his first medal of the year after he had also had a very successful week. Larry Gibb took third place another three back having slipped in a few too many triples but many other holes on the card showed good promise for the coming events.
Graham Marchant using a beautiful set of Taylormade hire clubs, usually used in making scores of over a 100, hit a wonderful five wood into the 4th hole of the Mountain to set up an easy putt to claim the first division pool with the only 2 of the day, as the second division again went begging for someone to either hit a green or chip in.
There were welcome backs for Graham Marchant and Kevin Blake before the presentations were made.
The Haven golf group have now relocated to Soi Lengkee, on the corner of the road leading to the Vogue Hotel, where there are good parking facilities but sadly no room for club storage at present.
Whilst the kitchen in being renovated, there is a limited range of food available, but the supply of beverages continues, at ice cold temperatures and the hotel section is in full swing.
Note: If you would like to play with The Haven group, you can contact 094 465 5002 or call in to The Haven, 315/13 Soi Lengkee, situated between Third Road and Soi Buakhao. 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. A schedule of courses to be played throughout the year can be found on the web site at www.thehaven-hotel.com
