IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, Nov. 19, The Emerald – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Garry Barling (7) 36pts
2nd David Ross (9) 34pts
3rd Phil Groves (8) 33pts
4th Dick Heaney (16) 33pts
As the weather gets steadily better so do the winning scores although Monday’s competition at the Emerald suffered near the end with the last two groups getting caught in a huge thunderstorm which was accompanied with great flashes of lightning, causing most of them to head immediately for the safety of the clubhouse. It was unsurprising that all the top finishers were in the earlier groups who had completed their rounds prior to the storm’s onset.
Garry Barling, having left Wollongong in bright sunshine, was expecting to play golf in similar conditions here but was fortunate to be in the one of the early groups and so handed in a dry card that proved to be the winner by two with a score of level handicap on both nines, although he did suffer over the last three holes, dropping three to his handicap.
Phil Groves.
David Ross also fell away badly over the last three holes dropping four shots and giving up a winning position as he also watched the weather closing in on them all and had to settle for second spot.
Phil Groves just did enough in the early part of the back nine to win the count back over Richard Heaney with a better 18 to 16 to claim third and leave Dick in fourth.
There were no 2’ sin the second division but Garry Barling made it a double celebration with the only one in the first division.
Before the presentations were made there were welcome backs for David Ross, Paul Hartley, Daryl Burkett and Garry Barling.
Wednesday, Nov. 21, Mountain Shadow – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Alwyne Burley (18) 37pts
2nd Benny Hansen (24) 35pts
3rd Phil Groves (8) 33pts
4th Frank Hughes (17) 32pts
5th Mike Hill (23) 31pts
A very unusual sign-up session at the Haven found the usually efficient Doc somewhat befuddled as he struggled to recover from the previous night’s celebration of Ole Stamnes’ and Roar Berger’s joint 75 Birthday party. The wine had been flowing fairly freely and the Doc had imbibed of perhaps more than his share and seemed to be still in the midst of the session going by his handwriting on the sheet, which was legible only to him. As the bus left he was seen heading back to rest.
Garry Barling.
With the numbers still well short of those normally expected at the start of high season it was decided to take on the always difficult Mountain Shadow in a singles competition from the blue tees and although it proved to be a stern test of golf, the condition of the course, especially the greens, was such that the majority of the field thoroughly enjoyed the experience even if the scores were a little on the low side for a Stableford event.
Alwyne Burley just got the better of the course, going one under handicap to just edge out Benny Hansen into second place by two after Benny had returned his best score for three months.
Phil Groves, who is doing a splendid job in Trevor Schirmer’s absence looking after the groups, still has enough concentration to be competitive as his second third place on the trot showed when he slipped in two behind Benny and one in front of Frank Hughes in fourth.
Mike Hill, having featured in most of the recent results, is going through a bit of a slump at the moment but hung on in there to take fifth one back from Frank.
Daryl Burkett slipped in the sole 2 in the first division pool while Benny Hansen did the same in the second division.
Prior to the presentations, which the Doc was just about recovered sufficiently enough to handle, there were welcomes for new members Franklin van Diemt and Marcel Damad and also a welcome back for Bill Roycroft.
Friday, Nov. 23, Khao Kheow B & C (Yellow tees) – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Phil Groves (8) 39pts
2nd Paul Taylor (17) 36pts
3rd Jun Ishihara (11) 36pts
4th Daryl Burkett (14) 35pts
After playing at Khao Kheow recently when there were a few complaints about the state of the course as it was undergoing a fair bit of renovation work, with many areas both marked and unmarked as GUR, it was a pleasure to return and find it back in shape with the greens especially flat and fast. The players all gave it the “thumbs up” for the well worthwhile efforts of the management.
Alwyn Burley.
It is pleasing to note that following many entreaties to the course management they have addressed the situation of the island green eighth hole on the B course, where it had previously been marked as a yellow staked water hazard leaving the competitors no alternative to taking three from the tee after a trip to the water. The hole has now been marked as a lateral water hazard, staked red, allowing a drop on the island and speeding up play without needing to take an illegal drop from the drop area, which did not keep the hazard between the player and the flag.
Phil Groves added to his two previous podium finishes in the week with an even better result as he took the top spot with a sparkling three under handicap round that was too good by three for the chasing group.
Paul Taylor may well have thought that an even par round to handicap would be the winning score as the scores normally over the B and C courses are not so good, but he had to settle for second place after winning a count back over Jun Ishihara, returning a better 19 to 16 after Jun had started the front nine well but then dropped three shots to handicap on the first four coming home.
Daryl Burkett had his best round of this trip but it only got him into fourth place a shot further behind.
There were no 2’s in the second division but Garry Barling and Phil Groves shared the first division pot.
Back at The Haven there were welcomes for new members Yoshihiro Gotanda and Hirohiko Tatsumi and also a welcome back to Jun Ishihara.
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.
