IPGC Golf from The Haven
Monday, April 6, Greenwood A & C – Stableford
White tees
CSS 75 NC
1st Markku Tynell (23) 32pts
2nd John Marsh (9) 28pts
3rd Wilf Wellman (29) 27pts
4th Peter Skinner (11) 27pts
5th Phil Cass (15) 26pts
A good trip up the 331 as it was a holiday and the traffic was almost zero, especially through the usual jam near Amata City, which meant an early start and early return home for a pleasant change.
Brian Randall, Markku Tynell & Mike Korney.
Having played the same course just a week earlier in the monthly medals did not help the hopefuls as they struggled almost as much under the Stableford scoring system, with the best of the day still not good enough to stop the competition again becoming non-counting for upward review of handicaps as the CSS went out to 75.
Markku Tynell had that best score, winning by four clear after he started his round with a level handicap front nine but unfortunately came a little unstuck on the more difficult ‘C’ nine, managing just 14 points. But it was still good enough to see off the challenge of new member John Marsh who found the lies around the greens just a tad difficult compared to his home course back in Australia. John did sufficiently well however to take the second step on the podium ahead of a count back between Wilf Wellman, who placed third, and Peter Skinner, fourth, after they had returned 15 and 14 respectively. Phil Cass filled the last spot another point back in fifth.
There were no 2’s in the first division, but against all the odds and conditions, Mike Hill had one in the second division to sweep the brimming roll over pot.
Wednesday, April 8, Khao Kheow A & C – Stableford
Yellow tees
CSS 75 NC
1st Brian Randall (36) 35pts
2nd Mike Hill (18) 31pts
2nd John Carlin (19) 30pts
4th Trevor Schirmer (13) 29pts
5th Greg Barry (10) 27pts
6th John Foley (15) 27pts
Another course that the group seems unable to get to grips with recently is the always excellent, but difficult, Khao Kheow, especially when the C course is in play and the yellow tees are mostly to the back of the boxes that they were on this occasion, and with the added wet fairway factor, scoring was always going to be at a premium.
Brian Randall had a terrific day’s golf as he recorded his best return ever in Thailand, after several years of effort, as he swept to the top of the leader board to end the day four points clear of his nearest challenger. With it he took his first win with the group, much to the delight of the crowd at the prize giving, and it was a very popular victory indeed.
Mike Hill took second place after he had started well at level handicap for his opening nine but then slipped slightly although he did just enough to hold on to his position ahead of John Carlin who had suffered a couple of “unbelievables” on the front nine and another three on the back and had to settle for third spot.
Trevor Schirmer took fourth as he shepherded in two new members, Greg Barry and John Foley, in his playing group to fifth and sixth places after Greg had won a count back with a better 14 to 13.
There were no 2’s in either division and precious few threes either.
Friday, April 10, Emerald G.C. – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Mike Korney (18) 37pts
2nd Shuichi Kodaka (16) 36pts
3rd Peter Skinner (11) 31pts
4th Mike Hill (18) 29pts
5th John Foley (15) 28pts
6th Trevor Schirmer (13) 28pts
After two tough days previously in the week there were few looking forward to another hard one in Ban Chang where scoring is never easy, but with the assistance of ‘lift and place’ in the fairways the results were the best of the week.
Mike Korney, who has been threatening to win quite a few times recently and fallen at the last hurdle (or in some cases been denied by other great rounds), at last took the top spot in his last game before returning to the even wider open spaces in Canada now that the mercury has risen to a smidgen over minus 10. With seven three-pointers on the card he looked every bit a winner, even allowing for a couple of zeros, as he crushed the ball off the tee mostly 300 yards and but for a few errors in the short game would have surely won by a couple of streets.
Shuichi Kodaka continued with his good run of form with a solid second place and an even handicap round, which put him well ahead of third placed Peter Skinner who slipped in two too many zeros to be able to contend.
Mike Hill showed well again in fifth place as did John Foley, getting his second podium placing on his first trip to Thailand to send him back to Oz with some additional good memories.
Once again there were no 2’s in either division to underline the difficulty that the course was playing on the day.
Before the prize presentations, and following a remembrance toast to the departed Richie Benaud for all the pleasure that he had given both the Australian and English cricket fans during his career as both a player and commentator.
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.
