IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, Dec. 17, Crystal Bay – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Phil Groves (7) 38pts
2nd Mark Cooper (12) 38pts
3rd Shuichi Kodaka (15) 36pts
4th Rodney Nabbe (9) 35pts
5th Alan Pilkington (8) 34pts
6th Kenny Priddy (24) 34pts
A bright day and a course in very good condition awaited the hopefuls from The Haven when they arrived to play the B and C courses after a quick run along Sukumvit that takes around 35 minutes now that the road is virtually nonstop all the way to Sir Racha.
Although the course is not yet back to its old standard it is now once again one of the places to visit during a golfing trip and with wide fairways and flat greens that run true it is a course that can be scored on, although the CSS just about stayed on the line at 72 for the day.
Phil Groves.
Phil Groves relished the opportunity to get below handicap even though in the event he racked up far to many single pointers, five in all, on his way to a two under return that was just enough to see him home with a winning count back of 19 to 18 over runner up Mark Cooper who is going through a fine run of form following his success in the IPGC Club Championships.
Shuichi Kodaka can usually be found among the podium winners, as he was once again with his third place level handicap round. After opening with a three under handicap front nine he then slipped badly to end in the places instead of at the top of the list.
Rodney Nabbe, having seen his handicap reduced to single figures following a good run of scores, looked in good shape to continue with yet another really good score after going out in four under for 22 points, he then closed the round out with five singles for a one over handicap and fourth place finish.
Alan Pilkington started extremely slowly having just five points after five holes, but he then rallied strongly to take fifth after winning a count back over Kenny Priddy by a margin of 21 to 20 after Kenny just failed to get back on terms after he also started badly with just 1 point from the first three.
There were no 2’s in the first division but Gary Warren and John Squitiero showed them how by getting one a piece in the second division.
Prior to the presentations there were welcome backs for Mark Cooper, Martin Grimoldby, Kenny Priddy, Fred Land and Shane Heavey.
Wednesday, Dec. 19, Pattana A & C (Yellow tees) – Stableford
CSS 74
1st Ole Stamnes (27) 38pts
2nd Wayne Challis (14) 37pts
3rd Sekio Ojima (22) 35pts
4th Rodney Hayes (15) 34pts
5th Rodney Nabbe (9) 34pts
6th Phil Groves (7) 33pts
Ole Stamnes.
Ole Stamnes had one of his very good days as he leisurely took on the par 73 A and C courses at the immaculate Pattana Country Club. Although the length at 6,300 yards certainly helped, he still needed to get the ball in the hole after he had started out the front nine with a quiet three over handicap score and then closed with a stunning five under handicap inward nine to win by the slimmest of margins from Wayne Challis, who had a much more even 18/19 couple of nines.
Sekio Ojima, who had made all the running on day one in the Club Championships before slipping on day two, once again started well but then faded, scoring only three points from the last three holes and had to be satisfied with third.
Rodney Nabbe was once again in contention but lost out to the other Rodney, Hayes that is, in a count back losing by 18 to 16 and settling for fifth as Rodney Hayes took fourth.
Wayne Challis cleared out the rollover 2’s pool in the first division while Sekio Ojima had the lone one in the second division.
Prior to the presentations there was a welcome for new member Adrian Cook, savouring the delights of Thailand for the very first time. He was later taken out by Rodney Nabbe to show him a few of the sights which took until 5.30 am. There was also a welcome back for Mick Bogunovich who needed no hand to hold as he got straight back into the swing and then later fell out of it.
Friday, Dec. 21, Pattaya C.C. – Stableford
CSS 71
1st Rick Holmes (20) 40pts
2nd Vincent Gras (19) 37pts
3rd Dan MacCarthy (19) 36pts
4th Phil Groves (7) 35pts
5th Mike Korney (19) 34pts
Once again back to the newly renovated back nine at Pattaya Country Club where unfortunately the requirement that carts be kept to the cart paths only on the back nine reduced the field somewhat, which seems a great pity as there is little damage that would be done if carts were at least allowed in the rough even though the fairways are actually the best part of the renovations, having taken much better root after presumably a lot more attention than the rough areas.
Rick Holmes.
But the CSS showed that the course can be played with some measure of success after a ‘lift and place’ rule was put into effect for the day’s competition.
Rick Holmes, who was making a comeback to singles competition, shattered the field with a four under handicap round that led the rest by three shots, with the next best being Vincent Gras at one under and he was followed in by Dan MacCarthy, whose trip to the far north of Thailand had obviously cheered him up tremendously and put him in a very positive frame of mind as he returned his best score ever in Thailand.
Phil Groves made it on to the podium for the third time in the week with another solid performance while Mike Korney rounded out the honourable mentions one further back in fifth.
There were no 2’s in the first division but Rick Holmes added to his days winnings by sweeping the second division pool slotting in the lone one.
Back at The Haven there were welcome backs for Rick Holmes at last returning to singles golf after a break of over six months whilst recovering from a long term injury, and Wilf Wellman who had been recovering from too many late nights and Dan MacCarthy returning from surveying his northern estates.
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.
