IPGC Golf from The Haven
Monday, August 15, Mt. Shadow (blue tees) – Stableford
CSS 75 NC
1st Daryl Burkett (12) 31pts
2nd Shuichi Kodaka (18) 29pts
3rd Phil Cass (16) 28pts
4th John Carlin (19) 27pts
5th David Heller (27) 26pts
Returning after some problems with the course during the last visit just three weeks previously, the players were pleasantly surprised to find there had ben quite a few improvements to the general appearance with the fairways especially deserving mention. But the surrounds and rough were still very marginal with some areas just off the fairways needing more attention to detail.
Having noted all that, there was much to be appreciated although the greens still need a considerable amount of work to get them back to the old top class condition. These details were all reflected in the CSS for the day as it rose by three and became non-counting for upward review.
Daryl Burkett had the best of the day although still well over his handicap allowance but still two ahead of second placed Shuichi Kodaka.
Phil Cass placed third another shot back and John Carlin fourth one back of him, with David Heller fifth.
There were no 2s in the second division but Daryl Burkett added to his take for the day with the solo one in the first division.
Wednesday, August 17, Khao Kheow B & C (yellow tees) – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Chris Smith (0) 35pts
2nd Masanori Takano (9) 34pts
3rd John Carlin (19) 33pts
4th Neil Skilton (5) 33pts
5th Pete Seil (6) 32pts
The second outing of the week found the players facing a totally different proposition in the shape of a course that was a sheer pleasure to play, it being in top class condition and the greens a delight to putt over, even if there were one or two too many three putts on them. But the heavy weather conditions, being extremely hot and humid, determined that the scoring would once again be higher than the standard, although the CSS for the day remained at 72.
Chris Smith was clearly the best of the day after returning a gross 73 for a one point win, and denying Masanori Takano a win on his return to the group.
John Carlin was quickly back into the groove following his three weeks absence, taking third place after winning a count back over Neil Skilton with a better 17 to 16 over the back nine.
Pete Seil took the last step of the prize podium just one more behind in fifth place.
Larry Gibb swept the second division 2s rollover pool clean, whilst Chis Smith and Neil Skilton shared the first division roll over.
Friday, August 19, Phoenix Lakes & Ocean – Monthly Medals
Division 1 (0–15)
Blue tees
CSS 77 NC
1st Peter Skinner (9) net 78
2nd Jon Batty (8) net 78
3rd Mike Dabanovich (11) net 79
Division 2 (16+)
White tees
CSS 72
1st Danny Greer (25) net 73
2nd Stephen Beard (22) net 74
3rd Shuichi Kodaka (18) net 76
Once again returning to Phoenix following the recent King’s Cup and with the Ocean nine now in operation following many months of maintenance, it was disappointing to find virtually no improvement in the course and still even more disappointing to find that unbelievably some of the greens on the Lakes nine were even worse than previously, with many areas marked as GUR. This situation did much to affect the scores from the first division players, having too few shots to play with, although the smart ones in the second division used their extra shots to good effect.
The first division was led in by a very befuddled Peter Skinner at six over handicap, taking his second medal of the year, having already qualified for the Gold and Silvers earlier in January, after being totally flummoxed as all of the better players were, by the greens inability to hold the ball no matter how the approach shot was hit. He had needed to win a countback over Jon Batty, which he did with a better 36.5 to 42, leaving Jon having to settle for a qualifiers spot at the end of the year.
Mike Dabanovich placed third after he had also struggled with the non-receptive greens and having to play many of his next shots from behind the green, i.e. “three putt land”.
The second division did much better than the first as mostly they were chipping to the greens for their third or fourth shots and not having to deal with their crispiness, as evidenced by the scoring which was unusually better that the first division, net that is of course.
Danny Greer won the day to clock up his second win of the year after a very tidy one over handicap return to leave Stephen Beard ruing his extremely poor results from three of the par fives, over which he managed to amass a staggering 27 shots with an 8, 9 and a 10 to go along with fifteen holes which he played in just twelve over par. But at least he took second place and qualified for the first time this year and even saw his handicap reduced by 0.8. Shuichi Kodaka took the last place in the division another two shots back in third.
There were no 2s in either of the divisions.
Note: The Haven golf group has now relocated to Soi Lengkee, on the corner of the road leading to the Vogue Hotel, where there are good parking facilities. 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.
