IPGC golf from The Haven
Monday, May 6, Crystal Bay – Stableford
CSS 71
1st Trevor Schirmer (14) 41pts
2nd Darryl Kellett (16) 39pts
3rd Markku Tynell (25) 38pts
4th Takeshi Hakozaki (10) 36pts
A big change from the previous week’s Bank Holiday with the course almost empty by comparison and with the skies overcast and just a little wind, the conditions were almost perfect as the scores returned by the majority of the field evidenced. With everything to the player’s advantage it was no surprise to find that the CSS for the day went down to 71 as the competitors revelled in the great condition of the course, especially the greens which were flat and fast.
Trevor Schirmer.
Trevor Schirmer seems to be unstoppable since returning from his knee surgery and he put in yet another good score that ensured that his handicap will continue to drop like a stone. The Exceptional Scoring Handicap Reduction (ESR) added another half a shot to the normal reduction for the round, Trevor having returned two scores better than 4 below his handicap within ten consecutive rounds.
Trevor’s score of five under was good enough to see off the challenge of Darryl Kellett, who once again found him to be two shots better as has been the case on several occasions recently, even though he was three under on the day.
Markku Tynell slipped into third place with a very nice two under handicap, with Takeshi Hakozaki not able to match the leaders even with the advantage of members local knowledge although he did do well on the par threes.
Markku Tynell had the sole 2 in the second division whilst Victor Moshonkin had one and Takeshi Hakozaki had two in the second division.
Prior to the presentation of the prizes there was a welcome for new member Keith Wheeler and welcome backs for Lex McDonald, Victor Moshonkin and Brian Dunn.
Wednesday, May 8, Treasure Hill – Stableford
CSS 74
1st Lex McDonald (12) 33pts
2nd Jamie King (16) 31pts
3rd Allen Raaen (9) 30pts
4th Trevor Schirmer (14) 30pts
Darryl Kellett.
With the weather fine once more, if rather on the sweltering side, the players left for what is now a very quick trip up the 331 to one of the more popular courses, which is also offering very good value during the low season with an all-up price including a cart and caddy of 1,500 baht. This puts to shame some of the other courses that are demanding 1,800 baht plus just for the green fee when the group is less than 20 players. A harebrained scheme which will have a short life as the low season starts to bite the tills for those courses that have been led down such a dangerous economic path in these difficult times throughout the world.
Treasure Hill is one of the toughest challenges on the circuit with its well laid out holes and the deceptive length and even in the pristine condition it was found in did not assist the hopefuls, with no-one able to match the criteria to stop the day becoming non-counting for handicap amendments.
Lex McDonald, having struggled with the previous course, got his head down and hit almost every fairway on his way to a maiden win out of Soi 13, albeit with a score that would not have been expected to be in the frame after Monday’s results. But win he did and by two clear from Jamie King who would have been even closer without the couple of blobs on the back nine when the heat got to him, so he had to settle for a well earned second place.
Allen Raaen took third after winning a count back over the ever-present Trevor Schirmer with a better 15 to 14.
There were no 2’s in the first division but Brian Dunn had one in the second division, after a recount, to sweep the pot.
Before the presentations were made there were welcome backs for Don Everett and Tom Wilson.
Friday, May 10, Pattana A & B (yellow tees) – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Trevor Schirmer (14) 39pts
2nd Darryl Kellett (16) 37pts
3rd Allen Raaen (9) 36pts
4th Markku Tynell (25) 33pts
5th Mike Hill (19) 32pts
Lex McDonald.
It is always a pleasure to play one of the other courses set just off the 331, especially when the courses set for the day are the A and B layouts with a par of 73 as the front nine contains one of the few par sixes in the region. But with the group playing from the yellow tees this monster had been reduced to just 590 yards downhill and more than one of the contestants managed to reach in two, with one of them actually going through the back and sadly ending up with a bogey.
Once again it was Trevor Schirmer leading the way home with yet another stunning round that once again saw off the challenge of Darryl Kellett by two. It is rumoured that Darryl will be looking into the possibilities of having the same operation as Trevor had, possibly on both knees, when he returns to Oz in the hopes that he will become competitive with the Bionic Man when he next returns to Pattaya.
Allen Raaen took third place again although this time with a very respectable level handicap round one behind Darryl.
Markku Tynell slipped into fourth spot just a shot ahead of Mike Hill who is starting to come to terms with his new and lower handicap and showing signs that it will not be too long before another reduction will be seen.
There were no 2’s in either division.
Back at The Haven there was a welcome for new member Brain Johnson and a review of the Ashes replica urn in preparation for the upcoming Test Series when it will contested after a hiatus of two and a half years, much to the pleasure of the many Australian players assembled for the prize giving which resulted in a few predictions as to the possible outcome.
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.
