IPGC Golf from The Haven
Monday, July 25, Mt. Shadow (blue tees) – Stableford
CSS 72
1st Neville Duncan (10) 37pts
2nd Graham Davis (8) 35pts
3rd Phil Groves (9) 34pts
4th Jon Batty (7) 33pts
5th Benny Hansen (25) 30pts
6th Mark Lang (5) 30pts
A solid week of golf started out at the fairly short but always difficult Mountain Shadow, which was playing almost its full 6,300 yards with very little run from the blue tees following the recently experienced wet weather in the area. However, the general condition of the course, including the bunkers which previously were badly tended, was much improved and for a change the scores were fairly reasonable for at least some of the hopefuls.
Neville Duncan returned with a newer and lower handicap from when he left in March last year and showed why it had been reduced with an outward nine of gross 38 that was four below handicap, but the heat got to him over the closing holes and he just held on to win by a couple from Graham Davis, who might have fared better in his last game of this trip but for a slow starting nine.
Phil Groves took his usual position on the podium in third place having returned a solid one over for the two halves and he was closely followed by Jon Batty in fourth place.
Benny Hansen didn’t start to play until he reached the back nine, over which he scored 20 points, which was enough to beat off Mark Lang in a count back after the latter had returned almost the reverse card with just 12 on the inward half following a good start to the day.
There were no 2s in the first division but Benny Hansen slipped one in to take the second division pool.
Wednesday, July 27, Pattana B & C (yellow tees) – Stableford
CSS 71
1st Phil Groves (9) 36pts
2nd Mike Dabanovich (11) 35pts
3rd Larry Gibb (20) 34pts
4th Peter Skinner (10) 33pts
5th Chris Smith (0) 32pts
6th Markku Tynell (22) 30pts
Pattana is about the best conditioned course on the group’s schedule with all areas of the course being tended to a standard that would not be out of place if it was being used for the very highest levels of the professional game. It is a credit to the management and greenkeepers and an absolute pleasure to play whichever nines are utilised.
Phil Groves at last overcame the whole field on this tour with a solid level handicap return for both nines, winning by the slimmest of margins over playing partner Mike Dabanovich. Mike may well have succumbed to the heavy and humid atmosphere through the closing holes having started by taming the first eight holes, taking twenty points from them, but a scratchy last ten holes ended in a second place.
Larry Gibb was just a shot away in third after he had also started well but faded on the homeward half.
Peter Skinner returned to the group after his holidays in Canada and Scotland, to name a couple of the countries visited, in good form and took fourth spot another shot behind and one ahead of scratch golfer Chris Smith, who in turn was two up on Markku Tynell in sixth playing his last game prior to his departure for Europe.
Once again Benny Hansen defied his handicap rating by knocking in another solo 2 to take the second division pool while at long last there were winners in the first division as Chris Smith and Ray Daws, the latter defying all local knowledge and expectations, sank one each to share the multi roll over pot.
Friday, July 29, Greenwood A & C – Stableford
CSS 74
1st Vincent Gras (18) 36pts
2nd Terry Hodgkiss (25) 31pts
3rd Mike Dabanovich (11) 30pts
4th Phil Groves (9) 30pts
5th Neville Duncan (10) 26pts
6th Trevor Schirmer (13) 25pts
The group was due to play at Parichat today, but a disagreement at the check-in desk when we arrived at the course regarding the price that had previously been agreed meant reloading the vehicles and a longer trip up the 331 to Greenwood, where the course was in great shape.
A strong wind played havoc with all of the players except the winner who seemed hardly to notice that it was not helping on any of the holes. It was lucky that there was not a breathalyzer test at the end of the round as he may well have failed, considering the condition of the bottle of Jack in his ice bag and the ten empty cans of coke. Vincent Gras was that winner and a worthy one some five shots clear of second placed Terry Hodgkiss, who used the shots available to good effect for his first podium placement for a while.
Mike Dabanovich overcame the additional handicap of a brand new caddy, who was helping out on her second day, just taking a count back over Phil Groves for third place with a better 16 to 13 return on the back nine.
Neville Duncan underlined the difficulty of the day’s test, in fifth place, with Trevor Schirmer a point behind him in sixth spot after a tough day having to watch the day’s organiser stumble around the course.
Unsurprisingly there were no 2s in either of the division, and precious few threes either, as the wind played a part on every hole.
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 but sadly no room for club storage at present but that is in hand.
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 .
