Monday, March 30, 2009

Lee Heng won at Sembawang CC!!!


Our fellow Goofy member Lee Heng did us proud by winning BG Ravi's farewell golf challenge at Sembawang Country Club today.

On the famous Commando Course, Ah Heng played off with a declared handicap of 20 and adjusted course handicap of 24, he scored 91 and 41 Stableford points to win the event.

Well done, Lee Heng....(er what's his last name?)

Question : What is the moral of the story?

Answer : Kill a bird on the course first!!!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Sembawang CC missed cut

Having achieved only 8th position after the TMCC game, we need to improve by one position to qualify for the final at Sentosa.

But alas, the weather was not kind to us again.

I was actually on fire for the front 9 shooting 2-over 38 on Airforce. It was 2 strokes better than my Saturday game. After putting my ball on Navy 1 in regulation, the course was closed. It was closed for 2 hours.

So the only 1 game we had at TMCC determined our fate. I really believed we can improve on our position.

This brought a closure for this year's league game for me. Looking at the positives, I have improved as a golfer. Playing with my team mates at SCC had pushed me to up my game to the next level, these guys are really good.I also gained tremendously in the area of understanding the rules of golf.

I think I am ready to make a breakthrough to bring my game to the next level.

RK...the candidate for the MIP 2009

Had the privilege of playing with Robert, Chi Keen and Albert Teo yesterday morning. And along with the usual sixes and individual, they wanted to Saddam me.

So Robert was USA, Chi Keen was UK, and Albert being Russia wanted no part of the Gulf War.

As usual, Saddam took precedent over sixes and I found my sixes partners desserting me for some foreign aid offered by USA. Due to my poor negotiatation skills, I gave 2-2 to UN.

The match was really tight swinging between Saddam 1-up, even and UN 1-up. By the 2nd 9 on Navy 4, the match was still level. I blew Navy 5 with a double and UN took a 1-up lead.

Robert hit a fantastic tee shot to about 4-feet for Navy 6 which was the long par 3. He promptly birdied to take a 2-up lead.

The last 3 holes for Navy have always been my favourite holes and I felt that I could make a comeback.

I hit a good approach on Navy 7 to about 10-feet and was in a good birdie position. Both Chi Keen and Robert had very poor first putts which were about 15 feet from the hole. Both of them putted in for par and I missed my birdie. So it was dormie-2. Saddam had 1 foot in the coffin.

At Navy 8, again I hit a great approach to about 7-feet with both CK and RK in the bunkers. It was my hole to lose. RK hit his sandshot out to about 3 feet to save par. I again missed my birdie. UN halved the hole and won the match.

RK shot 39 on Navy and the way he is playing, I think he is a shoo-in for the most improved player/golfer (MIP) for 2009. Watch out Huat Siong and Pillip!!!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Left handed and right handed

Please refer to Gerald's posting on Friday 20 March 2009.
Golf is a gentleman's game and must be played fairly. So check the Decisions for this title which I have pasted below.

24-2b/17 Obstruction Interferes with Abnormal Stroke; Abnormal Stroke Reasonable in Circumstances
Q. A right-handed player’s ball is so close to a boundary fence on the left of a hole that the player, in order to play towards the hole, must play left-handed. In playing a left-handed stroke, the player’s backswing would be interfered with by an immovable obstruction. Is the player entitled to relief from the obstruction?

A. The player is entitled to relief since employment of an abnormal (left-handed) stroke is necessary in the circumstances — see Exception under Rule 24-2b.

The proper procedure is for the player to take relief for a left-handed stroke in accordance with Rule 24-2b(i).

The player may then use a normal right-handed swing for his next stroke. If the obstruction interferes with the swing or stance for the right-handed stroke, the player may take relief for the right-handed stroke in accordance with Rule 24-2b(i).

24-2b/18 Obstruction Interferes with Abnormal Stroke; Abnormal Stroke Not Reasonable in Circumstances
Q. A right-handed player’s ball is in a poor lie. A nearby immovable obstruction would not interfere with a normal right-handed swing but it would interfere with a left-handed swing. The player says he wishes to play his next stroke left-handed and, since the obstruction would interfere with such a stroke, he is entitled to proceed under Rule 24-2b. May the player invoke Rule 24-2b?

A. No. If the only reason for the player to use a left-handed stroke is to escape a poor lie, use of an abnormal (left-handed) stroke is not justifiable and the player is not entitled to invoke Rule 24-2b — see Exception under Rule 24-2b.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

First league game completed....finally

The weather today was perfect, so perfect that after playing 3 holes, I was praying for rain. Started badly with bogey, bogey and a triple (lost ball after hitting a tree).

The playing conditions was so different from the practice ground. Pins were tucked at some of the most ridiculous positions with green speed at 8.5.

Running out of excuses, I just had to press on and try to recover. Finished the first nine at 43, not too bad since I was already 5 over after 3 holes. Was slightly better in the 2nd nine at 6 over 42. Total 85.

I was not too pleased with my score until I return to the club house, my team captain Yong was at 88 with Koh Hong Soon also at 85. Richard Ee (ex SAF RSM) was the forth member, he blew with 90+ score. His score won't count since only the best 3 were taken.

Team Sembawang is at 8th position out of 13 team, only 3 strokes behind the 5th team. The last game will be next Sunday at NSRCC with the top 6 teams qualifying for Sentosa.

We will have to climb at least 2 places.

Birdie before green


Last sat at NSRCC, my flightmate, Lee Heng was playing his second shot at Navy Hole No 4 when he topped the ball. The ball flew about one foot above the ground towards a flock of birds (mynah) in front. The ball ( Titlist prov 1X) strike one of the birds. the injured bird wobbled for a few seconds before falling on the ground. Amazingly, the rest of the flock gathered around just like we, humans would do. Lee Heng, did what he ought to do.... give the bird an proper burial service. He took a plastic bag ( I think it was from the packaging of his Titlist Pro V balls) form his bag and insert the dead bird into the bag. What he did to the bird? I was not aware but i think it threw into the thrash bin at the half way house.


Lesson learnt:
1. Always ensure the the fairway is clear before playing your shot.
2. Never top your ball
3. Always use Titlist ProV balls

Friday, March 20, 2009

Club Used to Determine Nearest Point of Relief Not Used for Next Stroke

This is another rule which we got it wrong. You can change your club after getting relief. Thus, you can use a driver and if there is a IMO, get relief, after than hit a sand wedge. Read quote from USGA.


24-2b/4 Club Used to Determine Nearest Point of Relief Not Used for Next Stroke

Q. The Note to the Definition of “Nearest Point of Relief” states: “In order to determine the nearest point of relief accurately, the player should use the club with which he would have made his next stroke if the condition were not there to simulate the address, direction of play and swing for such stroke.” If the subsequent lie of the ball were such that it was expedient for the player to play his next stroke with some other club, may the player use the other club?

A. Yes.

Changing clubs after taking relief

I have just learned new situation which might benefit us:

You are normally right-handed but you can attempt to swing left-handed. And if your left-handed swing is impeded by IMO, then you can get a relief. After taking relief you can revert back to right-handed swing as it is a new situation now.

Philip - you might want to verify this.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Small konglong shot 79 and not happy

Played the practice game at TMCC Tampines course today. After the game, I saw the small konglong, the 10 years old 8 handicapper from WGCC, Jin Cheng.

I called him over and asked how was his game. He said "not very good". I asked what was his score, he replied "79".

Walau eh. My SCC team, only I shot better than him with 76. Koh was level with him. The other 2 were at 80+.

No wonder he is a small konglong.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Another washed-out day at OCC

Yesterday was Game 2 of the SGA Interclub League game and for the 2nd time in a row, the game was washed-out!

I had actually wanted to pull out as I was not feeling well, but the 2 reserves also cannot play. In the end, I had to press-on in order not to let the team down.

Started strongly with a par on hole 1 and but failed my sand save for hole 2. At hole 3, I had a 3 feet putt for par when the course was closed.

And it was closed for 1.5 hours before the game was abandoned again. The last flight had just finished 1 hole and will not be able to complete by last light.

True enough, the course was only opened at 4.30. For the supposedly 36 holes, I have only managed to complete 10 holes!!!

We are left with 2 more games at TMCC and NSRCC. Fewer and fewer games left.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Embarassed by a 10-year old Konglong!

Today was the first league game at Laguna National.

I got a shock when I saw my playing partner. A 10 years old 8 handicapper from Warren Country Club named Jin Cheng.

Had a chat with his family, who are PRs from China and learned that he has picked up golf for about 3 years. The whole family was there to support his tee off.

And the parting shot from his mother to me was "Do take care of him!!!"

My God, that was a huge responsiblity.

Sure enough, this boy is talented. He bogeyed the first hole and I double-bogeyed. That set the stage for the rest of the game. His average drive is about 180 and he can chip and putt.

At the 2nd fairway, I hit from the fairway and waved to him to move the buggy to the green. When I reached the green, the other 2 flight mate told me he cannot drive. I had to run all the way back to the buggy.

Then it rained heavily but the course was not closed. I asked if he had umbrella or rain coat, he said no. I offered my rain coat to him but he politely declined.

By the time the game was abandoned at the 8th hole, he was 5 over, I was 8 over. The result for this round won't count. Thank God.

I hope I am not paired with him for the next game. I don't want to be embarassed again.

Watch out for this boy in the future!