The day started once again with me wondering if I should bother to join Jimmy and Bobby at the Barclays Singapore Open 2010 at Sentosa Golf Club, Serapong Course. Lately, I have had lots on my mind (for those who are in the know). And what with the increased workload from my recent contract success, starting the project and having to see to and positioning the "starting blocks" for the next phase of the delivery before I could go away again.
So this morning after I had woken up, I messaged some good Goofies to see if they can relieve me of this dilemma. Unfortunately, they were not able to. Therefore, I was still stuck with my dilemma knowing that though I might be at the Barclays Open, my mind would not be really there to enjoy watching the "really Pros". There was of course the thought of not wanting to disappoint my golf buddies Jimmy and Bobby. Though at sometime this morning, I was hoping that maybe, just maybe, they might have forgotten about the arrangement to meet at my place before setting out to Sentosa in Bobby's Mercedes car. Jimmy and me thought we should travel in class going into Sentosa Golf Club mah!
Alamak! Jimmy didn't forget and turned up at my house at 10am and I had to make him a cup of coffee while waiting for Bobby to turn up. Of course with Jimmy's appearance, there was indeed no turning back on the adventure to Sentosa land! :-(. Bobby arrived eventually, a little late but I knew he'll surely have a prepared narrative to explain his delay (ask him next time about the singlet he wore to Sentosa, Kekekek! Kekekek is another interesting story that will need another post, another time, to explain :-).
We ended up at East Coast Lagoon for brunch as Jimmy and Bobby explains, as they both had breakfast already while I did not. Bak Kut Teh, Prawn Noodles and Chye Tow Kuay plus lots of discussions about the Barclays Singapore Open went on during brunch. Who was leading, what happened to the Singapore Pro Pros' and Jimmy's explanation as why he didn't think Adam Scott will make it to win the Singapore Open, etc. "Don't worry no rain, I checked the forecast earlier already", declared Bobby, akan datang.
We were near Vivo City around 11.30am, Bobby confirmed he will drive onto Sentosa as he thinks there will be lots of parking space, "aiyah, not that many people will want to go watch lah", he said. Jimmy thinks the car park will be at a field somewhere. Bobby was proven to be right, there were not that many cars (I roughly counted). The problem wasn't "many" cars but the lack of "many" parking. We ended at Sentosa Cove! I thought maybe Bobby wanted to surprise us with a boat trip out to sea on his private yacht which he secretly berthed at Sentosa Cove Marina. Alamak, got disappointed again, now today's second time disappointment already.
We took the free shuttle bus but it would have been butter if car parking was also free. Parking is S$3 per entry before 7% GST! We got dropped off at the small entrance (the big/main entrance is only for VIP/Patrons type, someone said. Never mind lah, we went through the gates and into the gate pavilion and was greeted by the SYTs (check the dictionary yourself) handing out Sentosa Cove umbrellas! Jimmy had earlier confidently returned the umbrella he brought along back to his car (which he had left at my place) saying no need bring along as they will give free umbrellas. And he was right!!!
Now maybe it wouldn't be that bad after all I thought to myself. As we approached the stand at the 18th Green, we passed the Barclays Pavilion. Jimmy had a Barclays Staff pass while Bobby and I had only a "course" pass. We asked Jimmy if he could go into the Pavilion, show his "Staff" pass and see if he can get us some drinks, makan or souvenir. Jimmy didn't attempt anything, so we didn't want to embarrass him with our request and dropped the suggestion. So far still ok lah.
Then I heard a horn sounded off!!! I said to the guys that a horn just sounded off, "is the course closed is it?", in my broken Singlish. The ever optimistic Goofy golfer responded, "no lah, can't be lah". Sure enough after another 10 metres more to the 18th Green, I asked around and they replied yes. Shit! My 3rd disappointment of the day! So we stood around the green area as we watched the golfers (really Pro ones) come back in. That was when Colin Montgomerie past Jimmy Ang for a brief encounter. I thought I saw Jim Furyk walked past me with his golf shoes in his hands. The other guys couldn't recognise him as Jim Furyk didn't have his cap on, so probably look different. Bobby said he's not interested in golfers unless it's LPGA golfer, you ask him yourself what he meant. We did spot someone we know and that was George Sng, but he couldn't recognise Jimmy and Bobby. Probably because Jimmy and Bobby also didn't have their caps on so I thought. We told George to meet us later at the Barclays Pavilion, Kekekek.
We tried the refreshment tent for a seat but that was full and the queue for drinks/makan was already 30 people deep! The rain started getting heavier and the guys suggested we sit at the Grandstand as it's sheltered. Smart choice, all is not lost, I thought. Later to be proven otherwise, I thought. KNN, I thought! By this time it was already around 12pm (noon), "so they can't close the course for so long right?", I thought. Later another KNN, I thought! The silver lining was that we met Jonoturn, aka Jonathan Goh at the Grandstand. No he was not with Elisa, his pretty gal fren but his office colleague Frederick, albeit not pretty especially with moustache like my previous one. As the rain belted down on to the Sentosa Serapong course, Frederick announced to us that in the distance, he could see a break in the sky. I thought maybe he worked at Changi Airport Meteorological office and he can tell but just in case, I checked first. Sure enough, I was proven not wrong. He is just another ever optimistic golfer. Another disappointment but not the last yet!
When Frederick confidently announced that the rain would be short, I noted that it was already 12.05pm. Then 1.05pm past to be followed later by 2.05pm and it was still raining. KNN again I thought! In between all this, we had coffee from Harry's Bar, Jonathan offered to go over to buy it and I paid of course. When he came back with 5 paper cups of coffee, the German guy beside us (with the 2 girls (one with big B, refer to textplus msg) offered to pay double for each cup, Bobby confidently replied that it will be S$10 per cup thinking it must be $2-$3 per cup! When I asked for the change on my $50 note I gave Jonathan for the coffee, he only returned $25 back! $5 per cup! but was good enough coffee though especially when it is wet and cold. see the photo of the guys on the stand.
Coffee was later followed by beer and fish & chips. Beer was $8 per plastic cup and fortunately I had 2 free beer coupons, otherwise, very expensive trip again. Jimmy bought 2 fish & chips and they cost $10 each (Bobby was disappointed). More disappointments and then we received a textplus message from Goofy Daniel announcing his arrival at the Barclays Singapore Open. This was followed later with a lightning strike nearby!!! Around 2.30pm and the rain was not stopping, Frederick decided that was enough and he left the Grandstand for home. Jimmy & Bobby plus Jonathan all also decided to go and that was the end of the Barclays Singapore Open 2010 for us.
Should you ever ask what we saw at the Barclays Singapore Open 2010, you will definitely get a earful. A big disappointment!!! KNN.
However, some of us did have a butter deal then us. See the attached photo.
Sorry I don't know who Ric Tan was talking about being with. Someone also asked me "who is she with?". We replied "not interested with the he, it is who is she" that is more relevant.
So, good bye until the next Barclays Singapore Open in 2011 and I sure sure will not go. Check out the results tomorrow yourselves when they continue lah.
Day of many disappointments and that's how I will always remember Barclays Singapore Open 2010!
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