Wedding & Golf Trip to the Hawaii of the East

In the wee hour of Sun, 17 April 2011, 10 homo-sapiens of the modern world descended on the Lion City budget terminal tugging along with them all the tools needed to strike a ball into 18 different unique holes. They were heading to the ‘Hawaii of the East’, an island of the Hainanese people, famous for its Wenchang chicken which is comparable to our Hainanese chicken (not those at Geylang, hor). First to attend the matrimonial celebration of their good buddy, Covette Ong and then challenging the golf courses of Hainan Island.

This trip offered many intriguing experiences and unusual discoveries. I thought all the Singapore leaders we have are down at the constituencies shaking voter’s hand not knowing we do have some among us shaking their heads with their rally speeches. Speeches and conversations were conducted in bird language, those blue macaws. Hehe, funny right but this made the trip so fun and enjoyable.

With a large group, inevitably there was conflict of opinions. When it come to taking a vote, they will be reminded they had ‘5 days to live and repent’ for choosing the wrong decision. Somehow, the Goofy spirit always prevails and thing goes back to normal.

Believe me, you find strange people doing strange things. Robert armed with his 'new' camera went around taking all kinds of photos - Covette smoking, Jonas taking 40 winks, people squatting at the market, roads, somebody's head, somebody's chest, shopping centres to name a few. Albert taking photo of lamp posts. And not forgetting playing card games using the most innovative method in the bus and plane.

Well, I guess largely it has to do with Shakespear's theory on the different phases of life.

We arrived on time at Meilan Airport on a bright sunny morning. Transportation is a 20-seater mini bus. We had our lunch somewhere in between Haikou and Qionghai, a town close to Xinglong (where the wedding was) and Sanya.

After lunch we checked into a hotel in Qionghai. There she stood in the doorway uttering 'Welcome to the Hotel California, such a lovely place'. Yes, somebody heard girls screaming down the aisle. Jonas and Billy got stuck in the lift; somehow it refused to go down. There were comments about the eerie feeling in their room. What a nice surprise!!! So how? Relax.

Our tour guide, Little Wu acted super fast like my Taylor Made driver. He found a better and more decent hotel for us. After the wedding dinner, we moved out of "Hotel California' (actually is Wei Jia Int’l Hotel) to another at NO extra cost. Wow, this is tip top service from our good friend, Martin Zhao. Impress, not only that he also provided a photographer too with a CD of photos taken for each of us.

The wedding dinner was held in a hotel restaurant. There were 2 tables with 10 of us taking up 1 table and the other occupied by Covette’s relatives. It was a sumptuous meal served with Chinese wine and about 12 different dishes of meat, fish and veggie. We did not finish the food as it’s impolite to do so. The dinner ended with toasts and wishes extended to the wedding couple and of course photo taking before we headed back to the hotel.

We had our first game at BOAO BFA, a very forgivable and beautiful course I had played a couple of times before, for some their first time. There were 11 of us, including Covette. I played on the 3-men flight with Eddie and Billy. I played my best game but the best was not good enough as I still lost to both of them.

Followings are the photos of the courses we played.



This is a beautiful course built entirely with volcanic rocks. Poor Albert distracted by the ‘attractive’ marshal hit his buggy on the rock fence. The damage Rmb 800 (actually was 1,800 but he blamed the club for employing such an ‘attractive’ ……haha I guess you know).





The last day of our game at Meilan Golf Club in Haikou. Goodbye Hainan Island for the week of wonderful weather.

Official handing over of Cheque to Alzheimer's Disease Association

Yesterday was the day we handed over the cheque of $15,100.00 to ADA. 4 of us were able to make it to ADA at Toa Payoh. CYM, Jonas, Richard and myself. Unfortunately, Dick, Daniel, Lee Heng and Vincent could not make it. Dr Ang Peng Chye, President ADA was the recipient of the cheque.

The funds raised by Goofy and Friends Charity Golf will go towards the set up of ADA's Caregiver Support Centre in Tiong Bahru where one of the pilot programme is Eldersit Service providing respite care for caregivers. The other services being provided by the Caregiver Support Centre include a Dementia Helpline, Counselling, Information and Referral, Caregiver Support Groups, Caregiver Training, a Home Based Psycho-social service for caregivers to help them cope with their caregiving, Public Education programme.

Thank you guys for all the support towards a good cause and also transforming Goofy Golf into a socially responsible group.

7th Goofy and Friends Charity Golf in Golf magazine

7th Goofy and Friends Charity Golf was covered in Mar 2011 issue of Golf magazine. The editor Al Dizon has kindly agreed to feature the event under the column "Notice Board".

It carries a photo of winner of the Double Peoria event, Kian Boon and myself.

Read all about it!

Goofy & Friends raised $15,000 for Alzheimer's Disease Association

The 7th Goofy and Friends Charity Golf was successfully held on the 8th of Feb 2011 at the Raffles Country Club. Amongst the festivities of the CNY, we celebrated golf and our friendship and at the same time raised $15,000.00 for the Alzheimer's Disease Association. As passionate golfers, we are at the same time compassionate, with a heart for the less privileged in our society.

Overwhelmingly supported by more than 160 golfers, we teed off at Raffles Country Club with 36 flights on Palm Course and 2 flights on Lake Course. The day was beautifully blessed with great weather and wonderful course condition.

Two competitions were held concurrently, the Double Preoria and Best Gross. The Double Preoria was won by Goofy Chua Kian Boon and Best Gross was won by Friend Mr Wong Toon Liam.

Special appreciations to all participants and sponsors for all your contributions. Without you guys, the 7th Goofy and Friends Charity Golf would not have been such a success.

Thank you and see you next year at the 8th Goofy Golf!! Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Gong Xi Fa Cai to all Goofies & Friends

Chipping on the green and the Lucky Lee

I was playing with Berteo, Billy Bomber and Lee (Lucky) Heng today.

After teeing off on the Navy 4 hole, I was about 160 m from the green. I decided to hit my hybrid and manage to hit the green. The ball rolled towards the back on the right side. The pin was on the far back left.

Since this is the drink hole, I was hopping that the ball had rolled off the green.

When Lucky Lee reached the green, he was laughing at me. I finally saw why.

The ball was on the green and I had no putt to the hole.

As you know, the green is kidney shaped and even if I wanted to putt off the green, there is a bunker in the way.

I only had one option, to chip. I remember seeing Phil Mickelson did it on tv and it is perfectly legal. I decided to chip with my 60 deg wedge. I was trying to be careful not to take too big a divot. My chip came out quite nicely but failed to clear the bunker edge, but it went over.

I chipped on with my next chip and putted in for a bogey.

I did some research on the internet and confirmed that it is perfectly legal. You can use any club on the green, although the green keeper will not like you too much.

Now the next question is : Was that chip considered as my first putt?? I bought drinks anyway.

Lucky Lee was really Lucky. Twice he hit the trees and both time the bounce was kind to him. On Army 5, he pulled his shot left, the ball ended up dry. On Army 8, he pulled his shot left again, it hit one of the palm tree and richochet to the middle of the fairway. He put his next shot on the green and 2-putted for par.

And to cap it off, he is suffering from a gout attack and yet won the money from the 3 of us.

Can't even beat a Pai-Kar!!!

7 Goofy & Friends Charity Golf - Event Program

The most anticipated golf event in Singapore after the Barclays Singapore Open!! The event program has been finalised. Please note the important timings. Shot-gun start is at 1.15pm on 8th Feb 2011. Buffet lunch is available at the Albatross from 11.30am. Do note that the shot-gun is only for those playing on the Palm Course. Those playing on the Lake Course will be according to the time sheet.

The flight details will be out shortly together with the tournament rules.

We are looking to successful tee-off and most of all, raise as much money as possible for the Alzheimer's Disease Association.

An early Gong Xi Fa Cai to all and let us all hop in to a Happy, Healthy and Wealthy Year of the Rabbit!!

The all new Goofy logo!!!

Playing by the rules

It was my first game of 2011. Going by my previous standard, it should have been the 3rd or 4th. That says a lot about the number of games I have been putting in.

I was playing with Richard, Robert and his little brother Peter. At the buggy despatch centre, Richard and I decided to be buggy mates to allow the 2 Koh Brothers to have some bonding time on the golf course.

At Airforce 2nd hole, my 2nd shot crossed the canal, landed at the foot of a small tree on the right. Wrapped around the trunk of the tree was a wire mesh, those typically used for fencings. The tree was not marked as a young tree.

My swing was impeded and there was no way I could attack the green with my 3rd. The first thought that came to me was "I am screwed".

Then an idea came to me, I asked Richard, a certified rules official, "The net is an immovable obstruction right?".

And Richard's reply was, "You are right, it is not mentioned in the local rules as an integral part of the course".

Richard was my opponent for this six, and to his credit, he was fair.

We soon got into a debate with the Koh Bros who insisted on me taking a penalty drop for unplayable lie or to chip it out sideways.

However, Richard was steadfast, threatening at one point to show his certification :). The Koh Bros eventually relented.

I took a free drop, put my next shot on the green and parred the hole.

Playing by the rules!