不怕你好 怕你Heng!!!

Played with Dick and the 2 Koh Brothers yesterday morning, I thought it was going to be my lucky day. I mean, playing with 2 HIN1 achievers, I am certainly going to shoot an ace man. Well, as luck would have it, I shot one of my worst score at NSRCC in recent time, even had a snowman to show.

In a classic case of 不怕你好 怕你Heng (sorry Lee Heng, borrowed your name), Robert continued his lucky streak.

On the Par 3 Airforce 6, Robert pulled his tee shot left. The ball flew to the rocky area within the hazard and he turned away with disappointment. I was tracking the ball all the time, I saw hit the rock and bounced onto the green towards the pin. Nobody saw it, only me. When told, Robert did not quite believe me.

As we approached the green, true enough, the ball was there. He had about 25 to 30 feet for a birdie putt. And with the touch of a magician, he rolled the ball into the hole for an unlikely birdie.

All our jaws dropped, completely amazed.

If this is not "Heng", what is it???

Mission Hills Golf Videos

Here are some video shots by CYM on the the Mission Hills Golf Trip. Arrival of delegates at Mission Hills Clubhouse. We looked like suakus don't we?


At the 1st teebox of the notorious Greg Norman Course. Anybody has shots of my Shu-qi??

Mission Hills Golf Trip

Seven of us, Richard, Billy, Lee Heng, Cheong YM, Jimmy, Peter and myself made the trip to Mission Hills. Unfortunately, due to unforseen circumstances, one of the pioneer members Chi Keen had to pull out. Everyday, while we were having fun, we had to observe a minute silence to remember him!!!,

We left on Friday with high expectation, nice weather of about 27deg and great golf courses. However, we were in for a big surprise. The temperature dropped on the very first day of our golf at Citic Golf Course. It was a chilly 11-12 deg with a wind chill of about 3-4 deg. We were told it was a sudden drop in temperature.

Day 1 was at Citic Golf 中信. The course was beautiful with nice fairways and great course layout. The green was surprising fast although it was quite grainy. Most of us were caught by the fast and tricky green. Peter of course was more engrossed with Billy's caddy. Billy, perhaps being the youngest in the group keep getting the cute caddies. The big winner for Day 1 - Jimmy Ang.

Day 2 was played at Guangzhou International Golf Course 仙村, a reciprocal club of NSRCC. It was a walking course and quite a few of us were walking like duck with the kar-kui-kui at the end. The only day when rain drops felled on us, while we played. At certain point, the umbrella had to come out. I had the best game of the trip with 84. First 9 at even par, 2nd 9 at +12, pui!pui!pui! Richard was the biggest winner on Day 2.

Day 3 was the terror day. At Mission Hills Greg Norman 诺曼course. We struggled on this links-like course. Terrible grass "chang cao长草"!!. Any balls that went into the rough will cause you to lose at least 1 stroke, if you can find it. Lee Heng hit into the chang-cao in just about every holes. He gained the title of "rough master" after getting the hang of hacking the balls out of the rough. You can see the rough in front of Lee Heng in this picture.
One of the toughest course around, no joke. All of us were cursing Mr Norman at the end of the game. I had a good first nine of 42, but collapse with fatigue on the back nine with a 53. Even Richard, the cool cucumber also curse Norman @#$%!!!My only motivation was I had Shu-qi lookalike as my caddy. Eat your heart out, Billy!! With some dispute over the rules on ball lost in long grass/jungles, we did not bet cross flight. Biggest winner on Day 3 was Peter Koh.

Day 4 was at Hillview Course 峰景. This is a beautiful course with the best greens in this four days. It was really fast and true. This game was known for the slaying of the kong-long. Jimmy Ang was slaughtered and rightly so, cos he shot 103. He was down by more than 400 RMB. His winning for the past few days were returned to their rightful owners. Peter was again the big winner on Day 4

The champion of the whole trip is Peter Koh, who won the Fedex Cup equivalent with more than 800 RMB.

Peter played better and better as the days go by. More impressively, he played only with a polo shirt while the rest of us were wearing 2-3 layers of clothes. So Peter, what is your secret?? I think only I know...hehehe!!!

The one who missed the cut??? He was easily the noisiest one in the whole group. Make a guess? Actually, his ass-luck already started on the plane having lost the chua-tai-ti with Jimmy and Billy.

On the whole, this trip was really fun. Golf was at some great courses (notice I did not say we all had great games?) and all the like-minded kakis were truly wonderful companies. The day has come and gone but we are certainly looking forward to more golfing adventures!!!

Disaster at Sembawang CC

Who says lightning never strike twice at the same place???

Teed off at 7.01am (front 9) on Saturday for the Sembawang Club Championship. The feeling was not too good at tee-off. Had very little sleep the night before but this time round, it has nothing to do with Lai Chi Keen!!

Tee-off was ok but disaster struck in my second shot, I sliced it into the right hillside. I did managed to recover to save par. The real mess was on Hole 3 where my 2nd shot found sand. I thinned the sand shot but luckily I hit the flag stick. It still flew over the green. My next chipshot rolled into the same bunker again #@$&. I made triple bogey.

My first 6 holes went like this : par, bogey, triple, bogey, double, bogey. At this point, my call was answered. The course was closed at 8.45. I was praying hard that the first game will be scrapped. I was encouraging the committee to scrapped the first game if the bad weather continues, but was told that the first game must be completed no matter what as they cannot be sure Game 2 and 3 will not be rained out.

The course was re-opened at 9.30 and my poor form continued. Par and triple again. At that time, the course was closed for the 2nd time due to lightning risk. I was already 10 over after 8 holes, what was my chance of defending my title (last year's Div B Champion)? ZERO!!!

They were still saying Game 1 will continue. At this point I told my flight mate, I am going off. No point continuing. I took my bag and left the club.

After 1 hour, my phone rang, my league team captain told me Game 1 was scrapped. They will continue with Game 2 in the afternoon. He ask me to go back.

I at that point already Xian Ji Pua (half-disheartened), I already left the club. I told him I will consider.

I did not go back. So that was the end of the club championship for 2009. See you in 2010.

My form lately has been bad. I need to re-work on my swing. Confidence is low. So when I saw Jimmy shot 78 at NSRCC, I said heng ah..luckily I was not there. Play level also lose!!!

R1N1 - Party of the Hole-in-ONE aka H1N1 !!!!

Not satisfied with the last effort to impress with the Tau Suan, Robert's done it again!

We had food, we had drinks, we had laughter (sometimes at other peoples expense, ke ke), we had company, we had friends, we had fellowship!! And all that for free, courtesy of Robert R1N1 Koh!!! What more can we ask for? Of course another round of 18 holes at the golf course so can have chance try try "H1N1" lah.

Lee Heng wants to be next to host another such party and so does Gerald plus a few more but space does not permit to list everyone! Guys please be reminded that there can only be 3 more balls besides RK in his flight alright? ke ke. Was wondering why Richard Tan held his forehead when Lee Heng seems to be telling him this! Like saying "you mean I can't join his flight this Sat meh!" (refer to photo attached)

At my last count, 20 Goofies came together on Monday evening 5 Oct 2009 at the Beach Hut facing the East Coast Park beach behind the East Coast McDonald restaurant. I lost count of the number of goofies just around when I also lost count of the number of glasses of beers I had already!

We had a great time thanks to RK and we even got to catch up with some who have being MIA for a while. JT, we knew he like the rest of us have to make a living to support our love ones. But for LCK??? Don't quite know the official reason for his absence these past almost 2 months! I heard rumours though that he might have been sent to detention classes for misbehaving himself lately.

Thankfully, now at least RK can display a "H1N1" ball on his trophy shelf courtesy of a replica ball signed by all at the gathering! Should you need to know the details of this, please refer to the earlier post on his "H1N1".

Below is an extract taken from mygoofynetwork.com showing some notes of appreciation from the goofies to Robert Koh for hosting the evening and also some "cheo'ing" to him to use his new (mature) Mizuno blade set. (some editing was necessary for the below msgs.)

7 Oct 09, 00:34 jon: tks for the party and the fun and laughter! RK you should go back to blades! esp when you play with me...

6 Oct 09, 22:21 Chee Hoo: RK, thanks for the drinks and food last nite!

6 Oct 09, 21:46 CYM: RK, thk u for a wonderful evening with food and drinks.

6 Oct 09, 15:23 leeheng: RK tks for the beer and food last nite. Great party! Think next in line has to be a Lee liao....

6 Oct 09, 12:48 Billy: RK, Thx for hosting the party last night! Hope you have a good game this Sat. U should go back to your blade irons. Rem u get Hin1 after you use blades.

6 Oct 09, 11:18 gerald: Thanks RK for the party last night...we certainly look forward to more Goofies getting on the Roll-of-Honour.....Cheers!

6 Oct 09, 10:37 Phillip: Robert Koh aka R1K1 or EP Koh thanks for the drinks and food last night.

A BIG THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ROBERT KOH aka R1N1 !!!!

P.S. does anyone know what song was Dick Lee singing when the photo was taken of him beside Jon-no-turn and Philip Lim?

Such a cock-up weekend

Since Dick was late for his 0715 game two weeks ago, he decided to head for NSRCC early this weekend. He had "Kopi Tiam" breakfast set at the Terrace. Paired together with Peter, Huat Siong and Richard only to find out that the flight was for next week 10th Oct instead. We tried to get an extra ordinary flight from Ong at the counter. Ong checked with his new starter ( short Malay staff) if he could insert an additional flight. The new starter did not agree as the flights are tightly slotted and furthermore, there is a 4BBB qualifying in the afternoon,

As it was Dick's error, we could do nothing about it. However, we managed to get a slot for Huat Siong to play with three strangers. Huat Siong commented, "Wah, white tee leh". Peter and Dick headed to Par 3 instead and after the first hole of 93m, met his old squash friends from Kim Keat, Dennis and Steven. the foursome then joined and played together form the second hole onwards. Play was very slow as there were many beginners playing in front of us.  After completing 9-holes of the Par 3, Peter and Dick headed to the staff canteen, now run by an ex-marshall and his brother.

On sunday another event happened. Dick booked a 0953 flight for his friend but forgotten to cancel it. Dick work up unusual time at 0715 and remembered that the flight was not sold. "What to do?" ran through the mind of Dick. To be slapped with a $168 now show or get some kakis to play the flight. Call a few goofies but only managed to get Bobby and Kheng Poh at the last hour. Was very appreciative of Bobby as it is his birthday and he consented to join. Kheng Poh "siam" his church service to join.

This must be the most cock-up weekend since we started playing at NSRCC on weekend.

Whew! Glad it is all over.

Robert Koh shot Hole-in-1 on Navy 6 by Gerald Koh

Suddenly everyone wants to have the "Koh" last name. Besides being a descendant to the huge construction company Koh Brothers, your chance of scoring a hole-in-1 is also significantly higher.

One month after small Koh scored a Hin1 at Army 3, big Koh scored another one last Saturday 26th Sep 09 at Navy 6.

According to the live commentator, Albert Teo, it went like that:

"1 In 1, by Robert the Kohs', with 3 wood in hand and coughing a few times, at Navy Hole 6 Tee, Robert Took his stand and position he hit the ball (Pin hole at Centre /Right of Green).

It was a good hit, it sail into the centre of the Green, Robert said, "Si liao, siou kuat tau Luck, kuat tau liao . On reaching the green he headed straight to the back of Green,

But I found his ball ib the Pin Hole. Robert hit a Hole in 1. That all simple , next time all be Kohs"

I think the Chairman of the Speak Good English Movement would have died of a heart-attack after reading the post.

Come to think of it, the Speak Good Singlish Chairman would have committed suicide too. I don't know wtf he is talking about!!!

Initially, we all doubted Robert when he said he had a Hin1. We returned to the clubhouse at about 11.30 am when the course was close. It was so quiet at the table, it was so surreal, so un-Robert, if you know what I mean.

Unfortunately for Robert, he continued to use the same ball for the next hole. He pulled left for his tee-shot and lost the ball in the rough. What a waste.

The luck has been passed, from CYM to Pete Koh to Robert Koh, all in the same flight. So for this Saturday and every Saturday, and in every tournament where there is a car for Hin1, I want to be in Robert's flight.

Even 18 generations of ancestors I also will not recognise.

BTW, I heard that the celebration will be a game and all-expense paid trip for all of us at Blue Canyon at Koh Phuket!!!

Peter Koh and his Hole-in-1 plaque

Suddenly everyone wants to be a "Koh". Look at this smiling Peter Koh, holding his beautiful Hole-in-One plaque.

We are are all looking forward to the 2nd part to this thriller. Watch this space!!

Korean babe Na Yeon Choi wins LPGA Samsung with help of sports psychologist

Babelicious Na Yeon Choi recorded her maiden win at the LPGA Samsung over the weekend.

Carrying a 7-shot lead into the 3rd round, she allowed another babe Ai Miyazato to close the lead to 2 strokes. She blew her lead on Day 4 and trailed Miyazato after 14 holes. She eventually rallied to to win with birdie on the 18th hole.

I have previously blogged about the benefits of sports hypnotherapy. Na Yeon Choi credited her win with the work she has done with her sports psychologist (read hypnotherapist) on improving her mental game. For those of you who would like to try it, let me know.

Dr Tan's Latest Thesis

For a golfer playing around 100, he is likely to use the Driver 14 times, the long irons or woods about 10 times, putter 36 times and pitching/chipping for the remaining 40 strokes.

Driver = 14
Long irons or woods = 10
Putter = 36
PW = 40
Total = 100

Thus, it is 75% short game. However, in a driving range you will find very few practising pitching or chipping. Most of us hardly practise putting.
Hence, to lower our golf scores, we have to invest more time in pitching, chipping and putting. An extra 10m in our drive will not help in our scores. But it is quite attainable to reduce 10 strokes with better pitching/chipping and putting (which accounts for 76 strokes on the average).