Gerald wins the Sembawang Championship for B Division!!

Sorry, I could not blog as I was playing 36 holes, dinner and prize presentation, went to Robert and Peter's brother's wake (my condolence to both of you), then came back to watch the F1. Was damn tired and soon knocked out flat.

So here is the update.

Maintaining a lead of 7 strokes after Day 1, I started Day 2 with an early tee off at 7.17am. I was in the group of the 4 leading players. Started off very well, with some superb puttings, birdieing the very first hole. Played the front 9 at 3 over with one-putt at 4 holes.

However, 2nd 9 was a different story. My nightmare started with bogeying 10 and 11 and had a horrendous double par (4)on 12. Teed off into the bush, found the ball but could not get it out in my first attempt. Reverse chipped out on the 2nd. Made mess at this hole. Finished the back 9 at 11 over for a total of 86. If not for my strong front 9, my result would have been much worse.

My nearest competitor Teck Lee had a 83 and my lead was down to 4 strokes (167 vs 171). The other 2 players faded away and were no longer in contention.

Had a quick 15 minutes lunch at the terrace and soon teed off for the 3rd game. I figured I cannot play anything worse than my last 9.

Started badly again with a series of bogies. The only consolation was parring the last 2 holes on the first 9 to score +7. My closest competitor scored +4 and I lost another 3 strokes of lead, which was down to one (210 vs 211).

As the day got on, I was feeling damn tired. I constantly remembered to keep myself hydrated so that I don't end up a victim of heat exhaustion.

My swing also started to deteriorate as I was getting tired. I lost confidence in my driving as I had to use my old driver as my current one is non-conforming. My only consolation was my putting.

I started my last 9 holding on to a precarious 1 shot lead. When your long game deserted you, your short game became handy. Chipping and putting was my saviour of the day.

I held a 2-shot overall lead going into the last hole which I bogeyed and my opponent parred. He shot 4 over on the 2nd 9 and I matched him with a 4 over. I won the SCC Championship for B Division by a single stroke! Phew! I now realised how some of the PGA golfers felt when they are in the lead and being chased by Tiger Woods.

My gross score was 250 (81, 86, 83), my chaser was at 251 (88, 83, 80). The winner of the overall championship was from A Div at 249. Yeah, I could have won the overall championship if not for the screw-up at hole 12.

For my effort, I won 3 trophies. Overall Men's Division B Gross Champion, Day 1 Best Gross and Day 3 2nd Nett score.

USA wins Ryder Cup

After leading the 1st day 5 1/2 vs 2 1/2 and the 2nd day 9 vs 7, USA romped to a 16 1/2 vs 11 1/2 victory over Europe at the 2008 Ryder Cup held at Valhalla Country Club, reversing a trend of 3 straight losses.

Paul Azinger's bet on 6 rookies paid off as they proved with grit and determination that they can match up to the best that Europe can offer. Antony Kim, Chad Campbell, Ben Curtis and JB Holmes all won their individual matches. Hunter Mahan, also a rookie, was the leading points winner with 3.5 out of maximum 5.

Especially impressive was debutant Antony Kim who thrashed Sergio Garcia 5 and 4 and led the singles victory charge. Kim, who won 2 PGA events this year was more than a match for Sergio, conceding nothing to him. I am begining to like Kim a lot and I think he will be Top-3 in the World Ranking by next year. Just watch out.

So was Tiger missed at the event?

Gerald leads Sembawang Country Club Championship After Day 1...

For the first time ever, 11 years after I joined SCC, I took part in the Club Championship. The event will be played over 3 x 18 holes. The first game being today and 36 holes will be played next Sunday 28th Sep 08.

On a very hot afternoon, I shot a gross score of 81 and a nett score of 68, playing at handicap 10.5 and course handicap of 13. I am leading the Men's B Division and tied for lead across the A, B and C division. The leaders in all 3 divisions are 68 nett.

The pin positions today were some of the toughest I have ever played at SCC and the greens were very fast due to the dry condition.

I didn't start very well as I was not relax enough. Took the turn at 42 which was not very good. The only saviour was a birdie at hole 7. The 2nd 9 was a lot better as I started to relax and play my normal game. Shot 39 with a birdie at hole 16.

Let's hope I can maintain my form or improve for next Sunday's game. Watch this blog for update. Check out SCC website at www.sembawanggolf.org.sg for the detailed results.

Fastest fingers...

This lastest change in booking system of 50/50 walk-in and internet has made internet booking more important. Those of you who cannot be at the club to do the booking can try to book via internet.

I just want to share some internet booking tricks how to make sure you can get a slot.

1. Key into your calendar for a weekly reminder at 5.55pm to remind you. If you have access to internet, you can try.

2. Open a Word file or notepad. Type out your membership number. Then you block copy the whole number. This is to allow you to paste directly without typing in the booking page.

3. Do have a simple password (eg. AAAAAAAA). No point making it so complicated that it slows you down.

4. 10 secs before Friday 6pm, refresh the booking page. It should refresh just after 6pm. If you do it after 6pm, it might be too slow.

5. Once the weekend slots appear, paste your membership number (remember you have copied it earlier?) and key in your simple password and choose the day. Click "Book".

6. Quickly choose any slot that is available. Those later time slots will be easier to book, eg. 8.53 or 9.07. Kranji is also easier to book.

By using some of these tricks, you can save critical seconds that will allow you to get a slot. Some of you might know of other tricks, do share with us here.

I am looking foward to 100% internet booking. With so many members, I am sure our club can get at least 4 slots.

Wet wet wet

Woke up this morning hearing the rain drops outside my bedroom window. Called the clubhouse at Kranji and was told that the course was closed till 8am. It was 7am then. Since our t-time was 8.39am, our earliest t-off will be about 9.30am.

SMS Jonas to tell him that course was closed, but that kan cheong spider said he was already on the way there. At 7am.

As usual, thinking of playing 9 holes, already "sian ji puah". Nonetheless, since I have to get used to my old driver (found out my SQ+ was non-conforming) and will need to use it in SCC's Club Championship next week.

Finally when the course opened, it was about 10am. Gave Jonas 1, Bobby 1 and Billy 7. Well, I should have stayed at home to sleep :). Played 7 over and lost 1, 2 and 2 holes respectively, $10 for 9 holes each. We can only play 3-es, I lost 1, win 1 and half 1. Another $15 down.

With this latest booking system, it is causing havoc on the way the group can play together. Either NSRCC implement an all internet or all walk-in. This system is neither here nor there.

7 Tips for golfers

These are some tips I received via Andy Brown E-zine. Just thought I should share with you. I don't agree with his first point. The rest, I thought they are quite sensible. What do you think?


"My Number One Key Lesson, and possibly the
most important of all, is the fact that I REFUSED
to change my clubs until I had broken 80.

i.e. I didn't even think about the concept of
all the new technology and "buying a better game"
until I had a really sound swing grooved in and
a proper understanding of how to play the game.

I shot a 78 with a ten year old Big Bertha, a
20 year old Mizuno three wood, a set of hand-me-down
Mizuno irons (that were at least 20 years old)
and a horrible old Wilson putter that was found
lying around the store at the golf centre.

So the lesson is .....

Plain and Simple ....

- don't put the cart before the horse!

Don't expect great clubs to make you a great golfer
- And here's WHY in a Nutshell!


Number Two is to make use of the wedges.

But again DON'T start jumping into the whole
lob wedge thing before you can really play
well round the green.

The lob wedge is a great tool but don't expect
to improve your scoring and keep it well out
of your bag when you're out on the course until
you are really comfortable with it around a
practice green.

After you are comfortable with it then get
yourself four, equally spaced (I use 46/52/56/60)
wedges and get out there and work out exact
distances with each club.


Number Three - Get a putter you love - you must
really love the feel of a putter or it simply
won't work for you.

It almost doesn't matter what it looks like -
as long as you can fall in love with it then
it can work for you.

I used (cue: golfing madness alert) to sit
twiddling my putter while watching TV in an
effort to get really comfortable with its weight
and feel

- I advise you to do the same but be aware
that, yet again, this stuff doesn't exactly
make you popular with your partner.

I did exactly the same thing with my Ping 56* SW
since that became my round the green "go to" club.


Number Four - get the easiest to hit irons you
can find.

Don't worry about what they look like and be
swayed by the looks of super-sexy slim blades.

The name of the game (unless you're already a
single figure handicapper) is to find great game
improvement irons.

I used Mizuno MX-17s during the challenge and as
a present to myself after I completed the challenge
traded them in for beautiful forged MP-30s which,
if I'm honest, I doubt that I hit as well as the
much cheaper Mx-17s.

So remove the ego and get inexpensive cavity back
game-improvement irons.


Number Five - use hybrid clubs.

The average high handicapper really shouldn't be
using a 3 or even a 4 iron these days.

Hybrids make the job vastly easier.

I have a Mizuno 2 iron MP-37 blade which I use at
the range to teach myself certain practice
techniques (more later) but it goes nowhere
near my bag on the course and I don't even have
a 3 iron.

So again ignore the ego, ignore your mates who
call them "girl's clubs" and buy at least one
hybrid.

Number Six - get a decent driver that suits your
swing.

I spent a clean fortune on drivers during the
year and that was ultimately a mistake.

But it's a mistake a huge amount of golfers make.

We're forced, through the power of huge advertising
budgets, to think that the newest driver on the block
will transform our game.

The key is to get one decent driver that suits your
game and stick with it.


Number Seven - buy last year's models.

Irons, drivers, hybrids etc. should all be bought
one year out of date.

The industry moves at a ferocious pace and most of
the time you can buy a brand new club for as low
as half the original price just because it isn't
fashionable any more!

Avoid the hype and keep a rational mind (even though
I know, more than anyone, how tough that can be with golf)"

Spiderman wins BMW Championship

Camilo Villegas, aka Spiderman won his first tournament in the PGA Tour at the BMW Championship. In the rain-delayed event, the Colombian with model look and stylish dressing, led wire-to-wire with scores of 65-66-66-68, to win by 2 shots.

Villegas has been contending in the past few events and finally he got his breakthrough win. Why is he called Spiderman? Well, just take a look at the picture above and you will know what I mean.

Vijay Singh, who won the first two events of the Fedex Cup Playoff, tied for 44th and earned enough points that all he has to do is complete four rounds at THE TOUR Championship in two weeks to collect the $10 million payoff.

The only way Vijay can lose, is to be disqualified and Camilo wins the Tour Championship.

You can, if you think you can

Vijay won back-to-back Fedex Cup playoff at Barclays and Deutschebank Open with some awesome putting. A couple from 30 feets to 50 feets.

We all know Vijay is not a strong in putting until now. Why this change? He said:

"I think in my head, I convinced myself that I'm the best putter.

I think through the past weeks and months and years, with the media talking about my putting and writing about my putting and people talking about my putting and people want to help me, I must have had hundreds of letters and phone calls and all saying that they can fix my putting.

At the end of the day, it gets to your head that you're not a good putter.

So I made a point after last week that going to change that attitude, and I believed in myself that I'm the best putter, and I came out here with a different attitude, and I putted great this week.

If I keep doing this, I'm going to win a lot more golf tournaments."

And sure enough, he was holing putts from all over the place.

This reminds me of my 2 sessions with my hypnotherapist, Jennifer Norris. Basically, hypnotherapy is about working on your subconscious and unconscious mind. You start to think of the positives and put all the negatives aside. You will believe you can pull off whatever you want to do. This gives you the mental strength to play golf.

I credit Jennifer for the improvements I have made to my game, especially the mental aspect. Since her sessions, I must have cut 8 strokes off my handicap.

For those of you who are keen to learn more about hypnosis and how it can help your golf, visit http://www.greymatternetwork.com. If you are game to try, contact Jennifer at 96930676.