Haikou Golf Trip

The trip to Haikou was planned many weeks ago but we almost did not make it on a full flight. Peter had to withdraw due to work commitment but thanks to Phillip who was able to join us at short notice. Four of us including Bobby and Jimmy departed very early on Wed, 26 May morning. The forecasted weather for Haikou wasn’t very encouraging but being determined golfers nothing can stop us. We reached Haikou on a very sunny and hot late morning. “Bobby internet weather forecast not that accurate after all”, we subtlety commented (the forecast was rain on all the 4 days).

Peter’s friend Martin met us at the airport and very soon we became like old friend. We headed straight for Meilan Golf Course, a very new course of just 5 months old, some said older. There we met our old friend Jason Tan Weng Seng and another Singaporean friend. Jason is now the GM of Meilan. We had our lunch at the club and chit chat for quite a while (a big mistake) before starting our game at about 1,30pm.

It was a sunny and humid weather, real hot at between 34 and 36 degree centigrade. We thought we’re going to have a wonderful time on this wide, very forgivable but young course. 3 hours into our game we experienced the chameleon-like of the Haikou weather. Thunder rumbled from afar and within an hour dark clouds enveloped the entire sky. Before we can finish the 15 holes the rain poured supported by strong wind of 20-30 knots. There was no way we can complete the 18 holes under such weather condition. Jimmy was the happiest person to ABC, he did another Houdini act, the great escapee. He was heading to be Henry for the sixes and down in individual bets with all 3 (NNK, not sure whether another chance again). Martin, Jason and friends completed only 13 holes.

In the evening, Martin hosted dinner together with his group of Singapore friends. We finished dinner at about 10 pm and decided to have a good rest for tomorrow’s next battle with the Konglong.

Thursday, 27 May 2010 – we left early for West Coast, a mature course not far from the hotel. The design is quite similar to Meilan, many OBs and hazards but wide fairway. I played very well on the 1st nine with many par misses, Jimmy played equally well but I managed to pip him on the 9th hole by 1 with a bogee. On the 2nd nine I started well winning 3 straight holes but the konglong recovered very well and soon caught up with me. Again we had to decide on the last hole. This is an index 4 Par 4 hole which I have a 2 strokes handicap. I took 4 to reach the green while Jim had a 3 some 15 ft away from the hole. I missed my bogee and he missed par. Wow, I win the last hole again – full house on him. I also won full house against Bobby, only Phillip escaped with no blood. It was a satisfying for me and energy sapping game for all with the intense competition from the konglong. He lived up to his name but somehow I was able to get my act together, amazing performance 2 days running.

Tonight, we were all on our own. We had dinner opposite the hotel, a sumptuous one that cost an unbelievable RMB 201, to be exact. We really had a tiring game and decided to go for foot reflexology which was situated next to the restaurant. I had gone for many foot reflex but this one very different. The value-add was the towel fire rub and the hot pebble rub. A towel was placed on the body and alcohol sprayed on it to light up a fire. The hot towel was moved around the body for a few seconds before the fire was killed. It then used the hot towel to rub the body, quite siok. Actually, the 4 of us in the room were quite worry about the alcohol accidentally sprayed on the body, making suckling pig out of Jimmy, hahahaha. Next is the hot pebble rub but disaster struck. The cloth bag containing the hot pebbles somehow had a hole and a few pebbles dropped on my back. My natural reaction to dislodge the hot pebbles did not prevent me getting burnt. It was indeed both a good and bad experience. Well, hope for a better tomorrow.

Friday, 28 May 2010 – today was the third day of our trip, we are heading to BFA International Convention Centre Golf Club (better known as BOAO BFA). It’s a 2 hour drive to Dongyu Island located south of Haikou. It’s a very beautiful course with its unique terrain of the land, the surroundings, streams, waterfalls and garden landscape. We reached the course quite late teeing off at 11.30am under the scorching sun, it’s really damned hot. I started badly on the first two holes benefiting the 3 of them. I told myself it must be pay back time but with the encouragement from my pretty cabby, I started to improve my game. Caught up with Jimmy on the 8th hole and won by 1 with a par on the last hole. Phillip played badly lost 3 holes to me while Bobby’s performance was better with 3 holes up on me.

We did not stopped for lunch after the 1st nine fearing the usual afternoon thunderstorm. We ordered sandwiches and tea leaf eggs to eat while playing. My 2nd nine was much better, up Jimmy 4 holes on 4 and by the 6th it was game over for him. We heard the thunder from a distance. Jimmy must be praying for the rain. Fortunately, it came after we finished the game. I ‘jeep’ Jimmy and Phillip too and managed to lose to Bobby overall only. It was another amazing performance for me, my best in any of the overseas trips.

By the time we get back to the hotel, it was almost 6 just nice to go for dinner. This evening we will be hosting dinner for Martin, the same restaurant Jeffrey went on his last trip. I saw the ‘bak kut’ steam boat (the same dish we ate at GZ) and wasted no time ordering the dish including Wenchan chicken (Hainanese chicken, lah), steam fish head, etc, etc….What a feast we had and the bill came to only RMB 260 for 5 persons.

During our dinner chit-chat, I told Martin I have got a mission to accomplish and he must help me after dinner. By the time we finished dinner it was about 9pm. I pulled Martin aside and told him what I wanted. ‘No problem, it’s not far from here’, Martin uttered. True enough it was a short walk and we were surprised to see so many people patronising the outlets. Wow, any models you looking for its there for you, most of them are A-brand. We know what we wanted, the Nokia O1. Gerald already gave me an indicative price. It was hard bargaining, from RMB 630, we brought it down to 395 for 10 units. Mission accomplished we set our mind for the next target, DVD and CD. Jimmy went tea leaf hunting accompanied by Phillip. By the time we finished our chores, it was closed to 11pm. So back to hotel to rest for final battle tomorrow. Too tired for ‘chor tai tee’.

Saturday, 29 May – time really flies and it was the last day of our trip. We had a heavy breakfast (as we don’t intend to stop for lunch), checked out and headed for Meishi Mayflower Int’l Golf Course. It’s only half an hour drive from the hotel located just next to West Coast. We teed off at about 10am again on a very hot and humid day. My last trip 3 years ago, I played A and B course. Today, our 1st nine was C course which is the shortest but most difficult. It lives up to its rating I screwed on the first 2 holes with double pars. The course is narrow with OB left and/or right and water in front. I told myself I’m done for this nine, where got enough energy to last under the hot sun after 3 days of walking. I wasn’t sure where I mustered the extra calories; my game began to improve on the third hole. I managed to scrap through even with Jimmy and Phillip but lost to Bobby by 2.

We played the 2nd nine on A course and I played my best 9 for the entire trip. I can’t believe it myself. My score card showed par, par, par and my 4th hole was a par putt 15 ft away. Somehow, I screwed my putt with a double bogey but my form today was enough to rattle Jimmy. It was another sterling performance. The 4 days of golf were most satisfying for me. I beat Jimmy and Phillip again while even out with Bobby. Wow, no ‘horse run’.

By the time we reached town for our lunch it was 3.30pm. We were supposed to meet Martin for lunch at last night restaurant to use the discount voucher but it was closed. Martin unable to join us, bid him farewell and off we went for our last sumptuous meal in Haikou. By the time we finished lunch we had very little time for last minute shopping so we hit the road for the airport.

At the airport while waiting for the check-in counter to open, we started our first session of ‘chor tai tee’. Well, the form man struck again. I was top winner followed closely by Bobby. We stopped to check in. Game commenced on the plane. Poor Jimmy just cannot find the correct rhythm. It’s between me and Bobby taking turns to win until Jimmy almost gave up. Eventually, he was able to win a few but not enough to recover. By the time the plane touched down, Jimmy was down $170. I won $70+ with the rest going to Bobby. This trip is really very rewarding for me with a very high satisfaction rating for all. Followings are the comment made.

Phillip, ‘Thank you guys for allowing me the chance to get to know a little about Haikou and I have really enjoyed everything. I am also very grateful to Bobby for sponsoring the air ticket. It’s the company that made the trip full of live with all the slapstick jokes on and of the golf course. Thanks a million’.

Bobby, ‘Phllip, I think we would not enjoyed ourselves so much if you have not come along! Your ticket is sponsored by Jimmy n CYM as well. Especially Jimmy for his additional sponsor during our flight back with Tai-tee game!!’.

Jimmy, ‘Thank you for organising this trip. It’s a good experience outing. I suppose every body enjoy yourself with fun and accompany (should be company). Ready (Really) look forward for the next outing but need to face the reality tomorrow….see you Sat for the debrief by co-organisor Peter’.

CYM, ‘Thank you to the 3 of you for your generosity and kind heart especially Jimmy. It was you 3 that gave me the adrenalin making it possible for me to keep going even when I was about to fall apart’.

Before I end this report I have a few words for you, ‘Over time golf can change the character of a person’. Think about it.