Red tee and buying beer

Last Saturday, while enjoying our few jugs of beer (we had about 6 jugs free!!!), we started a lively debate regarding when a golfer should buy beer for not passing the red tee, especially when ball is in the drink.

Under which circumstances should he buy?

1. Eventual ball position in the water? The difficulty is determining where is the ball, especially when its a close call. The ripple will be a good reference.

2. The point of entry before the red tee?

3. The drop point where he should drop the ball, assuming there is no official dropzone.

Case in point is CYM's favorite hole, Airforce 6. If the ball is in the water, the point of entry is definitely before the red tee.

So what do you think?

15 hours for a golf game

My itinerary for the day goes something like this..

4.20am Woke up
5.00am Reach Felix's house
5.50am Reach Tuas Checkpoint
7.20am Cleared Tuas. Jammed for 1.5 hours
8.50am Cleared Malaysia checkpoint. Jammed for 1.5 hours
9.30am Breakfast at Kelapa Sawit
10.30am Teed off at Legends
2.30pm Finish Game
3.00pm Left Legends. Jam along the way, road block.
4.00pm Reach Senai for Lunch/Dunch
4.45pm Left Senai
5.15pm Reach Tuas
6.30pm Clear Tuas (Jam 1 hour 15 mins)
7.10pm Reach home

I finally reached home 15 hours after I woke up for game.

What a day!!! I still have not learned my lesson after previous experience.

NEVER EVER GO FOR A GOLF GAME IN MALAYSIA DURING A LONG WEEKEND!!!!

4 City Bumpkins Challenge the Sea of Pearls..by CYM

It all started with 8 but one preferred Bogor and so there will 3. Another on biz trip, the 3rd one cannot go (don’t know why but suspect no visa), the 4th don’t know where to go and so there were 4. These 4 heroes from Water Margin then made its plan to Zhuhai, the Sea of Pigs (ooh….should be Pearls, soon you find out why pearls and not pigs). When I said plan we really plan.

2 days before the journey we had a post-trip meeting, wah pian so serious men, don’t pray, pray. Meeting supposed to start at 4.30p at McCafe, Great World City. Lee Heng was there at 4.30pm sharp (now you know who was the most excited one), 5pm LCK walked in followed by Billy. I was the late one at 5.30pm. Before I could warm my seat, LH had to go and 15 minutes later Billy. What a plan? So what did we discuss? Money, transport, golf courses, itinerary…………&*^%$#@!.

Woke up at 4am on a warm Saturday morning, 8 Nov 2008, for Billy to pick me up at 4.40am (this LCK don’t know why picked a flight at 6.30am departure). I guess he was training all of us to wait up early for the next 3 days. Reached LCK’s house at 4.55am, wa lau wife, mother, daughter all waiting to send him off. Hello LCK kena wear chastity belt or not, I asked? Shee……

As planned, arrived at airport Terminal 1 at 5.10am and checked in. Still got plenty of time to take breakfast, supposed to take noodle but one wise crack suggested Burger King. Ok, lah (and soon I regretted). 3 of us ordered the same breakfast set except for this wise crack and he got into some kind of a tiff with of all kind of people, a female Chinese nationalist. Food and beverage came, took one bite and the wise crack said his order wrong. Ya loh, must be revenge by the Chinese girl. She came, uttered some words, with a flicked of her fingers and LH’s cup of hot coffee came flying and landed of all places on my ‘tee tee’. Luckily wearing a thick blue jean but still hot inside, you know. @#$%^&*()+_)(*, I want to see your manager thinking maybe get a free meal, tan ku ku ok. And so I flew all the way from Singapore to the Sea of Pearls with the coffee aroma of Burger King. Guess who is the wise crack who gave me this special flavour?

Landed in Hong Kong, wah quite cooling men, siok like Kunming weather. Settled our transit via ferry to Zhuhai, still got plenty of time and so ‘chor tai tee’ until we reached our destination. Alamak, it’s damned cold men with the strong wind coming from the sea. Hello, why nobody check the weather before coming? Of course, none of us brought a sweater. Quickly jumped into a cab. Ferry point to hotel, Nanyang Seascape (nan yang hai chin) was about 30 minutes. Can’t wait to check-in. Wow, the room very big leh, can play 18 holes in there. I like it and so are the rest. ‘Ok, 15 minutes later to wait at lobby to take lunch’ said LCK. He must be real hungry, don’t give me chance to remove the coffee. What do you think the first thing we or rather I will do after lunch?

If you think crooked you were all wrong. I went to Lotus Road to hunt for a pair of jean. I thought maybe I can claim it back from LCK (now you know who the wise crack was) but alas he claimed innocence.

Wow!!! we saw many pearls walking around but there are pigs too. Found and bought a pair of Chinese-made Armani jean but the 3 nowhere to be found. I guessed I know where they are, look for the ‘Pearls’. And there I found all 3 surrounding a pretty mei mei drinking tsing tao beer. In Zhuhai, they have these drinking stalls lining up the entire street with a pretty girl manning the drink stall. You can play cards with her or if you like by yourself, dice also can. All you need to do it to pay for your drink, beer, juices or soft one. Strictly no hanky panky, just young innocent girls doing a decent business. 1 after another they drank, mesmerised by this pretty pearls. ‘Hey, you guys already drank a dozen, we need to go I’m still with my coffee’, I heard myself uttering these words. While walking back we scouted around checking which good restaurant to eat, settled on one and so back to hotel. ‘Everyone to fall in at 6.30pm at the lobby for dinner’ shouted LCK.

It was really cold with the fierce wind blowing, yet we chose eating in the open air area (asked for it, still cold while eating). It was a ‘big fish big meat’ dinner with roast goose, pigeon, crabs, prawns, garoupa…..I can’t remember the rest but it was a sumptuous dinner. An enjoyable meal if not for the frequent harassment from young girls to buy their flowers, sings us a song and so on……

What a meal and so what’s next?

Me, LCK and LH wanted to go for our favourite activity. Billy had no choice but to follow. We went hunting pub after pub after pub for one particular one. LCK told us his friend said this one the best, it has got everything there which others may not have. And it’s true. There in front of us, it was BIG, men. Wow, so many people watching.


…………………. To continue in the next episode.

Lexus Cup

Despite the bad weather, my daugther and I still persisted in going for the Lexus Cup. Paid $33 for myself as kids get to watch for free.

We were planning to follow the last match between Seon Hwa Lee and Angela Stanford, so we sat at the 10th tee waiting for them to crossover. After watching 3 flights teed off, the game was suspended for a 2nd time. I thought to myself, $33 for 3 tee-offs, $10 per flight, its gonna be expensive.

1.5 hours later, the game was on again. We waited and waited and finally, Seon Hwa Lee came. She was already 3-down. We followed her flight hoping to see a fight-back but she lost hole 10 to go 4-down, missing a near putt for par. Guess what? We decided to abandon her flight (so much for being a fan!!).

We hung around the 16th hole and watch the flights come by. Paula Creamer came along, she squared 16th hole but lost her match. She was really cool. Took out her new balls, sign them and gave them out. Both my gal and her friend got one autographed ball each.

Then Jang Jeong came along, she was already 3-down with 3 to go. She promptly birdied 16th to pull one back. We decided to follow this flight to watch her fight-back. She teed off 17th to within 6-7 feet and then birdied again to win. However, she can only square 18th and lost 1-down.

While hanging around the 18th green, we managed to catch Yani Tseng, the World No 2 ranked player. My gal and her golf kaki (ya, she has her kakis too!) managed to get this photo taken with her.

My intention in bringing her there is to hopefully inspire her to take her golf more seriously. She managed to get Annika, Na Yeon Choi, Inbee Park, Yani Tseng and Creamer 's autograph.

Hopefully, I achieved my goal.

4 Goofy members in Zhuhai Golf Trip

Billy, CYM, Lee Heng (what's his last name?) and Chi Keen made the trip in early November to Zhuhai. While we wait impatiently from CYM for his post on this blog, here are some pictures of their recent trip. C'mon CYM, make us regret for not joining your trip!!!

I just heard today that CYM wets his pants at Changi Airport just before departure. What a start to the memorable trip.

Even Tiger Woods is hit by recession!

GM ends Tiger Woods deal

DETROIT (Michigan) - BELEAGURED US automaker General Motors, facing desperate times in a troubled economy, has ended its endorsement deal with 14-time major golf champion Tiger Woods, the firm announced on Monday.

The sponsorship contract, believed to pay Woods US$7 million (S$10.6 million) a year, was due to expire at the end of 2009 but instead will conclude at the end of the year under mutual agreement between GM and the global golf star.

GM has sought US$25 billion in loans from the US government to avoid a shutdown that would cost thousands of jobs at its factories and related auto part manufacturing plants.

Woods has been featured in advertisements for GM products worldwide, notably the Buick automobile brand in China, Canada and the United States, and has played in many US PGA Tour events sponsored by the auto brand.

The decision comes as US car manufacturers face huge financial losses and budget shortfalls while Woods is on a layoff following left knee surgery after his triumph in June's US Open at Torrey Pines.

While the car company looks to save money, Woods seeks more personal time with his wife Elin due to give birth to their second child in 'late winter'.

'I am very proud of the long standing partnership I've had with GM and have enjoyed being a part of the company's dramatic product evolution. We've had a lot of fun together,' Woods said in a statement.

'We've had a lot of fun together, and I participated in some unique and rewarding activities. We've enjoyed a tremendous partnership over the years, and we will maintain strong ties with the many people at GM we call friends.'

GM officials say the ending of the deal is unrelated to the automaker's request for US$25 billion in loans from the federal government.

'Tiger has been a great friend to GM and a fantastic asset through the years,' said GM vice-president Mark LaNeve.

'This decision is the result of discussions that started earlier in the year and the timing of this agreement with these other activities is purely coincidental.'

Woods, who needs four more major titles to match Jack Nicklaus atop the all-time list, is not certain when he will return to action after missing the past six months to let a knee heal.

A likely contender for Woods' comeback tournament is Torrey Pines, where he won in a playoff last June while limping to the finish.

The Southern California course will host the US PGA Buick Invitational next February and Woods has won his past five starts there.

Woods said last month he was 'very confident' in playing at next April's Masters, the next major golf championship. He has won the event four times.

Woods has carried the Buick brand on his golf bag since 1999. The only other sponsor logo seen around his clubs since he turned professional in 1996 has been that of another major sponsor, Titleist. -- AFP

Rusty, no KTH and an interrupted sleep

Teed off very early today at 7.15am with Dick, Robert and Jonas. After not having made a single swing for 3 weeks (not even at the range), I went onto the course to take on these 3 buayas.

First shot was really bad, a hook on Airforce 1 (sounds like George Bush's plane) into the left bunker. Out to green side and failed to get up-and-down. Can't get into the hang of things. Chipping was especially bad, not having any feel at all. Putting was in patches, some time excellent, some time horrible. Navy 4, had a horrendous 4-putts. However, I was quite pleased with my new swing, it was quite alright even after a long lay-off. Shot 89, which I think was still decent.

Luckily $ wise, did lose too much, won all 6-es, lost the 2nd drink hole. Individually, lost to Dick 15, Jonas 10 but thanks to Robert, who decided to "press", I won 25. So I broke even.

Dick played well today, especially in the AF9, scoring pars when the 3 of us were making bogies. Of course all of us had excuses for playing badly. Me, I was rusty after 3 weeks without golf. Jonas (aka Key Tow Hong) decided to leave his "Hong" at home.

Robert? He said his sleep was interrupted by his wife at 3am.

I shall not elaborate on the details.

World class vs regional talents

I can't believe I have not swung a golf club for the past 2 weeks. By this saturday, it will be 3. Came back after 2 weeks of winter chill in Switzerland and France just in time to catch the last day of Barclays Singapore Open.

One thing that struck me most was the gulf between world class talents such as Jeev Milka Singh, Harrington and Els vs regional talents such as Chapchai and Lam Chih Bing.

What differentiate them was mental toughness. When push come to shove, these world class players soak up the pressure and still make the key strokes and putts. Chapchai and Lam Chih Bing, both leading into round 4, wilted under the tremendous pressure. We have seen many times how golfers when paired with Tiger going to the last round get intimidated and ultimately present the the trophy to him.

Jeev Milka Singh also took a while to break through, and now he knows how to win, having won the Volvo Masters last year and now Singapore Open.

Lets hope Lam Chih Bing will learn from his good performances in the British Open and Singapore Open and achieve his major win (not Major) soon.

Jonas "Key Tow Hong" - Posted on behalf of CYM

Wow, this Jonas 'key tow hong', did not made a single mistake at Navy. Every 2nd shot attacked pin and masok green, man. Upto 6 holes down 3 holes, how to play. Offered to pay $7.50 to avoid further damage. Wow lau, he so confidence rejected my offer. So I decided to show him my colour.

At 7th hole I hid my 2nd shot to 105m and he put it on again, cnn pow see liao.

I took out my 9 irons and gave it a good hit. It sailed up, pin high, dropped about 15m from pin and rowed to about 4 ft away. The buaya nearly birdie the hole, gave me a fright but I also par it. So down to 2 holes.

At 8, cnn my ball went to the left and rolled into hazard. The buaya 'flicked his tail' and gave a crooked smile. I was disappointed with my tee but did not gave up hope. Found my ball in the hazard but playable, I took out my 5 iron, managed to get it out to about 60m from the green on the left. He hid into the bunker. I told myself, ada chance lah. I used my sand wredge and got my ball on to about 20ft from pin. Alamak, our buaya friend putted from the bunker to about 15 ft. Neh neh ku, know how to play safe, ha. Buaya ada sikit brain. I putted to about 3 ft away. Lucky he didn't masok lobang. We both bogeed and so it's down to 1.

He hid a f*$%ing good shot at 9 but landed in the bunker to the left. I screwed my tee shot to just 10 - 15 ft passed the red tee. My 2nd shot was solid but still on level distance with the buaya. Wow lau, his 7 iron got him to 120m to pin playing yellow. I told myself, if I can get to about 100m still got chance. Again I screwed my 3rd shot and left me with 165m away. I know with his 'tow hong' day he will put it on with his 3rd shot. So I died died must cheong. Took out my 5 iron (these days my 5 iron can carry 160m, don't need my U wood). Hit my 4th shot, sailed thru' the air, alamak kanang pergi lah and tok nam, loh. Maybe still got chance if he top and masok ayer. Prayed hard hard, Lee Heng also. Wow lau, the tow hong really tow hong, pin high and landed 3 ft away from hole for birdie chance. I raised my white flag. Lucky only 9 holes otherwise backside bocho.

Although, lost individual still got chance to win our three's. Lee Heng and myself is up 1 hole going into 9. Need only half to win. Lee Heng got his bogee. So both of us chant 'miss, miss, miss'. I can see the buaya hands trembling but being a buaya how to let the prey lari. So the bite was hard, deep and painful. His birdie got him to even par for the 9 holes.

Well done, Jonas!!! It was fun, the only regret we did not do was taunting you.

A game of 2 nines?

Can't agree more with this statement.

Again, the weather was not kind to us, especially early in the morning. All flights were delayed by 1 hour due to the rain. Even as we teed off at about 8.30am, it was still raining. The rain did not stop until the 7th hole.

I am not sure if it was the rain or my new swing, my first 9 was horrendous, with 2 triple bogies. Started with a birdie but could not sustain. Had a 12 over for the first 9. Poor Richard, both of us partnering for the first six could not beat Peter and Albert Teo. He threatened to report me to CPIB :).

At crossover, I told myself to wipe out the first 9 from my memory and focus on my game. Weather was perfect on the 2nd 9. No sun, no rain, what else is there to ask for. Shot 1 over for the 2nd 9 with a lone bogey on Navy 4.

Apologies to Dick, who was so kind to give an early slot to me as I needed to run an errand. He ended up unable to crossover due to the rain.

Heard Jonas had a solid Navy 9, he shot even par. No wonder his flight could not crossover. CYM must have deliberately slow the game down to avoid being slaughtered further.