Minimum of 2 weeks without golf..

I have not played at NSRCC for at least a month, really missed playing with the guys, all the ribbings and "suanings".

Came back from Manila hotspot with a flu, the regular flu. The fact is that I left Singapore with the flu. I was so concerned about not being able to leave for business on Monday that I saw the GP on Sunday night and was given clearance to fly. I just wanted to eliminate the possibility.

Came back on Friday afternoon and was alarmed at reading about so many cases in Singapore. My flu was still there, with runny nose, cough and sore throat. Luckily, I did not have any fever.

To be more responsible and much to my disappointment, I have decided to self-quarantine and pull out from the Saturday game with the mates at NSRCC. I also do not want to infect the office colleagues with anything that I might have brought back. My partner and co-traveller, Derrick will be doing the same thing at home.

After 2 days of self-quarantine, I am already dying from boredom. I can imagine how those people at Aloha felt. Most of the time spent on the net or watching television. No outing, no shopping and more importantly, no golf.

Well, one good thing that might come out of it, is that I can give my injured right shoulder a good rest. Have been carrying this injury for 2 weeks and not giving it a chance to heal.

Hope to get well soon and be out to smell the fresh air on the golf course.

Daughter and Dad in Rabbit Cup SCC

Participated in Sembawang CC Parent and Child Rabbit Cup today. It took me a long time to convince my 12 years old daughter, Gemmi to take part. She was really nervous about this event and it motivated her to practise harder at the range.

I was looking forward to the event, to teeing off. We even wore similar outfits for team unity. We were paired with another father and daughter team, Kelvin and Stella. It was really tought for Gemmi and the 9-year old Stella to play on the 18 holes Commando Course. The weather was really hot too.

The hightlight of the day has to be the monster Par-3, hole 18. Gemmi hit a fantastic tee-shot, the ball landed just before the green and bounced on. From the back of the green at about 50 feet, she lagged the ball to 4 feet and made par. We were jumping for joy and exchanging hi-5s.

Although we did not win the event, we had fun out on the course. It was really the experience that matters. I am looking forward to the day she gets her official handicap.

This is the best father's day present I ever had.

Trip Report for The Empire Hotel and Country Club, Brunei – by Tan Hong Pew

I have just taken a 3 days 2 nights trip with my family to Brunei Empire Hotel and Country Club between 11-13 June 2009. Although Brunei is not a normal tourist destination, I was attracted by the promotion package and the beautiful hotel. At S$399 (+ 120 taxes) a head inclusive of air ticket, transfers and hotel accommodation, I thought it was a bargain. Golf at the hotel Jack Nicklaus course is S$100 a round of 18 holes (with 10% taxes) as part of the package.

Overall ratings:

Golf – If I use our local 5-stars hotel as reference and peg NSRCC Changi Course as a 4 stars club, the following are my ratings for the Empire Hotel and the Golf course.

1. Hotel – 6 stars standard.
2. Club House – 5 stars.
3. Buggies – 4 stars
4. Tee-boxes – 5 stars
5. Fairways – 5 stars
6. Greens – 5 stars
7. Environment and surrounding – 5 star, excellent sea view from the course.
8. Service standard – 5 stars, excellent from hotel pick-up, to check-in to general service.
9. After dark entertainment – 1 star.
10. Travelling time – 1.5 hours flight, 20 minutes from airport to hotel, so quite short.

Overall impression – At $399, it is well worth it and I am likely to go again. For golf, at $100 a game for such a nice course, it will relatively inexpensive and worth it.

Taylormade Tour Burner 10.5 US regular for sale

Almost new. Only a few times on the green. Let me know if anyone is keen. Up for bidding at ebay, for kakis, no need to bid. SGD150 cash and carry. Original from Taylormade store at Bishan Range. "SG" Hollow gram still intact.

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260426838806

Update : Sold to Cheong Yong Meng...

Hong Pew wins the Singapore Bus Association Golf

Our 2007 MIP (most improved player) Tan Hong Pew has won the Singapore Bus Association Golf held today at Tanjung Puteri Golf Course. Shooting a personal best of 82 (43, 39), Hong Pew came in tops in Division A.

Last year in the same event, Hong Pew shot 92 and won the Division B title. This shows that he has indeed improved by leaps and bounds. Next year, he will play in the Premier Division.

His prize for winning this event is one year free ride on SBS and SMRT buses!!! (kidding la).

Well done, Hong Pew!

Dropping on the opposite margin of a hazard

Me and CYM were discussing this not-so-well-known rule of golf. You are allowed to drop on the opposite side of the hazard if it is marked by a red stake. Here are the details:

Perhaps the least-understood option for taking a penalty drop after hitting a ball into a lateral water hazard (red stakes or red line) is the drop on the "opposite margin" as stated in Rule 26-1c (ii).

To clarify, if your ball crosses into a lateral water hazard, you're allowed to find a point on the opposite side of the hazard that's the same distance from the hole as the point where your ball crossed the hazard. From there, you're allowed to take a drop within two club-lengths (no closer to the hole), add a penalty stroke to your score, and play on.

One caveat: If you draw an imaginary straight line from the point where your ball entered the hazard to that point on the opposite side of the hazard--and that line first crosses land that is outside the hazard--then dropping on the opposite side is not an option.

The ups and downs of golf

Golf is such a crazy, unpredictable game.

Last week I had one of the worst game in recent time, 92. Everything was just not right.

This week, I shot the best game ever at NSRCC, 75, all within a week. Strange! Everything just felt right.

Same course, same clubs, same ball, same me.

Alas, one thing that was different is that I did not mix with bad companies. That explains.

Hi, my name is Jeffrey...

If anyone introduced himself as Jeffrey prior to teeing off, you got to be weary of him.

Dick, Phil, Jeffrey and myself teed off on a very warm Saturday morning. After a night of drinking with the guys, I was feeling not too bad really.

Starting both 9s with double bogies and shooting 92 isn't my idea of "not too bad". Lost 2 sixes, 2 individuals (to Dick and Phil), and another $110 for not playing at all.

Why you might ask? Sembawang CC called me during the game and asked why I did not turn up. Initially, I cannot recall that I actually booked a flight there. So, I got to pay the no-show fee for the whole flight, $110.

Guess what? Jeffrey really "吃free"!!!

I could have been better off eating Bak Chor Mee!!!

And yes, Chi Keen, it worked!!!

Huat Siong playing in the Champions Tour Pro-am!!!

Fellow Goofies Tan Huat Siong has qualified to play in the US PGA Champions Tour Pro-am!!!

Playing in the SAS golf in Sentosa Tanjung Course, Huat Siong scored 86 and came in second overall in the double peoria format. His prize for playing so well is an all expense paid pro-am in the Champions Tour in North Carolina. It will be played in September over 4 days and Huat Siong will rub shoulders with luminaries like Greg Norman, Mark o'Meara etc.

Huat Siong promised us he will update the blog day-by-day. So watch this space for the highlights.

It will be interesting to see who his playing partner will be.

The eagle has landed..

I was over the moon yesterday! I shot an eagle on Army 1st, the par 5!

I was playing with Jimmy, Peter Teo and Bobby and after teeing off with my driver and hitting my second with my 3 hybrid, I was left with about 60 m to the green. My intention was just to put it close to the blue pin.

I hit a 3/4 swing with my 60deg wedge but I felt that I hit it a little too strong. The ball landed about 2 m from the pin and rolled. I shouted "Bite!". But the ball refused to listen, it rolled and rolled right into the cup for the 3rd eagle of my life!

I was totally elated and was jumping for joy.

The last time I had an eagle was at Kranji 6th hole, and one of my playing partners was Jimmy Ang.

So the lesson learnt is: if you want to shoot an eagle, play with Jimmy Ang.

How I wish I can shoot my next eagle on a par 3 and in a tournament where there is a Merc to be won! Still waiting for that day.

Bobby captured this shot after I picked the ball out of the cup.