GOLF IN GRAHA, REPEAT WITH BUGGIES

On the last day before returning to homeland Malaysia we managed a quick golf at Graha Golf Club and this time we got a ride in buggies, I guessed no Indonesian VIPs playing golf today, so the buggies are available. Most of the caddies are new ones meaning not the caddies we booked on the first time we played, after all there are more than 100 caddies here.

 The pros at Graha Golf Club, all 20+ handicappers

Playing the usual rate, IDR 200,000 for first nine and second nine, fish pool IDR 300,000 and the last two holes IDR 100,000 for each hole. Its a way to give back to losers so that they return home when the thought of coming back!!

Aziz played the game seriously as everybody noticed that and I didn't blame him since he did not win anything the last three days at Royal Sumatera and Graha Golf! However he eventually finished second to me at the end and earned some money, not that he cared but pride is at stake!!

Even at Graha Club, caddies are cantik!!

Some of these caddies are still contacting us even after we went home! I hope this will just be a friendly reminder to come again to Medan, Indonesia where cost of playing, eating and lodging are significantly lower that Bandung, Bogor and Jakarta. 

Now which of these caddies are contacting us?

Pretty simple answer!

Until next trip in February 2015!

GRAHA METROPOLITAN GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB, MEDAN, INDONESIA

Graha Metropolitan Golf and Country Club is situated very close to city centre and from our Hotel is was a normal 20 minutes drive. This course was not a favourite amongst golfers because there are no buggies available and it is a walking course...so people do not want to walk.

Now that Bukit Barisan Country Club and Martabe Sejahtera Golf Club are not well maintained (according to some hearsay reports) people are playing just Royal and Graha in Medan.

After the first walking experience at Graha I found it very stimulating and enjoyed the outing. Our caddies helped a lot with directions and distances and also line of putts otherwise the score could have been a few strokes higher !

We walked at 5.7 km that day..what a way to lose those flabs around the waist..but dinner tonite will add another kg or two..

Golf Graha Metropolitan Medan

Medan Helvatia

Tel. +62 61 8484023

ROYAL SUMATRA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB, MEDAN, INDONESIA

MEDAN is not in my golf radar for a long, long time because I prefer Surabaya, Jakarta, Bogor and Bandung for golfing. Nevertheless visiting Medan for golf this year brought new discoveries and now I found Medan to be a good golf destination for Malaysian golfers. Firstly the fare by Malaysian Airlines to Kuala Namu Airport averaged RM 300 if booked early and by Firefly it would be a little less but have to bear the sports equipment cost.

 View of Medan from 17th floor

We took the MH 860 flight from KLIA at 0825hrs and reached Kuala Namu brand new airport at 0825hrs local time. We rented a Toyota Alphard for RM560 per 12 hours and stayed at the Club Floor at JW Marriot, Medan. From the airport which is about 32 km from Medan city centre it was another 45 minutes to Royal Sumatra golf course.

Our tour agent Pak Salem took care of everything, we just register and play..along with 4 cute caddies!

Royal Sumatra Golf and Country club

Jalan Jamin Ginting km 8.5 
Medan, North Sumatra
Indonesia 
Ph. 0618362999

KLUB GOLF BOGOR RAYA, BOGOR, WEST JAVA

This elegant and sophisticated golf club is a training ground for new caddies for about 3 months before they are employed by other golf clubs. Any golf clubs in Bogor and Jakarta would have about 150-200 caddies available each day.The clubhouse and locker room have a Javanese touch to it and by today's standard is considered luxury.

The caddies are extra friendly and used to golfers antics and persuasions and most of the time liked to be photographed! During this time around, I got my best golf score at Bogor Raya as I played 42 and 44 for this Par 72 course.  This was probably due to the caddy seat on the buggy, they sit real close to you all the time..

Besides Gading Raya this was the best course I have played in Bogor and Jakarta.

 Telling the same old stories to the caddies..

 Hmm...another nice caddy for company

 They loved photo shoot..one way to get the HP number!

My local and International golf buddies..ITM classmates!

Golf Estate Bogor Raya, Bogor 16710 West Java, Indonesia

Ph. +62 251 271888 Fx. +62 251 271 777

Email. kgbr@indo.net.id

MOUNTAIN VIEW GOLF COURSE, DAGO, BANDUNG, INDONESIA

Golfers in Malaysia usually talked about the challenging golf course in Bandung called the Mountain View Golf Club, located in Dago quite near the city. You will be greeted by a wooden statue of a well known golfer Peter Thompson which was very well crafted. After the registration, go to the balcony and enjoy the views of the fairways from the 4 storey clubhouse. The course is narrow and undulating and fitted well to my style of play, straight hitter of the golf ball. There are 5 par 3, 5 par 5 and 8 par 4, so you can make 10 pars easily..

 Mountain View Club House

 View from Clubhouse

 Par 3

 Scary tee shot? My ball landed just before the bunker and 7 iron to the green

 Now this is scary...at the end of the fairway is a river!

There will be some balls going right and left of the fairways and no way can be found even by the most hard working caddies! By the way they are cute but not very friendly and we let them do their jobs for the IDR 200,000 tips we gave them and some were cheeky enough to ask for more!!

 Another interesting Par 3 about 148 meter

 They even sell my favourite balls..PHYZ!

I am sure this is my lost ball..my name on it!

Great golf at Mountain View and off we went to Bandung for a little bit of sightseeing...

Mountain View Golf Club JL Dago Pakar Raya, Cimenyan, Bandung, 40198, 40198, Indonesia Phone : +62 22 2536089

Transtudio Mall di Bandung, new place to visit..

GOLF IN HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM

Ho Chi Minh city is better known for its shopping adventure especially for teenagers and their mummies, forGolf Resort,daddies they go and check out the golf courses. There are a few good ones around 50 km radius of the city, Vietnam Golf and Country Club, Long Thanh Golf resort, Song Bae Golf Club and Twin Doves Golf Club but as driving is slow, we must allocate ample time to reach the golf course.

Twin Doves Golf Club is located in the Binh Duong Province, takesa bout 45-60 minutes drive from the city. It has 27 holes called Luna, Mare and Sole.Luna course to me was easily the best amongst the three layout. Golfing rates on weekdays about USD 60 per pax.