SAIGON MASTERS 2015

When Dato Md Nor suggested that we organize a golf trip to Ho Chi Minh, the response was quick and affirmative and we ended up with 19 golfers. As some of us are new to this group who called themselves Golf Sana Sini group, translated golf everywhere, they organized a friendly game at Impian Golf and Country Club, Kajang. When everybody was reluctant to show their skills, I ended up a winner with hcp of the day 18 and 36 stableford points. That got me RM 30 prize after deduction for dinner was made.

We travelled by MALAYSIA AIRLINES and we paid the agency RM3,000 for 3 nights and 3 golf. The hotel selected by the agency was not up to our expectation but we survived the situation as our aim were to play golf. When we reach Saigon, we went straight to the golf course which is close to the airport, Tan Son Nhat GC which is just 4 km from city center. It has a huge clubhouse that also housed Korean, Japanese, Vietnam restaurants.

The hardest thing to play golf in Vietnam was the inability to communicate effectively with caddies who does not speak decent English. Then the courses are great!

The next day we proceed ro play at the JeongsanCountry Club which is located on its own island in the Saigon river. The course is developed by ron Fream company and owned by Korean. We went there by boat to cut off traveling time and the boat ride from pier in District 1 was very exciting with view of Saigon from the river.

Very nice group photo at Taekwang Jeongsan golf and country club, most of the players are from Trengganu ranging from low to high handicap golfers.

The next day we played at the TWin Doves Golf Club a private member club located south of Hochiminh city. It is a 27 holes golf course and there were many on going construction of golf courses aroung Twin Doves which could be completed in one or two years. I have played this course in 2014 with my Terengganu friends and remembered the layout quite well. We played the Luna and Stella courses.

it was a great golf holidays even though I did not play well throughout the three days. The final night was culminated by dinner and prize giving ceremony and know what? The youngest member of the group won comfortably against ageing golfers.

well done, until next outing.

GOLFING AT THE ELS CLUB DATAI BAY

Mr Roslan a tour agent and avid golfer suggested to play at the Els Club in Langkawi with a few friends and we managed to assemble 3 flights from Kuala Lumpur. Flying via Malindo Air has its limitation on golf bags and personal luggage as we were allowed only 15 kgs and our golf bags were that heavy. Flying with our wives who wanted to follow, Langkawi being a women shopping destination, complained about the weight restrictions as they plan to have heavy shopping spree.

 

We stayed at the new Adya Hotel located at the Kuah town, conveniently located near seafood restaurants and shopping mall the Langkawi Parade. First day was free and easy, not so easy on our wallet as our wives visited Langkawi popular shopping venues.

Second day early morning tee off took 45 minutes to reach the golf club. Under our package, first game cost RM 350 and second game add RM150, otherwise its RM450 per game. We ended up playing morning and afternoon, it was well worth it as the course was so beautiful.

The course gave you risk and rewards type of approach, playing safe was good but you get a bogey, attacking the pin would give you opportunities for birdies and pars. For me it was a wonderful experience, managed a lone birdie on a Par 3. 

ROYAL SUMATERA GOLF COURSE

Royal Sumatera Golf Course is one of the better course in Medan, North Sumatera, opened in 1996 and located about 9 km from city centre. A favourite course for tournaments due to the challenges offered by the course, placement of balls on the fairway is a premium requirement to score well, obviously people like me, short straight hitter will be punished by this course.

Photo at the club with Anuar, Nor Azmie, Razak and Azahari from Kuala Lumpur. 

waiting for the green to clear at the long Par 3, Azmie, Zulkifli, Anuar and Razak.

bangdolah fooling with the caddies for a photo shoot.

caddie selfie!

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KELAB GOLF SERI SELANGOR

This month I played two times at the Seri Selangor Golf Club which is a public course easily accessible by own driving or public transports. First outing was during an Alumni gathering amongst colleagues who graduated from the FAO/UNDP Forestry College Kepong. There were four flights and I was placed third that day and got 1 dozen of Srixon soft feel golf balls and RM 100 cash. First placing, second and third placing all got 36 stableford points but lower handicap gets higher placing...my handicap of the day was 21.

There were people who came from Sarawak who came for the game to meet old friends like Tuan Hj Sapuan who organized the previous golf outing in Kuching. The next golf outing in 2016 would be in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Only four people played par golf while the rest couldn't handled the fast green at KGSS. Well the main objective was to meet with old classmates and winning was secondary. However the organizer made sure that nobody go home empty handed and the last placed golfer still got 1 sleeve of golf ball and RM20.

My flight mates during the Alumni game were Nordin Ahmad, Alias Jalil, Dr. Mustapha and me posing at the tee box on 18 hole, a Par 5 436 meters hole.

The second outing was during the Astro Masters 2015 my second participation this year after the game at Templer Park Golf Club. This time the game was played from the Black tees, being a short hitter, I can't reach the 14 th hole Par 3 208 meters where a hole in one prize was at stake, I made bogey. I scored 48 and 52 each nine and managed to get a lucky draw prize, a complimentary flight of four at KGSS valid for one month. As usual there were three prizes for each category of Medal A,B and C and the gross and net champion who qualified for the Grand Final in Bali, Indonesia to be held at the end of the year.

My pretty caddy Ella from Parit Buntar, Perak.

People like me would be waiting for the 15 lucky draw prizes.

IOI PALM GARDEN KUALA LUMPUR

As member of the I Love Goft community under the group MST Golf, I was invited to play at the Chicken Run MST golf competition held at the IOI Palm Garden Golf and Country Club. This golf course is the latest addition of fine golf course within the Klang Valley. The layout and landscape is comparable to KLGCC, Glenmarie and The Mines and that was reflected in the green fees at RM380 per person of about USD 100 inclusive of golf cart and male caddy. Male caddy??? yes unfortunately and not good either as some are very arrogant for being employed as caddies at a top notched golf establishment. I think the Club should consider bringing beautiful caddies from Indonesia to attract more golfers to play at this course. 

There were 15 flights that day and some familiar faces were also there like my friend Fairuz Hashim, Wan Kamal etc. I played with son of ex- Sri Lanka Ambassador who had retired but his son chose to remain in Malaysia, perhaps for the love of golf. the other two flight mates were young Firdaus and Ms Claire who always hit 50-60 meter ahead of me, of course she played from the Red teebox which are located at least 50 meter infront of the blue teebox. She really can play golf and good solid play in every facet of the game but she commented that my game was more consistent and my expertise around the greens were more superior to hers! I did managed a few one chip and one put that day.

The organizer chose to impose an interesting way of scoring whereby six blind holes were allocated to determine our scores and handicap for the day. I guess whatever we scored on those particular holes would be multiplied by three to get an 18 holes scores...if you get a birdie on one hole then you have three birdies, likewise if you have a double or triple, it will converted to three holes, if you played bogey and pars all the way then doesn't really matter.

Anyway the prizes including lucky draws were quite adorable, Titleist cart bags and Pro-v balls were given away as well as tickets to the coming CIMB LPGA Classics at the end of this year in Kuala Lumpur. My flightmate Firdaus got lucky with a complimentary green fee at the Hosting club, he deserved a repeat as he played the worst in our flight, losing about 8 balls along the way!

until next outing in October 2015!