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Almost a Brilliant Idea

19 Dec

Recently, we bought some round magnets with the numbers zero to nine on them. Hubby thought they would make excellent ball markers on the green when we play golf. With so many available, we will not run out of them! Add in its magnetic feature – it’s the perfect golf accessory.

The perfect golf accessory?

Although I planned to cut down my games for the remaining days of 2023, I played one game last Sunday and brought three magnets with me, numbering three to five. I figured they would make excellent markers for the Par 4s and 5s when I placed the correct number to indicate my strokes upon reaching the green. Brilliant, right?

Then, as an afterthought, I added the number one and two magnets to account for the Par 3s. But things didn’t go as planned!

The fairways were soggy, and it was hard to stand firm. Even the roughs were soggy. We were only at the third hole, a Par 5 when the game went downhill; I could not get my ball out of the rough. Put it this way – I was not hitting my ball but chopping grass and splattering mud on soggy grounds.

It took seven strokes to land on the green, and I did not have a number seven marker. My flightmates had a good laugh over this! It never crossed my mind that the remaining magnets, numbering six to nine, are equally necessary! Hahahahaha. After that hole, several more holes also required a higher-numbered magnet than the ones I had in the pocket.

That morning, the golf game was more of a laugh fest with friends. It wasn’t even a decent round for the four of us – clearly, the course condition was unplayable, with the constant rain making the grounds soft and soggy. Sigh.

The numbered magnet is almost a brilliant idea for now. But it is only possible to use magnets number one to five when the course condition improves. Until then, perhaps it’s best to wait out the rainy season and enjoy the golf downtime.

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A Touring Pro?

5 Dec

Over the weekend, hubby and I attempted to do the unthinkable – playing four rounds of golf like a touring pro! Did we succeed? Well, almost.

The drive in one car with our friends to Sri Menanti Golf Club was pleasant, as there was hardly any traffic. The weather was cooling, and although our one flight teed off at almost 9.30 am, we did not feel any heat.

At 9.00am, the temperature was cool with the low hanging clouds at the clubhouse

The golf course was a gem of a discovery. Narrow, undulating, and unexpected, it was an enjoyable golf course. The best part – buggies were allowed on the fairways. Nice.

After the game, we had a hearty local lunch near the course before heading to Malacca for the night.

Come Sunday, the rest of the group arrived, and our second game was together with them at Ayer Keroh Country Club. Yet another round with the buggy on course, I didn’t feel the pain of walking because I didn’t walk that much! Such conditions help the body not to exert too much and be able to go on pain-free the next game.

The third game at Tiara Malacca Golf & Country Club was a taxing one despite being buggy on the course as well. The fairways were dry, the roughs were nasty, and the sun was a scorcher. Everyone felt the heat to the core.

I was constantly going into the bunkers, and it annoyed me to no end. Adding to my frustration was my erratic putting with the Spider after doing so well with it for the past few games. Sigh.

The three-day schedule pales in comparison to a touring pro’s. I hardly felt like one anyway when we had buggy on-course games. Despite this advantage, the will to go on was there, but the body and mind could not. We gave up the last game. Sigh. On a brighter note, we had good food each time and plenty of friendship bonding time.

Professional men and women golfers are remarkable athletes. While I aspire to be like them, playing several games in a stretch, if I cannot even handle three days of buggy on-course games, what more walking long golf courses for four days in a row? Hats off to them!

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New Fruits

1 Dec

After waiting for what seems like forever, the new papaya tree has finally matured and is fruiting! Yay. I miss eating home-grown papayas, and papayas bought from the stores can’t beat the taste of the home-grown fruits.

Before this new tree, the old tree gave us a lot of fruits to enjoy. It was a bumper harvest period until we had to give away to family and friends. But once that phrase was over, we were papaya-less for some time.

The wait period is over now that the new tree has stabilized and fruiting. Unfortunately, the garden squirrels got to the first fruit ahead of us. Hrmph. Looks like we have to start protecting our papayas from the uninvited guests. Otherwise, we will not have the opportunity to enjoy the new fruits.

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Going Down South, Part 2

13 Oct

We went and came back from the Forest City Resort Golf trip. It was an enjoyable but tiring trip because of the journey both ways. Waking up at 4.00 a.m. to take the bus with the rest of the group was not fun but necessary for the 12.30 tee-off. But we were delayed along the Plus highway with a traffic crawl due to an earlier accident.

Thankfully, we arrived on time at Senibong Golf Club. After a quick catered lunch, we teed off. I have never played speed golf before. The game at Senibong felt like a race against time! There were three of us on our flight, and buggies were allowed on the course. We found ourselves racing and chasing every shot.

The weather was cloudy, and unexpectedly, rain clouds were threatening. And when we heard thunder, the race to complete the game became more evident. We finished that game in three hours and thirty minutes! What a record.

That evening, we checked into Forest City Resort Golf. The Hotel seems to have lost its luster. Our room did not have a luggage rack. The TV did not work, the furnishings had scratches, the bathroom amenities were minimal, and they wouldn’t issue a second room access card. What has happened?

Luckily, the golf course was pristine and top-notch. The fairways and landscaping were excellent. However, the greens on the Legacy Course were frustrating. It was slow, making putting difficult. I recorded 38 putts compared to 30 putts at Senibong.

Drinks after game

The next day’s game was at the Classic course, and the greens felt better. But being a more challenging course, the return score could have been better. Oh well. The weather was a scorcher, and I don’t think I could have played any better.

Would we return to play again? I wouldn’t mind playing at Senibong, after it was our first time there. As for Forest City, perhaps we should play one course twice instead of both.

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Going Down South

10 Oct

The timing to travel south to Johore for golf is, unfortunately, not the best with the haze. But the trip was mooted before the weather conditions changed. Oh well.

We woke up at an ungodly hour of 4.15 am to meet at the club to go on the bus. At least we don’t have to drive because there are enough people to charter a bus.

On the bus now, I can feel the impending headache. Ugh. I hope I can play decent for the afternoon tee-off at Senibong Golf Club. We will find out.

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Double Happiness Thrice Over

9 Oct

This year seems to be a year of weddings! First was my nephew, then my niece, and now it’s my cousin’s daughter. The best part of such happy occasions is seeing the extended family again. And some new faces whom we’ve never met before.

Last night was another happy occasion, thrice over that we saw everyone, if not most, again. Everyone looked great, from the aunties and uncles to the cousins, nieces and nephews. We caught up from where we left off at the last wedding.

The lovely bride looked beautiful and blew my mind away from what I recalled of her during her younger days. The bride and her groom made a lovely couple. Congratulations to my cousin brother and his wife for having a new son-in-law.

As we grow older, such family gatherings become more treasured. The photo session to have everyone in becomes a priority. Perhaps there will be another such occasion soon, and I look forward to it.

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Jakarta was Fun!

11 Aug

The past few days were tiring! I did not have time to gather my thoughts on the golf trip, and before I knew it, we were back in KL yesterday.

The third day’s schedule was slightly better, waking up a wee later for an eight o’clock tee-off. I found Suvarna Golf Club not as picturesque as Royale Jakarta. But the course was challenging, as I ended up in the sand bunkers more than ever.

Suvarna, the satay was super delicious!

I was aghast each time my ball went into the sand bunkers until I developed a phobia! Shivers. It was a forgettable round of golf with far too many bunker nightmares. Oh well, we had one more day of golf.

The last round was at the links course, Sedayu Indo Golf. I’ve never played at a links course before, and it was quite an experience. How quickly the golf fortune changed with a different golf course and new challenges.

My Bebek lunch was good, course was excellent

There were no bunker issues but the wind! Despite the strong wind and the undulating terrain, the last game was most enjoyable. The course layout next to the ocean also made this experience the best compared to the other two courses.

The five days, four nights golf trip was coming to an end. After three games, I did not lose any balls to the course challenges, which was a morale booster. My putting had its ups and downs, but generally pleased. However, sand bunker shots need improvement, likewise, my approach shots.

Our tour operator treated the group to a sumptuous farewell Indonesian dinner on the last night. Soon it was time to say goodbye to new friends and the city. The horror stories of being stuck in the traffic jam were not too bad. Kudos to the tour operator for selecting Hotel Santika, which was quite central to the three courses we played at.

Messy power cables

The city impressed me, although certain older parts reminded me of Bangkok. Generally, Jakarta looked like a developed nation’s big city, if not better, and not what I envisioned. Golfing in Jakarta is now a happy memory stored away. Hubby and I enjoyed ourselves tremendously and look forward to returning soon or another golf escapade.

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Day 2: Jakarta, Part 2

9 Aug

Yesterday after lunch at the club, we went for a day tour of the city. We visited the Jakarta Cathedral and the Istiqlal Mosque.

Beautiful architecture

Both places of worship had very different and fascinating architecture. I even felt a sense of peace upon entering the premises, which was unexpected but embraced nonetheless.

Then it was time to head back to the hotel to rest. But some of us detoured to have body massages and foot reflexology. I opted for the foot massage to ease my pain from the plantar fasciitis. My masseur was excellent, as it did help tremendously.

The final touch using a hammer to my legs!
Simple yet satisfying

By nightfall, I was drained of energy and had an early night after a simple Bakso dinner. So far, I am very impressed with Jakarta. We play Suvarna Jakarta Golf Club the next day.

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Day 2: Jakarta

7 Aug

Last night, we had dinner at PIK2, a new development with a lot of dining choices, as well as tourist attractions. The place was just so happening! So much to see, so much to eat.

People were dancing and enjoying themselves

After a simple meal, it was time to head back to the hotel and rest for golf the next day.

It was 4.45 am when the morning call woke me up. Goodness, such an ungodly hour, but then again, the time is about right because of the time difference. Jakarta is an hour behind KL.

My personal passport at RJGC
Very scenic
The only aircraft I managed to capture

Royale Jakarta Golf Club was an enjoyable course situated next to the airport. Now and then, we could hear the roar of an aircraft’s engine in the background. I was trying hard to capture an image of an airplane descending with my iPhone whenever the sound came about. Not easy when it was rather smoggy in the air. I could only manage a helicopter instead!

Everyone had a caddy each, so a flight of four players had four caddies! For the record, I did 39 putts. Horrid is the only word to describe my efforts, but I enjoyed the outing and the company thoroughly. A good day to remember fondly.

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Hello Jakarta!

6 Aug

The last time we traveled was in November 2022 for M2’s graduation. Immediately after that trip, I went to Bali with my high school friends for an all-girls getaway. And no more trips abroad for several months until the travel bug bites.

This morning, hubby and I flew off to Jakarta for golf, our first time here, as it has always been Bangkok, Thailand, as the preferred destination. Exciting is the word for this escapade with a group of golfing friends.

The last time I came to Jakarta, I was just a little kiddo. So yeah, it was dinosaur years ago. And I cannot recall anything about that trip. It’s okay, for I’ll have a new adventure this time.

It has been a long day, and I look forward to the coming games.

At the airports, Jakarta skyline

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