Last week, a golfer friend asked me if I was still using the TomTom Golfer watch, and I said no. Goodness, it has been years since I stopped using it. After the watch kaput, I decided to move to an AppleWatch that does more things than just being a golf watch.
She asked because she’s still using her TomTom Golfer 2 watch. But recently, she received notification that their services would be shutting down soon. In other words, the watch will be useless once the support ends. Oh dear, how unfortunate.
I subscribe to the Hole 19 app on my AppleWatch for my golf games to give me all the necessary information and track my performances. So far, I am happy with the app. At one point, I tried GolfShot, SwingU, and Hello Birdie, and I like Hole 19 best.
While she won’t buy an AppleWatch, at least she’s getting a Garmin watch soon as a replacement. Goodbye, TomTom. You were good while you lasted.
It was my first time being in Hanoi, Vietnam, for golf–all these years mostly in Thailand–and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The three rounds of golf had been so enjoyable as the weather was perfect for being outdoors and the company fun. With such lovely cooling weather, I did not feel tired after each game, and for once, foot massages were unnecessary for this golfing trip.
The golfing experience was most pleasant, and I hardly broke out a sweat even though it was buggy on track for the first two games. I even had to don my long-forgotten Skins innerwear because it was 18 degrees Celsius for the morning first game! Brr, but nice. It was only the third game that the buggies went on course.
Our first game was at Long Bien Golf Course – a lovely course, but the bunkers were killers. You know my distress when it comes to bunkers, so I shall not elaborate further on the few bunker horrors that occurred.
Conveyor belt to send the golf bags down to the buggies below!
The second game at Thanh Lanh Valley Golf & Resort was equally enjoyable. Although we teed off only at 9.30 am, it was not hot. The final course was at the South Course of Legend Valley Country Club. I felt this was the most scenic and breathtaking course among the three golf courses, with limestone hills surrounding the golf course.
Red tee at Thanh Lanh
It was so new that the course was not even available on the Garmin watches of several friends. Thankfully, my golf app, Hole 19, showed the course details on my Apple Watch, albeit without indexes. It didn’t matter at that point because I had distances to have better course management than the others.
Legend Valley
Our bus had to battle the traffic packed with big and small vehicles to get to the golf courses daily. Words are hard to describe the volume of motorbikes on the road. You have to be there to experience it.
Haphazard traffic!
Of all the three courses, each one had its appeal. I thought the Legend Valley was the best experience, even though there was a lot of water in play. And the bunkers were strategic on the fairways and greenside to trap you. The fairways were so firm that every tee-off shot landed and rolled for extra distance. I loved it!
The downside of the golf clubs was their lack of souvenirs, like ball markers, golf balls, and towels, available for purchase. On the other hand, with nothing to purchase for memory, this is a perfect excuse to return to play the courses again! Golfing in Hanoi, what an experience.
I seem to have an on-going love-hate relationship with Candy Crush. I stopped playing lately because Level 717 has been just so hard to pass. I figured I should focus on the BMW Golf Cup and not let the candy frustration distract me.
But when the tournament was over (I managed to win the Longest Drive novelty prize, a Garmin Approach S2 watch, with a 213 meter tee off), I came home elated and went back to crushing candies. That was when I discovered the difference in the challenge!
On the iPad, one has to get 4 color bombs to clear the level. Definitely very hard to achieve. However, the same level in Facebook on the laptop requires one to get 4 color bombs as well as 5 striped jellies! That’s difference number one. Difference number two, the board starts off with 3 bombs for you already. What a headstart! All you need to do then is to get one more bomb and make those striped candies, which aren’t that difficult to make. Definitely easier than before, it took me only one attempt to pass the level. Phew.
As for my new Garmin watch, I will definitely be using it for my next golf outing.
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