Tag Archives: Golf game

Costly Three-Putts

20 Aug

My golf club’s Greensome competition that concluded over the weekend had all the thrills of a challenging tournament. My regular partner and I were at it again, having played the first Greensome tournament earlier in the year.

That time, we won the Ball Sweep for the First Nine, coming in second place. So, how did we fare this time?

I had several days of rest to recover from my exhaustion in the run-up to the game on Sunday. Thankfully, it was not a washout like the week before during the Scramble competition. We started on Hole 16, and it was a conservative start, with two bogeys on the first two holes. But we fumbled by the third hole with a three-putt. Hrmph.

Despite the setback, we remained focused when we crossed over to the front nine, which was easier to manage. Our partnership clicked, our game plan was effective, and we played well.

Then disaster struck on Hole 13 with two errand shots by both of us. And we were left with a two-putt for a double bogey. But the ball lipped out when it struck the pin! Argh, it was painful – another three-putt.

We were almost out of holes to play, so the next two holes were critical for damage control. We had to make a par and a birdie to salvage a stroke back to remain three-under. Alas, we could only manage a bogey. The birdie on the last hole was a small consolation. But we took it in stride as we improved our performance this time.

And it was with mild surprise that we won the First Nine Ball Sweep again but in third place. Oh well, a reward is still a reward. Looking back, it was the two unnecessary three-putts that cost us.

A small consolation

Greensome is a fun competition, and we both thoroughly enjoy it. We look forward to bettering our luck next year because we know our mistakes and understand our strengths better. So, thank you, partner, for the improved results and fantastic partnership.

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The Weather Won

13 Aug

Hubby and I were partners for the Scramble tournament on Sunday, and our plans to play well never took off – it wasn’t the pace but the weather that derailed the situation.

We had to stop twice because Mother Nature decided to open up the skies. And after playing nine holes (eight for some), the tournament could not go on, and everyone had to abandon the game. Bummer!

Playing in the rain was not ideal. I had not fully recovered from the last game in the rain. And here I was, doing the same thing again on Sunday! Eeesh. Maybe it’s best to rest longer before playing in the next tournament. And let’s hope the weather won’t win again.

Wet, wet Sunday. Not ideal for golf, let alone a tournament.

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Under the Weather

9 Aug

I have not recovered from last weekend’s event exhaustion and have been under the weather for the past few days. On Tuesday, when my golf group resumed our weekly game, the weather did not help as it drizzled, but the siren did not go off. So we played in the rain.

Bad idea. The wet and hot situation sealed my fate, and I’m sick now. Sigh.

Maybe I am playing too much golf? I think so.

I played yesterday because I volunteered to replace someone—before I fell sick—who withdrew several days prior. Oh well. I hope to recover on time before the next tournament on Sunday. Fingers crossed.

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Winning Again, Part 2

6 Aug

I have never been playing better golf than ever. My distance has been far upon tee-off, second and third shots are good, and putting is accurate with the Scotty putter. When all departments are good, what more could I ask for? It feels very uplifting and wonderful. Everything seems to click because I have been winning when it matters.

I thought I had icing on the cake with the last game, returning as my club’s Best Pair with a friend, but it’s another cake with more icing on Saturday!

For months, together with my golf buddies, we planned the annual game for our Tuesday golf group. Being on the committee, we brainstormed, planned, argued, and discussed to ensure the tournament would be the best, being the third edition. There were a lot of logistics to consider when customizing items with the group logo for the goody bag, besides the running of the tournament itself.

Finally, the day arrived, and I’m pleased to say the tournament went smoothly without incident. We had 52 happy golfers, delighted with how things turned out. Although there were minor hiccups, I did not let this affect my focus on playing well, and I did! I thoroughly enjoyed myself despite no more beer available upon our cross-over. I thought my 35 Stableford points were commendable. Little did I realize it was enough for me to come out tops.

The fun and camaraderie continued during lunch. When the Prize Presentation came around, I was declared the Overall Champion! Woo hoo. How’s that for extra icing on the cake? I’m over the moon! Not only was I busy to the core, being on the organizing committee, but to come out tops in the tournament with better players amongst us was exhilarating.

Receiving the trophy from the person the tournament is named after. Taking the customary selfie!

I don’t know if this consistency can continue because I was exhausted mentally and physically by the time the weekend was over. I caught the sniffles soon after, so perhaps it is okay to take a break. I deserve one.

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Winning Again

30 Jul

It is nice when we play golf and win. It is nicer when this winning repeats itself. During my weekly Tuesday golf with my group, I returned as the champion for two weeks. What brought about this change in fortune after the disastrous Annual Club Championship outing not too long ago?

My glasses. My prescription glasses were giving me problems because the prescription was no longer correct for my vision. And I find it irritating when I play golf, especially when putting. The vision was blurred, and this affected my concentration. But all this discomfort is a thing of the past with a pair of new glasses.

The icing on the cake was the Interclub match over the weekend against the visiting club, Royal Perak Golf Club. It was a four-ball Best Ball format. My partner and I returned as the Best Pair from our club. We both played well, taking turns to score points on each hole. Both of us combined for a best-ball score of 47 Stableford points! Woo hoo.

A dozen new balls! Nice

I’m glad I discovered and rectified the problem affecting my golf performance over the past few months. The game is enjoyable again because I have a clear vision and better concentration to play well and win.

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A Mixed Feeling Experience, Part 2

9 Jul

I have mixed feelings about the Poh Kong Ladies Golf Series 2.0 tournament that concluded last week. The golf course was lovely, and my flightmates were quite fun, but the disorganization of the assigned lockers marred the experience.

After I completed my round, the crew member called me and said I was assigned Locker #67. Strange, when a friend told me earlier that she saw Locker #25 had my name! Nevertheless, I had a number by now, so I went to the Ladies’ Changing Room to see the correct unit and collect the remaining goody bag.

To my surprise, someone else was using Locker #67 as I walked in! I was like, “Huh?! Did she open and close locker #67?” So, I asked her, to which she acknowledged. I told her nicely that the locker had my name on it.

And you know what was her answer? She thought it was her name! Oh, my goodness. The names may look similar, yet they are not – how could she be mistaken? Argh, I was speechless!

I then asked her what was her locker number, and she wasn’t sure! The nightmare repeats itself here. I called the crew member again and asked what was the locker number assigned to the other lady. Can you guess? Number 25. What a merry-go-round.

I roll my head, looking back at this experience. With an inadequate locker availability to cater to 120 ladies, unlike in the Men’s Changing Room, all the assigned lockers are too close. The crowded space makes it hard to locate an assigned locker properly. And even then, some of us had to use the lockers at the gym on a different level. Sigh.

The consolation from this outing was making new friends and achieving the Novelty prize of Nearest to Line/gold bar. I think it will be some time before I participate in another ladies-only golf tournament.

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A Mixed Feeling Experience

5 Jul

It was a golf tournament that I was looking forward to participating in, having missed out on it last year. The Poh Kong Ladies Golf Series 2.0 promised to be better, but was it? Quite the contrary.

I carpooled with a friend to KLGCC, the premier golf course hosting the event. We arrived early, but there was no organizing crew in sight nor any event directional signages setup, save for a makeshift backdrop at the buggy station.

So we had no choice but to wait. By 6.30 am, there was some activity and people. We quickly joined the queue to collect our tournament things before it got longer. It wasn’t smooth, as there were a lot of puzzled looks and frowns. And so it began, the disorganization of the situation.

When my turn came, it became chaotic because I was not assigned a locker! How can this be? What a stark boo-boo for a tournament of this level. I was not the only one, as I found out later.

I patiently waited and waited. I collected my goody bag from the next counter, then waited again for advice on my assigned locker. It never happened.

It wasn’t even seven in the morning, and already I was riled and cursing. What a horrible experience before tee-off. I walked off to have my breakfast and returned afterward to resolve the mystery of my missing assigned locker.

A crew member approached me to locate my assigned locker together, but we couldn’t find it in the changing room. At this point, I don’t know what to say! She suggested we go to the gym’s changing room to locate my assigned locker. Let me tell you, it was futile.

I decided to keep all my things in an unassigned locker at the gym to save myself further distress. It was pointless to be a headless chicken before a golf tournament.

While the golf course was enjoyable, and my flight mates were good company, the disorganization of locker assignments in the morning marred the experience.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel by an unexpected achievement. I struck gold figuratively when I achieved the Nearest to Line (NTL/gold bar) Novelty with my ball landing four inches from the rope in the middle of the fairway. I didn’t expect a cheer-up feat after all that morning chaos.

I have mixed feelings about this golf outing. Was my locker issue resolved eventually? No. Stay tuned to find out!

An unexpected cheer-up moment

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New Injury!

21 Jun

I picked up a new injury from golf! It is the abductor pollicis brevis of my right hand. Uh oh. I don’t know how or when, but the game on Sunday resulted in a lot of pain.

I could not chip or putt as I could feel the muscle pulling. I couldn’t even hold the clubs properly. Ouch, that’s how bad it felt. A few days of rest did not even help. Today, I had a game I had already committed to before the injury – I felt trepidation. Will I be in pain?

So, I took some preventive measures by applying a pain relief cream and taking a painkiller. Did these measures help? A little.

My golfing buddy gave me the Perskindol Cool Spray to use on my hand, which helped a lot more. However, I had to modify my gripping the clubs to reduce the pull of the muscle. Sigh, all these injuries and so much golf still to play.

I must learn to manage my pain and injuries; otherwise, no more games and rest to heal. Golf is so damaging, not just to the confidence in our ability to play well, but also to our bodies.

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Redemption Games

18 Jun

After last weekend’s Annual Club Championship disaster, I played two weekday games with redemption! I could not believe that I could not play golf. I had to purge myself of the horror.

Last Tuesday, I played at a different golf course, and everything worked! Golf is strange. I played one under my handicap for that day! I did 32 putts, so much better than the 43 putts on Sunday. I’m a happy camper with the recovery for putting.

Then, on Thursday, I returned to my club and played a round with hubby and his friends. Guess how I fared? I played to my handicap and 20 strokes better than the results of the ACC! Unbelievable. Redemption was sweeter as I managed 30 putts, which was 13 strokes much better!

Golf is strange – one can be demoralized and broken in a tournament. Then, on the next outing, one can heal with redemption. It’s a love-hate activity.

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Annual Club Championship Vibes, Part 2

11 Jun

The Annual Club Championship golf tournament is over. Brutal is all I can say.

On Day 1: By the end of the first nine, my handicapped was all used up. Luckily, in the back nine, I recovered to minimize the damage with some respectable results. And I managed 30 putts, which was good.

On Day 2: Nothing worked! It was a day when everything could go wrong, went wrong. Numbing is the only way to describe my outing. I did 43 putts: no words to describe this, and no need to elaborate further.

I came back crushed and broken, but wallowing will not erase this. Then again, I ask myself, maybe I am not cut out for competitive golf anymore, but to remain a social golfer.

I have a non-competitive round this coming Thursday on the same course where I got beaten to a pulp. I hope to fair better to purge myself from this dreadful episode. I know I can; we shall see.

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