Deepavali, or Diwali, the Festival of Lights, fell on Sunday, and Monday was a replacement public holiday. The extra day off disrupted my usual weekend routine, especially with the loud fireworks display in the distance. The night before Deepavali, fireworks went off past midnight, when I was comfortably in bed, ready to call it a night.
My routine of counting sheep before going to Slumberland was interrupted because the fireworks went on non-stop for a good half an hour! I kept track of the time and realized that fireworks during Chinese New Year earlier this year were shorter in comparison.
While it is great that people celebrate with such gusto, I do not share their enthusiasm because my sleep was definitely affected. It took me a long time to finally fall asleep, and I woke up feeling grumpy the next morning. Hrmph.
On Monday, it rained towards the evening. But it did not deter the merrymakers at all. There was still a fireworks display, but it was shorter than the previous two days. I had to tune the noise out and force myself to sleep because I had a golf game the next day and needed to wake up at 5:30 a.m.!
The monsoon season has kicked in. Typically, it rains from the afternoon or late evening until past midnight. For us golfers, such conditions are tough to weather (pun intended). However, such conditions don’t seem to discourage the fireworks displays on a very wet Deepavali! Bless those people.
While the haze has subsided, the rain has come on daily; there is no reprieve. Planning a round of golf has become a challenge.
Last week, I arranged to play golf with my friends on Tuesday. The night before, one friend was concerned about the weather because Google showed her an 80% chance of rain on game day. Well, I do not blame her for being worried. Driving so far for golf, only to have the weather derail it, is not what golfers want. However, my iPhone showed only a 40% chance of rain! We took a chance.
The game, or rather, my game, was terrible (I am on a downtrend, remember?), but the company and pace were enjoyable. It was a good catch-up session. Fortunately, we completed our round before the rain came.
This aside, over the past week, I have been feeling very uninspired, which is why I’ve delayed blogging. My mind has been sluggish, and there is nothing worth sharing. My golf game is struggling, and the weather is no better. What is there to shout about?
I need a break! I hope I can find a window to refresh my mind, play better golf, or even go away to recharge and revive from the current uninspired situation.
The haze has dissipated with the constant rain over the past few mornings and evenings, which is a relief. However, my mind still feels cloudy! Hahaha. I also missed my journal entry yesterday—boo.
I have, of course, been playing golf, but so badly that I am beyond comprehension of my disability. It is now confirmed that I have a phobia of my home course. Whatever the reason, I am not enjoying my golf game at my home club. And I don’t think it’s a downward trend because I fare better at other golf clubs.
Last weekend, I played in another tournament at my home club, and unfortunately, I caught the flu. We played in the rain, and the combination of heat and cold really took a toll on me. At one point, things got quite strange.
At Hole 16, my flightmates and I were ready to take our approach shots when we saw three stray dogs lounging lazily in front of the green. Yikes! What is this, a pack of Guardians of the Green protecting it? Do we even try to strike our balls? What if we hit them?
The dogs were so relaxed that our approach shots did not faze them. They were so nonchalant, like nothing happened. It was the first time I had seen animals on a golf green, not moving despite balls flying in. The Guardians of the Green were doing their job well, and I could only manage a double bogey. It was a surreal moment.
The dogs did not even move when I approached to take pictures!
Last week, when I highlighted the various problems I encountered during the two-week hiatus, I missed two more. It is hard to recall so many problems when there were so many to begin with; it’s not fun to be reminded! Hahaha.
On top of the terrible golf and eyesight problem, I was experiencing unusual stomach cramps! For no reason, my tummy acted like a washing machine, churning and twisting; it was a horrible experience. And as if my misery was not enough with the tummy and eyesight issues—golf games aside—I felt a tooth aching terribly too! My goodness, why the sudden onslaught of so much physical pain? What did I do to deserve such top-notch agony?
Well, the week has passed, and some of the painful agony has subsided. I have also reduced my iPad addiction. The eyesight problem is persisting, though; likewise, the terrible golf. Maybe the haze is abetting my misery? Or reduce my iPad time even more? We have had some rain, and this has eased the stuffy discomfort somewhat. As for the terrible golf, I am sure it is just a passing downturn, and I should play better in my upcoming games.
After a two-week break from writing, I’m back! Did the break help me in any way, health-wise? Apparently, no. Hahahaha. There were so many problems!
During the self-imposed hiatus, I played some golf with the haze enveloping the atmosphere (a die-hard golfer can sometimes be an irrational human); I went away with friends for short breaks for more golf, and I acquired more physical pain.
There was only one good game, which was the highlight. During the past few weeks, we had some rain, and it washed the haze down, but not enough. So, while out on the golf course, my eyesight was blurry (definitely due to the haze), and my eyes hurt; this sensation affected my golf game. My eyes hurt so bad, I ended up seeing an eye specialist!
To top off the misery, I played horrible golf except for that one exceptional game. And I pulled a back muscle from goodness-knows-what I did. After a bout of anti-inflammatory medication, painkillers, and rest, thankfully I recovered from this problem.
Maybe taking a break from writing is not such a good idea after all. I felt brain rot as I spent more hours—too many—on my iPad Mini, mindlessly playing my games. They were addictive, and unfortunately, an activity that also contributes to my eye issues.
So, in conclusion, I should keep writing to keep my mind alert, be more disciplined to reduce my addiction to my iPad games, and also minimize my outdoor activities. My overall well-being and eyesight are very important, and I should take measures to ensure no further deterioration in all aspects of my health.
Spectacular sunrise at the Cameron Highlands golf course where we played two rounds over two days
The weather has been dreary because the haze is back. Do not be fooled by a sunny horizon only to be greeted with a dull, pale sky upon reaching your destination. Being out on the golf course in such conditions has been a blessing of sorts.
While there is no sun to contend with, the stillness can sometimes feel stifling and unbearable. I am amazed that I am golfing in such conditions when I should be staying indoors. Then again, as a diehard golfer, I take the lack of sun over the prospect of rain anytime!
As I navigate these conditions for my weekly sport activities, I cannot help but wonder how long they will last. I wonder because the environmental situation may affect where I am headed next week for another golf trip. Yay for the trip, boo for the environmental conditions.
Pray tell, where am I headed? Find out next week; we leave on Sunday morning, so I’m crossing my fingers for clear skies and improved air quality.
Week in, week out, the routine feels the same; yet it is different, hence the saying, same same but different. Over the weekend, it was yet another outstation golf trip, but with our golf club instead of on our own.
Last Friday, hubby and I joined our club for an Interclub golf trip to Johor. The week before, I was in Seremban with my golf buddies for a 2D/1N excursion; this time, it was a 3D/2N outing.
Our first game was at Johor Golf and Country Club, which has been undergoing massive redevelopment but is open for play. The golf course was very enjoyable; however, the clubhouse is still under renovation, so we were not able to use the facility. Nonetheless, I give it a thumbs-up and would like to play there again once the redevelopment is completed and the clubhouse is ready.
The next day, we played at Orchard Golf and Country Club. Not a very nice course, honestly. Everything that worked the day before fell flat. Putting sucked because the greens were bald! So many times, my ball skidded past the hole and didn’t roll into it; a forgettable round of golf.
The hotel we stayed at is the usual choice whenever we travel down to Johor with the club. You can tell it is an old hotel when there are no modern plug points with USB ports at the bedside for charging use. But the seasoned traveler in me brought all the necessary charging docks, plugs and cables to overcome this, having stayed here on past trips with the club.
Finally, on the last day we had our Interclub golf challenge against Palm Resort Golf and Country Club. We were slated to play the Cempaka course. The other two courses were Allamanda and Melati.
Our day did not start well. An illegally parked car blocked our bus from leaving the open space car park compound, delaying us by 20 minutes. Then, as we made our way to the club, traffic was at a standstill on the narrow road for another 20 minutes, creating further anxiety for an already delayed journey. I thought we would arrive late, but thankfully, there was some breathing space and soon the tournament started after a quick breakfast.
It was a shotgun start, and my flight started on Hole 4. All was fine and going well until we crossed over to the back nine, which was very long. All the Par 3s, my goodness! I had to pull out my driver twice and couldn’t even reach the green. So demoralizing.
Towards the last three holes, the sky turned dark and threatened with rolling thunder, and strong wind followed. Dang! I rushed through my shots. Ugh. Beaten by the weather and overall unfamiliarity of the course!
We left Palm Resort defeated in the team event, unfortunately, but took heart that our club will host them for a return match in September at our home course. The team will take revenge then and take the trophy back. Hahahaha. Moving forward, I feel I could have played better, and would like to return to this golf club. Perhaps another trip down South? Something to think about.
There were some good memories as we left Johor for home at 3.00 pm. Traffic was horrendous, doubling the travel time back, arriving at the club near midnight. What a trip, what a journey towards the end. So another one filed away for remembrance until my next golf trip!
The days that go by feel so ho-hum. Day in, day out, week in, week out, it feels the same. Too monotonous the routine that I can go about it like a robot on repeat. There is not much excitement happening.
The desire to play more golf has seeped out of me with the unpredictable weather lately. We can get nice weather for one nine, and upon crossover, the weather goes downhill, that is, too hot for my liking or raining cats and dogs in a worst-case scenario. When this happens, the golf goes down with it. Hahaha.
Over the weekend, I played in my club’s monthly medal tournament. During the first nine, I played so well because of cloudy, cool conditions. All my shots were spot on, and I was one under my handicap at the turn. The back nine, sadly, was a different story. Too many strokes over. Sigh.
The sun came on full blast, and needless to say, the will to play good golf melted under the sun. It’s a lesson learned to continue to build my mental strength to overcome the heat and adversity of uncontrollable situations.
So, I’m taking a break from playing in the sun or rain for the remainder of this week. Perhaps next week, when I tee off, I will have a better mental approach. We shall see.
It is nice to have an extended weekend with two replacement public holidays on Monday and Tuesday. But it throws the momentum off. Monday felt like Sunday, and Tuesday felt like a Saturday! It’s a weird feeling.
I played golf on Sunday and Tuesday, and Mother Nature had a little fun with us on both days. We gave up the last three holes when the rain started for the Sunday game, while on Tuesday, playing at a course outside and with five holes left, the rain came down in a fury and we didn’t have enough time to find shelter. I was soaked to my underwear. We decided to wait it out and did manage to complete the game.
The extended weekend saw many holidaymakers travelling. Some even took leave from work to stretch the holiday break. We opted not to be part of the crowd, hence, the golf and eating out because I deemed the home kitchen closed! Heheheh.
It will be quite some time before we have another long stretch of holiday break. So, making use of it and being happy about it!
The last two golf outings have been a blessing. I would say Mother Nature scored zero versus golf games that have racked up two wins thus far. The score is now Mother Nature-1 and Golf Games-2.
We had really good weather both times, cloudy and cool until only the last three holes when the sun decided to make an appearance. Now if only we had planned that Kampung Kuantan trip a week later. Oh well.
Despite such niceties, days when we are home, the house feels like an oven! And on a couple of occasions, it rained more than cats and dogs. I won’t complain because golf can go on without interruption, and I’m thankful.
I tee off again later this afternoon. Maybe golf can pull ahead with another good weather outing? We will find out!
Remarks