MC trophy part Two

My Six iron tercabut... Perhaps, a sign I need to buy a new set of irons... Will discuss in a separate post.
Almost forgot.. Hj Sam made two sandy pars during the tournament.. Happy for you Jang

Mitsubishi Trophy - Sam kan rehab, Budin shot of day/ 4 putt on 1st hole & my 6 iron clubhead tercabut/ beat the lady pro..(Basically a lot happen)

Tournament: MC trophy
Date: Sat 24th Nov
BMMJ Players: Mohamad, Hj Samuil, Hj Shahbudin, Hj Md Yusof, Khun Pg Ali, Hj Md Zairin & me self...
Bilateral: Pool nada since sys 36. Only Sam and Budin.

I shall try to report this tournament differently... by Player as I see it

Hj Samuil
I was paired with Hj Sam, Hj Budin & Nu'maan (anak Hj Shahrir Moksin) and our 1st hole was the sixth at the Empire (over gawang)... I threw the tee into the air to find out who shall tee off dulu. It was Sam... then me.. Budin and Nu'maan.

I heard from last week, comment from Hj Budin G Sam ada kurang stamina lately.. and driver nda mau naik due to long lay off (2 bulan).. today i found out it was fairly true. Sam had a 10 on the first hole when he put two balls in the valley. but credit to him the next hole he parred. But he continued to struggle with his new driver (bought from Panaga pro shop.. its now for sale if mau pls call G Sam) but his irons rescued him most of the time. Putting was average. During the last few holes.. Sam said.. "Mun cemani baik tah REHAB..."

I could not stop laughing...

"Iatah, aku rehab angkat besi dirumah kana tawakan" i replied..

Between him and Shahbudin, it was competitive up to the 4th hole (our 16th) which was the par 3 competition with the Lady Pro. Sam put two in the water and it was game over. Fortunately for him, ada free lesson from lady pro (see picture) when we finished on the 5th.. Sam nda mau shake hand with me... (even though there was none between us that day) ada orang nda happy... his score was 98...

Hj Shahbudin
Could not capitalise much on disaster opening hole by G sam and had an 8. Not something every golfer wants to start their game. But got a "Shot of the day" on the 13th.. His drive went right and just missed the bunker.. from a difficult position he managed to get his approach within 5 feet of the pin.. simple birdie putt... Had an up and down game and did not make a par until the par 3 16th (our 10th) sikit lagi par less... hehe after G Sam's expensive mistake on the par 3, it was all over between them. Even a two shot swing on the last could not save G Sam's fortune. Score of 96.

Nu'maan
This kid has a lot of potential (out drove me by at least 15 yds of the tee) but needs to work on his mental and short game. But good to see younger guys playing out there. His time will come and one to look out for the future.

Moi?
Jangan tah panjang, GROSS 79, 1 BRD, 11 PARS, 1 TRP.. Missed two birdie puts from 9ft.. Still need to work on my putting.. G Sam and G Budin save duit today... My six iron tercabut.. huhu..

Zairin
From his text msg... not good

Hj Yusof
102.. but beat the lady pro

Mohamad & Khun Pg Ali
Didnt get a score but Mohamad won a NTP prize.

Most satisfying was we beat the lady pro.. Myself, Shahbudin and Nu'Maan had par and won ourselves a MC shirt.

Sunday 25th Hj Sam and Yoi Zairin entered Sang Jati tournament at Panaga. Tahan bejalan? Ada kana angkat pakai stretcher karang...

Anyway, thanks to MC for a wonderful day of golf.

Mitsubishi Trophy - 25 & 26 Oct

Ive been kindly invited by Mitsubishi Corp to participate in the 22nd edition of the MC trophy. The tournament will be played over two days at the Empire Golf & Country Club. Its been raining in Brunei lately and hope weather will be fine this saturday.

For full details, pls click on link below

http://www.bt.com.bn/en/sport-national/2009/10/16/heres-your-chance-take-pro-golfers-ladies

Again, MC have brought in two Japanese lady golfers to play in the Par 3 competition. Obviously, everybody wants to see Ai Miyazato come to Brunei... hmm

Will be paired with Jang Budin and two other golfers.

Shahbudin sapu semua Saturday

The BMMJ golfers continued their pursuit of who will be crowned this week's champion thus earning bragging rights for the week.. I was not playing due to business trip...

Guest Editor - Hj Shahbudin Musa
Who were playing?: Hj Sam (2 months lay off.. kes minta kesian), Hj Zairin, Hj Md Yusof & Hj Shahbudin
Where: RBA GC

Front Nine
It was a delayed start for us as we waited for the rain to stop. It wasnt until 8.30am that we finally managed to tee off. However, light drizzle lasted the whole game which gave us a cooling effect. The front nine was a disaster for Hj Yusof with a 56. Possibly still unable to shake off his performance last week. I made a good start with par on the first two holes.

But never write off Jang Sam or Yoi Zairin.. Sam was quietly strategising his round and made two pars in a row on holes 7 & 8... Then the BMMJ curse struck again.. hehe
Yoi Zairin then tagur.. "Two par in a row ohh"

Sam's tee shot on the 9th subsequently went OB and his 3rd went in the drink.. ended up with a nine and from there on did not fully recover.

Back NINE
G Yusof bounced back with a 47 whilst Yoi Zairin went one better with a 46 But it was too little too late for both of them as I made par on the last green from 15ft to seal the win... Saturday sembileh...

Summary:
Jurubayar Agung - Hj Md Yusof Taufik (2nd week in a row..)
Big Winner - Yours Truly
Pool - Abis...bepanyap
Weather: Very nice due to just ended rain...
Performance: Long lay off affected Sam's drive.. Stamina Kurang (Nda minum RELIV?)
Scores: GB 90, GS & GZ 94 & GY 10X
(Using old picture from BSP Corp game)

I-N-T-E-G-R-I-T-Y

The game of golf embodies some very important characters or traits not usually found in other sports. I think there about six or seven.

1. Honesty
2. Integrity
3. Sportmanship
4. Respect
5. Responsibility
6. Courtesy

To give an example, only in golf that you penalise yourself e.g when your ball goes into a hazard or out of bounds. In most other sports, the referee would make the decision. That is why golf is different, unique and special.

Unfortunately, some golfers do not share or adhere to these principles.

There were suppose to be four of us playing last Saturday afternoon in RBGCC. The hype was building up all week. Shahbudin wanted to play but not enough kaki's available the week before.

This week, one didnt turn up and very disappointingly only informed us in the morning. No excuse was given. Tsunami or otherwise... maybe TAKUT KALAH or another 111++ score and double digit score on #10...

Im normally quite forgiving but this time.. this has crossed the line...
Way forward? I would leave that to my fellow golfers to decide how to address this issue for future games...

Coming back to the game:
Players: Yoi Hj Yusof, Jang Hj Shahbudin and me self
Where? RBGCC, 12.45pm
Weather? Cloudy with a chance of rain late afternoon
Pool? Lupa.. too upset due to no-show.. Cana kan cari replacement last minute?

Front Nine:
Started with a par while GB had a double and GY had a triple. Told them i was lucky. By the 7th hole I was running away with the game playing even par... Noises galore from them both... Was targeting playing 37 or 38.. Then controversy on the 8th..

My tee shot was on-line but few feet short.. chipped but was a bit hard and rolled about 4ft pass the hole.. Interestingly, it settled near an old divot or pitch mark that was unrepaired. I cleaned and lined the ball but when I was addressing it - the ball moved into the old divot. "Ah.. 1 stroke penalty" Said Jang Budin...

Shahbudin then gave me an example "One stroke penalty Jang - saw it on TV when Harrington did the same on the PGA tour when his ball moved by the wind"

RULE 18 USGA - Ball Moving After Address
If a player's ball in play moves after he has addressed it (other than as a result of a stroke), the player is deemed to have moved the ball and
incurs a penalty of one

I subsequently missed the putt and made a 5.. there goes the 37.. Didnt recover for the 9th and ended up with a double from a difficult shot on the downhill slope..
GB's 3rd shot also hit my buggy.. penalty... and another controversy..

Luckily GB and GY also had a huge number on the 9th... hehe
Result: GB 4x, GY 5X and me 4X (CSI - But as for individual game, abis sapu... hehe)

Back Nine
From previous games, i have a tendency to lose from a winning position (Samuil - Eastwood & others) So I was very determined to keep and protect my lead..

GY was struggling with his game mostly due to long lay off and housing concerns.. but all three of us were proud to record a BOGEY on 10th... with me missing a makeable putt for par from 5ft.. green alum putong.. great recovery for GB from hutan and GY from just behind the bunker... KITANI BAH TU... Rasa macam birdie oh

By the 16th, GY was "contained" and I only had GB to worry about..

On the 15th.. I was contemplating crossing but decided not to as the wind was picking up and my driver was cold that day.. but not GB... full marks for bravery.. uhh.. sayang too much left and hit the maintenance roof building... Mine went right and safely on the fairway.. tutup buku.. and so i thought... my approach masuk air.. after a mishit from the normally reliable 7 iron... GY went in the drink as well.. Still salvaged a 6 while the others had 7 and 8.. hehe..

By 18th.. last minute mind game by GB.. and I almost fell for it..
"Kalau kau triple aku par, manang ku ni Jang" said GB...
My mistake for letting it get to my head.. kira score lah dulu...

From the jungle i scrambled a seven while GB parred... GY also had a seven or eight.. saved him one stroke by finding his ball on the left slope on 18th....
Anyway, GB and GY... abis..... won over GB by nett 3 strokes and GY... hehe rather not say... Was REMINDED.. Stroke naik for them both in next game... no worries...

Summary
Jurubayar Agung: Yoi Hj Yusof Taufik - (1XX)
Cost Neutral: Jang Hj Shahbudin Musa - (9X)
Big Winner/belanja rojak & ABC di Amanah Harith: Me self... of course.. (8X)
Thanks also for subsidy from them both....

Jang Manan, sia-sia pun ABC... nanti tunggu u balik December...

PICTURE: GY in trouble on the 2nd hole.. but recovered with a bogey.. well done but swing atu.. macam awal tarik kiri....

Pantai Mentiri issues

Salam Alaikum Dear Readers,
It is never my intention to discuss management issues of the game in this spot but circumstances regarding what was once the best course in Brunei made it difficult for me to ignore.

If you read last Saturday's Bulletin, it would be difficult to miss the court case involving two parties associated with the club. I shall not dwell on the story but offer some food for thought to the people behind the club. I think we all know too well problems the club has faced in recent years and not worthwhile to repeat it here.

Three options

1. Foreign Takeover
Golf is now a very popular game in Brunei and I can assure you courses like RBA and Empire and making a reasonable amount of money every year. Thus, the club can be bought or long leased by 3rd parties from the government. New injection of capital to improve the club house, course and others would then give PMGC a chance to compete with the best in Brunei if not Southeast Asia. A professionally run club would increase revenue from golf, F&B, pro-shop etc. Lets face it, PMGC is somewhat disadvantaged by its distance compared to others. If Bruneians are willing to travel to Miri to play at Eastwood, think about what it can do to PMGC if conditions improve.

2. Brought under BIA, BEDB or other GLC control
Basically, BIA officers and staff could be used in the short term to get the club back in shape and proper footing. They then would get the likes of RBA, Tourism Dept involved to properly market Brunei as a golfing destination with PMGC as the crown jewel. I dont think bringing this club under the MCYS is the answer. You need commercial acumen to improve this club. Empire designed by Jack Nicklaus you might say? To me Ronald Fream designed PMGC is better.

3. Closure
Well folks, its the least favourite option but when all else fails what do you do? It would be a sad day for golfers in Brunei should this happen. The last time I attended an AGM, the financials were not really solid. If the club cannot balance the books for prolonged periods, can government subsidies last forever?

So that's my two cents for today.
(Pictures by Kimigolf.com)

Normal Service resumes

When: 27th Sept 09
Where: RBA GC
Who: Manan, Zainoring, me self, Hj Yusof (Sakit parut - pull out)

Originally planned for Saturday, but the unavailability of players due to still being hari raya meant game was move to Sunday. Lucky too as heavy rain pelted Brunei with winds reaching nearly 40mph.

I had little expectations from the game due to the month long lay off so was playing for the exercise value. We started on the Back nine at around 6.45am

Front Nine
Duffed my first shot using the 3W.. luckily ball did not go in the lake.. Manan and Zainorin's drive was OK. Actually, there wasnt much wrong with Manan's game accept drive was short (tuha sudah jang - by his own admission) his chipping was ok and played 43 or 44. His new clubs, the TM XD was producing the goods.

Pyscho hole 17th (our 8th) did not materialise as Manan and I both parred.

My long game was intact whilst short game was off mostly due to the long lay off. But so far so good.

Back Nine
Manan and myself was still competitive up to the 14th hole. Then something strange happened. The 7th (our 16th) i hit an excellent approach to the centre of the green. But when we reached the green, my ball was no where to be seen... entahlah... kana talan kali.. had to drop but salvaged a bogey..

On the last hole, I was leading my only 2 strokes nett. PRESSURE... Still anybody's game...I could go into water and game would end in a draw or worse...

Manan teed off first as he parred the 8th while i bogeyed. His drive went OB.. mine was centre of fairway... game over hehehe.. Selamat Hari Raya...

Manan played 94, I played 8x (not published due to Commercially Sensitive information) heheh

Pic: Golf-asia.com