23rd Singapore Open Senior Amateur Championship. Oct 3 - 5 2012 @ NSRCC Changi - Round 1 Scorecard

Recently I took part in the 23rd Singapore Open Senior Amateur Championship held at NSRCC Changi's Army and Navy Course. No, I wasn't really excited about it and was actually felt quite confident about my chances in qualifying for the final round on 5 Oct'12. I also look to it as any other social game that I used to play on weekends. I took 2 days morning leave for the first 2 rounds on 3 & 4 Oct'12. My tee time on 3 Oct'12 for the Round 1 was at 7.48am. I arrived at the clubhouse about 45 minutes early to avoid any traffic congestion. After registering for the tournament, I was given a score card with my name printed on it along with a course layout and the rules and regulations of the tournament. The score card highlighted Navy Course, which means we are to tee off from Navy Course. My buggy mate (Paul) came to load the his bag and told me he will be at the putting green. When the time came for our flight to move off there was a bit of confusion where Paul was. I told the starter that he's at the putting green. Our other flight mates (Kong and Edward) set off for the tee box first while I waited for Paul to turn up. Moments later he showed up. We set off for Navy Course and Paul said we should be starting at Army Course. I showed him the highlighted Navy Course. When we reached Navy Course our flight mates were not there. We then turn around the buggy for Army Course. Sure enough our other flight mates were there waiting with the starter saying we are late. My reply was there was a confusion and showed him my score card which highlighted Navy Course, which would mean we are to tee off from Navy Course. He then realised the mistake was not due to us but administration. Man, the day sure is going to be slow seeing that two flights in front of us were waiting to tee off. We waited approximately 15 minutes before it's our turn. Prior to hitting the first shot I was quite frankly at ease and do not feel any pressure. First to tee off was Paul being the lowest handicapper at 4,5. Nest in line was Kong (Hcp 8.5) followed by Edward (Hcp 12). I am the last with Hcp 15. We played off from Blue Tee and I have not played from Blue for many many years, at least 5 years, if I remembered correctly. An alien must have possessed me during Round 1. Below are the Hole by Hole, shot by shot scoring of how I performed on this fateful day. Round 1 Army Course Hole 1 Par 5: Shot 1 ball on fairway. Shot 2 duffed it. Shot 3 under club. Shot 4 duffed again. Shot 5 overshot the green. Shot 6 ball on green. 2 putts for 8. Hole 2 Par 4: Shot 1 ball on fairway. Shot 2 duffed and short of green. Shot 3 ball on left fringe. Shot 4 putted and ball kissed hole to miss par. Shot 5 ball in hole. Hole 3 Par 3: Shot #1 ball on green. Elated. 2 putts for par, Thought I am getting into the game. Par for hole. Hole 4 Par 5: Shot 1 ball on fairway. Shot 2 ball on left side of fairway. Shot 3 duffed the ball. Shot 4 top the ball and ball went 40' past the pin. Shot 5 putted too hard downhill and ball went past flag to the front fringe. Shot 6 putted from fringe and ball went in. Cheers all round from flight mates. Bogey 6 for hole. Hole 5 Par 4: Shot 1 ball on fairway. Shot 2 ball short of green. Shot 3 ball on green. 2 putted for bogey. Shot 5 for bogey. Hole 6 Par 4: Shot 1 ball went into bunker. Shot 2 ball went right and into plants. 5 minutes search. Found ball unplayable. Took penalty drop. Shot 4 ball on green. 2 putted for double. Shot 6 for double bogey. Hole 7 Par 3: Shot 1 ball on green. Horrors! 4 putted for double bogey. Shot 5. Damned. Hole 8 Par 4: Shot 1 skulled the ball. Shot 2 duffed and ball went into water hazard on right. Took penalty drop. Shot 4 ball on fairway. Shot 5 ball overshot green and went down slope behind the green. Shot 6 ball on green. 2 putted for Big par, Shot 8. Hole 9 Par 4: Shot 1 ball on fairway. Shot 2 duffed ball into front water. Shot 4 ball on green. 2 putted for double bogey. Shot 6 for double bogey. Navy Course Hole 10 Par 4: Shot 1 ball in left bunker. Shot 2 ball near right bunker of green. Shot 3 ball on green. 2 putted for bogey. Shot 5 for bogey. Hole 11 Par 4: Shot 1 ball on fairway. Shot 2 duffed ball. Shot 3 duffed again. Damned. Shot 4 ball on green. 3 putted for triple. Shot 7 for triple bogey. Hole 12 Par 3: Shot 1 ball in right bunker. Shot 2 didn't take enough sand and skulled ball. Flew past hole and landed about 36' away. 3 putted for double bogey, Damned. Shot 5 for double. Hole 13 Par 4: Shot 1 ball on fairway. Shot 2 ball went in front water hazard. Took penalty. Shot 4 duffed ball and landed short of green. Shot 5 ball on green. 2 putted for triple. Damned. Shot 7 for triple bogey. Hole 14 Par 5: Shot 1 ball in fairway left bunker. Shot 2 ball on fairway. Shot 3 ball in fairway bunker, again. Damned. Shot 4 ball in bunker yet again. Shot 5 ball on green. 2 putted for double bogey. Shot 7 for double bogey. Hole 15 Par 3: Shot 1 ball 55 m short of green. Shot 2 ball on green. 2 putted for bogey. Shot 4 for bogey. Hole 16 Par 4: Shot 1 ball on right fairway. Shot 2 ball went into the plants (Not considered flower bed). Lost ball. Return to where I last played. Shot 4 ball overshot the green and went again to the plants on right side and behind green. Not wanting to look for ball I declared ball lost, Shot 6 ball in bunker. Shot 7 ball on green. Ball found by flight mate behind the green flower bed but too late. Already declared lost ball, 3 putted for 10. Damned, damned. Shot 10 for 6 over par, Hole 17 Par 4: Shot 1 ball sailed into right of fairway and into same plants. Played a provisional ball in case I have to drive back again like previous hole. Shot 3 Found ball in left fairway bunker. Shot 4 hooked ball to left of green and found ball under the shrubs. Shot 5 used putter to hit ball out to buggy track to take free lift. Shot 6 take free lift and proceed to duffed the ball. Ball hit slope and rolled down to buggy track again. Free lift again. Shot 7 ball on green. By then already very very upset with alien for possessing my body and affected my game. 3 putts for another 10. Damned, damned, damned, Mother, Father nearly came out but I kept them in my heart without uttering a word, God it's just so difficult to bottle them up. But I kept my sanity and moved on. Shot another 10 for 6 over par. Hole 18 Par 5: Shot 1 ball on buggy track on right. Took free lift and stupidly dropped ball on slope making next shot difficult. Shot 2 hooked ball to left of fairway and between the trees lining between Army Hole 7 Par 3 and this hole. Shot 3 chipped ball to fairway. Shot 4 sliced and duffed ball into front right of water hazard. Took penalty drop. Shot 5 ball on green. 2 putted for double bogey. Shot 7 for double bogey. End of game and alien quickly depart from my body and all sanity returned to me and left me awake in this nightmare. So sorry I disappoint many bro for not bringing honour to our forum. But I came back in one piece and will be back for more punishments. My adventures in Round 2 will continue tomorrow.

Golf, Golf, Golf and more Golf - My first hand experience

Golf is a strange game. How was I ever involved in this crazy game? Let me tell you, it start with my younger brother back in 1993. I just find it amusing when he does his practice swing with an imaginary club that I sometimes bust out laughing though I was unable to fathom why. I told myself I would be seen as crazy if I pick up this game. We bought Pulai Springs as an investment in 1994. One year into it and paying foolish monthly subscriptions as described by my old friend, I decided to pick up this game. I was brought to the range at NSRCC in September 1995 and was given a 7 iron to hit a few balls. I have no idea how to hold the club correctly let alone hitting it but I managed to contact it quite a number of times. I was using the baseball grip, which is quite easy, come to think of it. I guess my natural ball sense ability took over and I managed to hit the balls much to the surprise of my old friend, albeit some inaccuracy. Thanks to my racket games like Squash, Tennis, and Badminton. I started buying golf books to learn more about the game for improvement to my game and subsequently bought a few VCDs (No DVD then) looking for tips in how to properly play this game. After a few months of regular games with my old friend and his friends, I grew more confident and was slowly addicted to the game. I got my PC from Pulai Springs (my home club) in October 1995 and finally got my Handicap in December 1995. And like they say, the rest is history. More about my golfing exploits in the near future.