Golf comp at the Vines

Ray Pua and myself took part in the Bartercard Golf Competition today.
It was a stableford competition.



I managed 3 pars but had 2 blowout holes. It is always a couple of blow out holes that is keeping my scores up.

Unfortunately, as Ray Pua and myself do not have an official handicap, we had to play off 18 for the competition. That is a huge challenge and probably why we did not win.

Maybe it is time to see a sports psychologist.

I finally managed to win money off Ray Pua though and it was more than satisfying. This is my game for the week. Perhaps next week, I will break 100 again.


Golf rule for the week:
What are Stableford rules?


To play Stableford, you need to know handicaps for each player.

You also need to use the Stroke Index (SI) on each hole of the course. The SI indicates the difficulty of each hole, 1 being the hardest, 18 being the easiest.

Combine the two factors; this means that if you have a handicap of 15, you get an extra stroke on SI holes 1-15. If you have a handicap of 19, you get two extra strokes on SI 1 and one stroke on SI 2-18.

Stableford points are awarded on the basis of this handicapping:

Two points for a par, one point for one over. If you do better than your handicap par you receive three points for one under, four points for two under, and so on.

Players who exceed their own par by two strokes receive no points and wipe the hole. The player has the option of picking up their ball and starting all over on the next hole. At the end of the round, all points scored are added for each nine holes and totaled for the eighteen. The player with the most points is declared the winner.

The stableford competition has one major advantage, it means you can have one or two bad holes, and compensate for them during the other holes. A good guide for stableford is that 36 points for 18 holes will mean you have played to your handicap.

Till I blog again, have fun.

Golfing with close friends and my son

There was not much of a game during the last Thursday as it was just Alvin and I. The scores were nothing to scream about.

I did manage to get a game in in Sunday with Bill, Ed and my son Jazton. Bill is new to the game and has just finished his 6 weeks lessons with TAFE. Ed has been struggling and has just got new clubs. My son , Jaz is the cool and lazy one. He has got new clubs but have not gotten used to them.

Anyway, we go for 18 holes at Maylands on Sunday. It is a beautiful day. I get to spend time with friends and son. Unfortunately, I could not get my wife in as there were already 4 players.

It is interesting to see what different level of players there are. Bill just learned the game. Ed, has been struggling but has potential. My son has all the potential. I am the one who is not improving.


I  missed breaking 100 although there was 3 pars. I will get there. Any way, I am playing in a comp this morning at the Vines with Ray Pua. Let's leave the scorecards to tomorrow.

Will keep you guys posted.

Last Thursday's game at Maylands

Due to the break the previous week because of the rain, the only players on 16 September 2009 were Henry, Sean and myself.  Most of the usual players could not make it. That's the problem with groups. Once the momentum is lost, it is harder to get everyone back again. However, I am sure everyone will regroup next week.      

On that day, we did however meet up with Darren, a Sri Lankan who plays at around a 12 handicap.  We formed up a 4 ball and thoroughly enjoyed the company and the challenges. Here's to Darren joining us for a golf game soon.

Henry is leaving to play golf in Thailand and Malaysia for 3 weeks. What a life. Makes me envious. Well, that's something to work towards. Working 2-3 days a week and playing golf on the other days.

In the meantime, I have booked 2 slots for this Thursday at Burswood. 1st tee off at 9.15 am. 

This week's rule

What are the rules regarding a golf ball landing in a puddle of water in a sand trap

This tends to happen often at Burswood Golf Course on the front nine.

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This is known as casual water. You are allowed to take relief. You do so as follows:

(a) drop the ball anywhere in the bunker, no nearer the hole.

(b) You do so unless the course manager has designated the bunker Ground Under Repair, in which case you get a free drop out of the bunker.

This comes under Rule 25.1 of the General Rules of Golf:

ABNORMAL GROUND CONDITIONS

Free Relief (except in a water hazard) – if your ball is in a position where you have interference from an abnormal ground condition (i.e. casual water, ground under repair or a hole or cast made by a burrowing animal, etc.), you may drop within one club-length of the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole.

If the ball is on the putting green, it is placed at the nearest point of relief. There is no relief for intervention on your line of play unless your ball and the abnormal ground condition are on the putting green.

If your ball is in a bunker and you cannot take complete relief, you may drop the ball at the nearest position in the bunker not nearer the hole that gives maximum available relief. Also, when the ball is in a bunker, the player may take relief behind the bunker under  penalty of one stroke.

Check the Local Rules on the score card to establish whether there are special rules for the club. For example, some clubs allow relief if there are kangaroo paw marks in the sand bunker.

However, in most courses, a kangaroo paw mark is not grounds for relief because it is not a burrowing animal.

Definition of Burrowing animal:

Definition: Definitions from the Official Rules of Golf .

A "burrowing animal" is an animal that makes a hole for habitation or shelter, such as a rabbit, mole, groundhog, gopher or salamander.

Note: A hole made by a non-burrowing animal, such as a dog, is not an abnormal ground condition unless marked or declared as ground under repair. That rule therefore applies to kangaroos or carrowary's in Ozland. What other strange animals do we get on our courses?

So there you have it. Always know your rules as it can save you strokes. Till we play again. See yah.

Family golfing at Maylands

 

Family Golf day

Jazton, Mum in Law, Tyzton , Annie and Myself

Yes, I did not get to play with the golf gang on Thursday cos I was at the hospital with my mum in law. Thank god , cos the rain and wind was crazy.

Well, to make up for not golfing during the week, I was lucky enough to get my mum in law and wife and kids to the golf course on Sunday. I had brought my mum in law back from the hospital for the weekend. They have yet to diagnose her  symptons but I think it is definitely lung cancer from all her smoking. At 78 years, I do not see how I can get her to stop. While at the hospital, I have to bring her out in the wheelchair to the open so she can get  a smoke and her nicotine fix.

Anyway, she was at my home and she complained that she was  bored. So I thought of the perfect remedy.

Get her on a buggy. (Bear in mind she has been banned from driving by myself). Get her some sunshine. Spend time with her daughter, her grandsons and her favourite son in law (me). What else can you ask for.

So we ended up at Maylands. I played well today for 9 holes. Finished 12 over for 9 holes. The wife and eldest son is getting better at their game. The youngest son is happy to just drive the buggy even though he has a great swing.

So that was the weekend for me. A man can consider himself lucky if he can get on the golf course with his mother in law, his sons and his wife. Bet you guys have never done that,

Till I golf again, see yah.

Golfing with the ladies at Mt Lawley Golf Club on Father's Day

Front Left Henry, Anne , Liz and Ray Tan (yeah, he finally got into the picture)

Yes, it was Father's Day. I played gin rummy with my gin group till 2 am. My wife then presented me with my

Father's Day present which was 2 outfits for golf. I had to ask her to hem in the length of the pants so that I could wear them for my game. 

What a loving wife, she stayed up and hemmed my pants in so that I could look good and play well on Father's Day. Where to find a wife like that?

Any way, back to the game. This 2 ladies had 12 and 14 handicaps. The bet was $2 per hole and it was  Henry and me vs the 2 ladies.

The tee off shots of Henry, (El Gorilla) is always impressive. Long and straight.

The ladies to my surprise were just as good at their tee offs. They had  a 50 metre advantage at each tee off. 

I can say that even with that 50 metre advantage, they were teeing off the same distance as myself and Ray Pua. Liz also had a natural draw which made her drives even longer. She called herself the  "Unpaid Hooker "  because of her draws. 

The amazing thing was that these 2 ladies showed us what putting was about. Each hole was a 2 putt with the 2nd putt not more than 1 ft from the hole. 

In the meantime, although Henry's drives were "gorilla" great, however, his putts were also gorilla length. He lacked the ladies' touch.

For me, I was doing my usual slices.

We did survive and by the 17th  hole, the ladies and the men were tied. So, I suggested a final bet for the winner to take all on the last hole. Guess what, Henry 4 putted??????.

So, we ended up paying but what a joy as the course was beautiful and the company great.

I am sure Anne and Liz will  play with Henry and myself again. Till then, no quarter is given and every man or woman to himself or herself. As the ladies said " There are no friends on the course".

Till we putt again, goodnight.

Golfing at Whaleback 3 Sept 2009

Today's players :

WHALEBACK PUBLIC COURSE


From left: Alvin, Leong, Stevie, Johny, Ray Pua, Guan, Michael, DeLian Peng, Henry and Alfred, Sean and myself missing.


Great weather today. It was a good walk around the course. We had a couple of new players.  Johny and Delian Peng played with Michael and myself. Unfortunately Johny was unable to finish the game as we were delayed on nearly every hole. May be the last time we play at Whaleback.

He missed seeing Michael get an Eagle on a par 4 at the 12th hole. The approach is uphill with the green being elevated and running off on all sides. Michael and I were looking for his ball off the green as we saw it land on the elevated green but the ball was missing when we reached the green. We were looking around for a few minutes and totally puzzled when I suggested it may be in the hole. And it was. Congrats Michael. It's as good as a hole in one.

My game was better than last week. However, I blew 2 holes and that got me above 100 again. It is a frustrating game but totally addictive. I will be back ( In Schwarzenegar's voice).

Today's score is


Winners to date:


Henry Pua x 2 1st Place x 1 2nd place
Alfred x2 1st place x1 2nd place
William x1 1st place
Ray Pua x 1 1st place
Guan x 2 3rd place
Leong x1 3rd place
Cedric x1 3rd place



I finally got some money off Henry Pua. The next step is to win Ray Pua's money.

Guys, please note that you are able to make comments on the blog. If you do not like what I write, you can always complain and note your own comments. But being the lawyer I am, my comments are always fair :). I do however get the right to censor your comments.

Which brings me to this week's golf rules:


What is a "Gimmee"

Gimmies are never allowed under the Rules of Golf.

Keep in mind that "gimmies" are differentiated from putts that are conceded by an opponent. In match play, an opponent can concede a short putt to you, allowing you to pick up without holing out.

However, a "gimmie" is a putt that you request be conceded, as in, "Will you give me that one?" (hence the term "gimmie"). Conceded putts in match play must be conceded by an opponent entirely on their own, without prompting.

In stroke play, neither gimmies nor conceded putts are allowed under the rules.
One of the first rules in the book - Rule 1-1 - states that the ball must be played until it is in the hole. The only exception to that is for conceded putts in match play.

No gimmies are allowed under the rules.


Then what happens when you get a Gimmie and you still putt?

So you concede a putt to your opponent. But the opponent jabs at the ball anyway, and the ball misses the cup. Has your opponent just cost himself a stroke?

Nice try.

The missed "putt" doesn't count. A conceded putt is a conceded putt. Once one player informs another that the putt is conceded, that player's play of the hole is over and his or her score is in the books (see Rule 2).

Only your opponent can concede a putt or give you a "gimmee".





See you all next Thursday.