It truly was a beautiful sunny day with, thankfully, a cooling breeze and no sight of rain all afternoon. All six flights completed their rounds, albeit some got around a bit slower than others.

We had a good field of 24 players with four guests, Sam Geddes (Son of El Pres), Herman Brand (1st game and guest of Clive), Thomas Stadler (2nd game and guest of Bernd) and On Chin Tan (2nd game).

The ever efficient starter at Sungai Long arranged for us to have a two tee box start – 3 from the 1st and 3 from the 10th. Malaysia Boleh, two flights suddenly appeared on the 1st tee box just before our 1st flight’s 1pm tee time, who we established had a 1.32 tee time. This eventually meant that flights from the 10th tee box were finishing before the first two flights from the 1st.

Course condition: No one can ever complain about Sungai Long as a golf course. It is always presented beautifully and the fairways, tee boxes (apart from the abomination below) and greens were very good. The rough as always, is very tough so it pays to stay on the short stuff.

We played from the white tee markers which, today, made the course very short; some of the white tees were on the ladies tee box. Yours scribe could benefit from some course management in such situations.

Some good scores were returned but only 7 players bettered or equaled their handicap. I know that the rough was a challenge and I think the scores reflected that.

Caddies: Feedback on the caddies at Sungai Long before we get into the results. About half the field had some complaints about the caddying, anything from ‘giving putts’ and ‘moving debris around the ball’ to demanding higher tips or having the audacity to ‘tut tut’ a players shot! Some trainees were deployed I believe, and also a few ring-ins. The rest thought the caddies did an OK job.

Post-Game Dinner and Prize Giving

East of Highway Restoran is one of our regular and most enjoyable haunts away from the clubs, and once again provided a really good spread of well chosen dishes. Lots of beer and wine (graciously provided again by Ricardo) was imbibed along with heaps of banter and laughs. Ted even provided us with a very comical re-enactment of his ‘dummy spit’ on the 17th hole earlier in the day!  Great day and evening all around!

EGM

As previously notified a short EGM was convened.  Following the AGM the committee was asked to review the current handicap system and make recommendations. These recommendations were put to the members and previous committee members.  The vote on the recommendations was held and the said recommendations were passed unanimously unopposed. The constitution shall be amended accordingly and issued to all members.

Results
• The winner today was Edwin Ferner with an excellent round of 89 off a handicap of 23 and a result of 42 points. (Cut , – 4 for winning plus – 1 for being so good, erm, no, because he had more than 40 points! His base handicap is 22 and you cannot be cut more than four below your base, i.e. 18. Thus cut 5.
• Second today on the sheet was Sam Geddes but being a guest, he could not win. Nonetheless, it should be noted he had a score of 97 for 39 points. El Pres was the fortunate recipient of 2nd given Sam’s ineligibility, with a gross of 84 for 38 points. Cut 2.   Many thanks to Ricardo Castro for sponsoring the Wine prize
• Third place went to Bernd Kaiser with another solid round of 96 for 37 points. Cut 1.

Full results below

Novelty Awards
• Longest Drive – Hole number 5 Par 5 – Sam Geddes 229.2m
• NTP – Hole number 8 Par 3 – Pietro Martucci 3.2m
• NTP – Hole number 14 Par 3 – Andrew Robinson 2.7m (and he made the birdie putt)
Lowest Gross – Geoff McLaws 81. Second Paul Geddes 84. Third Ricardo Castro 86.

COTD Nominations
• Iain Wise  – playing in the group in front. Claimed they had three caddies working for them and Iain was still raking the bunkers himself!
• Geoff  -for throwing a club in the direction of the caddy. Undue Petulance (that’s a new one).
• Ted – who on the 17th, instead of throwing a club, threw himself on the ground (Ted provided a re-enactment of this at dinner). The caddy asked, “is he dead?”
• Herman – who received advice from his caddy after taking three unsuccessful shots out of a bunker – ungentlemanly conduct! And,
• Siggy who nominated himself for barking (woof woof) on Andrew’s backswing. More fool him, Andrew couldn’t hear!

Unanimous winner was Ted Parslow who was obviously enjoying prostrating himself!

Fines:
Enzo ended up paying the fines for his guests, Herman and Tan. Is that called losing the bet?
Much confusion prevailed but I believe the fines are:
Herman, Tan, Clive and Andy for not reaching the ladies tees. Each fined RM50
Thomas for arriving late – RM20 but paid RM50 – very charitable.
Numerous other misdemeanours raised more funds from Clive, Ted, Herman and Tan to the tune of RM20 each.

We also had a number of fines issued for non-submission of score cards. It will not be accepted to have four players scores recorded on one card and that submitted in place of individual cards.  To clear up this issue once and for all. We each receive a card with our name and handicap already on it. We swap the card with someone else in the group. That person records your score and his own where appropriate on that card. No other scores are to be entered on the card of an individual player. (If so, they are to be scrubbed out before handing the card in).  At the completion of the round, you will check your scoring and sign the card you have completed, as marker, and sign your own card when handed back by your marker.
When you hand in your card after your next round it will be checked off the list and fines will be issued accordingly. Better bring your tens and twenty’s.

May Away – unfortunately cancelled because of Covid-19

Sponsors:
We cannot forget our ever faithful sponsors for their continuing support.
Robert for providing his ever reliable balls for the prizes. There must be so many of those KLOGS balls all over the world by now!
Ricardo for the generous contribution of the wine for the prize giving and for ongoing supply of a much enjoyed beverage.

Photos : Courtesy of Stuart & Ricardo