September-October 2009
RCO 2009 MAKES A SPLASH MIND YOUR ETIQUETTE MONTGOMERIE LINKS VIETNAM
CONTENTS 03
Social & Recreation Captain’s Message
Club News
04 08 10 12 13 16 15 18 20
More than 20 Anglers Hit Our Lakes
Calendar of Events Raffles Charity Open 2009
25
Calendar of Events
June Monthly Medals
Reciprocal Club July Monthly Medals Coming Up Aces Club Championships 2009 Anniversary Cup 2009
28 30
The Montgomerie Links Vietnam Table of Reciprocal & Affiliated Clubs
Instruction
32
Playing Palm 4
Men’s Senior Medals – June 2009
Lifestyle
Etiquette and Golf
34
Golf Fixtures
Reminisces
Hellos and Goodbyes
36
Food & Beverage
22 23
24
SkyCaddie maps Raffles Country Club
A Close Call Don’t forget your complimentary 18-hole game
Specials At Golfers’ Terrace Shanshui Palace Restaurant Promotion
On The Cover
A competitor splashes out of the sand during the Raffles Charity Open 2009.
Chairman
Lee Ek Tieng Deputy Chairman
Soo Kok Leng
Committees General Committee Kee Sue Gee, President Lek Seow Yam, Vice-President Tan Chin Huat, Captain Yap Giau Peck, Treasurer Peter Tan P K, Secretary Charles Lim A C, Member John Tan K S, Member Kay Kong Swan, Member Perry Kwek K L, Member Ven Sreenivasan, Member
Golfing Sub-Committee Tan Chin Huat, Captain Kay Kong Swan, Vice-Captain May Mak, Lady Captain Henry Chiam, Member Hoong Bee Lok, Member Lawrence Lee, Member Mark Higgs, Member Sng Cheng Kang, Member Tan Cheng Hai, Member
House & Recreation Sub-Committee Lek Seow Yam, Chairman Perry Kwek Khin Lian, Vice-Chairman Henry Ho Kok Wai, Member Aurora Regacho, Member Ong Ho Kiat, Member Kelvin Tan Lip Kwang, Member
Handicap Sub-Committee Kay Kong Swan, Chairman May Mak, Member Mark Higgs, Member Lawrence Lee Beng Teck, Member
Corporate & Communications Sub-Committee Peter Tan P K, Chairman John Tan Kheen Seng, Co-Chairman Ven Sreenivasan, Member Edmond Ang Eng Huat, Member Kelvin Mok Siew Kit, Member Paul Nalliah Jacob, Member
Golfing Wing Upgrading Adhoc Committee
Yap Giau Peck, Chairman Ho Chye Hoi, Member Quek Eng Chye, Member
Kee Sue Gee, Chairman Hoong Bee Lok, Vice-Chairman Lek Seow Yam, Member Lau See Kiat, Member Loo Boon Kang, Member Ong Thiam Huat, Member
Audit Committee
Disciplinary Committee
Finance Sub-Committee
Charles Lim Aeng Cheng, Chairman Tan Hong Bak, Member Stanley Tien Lee, Member
Lek Seow Yam, Chairman Paul Singh, Member Seng Kwang Boon, Member
CAPTAIN’S MESSAGE
Captain’s Message I am happy to report that the greens on both our courses have recovered from the debilitating Bermudagrass Decline disease. The hard work of our maintenance crew to bring our greens back to health over the last few months must be commended. Though still not at the optimal level yet, it is now a joy to putt on our greens again. The maintenance crew will continue to pay special attention to the greens and other areas of the course and be vigilant against any reappearance of the disease. We as members can also do our part to care for our golf courses by repairing ball marks on the greens, raking bunkers and filling divots with sand. Let us work together towards an enjoyable experience playing on our Club’s courses. An integral part of having an enjoyable experience is for us to maintain a high level of etiquette when we are out on the course. Sure, sometimes our patience may be tested, but we still need to be mindful of the true spirit of golf. It is not a game to be played in a hurry. We recently had another case where a member hit his ball into a slower flight ahead of him. Unfortunately, the member had to be suspended for his infraction. I would like to reiterate what I said in the previous newsletter in that a golf course is shared by many golfers and not all of us are at the same level of golf. So, please be understanding and, most of all, please be patient. I have also been asked to offer an update on our Golfing Wing Upgrading project. Though approval for the project was given as far back as January 2008, initial estimates indicated that costs would be higher than projected. The Upgrading Committee spent many hours reviewing the design and deciding which areas had to be upgraded. The main aim is to improve our golf reception facility and golf changing rooms for the enjoyment of members. The underlying criterion for this initiative is also to improve the overall image of the Club. The delay in starting the project can be attributed to our hope that construction costs would ease once the economic downturn became more entrenched in Singapore. This was in line with the Committee’s initial objective of being more prudent amid the economic downturn. However, while the Singapore economy faced pressures in many sectors, the construction industry was one of the rare shining lights. As such, construction costs did not ease all that much during the last financial year and tender returns were higher than expected. The Upgrading Committee continues to hold discussions with consultants to review designs, materials used and other elements of the upgrading project. Once again we have had a successful Charity Open. Held on the weekend of July 4 and 5, it attracted a total of 624 participants and a sum of $195,000 was raised for the needy. This amount will be used to provide scholarships and bursaries for the needy students in Primary and Secondary Schools in the Jurong area plus provide funds to four beneficiaries namely Lions Home for the Elders, Kidney Dialysis Foundation, Thong Chai Medical Institution and Handicaps Welfare Association. I would like to thank our main sponsors, Asia Pacific Breweries, Singapore Pools and Tote Board, Hole-In-One sponsor Daimler Crysler, co-sponsors, donors, advertisers, participants and all others who in one way or other contributed to the success of this event. I look forward to working with all of you in our future efforts to help the needy. Golfers often travel overseas and when they do, they tend to try out other overseas courses. We recognise this and together with management are looking into establishing more reciprocal arrangements with other golf clubs in this region. Recently, we established a reciprocal arrangement with Montgomerie Links in Da Nang, Vietnam. As the saying goes, the children of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Similarly, the young golfers of today could be the champions of tomorrow. To encourage kids to take up golf, we have dedicated two bays at the Driving Range for this purpose. These bays will have special railings to improve the safety for the kids and the golfers around them. Finally, we recently concluded the Club Championships and I would like to congratulate Kang Yong Chiang and Michelle Ang for being the Men’s and Ladies Champion respectively.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2009 TAN CHIN HUAT Captain
RCC Lake Course Hole 1
We would like to inform members that Raffles Country Club’s 9th Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday, September 18, 2009 at 7.30 pm at the Banquet Halls. Only principal members and corporate nominees will be admitted. The Annual Report together with the Notice of Meeting were slated to be circulated to all members by the first week of September.
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CLUB NEWS
RafямВes Charity Open 2009
4
CLUB NEWS
6
CLUB NEWS
Men’s Open Divisio
n Overall Best Gro
ss Jared Lim
RCO 2009 Scoreboard Men’s Open Division
Men’s Open Division 1st Nett Yeap Chee Leong
Overall Best Gross
Jared Lim
1st Nett
Yeap Chee Leong Men’s B Division, Best Gross, Ibrahim
nd
Men’s B Division
2 Nett
Wang Hwee San
3rd Nett
Teo Keow Seng
Best Gross
Ibrahim
1st Nett
Tan Choon Seng
2nd Nett
Alex Fau
3rd Nett
Peh Choon Seng
Men’s B Divison 1st Nett Tan Choon Seng
Corporate Div- Lake
Winner
Kam Mok Yong
(Saturday, 4 July)
2nd
Kay Kong Swan
3rd
Ong Seng Yam
Corporate Div- Palm
Winner
Roland Leong
(Saturday, 4 July)
2nd
Charles Kow
3rd
Wong Y S
Corporate Div- Palm
Winner
Rashid
(Sunday, 5 July)
2nd
Jerry Dyeo
3rd
Christopher Rodwel
Corporate Division (Lake), Winner, Kam Mok Yong
Corporate Div (Palm 4 July), winner, Roland Leong
Ladies
Ladies Division A Division B Division
Overall Best Gross
Overa ll Best
Gross Ji Jiali
Ji Jiali
Best Gross
Kok Jo Ee
Best Nett
Anne Kwong
1st
Peggy Ang
Best Nett
Joanna Tan
Ladies A Division, Best Nett, Anne Kwong
Ladies B Division, Best Nett, Joanna Tan
Ladies B Division, Winner, Peggy Ang
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CLUB NEWS
June Monthly Medals The June Monthly medals were held on the Palm Course on June 6 and played under the Stableford format. The Men’s A Division competition was won by KS Teo who amassed an impressive 42 points playing off a handicap of 6.3. Png Teck San finished two points behind on 40 while SP Sim finished third on countback on 39 points. The Men’s B Division competition, which was played
on the same day on the Palm Course, was close with the top three players within 3 Stableford points of each other. A Ramaswami topped the competition. He scored 41 points, edging out James Tan KH, who was one point behind. In third place was Joseph Lim, who scored 38 points.
Men’s A Division Best
Runners-up
2nd Runners-Up
Player
KS Teo
Png Teck San
SP Sim
Stableford Points
42
40
39 (ocb)
Handicap
6.3
11.5
8.9
Best
Runners-Up
2nd Runners-Up
Player
A Ramaswami
James Tan KH
Joseph Lim
Stableford Points
41
40
38
Handicap
13.3
15.7
16.1
KS Teo
Men’s B Division
A Ramaswami
The Men’s C Division competition was also held on June 6, but played on the Lake Course. It was a closerun battle with just two points separating the top three positions. The winner was Andrew Ong, who totaled 39
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Stableford points. Finishing one point behind in second place was Robert Liu. A further point back in third place was Jacky Tan.
CLUB NEWS
Men’s C Division Best
Runners-Up
2nd Runners-Up
Player
Andrew Ong
Robert Liu
Jacky Tan
Stableford Points
39
38
37
Handicap
22.5
20.5
23.4
Andrew Ong
On the same day at the Lake Course, the ladies battled it out for the June monthly medals. Unlike the men, their competition was played under a Strokeplay format. The Ladies A Division was won by Norlia Embong who hit
70 Nett. The Best Gross score was returned by Jessie Oh, with 81. In the Ladies B Division, Tan Joo Ee hit the Best Nett score of 63, while Ruth Wee hit the Best Gross score of 91.
Ladies A Division Best Nett
Best Gross
Player
Norlia Embong
Jessie Oh
Strokes
70
81
Handicap
7.9
6.7
Norlia Embong
Ladies B Division Best Nett
Best Gross
Player
Tan Joo Ee
Ruth Wee
Stableford Points
63
91
Handicap
22.1
17.0
Tan Joo Ee
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CLUB NEWS
July Monthly Medals The July Monthly medals for the Men’s A Division and B Division were held on Lake Course on July 18, under the Strokeplay format. The Men’s A Division competition was won by KY Leong, who hit a Nett score of 67. Pak Hong Kong was runner-up with a Nett score of 69. YC Kang hit the best Gross score of the day, finishing with 78. The Men’s B Division competition was won by Allan Chua who hit a Nett score of 69, pipping SW Wai who hit 70 Nett. The best Gross score of the day was hit by Clarence Liow at 88.
The Men’s C Division and Ladies A and B Division competitions were held a week earlier on July 11. They were also played in Lake Course under the Strokeplay format. In the Men’s C Division, Heng Jee Yong hit the best Nett score of that day with a 65. The best Gross score of the day came from Jacky Tan, who hit 91. The Ladies A Division competition was won by Michelle Seow who hit a Nett score of 68. The best Gross score of the day was played by Michelle Ang, who hit an impressive 80. The Ladies B Division competition was won by Sally Kwek with a Nett score of 68, while Cindy Tan hit the best Gross score with an 88.
Men’s A Division Best Nett
Runners-Up Nett
Best Gross
Player
KY Leong
Pak Hong Kong
YC Kang
Score
67
69
78
Handicap
9.3
9.1
1.9
Best Nett
Runners-Up Nett
Best Gross
Player
Allan Chua
SW Wai
Clarence Liow
Score
69
70
88
Handicap
16.6
16.3
12.6
KY Leong
Men’s B Division
Allan Chua
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CLUB NEWS
Men’s C Division Best Nett
Best Gross
Player
Heng Jee Yong
Jacky Tan
Score
65
91
Handicap
25.5
20.3
Heng Jee Yong
Ladies A Division Best Nett
Best Gross
Player
Michelle Seow
Michelle Ang
Score
68
80
Handicap
14.8
4.8
Michelle Seow
Ladies B Division Best Nett
Best Gross
Player
Sally Kwek
Cindy Tan
Score
68
88
Handicap
24.2
16.5
Sally Kwek
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CLUB NEWS
Coming Up Aces
RCC Lake Course Hole 14
Teh Leong Thian
Wee Heng Tin
Course: New Course Hole 2 Date: 19/6/2009
Course: Lake Course Hole 14 Date: 2/7/2009
Nonita Chand
Evelyn Lee Yuet Yong
Course: Lake Course Hole 14 Date: 8/7/2009
Course: Lake Course Hole 2 Date: 12/7/2009
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on the Lake Course. Two came at Hole 14 while there was one ace in the tricky Hole 2. At Hole 14, Wee Heng Thin hit a hole-in-one on July 2, while Nonita Chand, hit her ace on July 8. Evelyn Lee Yuet Yong hit her ace in Hole 2 on July 12. Up to press-time in late August, there were no reported holes-in-one by our members.
Hole-in-one trivia
Just three holes-in-one were recorded by our members in July. But before that, we have to report another holein-one by one of our members in June. It was hit on June 19 by Teh Leong Thian at Hole 2 of the New Course at the Singapore Island Country Club. Meanwhile, in Raffles Country Club, all three holes-in one for July were recorded
• In 1965, an American golfer named Robert Mitera hit a hole-in-one on a par four 447-yard hole at the Miracle Hill Golf Course in Omaha, Nebraska. This had stood as the record for the longest documented hole-in-one until it was beaten by just one yard by Bret Melson, whose ace came in 2007 in Oahu, Hawaii at the Ko’ol au Golf Club. • The first hole-in-one to be officially recorded came in the 1868 British Open and was struck by Tom Morris, the junior of the two famous Morris father-and-son duo. • A golfer named Bill Higginbotham in 1963 claimed to have scored a hole-in-one on the very first golfing stroke he ever attempted at a course in Indiana; if true then this is a record that obviously will not ever be broken. • The accepted record for the most holes-inone on a single hole over the course of time by one golfer is held by Joe Lucius, who has 13 on the 15th hole at Tiffin, Ohio’s Mohawk Golf Club. Source: Golflink website
CLUB NEWS
Club Championships 2009 The Club Championships, a gruelling test of golfing prowess over multiple days of competition, was held in July. The Men’s Club Championship 2009 competitors played over four days like the professionals do though not on consecutive days – on July 18-19 and July 25-26. All the other competitions were played over three days – July 18 and July 25-26. All the rounds were played on the Lake Course. The winner of the Men’s Club Championship was Kang Yong Chiang who amassed a total of 313 over four days of competition. On the par 72 Lake Course, this meant that he was 25 over par after four rounds of golf. It was a superb overall performance by Yong Chiang, whose best Gross score came on the third day, with 78. However, the best Gross score of the competition came from David Soh, who finished as second runner-up with an aggregate score of 321. He hit 75 in the second round. James Fu finished above David for the first runner-up position with an aggregate score of 319. James scored the best Nett score of the competition with a Nett 68 in the second round.
Kang Yong Chiang
Men’s Club Championship Position
Name
1st Round
2nd Round
3rd Round
Final Round
18/7/2009
19/7/2009
25/7/2009
26/7/2009
TOTAL
Winner
Kang Yong Chiang
78
81
76
78
313
2nd Nett
James Fu
79
76
81
83
319
3rd Nett
David Soh
86
75
82
78
321
Daily Prizes
1st Round
2nd Round
3rd Round
Final Round
18/7/2009
19/7/2009
25/7/2009
26/7/2009
K.Y Leong
David Soh
Kang Yong Chiang
Dave Wang
78ocb
75
76
77
James Fu
79
76
81
71nett
68nett
72ocb
70nett
Best Gross
Best Nett
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CLUB NEWS
In the Men’s Intermediate Championship which was played over three rounds, the winner was Clarence Liow, who had an aggregate score of 268. He just pipped Tan Choon Seng, who
garnered an aggregate score of 269. The second runner-up was Daniel Lam with 273. The best Gross score of 87 was hit by Clarence, while Loh Teck Loh hit the best Nett score of 65 in the second round.
Men’s Intermediate Championship Position
Name
1st Round
2nd Round
Final Round
18/7/2009
25/7/2009
26/7/2009
TOTAL
Winner
Clarence Liow
88
87
93
268
1st R/up
Tan Choon Seng
92
89
88
269
2nd R/up
Daniel Lam
92
93
88
273
Daily Prizes
1st Round
2nd Round
Final Round
18/7/2009
25/7/2009
26/7/2009
Clarence Liow
Daniel Lam
Clarence Liow
88
87
88ocb
Allan Chua
Loh Teck Loh
Tan Choon Seng
69nett
65nett
69nett
Best Gross
Best Nett
The winner of the Aruan Cup for 2009 was Jacky Tan, who hit an aggregate score of 277 over three rounds. He finished a full 10 strokes clear of Andrew Ong, who was the first runner-up with 287. The second runner-up was Heng Thye Yong, a further seven strokes behind with 294. Jacky hit the best Gross score
Clarence Liow
of the competition with an 89 in the third round. The best Nett score came from Thye Yong, with 65 Nett in the first round. Indeed, Thye Yong showed his consistency by hitting the best Nett score in all three rounds, with 66 Nett in the second round and 67 Nett in the final round.
Aruan Cup Position
Name
1st Round
2nd Round
3rd Round
18/7/2009
25/7/2009
26/7/2009
TOTAL
Winner
Jacky Tan
91
97
89
277
1st R/up
Andrew Ong
98
95
94
287
2nd Nett
Heng Thye Yong
101
96
97
294
Daily Prizes
1st Round
2nd Round
Final Round
18/7/2009
25/7/2009
26/7/2009
Jacky Tan
Henry Yu HC
Jacky Tan
91
92
89
Heng Thye Yong
Heng Thye Yong
Heng Thye Yong
65nett
66nett
67nett
Best Gross
Best Nett
14
Jacky Tan
CLUB NEWS
Last, but not least, the Ladies Championship was won by Michelle Ang, who hit an aggregate score of 235 over three rounds. She was eight strokes clear of Nonita Chand who was first runner-up with an aggregate score of 243. Norlia Embong finished as second runner-up with an aggregate score over three rounds of 245. Michelle hit the best Gross score in all three rounds, underlying her competitiveness and consistency. He hit 80 in the first and third rounds, sandwiching a 75 in the second round – the lowest Gross score of the competition. However, the best Nett score for the competition was shared by Michelle Seow and Norlia Embong who both hit 68 Nett in the first and second rounds respectively.
Michelle Ang
Ladies Championship Position
Name
1st Round
2nd Round
Final Round
18/7/2009
25/7/2009
26/7/2009
TOTAL
Winner
Michelle Ang
80
75
80
235
1st R/up
Nonita Chand
81
78
84
243
2nd R/up
Norlia Embong
81
77
87
245
Daily Prizes
1st Round
2nd Round
Final Round
18/7/2009
25/7/2009
26/7/2009
Michelle Ang
Michelle Ang
Michelle Ang
80
75
80
Michelle Seow
Norlia Embong
Elvina Wong
68nett
68nett
70
Best Gross
Best Nett
On June 21, the Men’s Senior Medals were played at the Lake course under the Stableford format. Chong Wai Kong emerged as a clear winner, scoring 43 Stableford points. The battle for the runners-up positions was as intense as in the March competition for the Men’s Senior
Medals. First runner-up James Koh edged out Goh Kia Ring by 40 points to 39 points. The handicaps of the top three players were all within one stroke of each other, making the competition even more exciting.
Men’s Senior Medals - June 2009 Best
Runners-Up
2nd Runners-Up
Player
Chong Wai Kong
James Koh
Goh Kia Ring
Stableford Points
43
40
39
Handicap
13.9
13.8
12.9
Chong Wai Kong
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CLUB NEWS
Anniversary Cup 2009 The Anniversary Cup 2009 was played on the Lake Course on June 21 under a Stableford format. The competitors were split into teams of two players, and the competition proved to be very close. In the Men’s Division, the winners were Maung Yu Swan and Liang Ming Juann, who amassed 49 Stableford points. They
won on countback from Alex Eow and Albert Tan who finished on the same number of Stableford points. In the Ladies Division, the winners were Susan Leong and Cynthia Tin who scored 47 points. They finished one point clear of Linda Yeo and Sonia Tsai, who totalled 46 points.
Men’s Division
Maung Yu Swan, winner
Albert Tan and Alex Eow
Position
Name
1st Round
Winner
Maung Yu Swan / Liang Ming Juann
49 pts ocb
1st Runner-up
Alex Eow / Albert Tan
49 pts ocb
2nd Runner-up
Jacky Tan / Lee Khee Hwa
48 pts ocb
3rd Runner-up
Lee Hoe Hin / Mak Kwok Thong
48 pts ocb
Linda Yeo and Sonia Tsai
Ladies Division
Susan Leong and Cynthia Tin
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Position
Name
1st Round
Winner
Susan Leong / Cynthia Tin
47 pts ocb
1st Runner-up
Linda Yeo / Sonia Tsai
46 pts ocb
2nd Runner-up
Ngiow Lee Khim / Sally Kwek
45pts ocb
3rd Runner-up
Peggy Ang / Sharon Leong
43 pts ocb
CLUB NEWS
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CLUB NEWS
Etiquette and Golf One of the most important aspects of the game of golf is etiquette. This is especially true because unlike most games, golf is played without the supervision of a referee or umpire. The game relies on the golfer to show consideration to other players and abide by the rules. In golf, there is no one you can blame for a bad shot. Every shot you make in golf is down to you, be it a slice, a missed putt, a shank, an errant shot into the water, a lovely draw to the centre of the green or a perfect straight drive. Often, golfers who are new to the game will get extremely flustered and frustrated with bad shots because they don’t understand the nature of the game – they think it can be mastered. But as you grow more experienced in the game you realise that bad shots in golf are inevitable, even for top players like Tiger Woods or Sergio Garcia. For less accomplished golfers like many of us, poor golf shots are the norm and the ultimate aim is to cut down on the numbers of these shots. How you handle such adverse moments is not only critical to your enjoyment of the game, but can also reflect your personality. This is because golf is one of the few games which immediately shows up the personality of a player to his or her playing partners. Indeed, there’s many a time when you don’t realise the true nature of your business acquaintance until you play a round of golf with him. There are also many times that you decide you don’t want to play with a certain player again after just one round of golf with him. Etiquette is at the core of your enjoyment of a game of golf. The basics of etiquette are simple: Have consideration for other players and always play fairly. Don’t get so upset on the course that it affects your playing partners. Even if you are seething inside at a poor shot, you should maintain a calm and cordial exterior. The US Golf Association has listed some tips to help players get their maximum enjoyment from the game: The Spirit of the Game As we noted, unlike many sports, golf is played, for the most part, without the supervision of a referee or umpire. The game relies on the integrity of the individual to show consideration for other players and to abide by the rules. All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be. This is the spirit of the game of golf. Safety Players should ensure that no one is standing close by or
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in a position to be hit by the club, the ball or any stones, pebbles, twigs or the like when they make a stroke or practice swing. Players should not play until the players in front are out of range. Players should always alert green staff nearby or ahead when they are about to make a stroke that might endanger them. If a player plays a ball in a direction where there is a danger of hitting someone, he should immediately shout a warning. The traditional word of warning in such a situation is “fore.” No Disturbance or Distraction Players should always show consideration for other players on the course and should not disturb their play by moving, talking or making any unnecessary noise. Players should ensure that any electronic device taken onto the course does not distract other players. On the teeing ground, a player should not tee his ball until it is his turn to play. Players should not stand close to or directly behind the ball, or directly behind the hole, when a player is about to play. On the Putting Green On the putting green, players should not stand on another player’s line of putt or when he is making a stroke, cast a shadow over his line of putt. Players should remain on or close to the putting green until all other players in the group have holed out. Scoring In stroke play, a player who is acting as a marker should, if necessary, on the way to the next tee, check the score with the player concerned and record it. Pace of Play Players should play at a good pace. In many clubs, committees establish pace of play guidelines that all players should follow. It is a group’s responsibility to keep up with the group in front. If it loses a clear hole and it is delaying the group behind, it should invite the group behind to play through, irrespective of the number of players in that group.
CLUB NEWS
Be Ready to Play Players should be ready to play as soon as it is their turn to play. When playing on or near the putting green, they should leave their carts in such a position to enable quick movement off the green and towards the next tee. When the play of a hole has been completed, players should immediately leave the putting green. Lost Ball If a player believes his ball may be lost outside a water hazard or is out of bounds, to save time, he should play a provisional ball. Players searching for a ball should signal the players in the group behind them to play through as soon as it becomes apparent that the ball will not easily be found. They should not search for five minutes before doing so. Having allowed the group behind to play through, they should not continue play until that group has passed and is out of range. Priority on the Course Unless otherwise determined by a club’s relevant committee, priority on the course is determined by a group’s pace of play. Any group playing a whole round is entitled to pass a group playing a shorter round. Bunkers Before leaving a bunker, players should carefully fill up and smooth over all holes and footprints made by them and any nearby made by others. If a rake is within reasonable proximity of the bunker, the rake should be used for this purpose. Repair of Divots, Ball-Marks and Damage by Shoes Players should carefully repair any divot holes made by them and any damage to the putting green made by the impact of a ball (whether or not made by the player himself). On completion of the hole by all players in the group, damage to the putting green caused by golf shoes should be repaired. Preventing Unnecessary Damage Players should avoid causing damage to the course by removing divots when taking practice swings or by hitting the head of a club into the ground, whether in anger or for any other reason. Players should ensure that no damage is done to the putting green when putting down bags or the flagstick. In order to avoid damaging the hole, players and caddies should not stand too close to the hole and should take care during the handling of the flagstick and the removal of a ball from the hole. The head of a club should not be used to remove a ball from the hole. Players should not lean on their clubs when on the putting green, particularly when removing the ball from the hole. The flagstick should be properly replaced in the hole before
players leave the putting green. Local notices regulating the movement of golf carts should be strictly observed. Many of these tips should be second nature to many golfers who have a few years of experience. When playing with someone new to the game of golf, it is important that more experienced golfers set a good example. Sometimes, a quiet word is needed to remind your playing partners that they should not, for example, step on the line of your putt or they should replace a fairway divot with sand. The main aim of all these exercises in etiquette is that it leaves the course in good condition for the next player, and the player after that, and so on. It is not fair to spoil the enjoyment of your fellow golfers through tardy behaviour like not raking a sand bunker or not repairing your pitch mark on a green. Such action, or more appropriately, lack of action, will place you in the too-common stereotype of a golfer without etiquette. And because golf is such a personal game, such a stereotype tends to speak volumes of your overall personality.
Quotable Quotes on golf etiquette The first chapter in the Rules of Golf is etiquette. Apparently everyone starts reading at chapter two. - Nick Mokelke
The entire handbook can be reduced to three rules. One: you do not touch your ball from the time you tee it up to the moment you pick it out of the hole. Two: Don’t bend over when you are in the rough. Three: When you are in the woods, keep clapping your hands. - Charles Price
You might as well praise a man for not robbing a bank as to praise him for playing by the rules. - Bobby Jones
If you call on God to improve the results of a shot while it is still in motion, you are using “an outside agency” and subject to appropriate penalties under the rules of golf. - Henry Longhurst
If a ball comes to rest in dangerous proximity to a hippopotamus or crocodile, another ball may be dropped at a safe distance, no nearer the hole, without penalty. - Local rule at Nyanza GC, Uganda
There are two basic rules which should never be broken. Be subtle. And don’t, for God’s sake, try to do business with anyone who’s having a bad game. - William Davis
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CLUB NEWS
Golf Fixtures There are several exciting competitions lined up in the coming weeks. The Ladies Rosebowl competition will be played under a Strokeplay format on the Palm Course on September 16. The Men’s Senior and Ladies Evergreen Medals will also be held on the Palm Course on September 19. Meanwhile, we kick off the Matchplay Championships
at the Lake Course in October. The qualifying rounds will be held on October 3 while the three rounds of actual competition will be played on October 4 and October 1011. The popular Ladies Greensome Competition will be held on the Palm Course on November 11.
SEPTEMBER
5, Saturday 12, Saturday 16, Wednesday 19, Saturday
Men’s A and B Monthly Medals (Stableford, Lake) Men’s C and Ladies’ Monthly Medals (Stableford, Palm) Ladies’ Rosebowl Competition (Strokeplay, Palm) Men’s Senior and Ladies’ Evergreen Medals (Palm)
OCTOBER
3, Saturday 3, Saturday 4, Sunday 10, Saturday 11, Sunday 17, Saturday
Men’s A, B and Ladies’ Monthly Medals (Strokeplay, Lake) Qualifying Round for Club & Ladies’ Matchplay Championships (Lake) 1st Round for Club & Ladies’ Matchplay Championships (Lake) 2nd Round for Club & Ladies’ Matchplay Championships (Lake) 3rd and Final Rounds for Club & Ladies’ Matchplay Championships (Lake) Men’s C Monthly Medals (Strokeplay, Lake)
NOVEMBER
7, Saturday 11, Wednesday 14, Saturday 21, Saturday
Men’s A and B Monthly Medals (Stableford, Lake) Ladies’ Greensome Competition (Palm) Men’s C and Ladies’ Monthly Medals (Stableford, Palm) Men’s Senior and Ladies’ Evergreen Medals (Lake)
Hellos and Goodbyes We would like to warmly welcome the members who joined the Club in June and July. We hope you have a great time as a member of our prestigious club. We also
bid farewell to those who decided to leave Raffles Country Club in June and July. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours.
JUNE
JULY
Hello
Goodbye
Hello
Goodbye
Lee Ngak Hoon Liew Eng Leng Luo Zhigeng Ng See Cheng Goh Hoi Lai Chua Wui Lik Eddie Khoo Thiam Hock Arjun Dosaj Kazuaki Noji Yoshikawa Isao Yamato Hirofumi Yutaka Ueyama Niu Ke Rong
Tan Siam Poo Yoong Yoon Liong How Lip Cheng Low Chew Fong Jeffery Pillai Gopinath Yokota Masashi Cheng Ying Fun Lee Choon How Nobuyoshi Fukai Masayoshi Minoshima Yoshiro Oka Olivier Luc Ruch
Leong Horn Kee Eng Meng Chor Kek Liong Graham Alastair Copland Anthony Mallek Handoyo Samsi Masashi Nakajima Lim Chin Hong Bertrand Lim Ick Chul
Low Siak Meng Koh Tiam Teng
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Schneeberger Reto Oliver
Abdul Hamid Ghani Jinnah
Tan Poon Kuan Daniel Lau Chang Huat Marc Poulenard Oh Young Suk Ryota Oda Norimasa Yokoyama
Advertise in Raffles Country Club’s Newsletter
With a readership estimated at more than 5,000 of Singapore’s well heeled, Raffles Country club’s bimonthly newsletter can offer advertisers quality exposure to their products and services. Our readership includes corporate top-brass, prominent businessmen and entrepreneurs. You can add expatriate professionals, senior civil and government ministers into the mix as well. Revamped in early 2009, the content for the newsletter is conceived by full-time journalists, who are all members of the club. Meanwhile, production of the newsletter is conducted by a professional design house. We offer a full range of sizes and positions in our newsletter, from full run-on-pages to centrespreads. Frequency discounts are also available while members of Raffles Country Club can advertise at discounted rates. Information on rates as well as printing specifications, booking and materials deadlines are available on request. Please contact Ms Woo Lee Choo at (65) 68640828 or you can email her at leechoo@rcc.org.sg.
Term memberships for foreigners Raffles Country Club has two of the best 18-hole golf courses in Singapore, set in a lush environment of water and rolling hills that sometimes makes you forget that you live in a bustling city-state. For expatriates who may be working in Singapore for a period of time, term memberships are available at Raffles Country Club. These term memberships are open to foreigners only. Priced at a competitive S$16,050 (inclusive of 7% GST), a term membership gives the member and his immediate family members access to the Club’s many facilities, including the two 18-hole golf courses, restaurants, swimming pools and tennis courts. The period of each term membership is for at least one year and not more than three years, during which the monthly subscription is waived. Some terms and conditions apply.
For more information on this opportunity to be part of one of Singapore’s premier country clubs, please contact Ms Geraldine Ng at (65) 68640818 or you can email her at geraldine@rcc.org.sg.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Specials At Golfers’ Terrace During the September and October period, the Golfers’ Terrace has lined up more specials for you. One of the Evening specials is traditional Claypot Rice. The dish contains rice with meats, vegetables and mushrooms cooked and served in an earthen clay pot. It is traditionally cooked till the rice at the bottom is somewhat charred and burnt. The claypot rice, which can be shared by a few golfers, is priced at $12 per claypot. A Daily special during the period is Seafood Crispy Noodles. The noodles are fried lightly in oil to give it a crunchy texture and a combination of seafood including prawns and fish, and vegetables are added. The dish is served in a pleasing dark sauce that gradually soaks into the crispy noodles. Priced at $5.50 a serving, this dish is an ideal post-game or pre-game meal.
Daily Special Seafood Crispy Noodle
5.50
$
Another Evening special is the Wu Siang Xia Pin. It is made of minced meat mixed with different vegetables and seasoned using five-spice and other powders. The minced meat-vegetable mixture is then wrapped in bean skin and deep fried in hot oil. The outcome is a crispy and tasty fragrant roll. The sambal sauce that goes with the roll accentuates its taste. Priced at $12 a plate, Wu Siang Xia Pin is something that you can share with your fellow golfers after a game.
ecial Evening Sp Pin ia X Wu Siang
12.00
$
The third Evening special during the period is Deep Fried Bee Hiang. The basic ingredients of this dish are made up of minced meats and vegetables. The bee hiang is served in flat strips and served with a dark sauce. It is priced at $5.00 for 12 pieces and makes for an ideal snack as golfers sip on their drinks after a game.
Disposable Towels The General Committee has given the go-ahead for the Golfers’ Terrace to provide disposable towels free of charge to golfers, effective from September 1, 2009. Previously, disposable towels were charged on a per piece basis. At the turnaround and after your game, four disposable towels will be set on your table.
Evening Spe cial Claypot Rice
12.00
$
They are to be used for wiping your face and hands. To maintain a clean and eco-friendly environment in our Club, we hope golfers do not use more towels than needed and also use them appropriately. We thank you for your consideration.
Evening Special Deep Fried Bee Hiang
5.00
$
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12pcs
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Shanshui Palace Restaurant Promotion MOON CAKE PROMOTION 1ST SEPTEMBER to 3rd OCTOBER
Ban Heng Group of Restaurants presents our luxurious Moon Cakes Selection, specially created by a renowned Hong Kong Pastry Chef. Our Moon Cakes are not oily and not too sweet. With thin and tender skin, they come in elegant packaging, which make them ideal as gifts. We are offering a special
30% discount for members.
Solid White Lotus Seed Paste
$32.00
$22.40
White Lotus Seed Paste w/ Single Yolk
$34.00
$23.80
White Lotus Seed Paste w. Single Yolk
$36.00
$25.20
All Prices Subject to 7% GST
e ValEu AT
BesYtOU CANDinner ALL a - Carteide A - L nationw
Mon to Fri Dinner Only • $14.80++/Adult • $12.80++/Child Sat, Sun, P.H Lunch & Dinner • $16.80++/Adult Min. 4 Adults
• $12.80++/Child
get A FREE Shark Fin Soup with every a-la-carte buffet
23
SOCIAL AND RECREATION
More than 20 Anglers Hit Our Lakes We held our popular Fishing Day on July 13 at Holes 2 and 11 of the Palm Course. More than 20 anglers turned up to try their luck. Some catches of Aruan were reported, though intermittent nibbling of bait and close misses were more the order of the day. The Fishing Day was another opportunity for our members to savour the beauty of our golf course at a relaxing pace. It remains a very popular event. As such, we are pleased to announce that our next Fishing Day will be held on October 26, from 2 pm to 6 pm at the Lake Course. As ever, you can either walk or use a buggy to get to these fishing locations. Fishing is open to RCC members only. You must bring your own equipment including rods and bait, as these won’t be provided by the Club. Bait used must only be those for Tilapia, Aruan and Toman. Please don’t fish for Grass Carp as you will incur a fine of $50 if you do so.
Next Fishing Day Date: Time: Venue:
26 October 2009 2.00pm to 6.00pm Lake Course, Hole 2 & 5 Charges: $10.70 per buggy (inclusive of GST)
For enquiries or registration, please call Recreation Reception at 68617649 for Maria or Lilian.
24
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Calendar Of Events- SEPTEMBER 2009 MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN
01
02
03
04
05
06
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Timesheet Am/Pm
Timesheet Am/Pm
Buddhist Research Society Charity Golf 2009 - 100 pax, Palm (Pm)
St Patrick’s Charity Golf - 100 pax, Palm (Pm)
Men’s A & B Medals –Lake (Pm) Jackpot Bonus Nite
RCC Dance Night Karaoke / Social Dancing Night
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
Palm Closed Whole Day for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Timesheet Am/Pm
Timesheet Am/Pm
NUSS Sept Game - 100 pax, Palm (Pm)
Men’s C & Ladies’ Medals - Palm (Pm) Jackpot Fortnightly Draw
RCC Dance Night
Karaoke/Social Dancing Night
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Lake Closed Whole Day for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Timesheet Am/Pm
Public Holiday Hari Raya Puasa
Ladies’ Rosebowl Competition - Palm (Pm)
9th Annual General Meeting
Men’s Senior & Ladies’ Evergreen Medals – Palm (Pm)
RCC Dance Night
Jackpot Bonus Nite
Timesheet Am/Pm
Karaoke/Social Dancing Night
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Public Holiday
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Timesheet Am/Pm
Timesheet Am/Pm
Timesheet Am/Pm
Jackpot Fortnightly Draw RCC Dance Night Karaoke / Social Dancing Night
28
29
30
Lake Closed Whole Day for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Golfing
Social & Recreation
Events are current at time of publication
25
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Calendar Of Events- OCTOBER 2009 MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN
01
02
03
04
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Timesheet Am/Pm
Timesheet Am/Pm
Men’s A, B & Ladies’ Medals & Qualifying Round for Club & Ladies’ Matchplay Championships – Lake (Pm)
1st Round for Club & Ladies’ Matchplay Championships – Lake (Pm)
Kowloon Club Tournament 60 pax, Lake (Pm)
UWCSEA Charity Golf - 144 pax, Palm (Pm) RCC Dance Night
Jackpot Bonus Nite Karaoke / Social RCC Golf Palm 17 Dancing Night
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
Palm Closed Whole Day for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Timesheet Am/Pm
Timesheet Am/Pm
2nd Round for Club & Ladies’ Matchplay Championships – Lake (Pm)
3rd & Final Round for Club & Ladies’ Matchplay Championships – Lake
RCC Dance Night
Jackpot Fortnightly Draw Karaoke / Social Dancing Night
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Lake Closed Whole Day for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Public Holiday Deepavali
Timesheet Am/Pm
NUSS Alumni & Friends Golf - 144 pax, Lake (Pm)
Timesheet Am/Pm Men’s C Medals – Lake (Pm)
RCC Dance Night Jackpot Bonus Nite Karaoke/Social Dancing Night
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Palm Closed Whole Day for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Timesheet Am/Pm
Timesheet Am/Pm
APSN Charity Golf - 144 pax, Palm (Pm)
Jackpot Fortnightly Draw
RCC Dance Night
Karaoke / Social Dancing Night
26
27
28
29
30
31
Lake Closed Whole Day for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Timesheet Am/Pm
Deepavali Golf Classic – 133 pax, Palm (Pm)
Karaoke / Social Dancing Night
RCC Dance Night
Golfing
26
Social & Recreation
Events are current at time of publication
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Calendar Of Events- NOVEMBER 2009 MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN
30
01
Palm Closed Whole Day for maintenance
Timesheet Am/Pm
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
Palm Closed Whole Day for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Timesheet Am/Pm
Timesheet Am/Pm
Men’s A & B Medals - Lake (Pm)
Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Golf Fellowship - 100pax, Palm (Pm)
Nanyang Khek Community Guild 80th Anniversary Golf 132 pax, Lake (Pm)
Jackpot Bonus Nite
RCC Dance Night
Karaoke / Social Dancing Night
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
Lake Closed Whole Day for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Timesheet Am/Pm
Timesheet Am/Pm
Ladies’ Greensome Competition – Palm (Pm)
RCC Dance Night
Men’s C & Ladies’ Medals – Palm (Pm) Jackpot Fortnightly Draw Karaoke/Social Dancing Night
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Palm Closed Whole Day for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Timesheet Am/Pm
Timesheet Am/Pm
St Gabriel’s Boys Assn Golf 144 pax, Palm (Pm)
RCC Dance Night
Men’s Senior & Ladies’ Evergreen Medals – Lake (Pm) Jackpot Bonus Nite Karaoke / Social Dancing Night
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Lake Closed Whole Day for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Palm Closed Am only for maintenance
Lake Closed Am only for maintenance
Public Holiday Hari Raya Haji
Timesheet Am/Pm
Timesheet Am/Pm
Jackpot Fortnightly Draw Timesheet Am/Pm RCC Dance Night
Golfing
Social & Recreation
Karaoke / Social Dancing Night
Events are current at time of publication
27
RECIPROCAL CLUB
The Montgomerie Links Vietnam Raffles Country Club is pleased to announce that it has just signed a reciprocal arrangement with the Montgomery Links Vietnam, a new golf course on Vietnam’s central coast, not far from Da Nang. Current Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie has crafted a course that moves over a striking landscape of wispy casuarina pines and sand dunes. Massive greens and rippled fairways are among the layout’s Old World features, while lakes and Paspalum – elements missing from classic links courses – provide a touch of modernity. The overarching philosophy behind a Montgomerie golf course is that it matches the natural characteristics of its location. The reciprocal club we featured in our last issue, the Haikou Meishi, is also a Montgomerie-designed course. “I think this (Da Nang) site, this golf course, will become world-renowned,” Montgomerie was quoted as saying recently. “It’s a beautiful golf course site. To find a course like this these days is very rare. We had to build a course that challenges my standard of play and challenges a beginning standard - we’ve gotten it dead right on this course.” Here are a couple of hole descriptions to get you into the mood for a visit to Da Nang, which is less than three hours’ flying time from Singapore.
Hole 5 – A short full water carry Par 3 to a very receptive green requires careful club selection.
Hole 12 – This extremely well bunkered Par 5 requires three strategically placed shots to negotiate 17 bunkers on the hole.
28
The practice facility in the site features 30 covered hitting bays, a 300-metre long driving range, a 450 square metre putting and chipping area, a fully stocked pro ship and a chic café. To accommodate the equipment needs of golfers, the practice centre has been outfitted with a pro ship that rents out or sells the latest gear from the biggest brands in golf. Next door, a café with floor-toceiling windows on three sides offers panoramic views of the driving range. Indochina Land, the real estate division of Indochina Capital and developer of both Montgomerie Links Vietnam and the nearby award-winning Nam Hai resort, dedicated $45 million to the golf project, which includes the Montgomerie-designed course and an estate of 54 luxury villas.
RECIPROCAL CLUB
Important Club Information The Montgomerie Links Vietnam Thon 1 Dien Ngoc Commune Dien Ban District Quang Nam Province Vietnam Tel: +84 (510) 943888 Fax: +84 (510) 941002 Website: www.montgomerielinks.com Email: info@montgomerieslinks.com How to get to Montgomery Links Vietnam: Silkair has three direct flights a week to Da Nang International Airport. From Da Nang International Airport, which is five minutes out of Da Nang, the drive to The Montgomerie Links is only 20 minutes. If you are holidaying in Vietnam, there are also frequent domestic flights to Da Nang from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. You should check with your travel agent for domestic schedules.
More about Da Nang The name Da Nang will have a familiar ring to anyone acquainted with America’s military action in Vietnam, as it was home to one fifth of all U.S. servicemen and women, and a transit or rest & recreation spot for most of the rest, making it one of the most occupied - and heavily defended - cities in South Vietnam. Eventually however it fell to the North Vietnamese in 1975 with hardly a bullet fired. During the French colonial period, Da Nang was called Tourane - a name still used by some of the hotels in the city. The French also used it as a landing point during their war in Vietnam. When the French established a garrison on the nearby Son Tra peninsula, more soldiers died from disease building it than during the associated fighting. Today a small cemetery near Tien Sa Beach stands in their memory. Most visitors who pass through Da Nang are on their way to Hoi An, one of Vietnam’s premier tourist attractions. Those
who linger are most likely seeking sun at China Beach. There’s more to Da Nang than just the beach, though. Da Nang boasts the excellent Cham Museum, which is a great primer for a visit to My Son further to the south. The city also has a large Cao Dai temple, a pleasant riverfront boulevard, and wide leafy boulevards. There are some good options for eating, drinking, and getting down in the evenings, which are likely to expand as the city does. The immediate area includes attractions like Marble Mountain, Monkey Mountain and the Ba Na Hill Station. Many travellers who show up in Da Nang find the city dull and end up heading elsewhere. Perhaps this is because Da Nang is a more difficult city to visit than other spots in Vietnam -you can’t experience the best of it just by walking around and seeing what you find, as you can in Nha Trang or Hoi An. It’s one spot where you really have to seek out the hidden corners, and some advanced preparation can truly enrich your experience. Source: travelfish.org
29
RECIPROCAL CLUB
Table Of Reciprocal & Affiliated Clubs RECIPROCAL CLUBS AUSTRALIA
CHINA
The Lakes Golf Club PO Box 545 Mascot, NSW, 2020 Australia Tel: +612 9669 1311 Fax: +612 9669 6206
Meishi Mayflower International Golf Resort 88 West Binhai Road, Haikou City Hainan Province, China Tel: 086 0898 6870282
Sanctuary Lakes Club Greg Norman Drive Sanctuary Lakes Victoria Australia 3030 Tel: + 613 9395 2888 The Vines Golf and Country Club Verdelho Drive, The Vines, WA, Australia Tel: 618 9297 3000 BRUNEI Pantai Mentiri Golf Club Km 15-1/2, Jalan Kota Batu Peti Surat 1646 Bandar Seri Begawan BS8073 Negara Brunei Darussalam Tel: +673 02 791021, 792014 Fax: +673 02 790773 INDONESIA Finna Golf & Country Club Jalan Raya Barsari Prigen, Pandaan 67157 Indonesia Tel: +62 343 632 153/4/5 Fax: +62 343 632 156 VIETNAM Long Thanh Golf Club National Highway 51 Tan Mai Hamlet Phuoc Tan Village Dong Nai Province, Vietnam Tel: +84 61 512510 / 512511 Chi Linh Star Golf & Counrty Club Sao Do Chi Linh Hai Duong, Vietnam Tel: +84 320 585617 Fax: +84 320 585618 The Montgomerie Links Vietnam Thon 1 Dien Ngoc Commune Dien Ban District Quang Nam Province, Vietnam Tel: +84 (510) 943888 Fax: +84 (510) 941002
AFFILIATED CLUBS ROBERT TRENT JONES II CLUB JAPAN CHINA Mission Hills Golf Club Mission Hills Road Guanlan Town 518110 Shenzhen, China Tel: +86 755 802 0888 Fax: +86 755 802 4868 MACAU Macau Golf & Country Club 1918 Estrada de Hac Sa llha de Coloane, Macau Tel: +853 871188 Fax: +853 870011 INDONESIA Rancamaya Golf & Country Club Jl. Rancamaya Utama, Ciawi Bogor 16720, Indonesia Tel: +62 0251 242 282 Fax: +62 0251 242 283 AUSTRALIA Araluen Country Club Country Club Avenue Roleystone 6111 Westem Australia Tel: +61 08 9397 9000 Fax: +61 8 9397 9001 BRUNEI The Empire Hotel & Country Club Jerudong BG3122 Negara Brunei Darussalam Tel: +673 241 8888 Fax: +673 241 8999
MALAYSIA Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club No. 10 Jln 1/70D Off Jln Bukit Kiara 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: +02 03 253 1111 Fax: +02 03 253 3393 Meru Valley Golf & Country Club Jalan Bukit Meru 30020 Ipoh Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia Tel: +02 05 529 3303 Fax: +02 05 529 3387 Kelab Golf Sarawak Petra Jaya 93050 Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia Tel: +082 440966 Fax: +082 441733
30
THAILAND Blue Canyon Country Club 165 Moo 1, Thepkasattri Road, Thalang, Phuket 83110, Thailand Tel: +66 076 328 088 Fax: +66 076 328 068
INSTRUCTION
Playing Palm 4 Palm Hole 4 must be one of the most pleasing to the eye when you stand up at the tee box in the Raffles Country Club. The stream linked to the pond on the right cuts three quarters into the fairway and embraces your line of sight when it’s your turn to tee off. But for a golfer new to the game and not yet over the initial months of water phobia, it can cause sweaty palms. Better golfers will find the hole interesting and challenging because it offers two basic options. You have to make a decision whether you want to challenge the distance across the water or whether you want to play a safe shot to the fairway on the left which circumvents the stream and pond. Both options have their own risks and rewards. From the blue tee, you need to drive with a 250 metres carry to land on a spot on the fairway across the water. This will give you a relatively easy 90-metre chip onto the green. The drive must be straight because a slice or a pull will invariably put you in the water. An interesting piece of trivia on this hole is that when the course was newly opened, players would try to go for the green directly from the tee box, across the land outcrop to the right of the tee box. But that option was stopped by planting some trees on the outcrop. If you don’t have the distance to cross the water, it may be a safer option to hit towards the fairway on the left,
RCC Palm Hole 4
32
which is a safe distance from the water. A good landing spot on the fairway will give you about 160 to 175 metres to the green. It is by no means an easy second shot because the green, which slopes from left to right, is guarded on the left-hand side by a long bunker. On the right, the green slopes into the same water hazard that you tried to avoid with your tee shot. Finally, landing on the correct spot on the green is a crucial part of playing this hole. This is because a ridge from front to back divides the green. Being on the wrong side of the green could result in a three-putt or worse. So, even if you are about 90 metres from the pin, your second shot must be precise. No doubt, the degree of difficulty increases if you are 160 metres from the green. You have to pick a spot on the centre of the green and hope your ball lands softly. A fluffed shot could see your ball in the bunker on the left or water on the right. So, Palm 4 is one of those holes where there are risks and rewards associated from being both aggressive and conservative. Being aggressive leads to a shorter second shot into the green, but risks your ball landing in the water on your tee shot. Being conservative risks a longer second shot which may be difficult to control. This makes for a challenging hole and is what golfers live for.
INSTRUCTION
Tell us how you play Palm 4. Email us at feedback@rcc.org.sg with your advice, and we will highlight your thoughts in our next newsletter.
Quick QUIZ 1.
How many Majors has Tiger Woods won?
2.
Who holds the record for most Majors won? How many Majors did he win?
3.
Which year did Mardan Marmat win the Singapore Masters?
4.
Who is the captain for Europe in the 2010 Ryder Cup competition?
5.
How old is Michelle Wie?
6.
Which golf course is known as The Home of Golf?
7.
What is a scratch golfer’s handicap?
8.
Who is the most successful Zimbabwean golfer ever?
9.
Which golfer won nine tournaments during her rookie year on the LPGA Tour? What was the year?
10.
Which English football team does Ian Poulter support?
Terms & Conditions: 1. Prizes are to be accepted as provided and not exchangeable for cash. 2. A ballot will be conducted should there be more than three winners. 3. The vouchers are valid for F&B consumption at the Shanshui Palace only. Closing date: 1 October 2009
4
Please email your answers to feedback@rcc.org.sg with your name and membership number and you stand to win a F&B voucher worth $50. The answers will be published in our next newsletter.
33
LIFESTYLE
SkyCaddie maps Raffles Country Club Some of you may already own a SkyCaddie. You will be pleased to learn that SkyGolf, the makers of SkyCaddie, has mapped both the Palm and Lake courses of the Raffles Country Club. Our courses are two of more than 23,000 courses around the world that have been mapped by SkyGolf and can be downloaded into a SkyCaddie. To the uninitiated, the Sky Caddie is an electronic device that indicates the distances to all potential targets on each hole of a golf course. The info is recorded after mapping and organised accordingly by the use of high precision survey-grade equipment that stores all the data referring to the lay of the land on a golf course. Various types of software can be uploaded onto SkyCaddie to serve different purposes. For example,
RCC Palm Hole 16
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commentators at golf championships use the device in order to be able to tell viewers how far the golfers shoot and what the green or hazard distances are. Further, the use of SkyCaddie enables the creation of performance statistics for each golfer on every hole in the course. Such applications have brought SkyCaddie great reviews from golfing experts who label it as the most accurate golf GPS system ever designed. SkyCaddie allows the measuring of both the depth and the shape of the green from any angle and distance on the course. Among the technical features are the automatic back-light, the rechargeable battery and a water-resistant case, not to mention that it only requires one hand operation.
LIFESTYLE
SkyGolf-Asia sales manager Ken McSwain, who is based in Kuala Lumpur, mapped out the two courses at Raffles Country Club recently. He said: “Our certified professionals physically visit each course. They walk, map, record and triple-check for accuracy every possible target that might come into play. We know golfers want the most accurate information. The accuracy provides the distance information they need to play their best.” To ensure accuracy, up to 40 targets per hole can be available if needed. This takes more time to record, but it allows inclusion of distances to all bunkers and their carries, too. The SkyCaddie also has a proprietary IntelliGreen technology that provides distances to any point on the green from any approach angle. In fact, up to three key distances can be calculated and displayed simultaneously to include carry to front and back of the green, plus any target point in between, based upon the angle of attack selected by the golfer.
“The result is a map that is both accurate and up-todate, plus the added benefit of a professional caddy’s experience. As a result, you end up with proven results that only SkyCaddie can provide. We work with each of our golf courses individually to provide you with the latest in course management,” Mr McSwain said. In addition, McSwain explained that less expensive methods, such as taking satellite images, are never used because they believe these methods are unreliable and not accurate enough for golfers. “Players need not worry because the SkyCaddie has already been allowed for use by the R&A and USGA - two golf governing bodies in the United States. This will help in our mission that is to grow the game of golf by using technology in a responsible way to improve pace of play, enhance enjoyment of the game and ultimately increase participation without compromising the traditions of the game,” he added.
For more information on SkyCaddie, check out its maker’s website at www.skygolf.com.
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REMINISCES
A Close Call After his remarkable story about the jumping fish in our previous newsletter, Raffles Country Club member Goy Soong Ngee tells another amazing story of a close shave with serious injury. This is a story of a most incredible incident many years ago while I was playing on Hole 1 of the Palm Course. The incident is deeply entrenched in my memory because I could so easily have caused a serious head injury or killed someone. I shudder at the thought even now and thank my lucky stars that my ball missed both of my golf kakis. The fairway on the Par 5 hole was clear when I stood above my ball to play my second shot. It was safe for me to play and I went through my usual shot routine, feeling confident because I had a good lie. To my horror, I miscued the ball off a full swing, pulling it to the left. The ball headed at tremendous speed towards a moving buggy driven by my two golf kakis about 100 metres away. They were heading in the direction of the green after playing their own second shots. I was shocked and there was no time to shout “Fore” to warn them. After that, everything seemed to move in slow motion. I just stared at the flight of my ball and a lump began to build in my throat. What happened next was amazing and unforgettable. The ball cut through the tiny gap between their golf bags
which were fastened to the back of the buggy, whizzed by the heads of my two friends and pierced through the plastic windscreen of the buggy creating a gaping hole. Needless to say, my friends were shocked by the impact of the golf ball on the plastic screen. They looked around to see where the ball came from and I sheepishly walked up to them and apologised profusely. Luckily, they were good friends of mine and, after the initial shock, they allayed my concerns and calmed me down a bit. I later had a fine imposed on me for damaging the plastic screen but that was nothing compared to my relief at not seriously injuring my friends. But that incident has taught us to be more mindful of safety while enjoying our beloved game. Unfortunately, it had to take such an incident to remind us of that.
Tell us your RCC stories Do you want to share your reminiscences of your times at RCC? Email us at feedback@rcc.org.sg with your thoughts or ideas for our Reminisces column, leaving your name, membership number and contact number. We will contact you to flesh out a story if needed. Who knows, you may see your story in the next RCC newsletter!
Don’t forget your complimentary 18-hole game Have you used your complimentary game where you can sign in a guest for just the buggy cost? Each member is entitled to one (1) complimentary green fee (18 holes) on weekdays per calendar quarter in the year 2009, except public holidays. This entitlement is non-transferable and non-cumulative. It must be used within the qualifying quarter and cannot be carried forward to subsequent quarters. The final two qualifying calendar quarters for 2009 are July to September 2009 and October to December 2009. To enjoy this privilege, the member must accompany the guest he introduces and the green fee incurred must be charged to the member’s account. No voucher will be issued. At the end of each qualifying quarter, the Club will credit the member’s account with the highest weekday green fee incurred during that quarter. This credit will be reflected in the statement of accounts for the last month of the qualifying quarter - eg. for the quarter from July to September 2009, it will be reflected in your statement of accounts for September 2009, which members will receive in the second week of October 2009. So, hurry and make your booking before it s too late! As such bookings become very popular over the last two weeks of each calendar quarter, do book early to avoid disappointment.
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CLUB NEWS
11
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