Next Game – Staffield Golf Resort – 27th August 2013

On By Stuart TaylorIn http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Loose Cannons, StaffieldLeave a comment

Trophy game next week will be at Staffield Golf Resort – 5 flights booked from 2 tee boxes. Please remember we are also playing for the special wine prize kindly donated by Erol Akinci … best 3 Stableford scores over the 4 games from Berjaya Hills, Port Klang, Staffield and the week after that. So far the leaders in this are as follows:

Ted Parslow 67 
Erol Akinci 64
Stuart Taylor 64
Glen Wombwell 63
Graham Cadman 61
Ray Funnell 58

Results – Port Klang Golf Club – 20th August 2013

On By Stuart TaylorIn http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Loose Cannons, Port KlangLeave a comment

Report

After the heavy rain on Monday, the challenging course played very long, with no run on the fairways and slow, spongy greens . The scores reflected the conditions with only 4 players breaking the 100. After recently playing in Dubai, Jeff Pearce fitted us in to his busy  schedule, and won with an excellent 90 for 40 points. Cut 4. Ray Funnell was second with 99 for 38 points. Cut 1. Ted Parslow had the lowest gross of 84. Full results were:

FLIGHT NAME H’CAP GROSS POINTS POSITION
1 IAN DICKSON 34 121 21 13
JIM MAH 17 105 22 12
RAYFUNNELL 28 99 38 2
2 GRAHAM CADMAN 26 104 29 8
RICHARD MOSS 33 124 15 14
TED PARSLOW 10 84 34 3
3 ALLAN MCNICOLL 26 105 30 7
EROL AKINCI 24 100 32 4
GLEN WOMBWELL 32 108 32 4
STUART TAYLOR 20 97 32 4
4 BARRY COUSINS 31 115 24 11
JEFF PEARCE 22 90 40 1
REIN LI TAN 22 115 26 10
TONY MORRIS 20 100 28 9

After the game 13 players enjoyed an excellent lunch by the sea, at the Port Village Chinese restaurant. 


Photos

Video Exclusive – “Reach For The Sky Sand Wedge”

//www.youtube.com/get_player

Randomizer – Groups for Tuesday 20th August at Port Klang

On By Stuart TaylorIn Loose Cannons, Port Klang, randomizerLeave a comment

I have run the Randomizer and the groups and handicaps for Tuesday will be as follows:
Group 1
Ian Dickson 34
Jim Mah 17
Ray Funnell 28
Group 2
Graham Cadman 26
Richard Moss 33
Ted Parslow 10
Group 3
Allan McNicoll 26
Erol Akinci 24
Glen Wombwell 32
Stuart Taylor 20
Group 4
Barry Cousins 31
Jeff Pearce 22
Rein Li Tan 22
Tony Morris 20
//www.youtube.com/get_player

Rules of Golf – Immovable Obstructions and Abnormal Ground Conditions

On By Stuart TaylorIn http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Loose Cannons, rulesLeave a comment

An immovable obstruction is an artificial object on the course that cannot be moved (e.g. a building) or cannot readily be moved (e.g. a firmly embedded direction post). Objects defining out of bounds are not treated as obstructions.
An abnormal ground condition is casual water, ground under repair or a hole, cast or runway made by a burrowing animal, a reptile or a bird.
Except when the ball is in a water hazard, relief without penalty is available from immovable obstructions and abnormal ground conditions when the condition physically interferes with the lie of the ball, your stance or your swing. You may lift the ball and drop it within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, but not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief (see diagram below). If the ball is on the putting green, it is placed at the nearest point of relief, which may be off the putting green.
There is no relief for intervention on your line of play unless both your ball and the condition are on the putting green.
As an additional option when the ball is in a bunker, you may take relief from the condition by dropping the ball outside and behind the bunker under penalty of one stroke.
The following diagram illustrates the term “nearest point of relief” in Rules 24-2 and 25-1 in the case of a right-handed player.


Results – Berjaya Hills – 13th August 2013

On By Stuart TaylorIn Berjaya Hills Golf and Country Club, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Loose CannonsLeave a comment

Report

And what a day….. Graham unfortunately managed to modify a lamp post and his new car, as he reversed after taking the wrong turn…. Rain all the way to the course, which thank goodness stopped around 0745  and we teed off at 0800 hrs.  Arriving at the course the temp gauge on the car was registering 20 degC …..2 tee boxes were used 1 and 3….. Just as we were about to tee off thick mist came in and we had to wait for a further 3-4 mins until it cleared.!! The conditions progressively improved and the sun came out for the second 9. Then … the wind starting blowing, quite strong. The course generally was in a good condition but the greens were poor, uneven pace and patchy, and allied to some very difficult pin positions contributed to only 4 players breaking the 100.

The winner was Jim Mah with a 95 for 34 points. Ted Parslow with the lowest gross of 88 came second. Jim cut 4, Ted cut 1.


13 players then adjourned to the 126 Restaurant down the hill and an excellent, superb value lunch was enjoyed by all.


The decision was taken to trial the flight randomiser after a majority vote starting next week.


Erol has kindly offered a prize of an excellent wine for the three best (out of 4 ) combined stableford scores, starting from today’s game.   
Summary of Results

Photos

Results – IOI Palm Garden – 6th August 2013

On By Stuart TaylorIn http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, IOI, Loose Cannons, Palm GardenLeave a comment

Report

17 players, after a late withdrawl, plus Mike Han who joined us as a welcomed guest, teed off on time in very pleasant conditions. The course was in excellent condition, the best fairways so far this year, was the general comments. The greens , although a little slow, after the ramadan tining, were true. Speaking to Ted Parslow after the game, he is delighted the way the course is being maintained. 


The scores were varied, with Kevin Wiggins scoring 85 for 41 points for a deserved win. Cut 5. Second on count back with 95 for 37 points was Iain Wise. Cut 1 . Ted Parslow had the lowest gross 83 and lost on count back to Iain. 


Following the results of this game the revised USGA Handicaps are as follows:

Loose Cannons USGA Handicaps as of 6th August 2013
ID#
Name
USGA Index
Blue
2
Ahmad, Aftab
20.7
21
22
Akinci, Erol
20.7
21
47
Baker, Mark
N/A
N/A
30
Berger, Hans
19.7
20
31
Bohi, Hans
N/A
N/A
23
Brown, Gary
N/A
N/A
61
Brown, Rick
29.7
30
29
Cadman, Graham
22.8
23
7
Chez, Andrew
8.6
9
10
Cousins, Barry
28.7
29
53
Davies, Peter
33.5
34
33
Dickson, Ian
36.4
36
54
Edgeworth, Peter
N/A
N/A
57
Funnell, Ray
25.4
25
51
Geddes, Paul
11.9
12
34
Geekie, Ian
N/A
N/A
76
Goodwin, Kevin
N/A
N/A
49
Hahn, Mike
N/A
N/A
42
Hodson-Walker, Julien
19.9
20
3
Holgate, Alan
33.5
34
6
Holm, Andre
18.6
19
19
Hughes, David
11.7
12
55
Jackson, Peter
29.7
30
52
Jeyaraj, Paul
N/A
N/A
58
Keys, Raymond
23.1
23
45
Kretzschmar, Klaus
15.1
15
39
Laidley, John
7.7
8
36
Mah, Jim
N/A
N/A
64
Maierbrugger, Siegmund
N/A
N/A
24
McLaws, Geoff
8.1
8
4
McNicoll, Allan
27.0
27
72
Morris, Tony
16.3
16
60
Moss, Richard
36.4
36
43
Muir, Karl
N/A
N/A
26
Murray, George
N/A
N/A
63
Niven, Sean
N/A
N/A
25
Parslow, Geoff
6.8
7
68
Parslow, Ted
10.4
10
35
Pearce, Jeff
19.4
19
41
Perry, Jonathan
N/A
N/A
ID#
Name
USGA Index
Blue
40
Preston, John
N/A
N/A
18
Riggs, Dave
N/A
N/A
9
Robinson, Andrew
19.6
20
12
Rohman, Bernard
14.8
15
13
Schobert, Bernie
N/A
N/A
50
Smith, Mike
18.4
18
21
Stauffer, Dick
N/A
N/A
59
Tan, Rein Li
N/A
N/A
1
Taylor, Stuart
16.3
16
74
Vijayan, Vincent
26.6
27
44
Wiggins, Kevin
14.2
14
32
Wise, Iain
20.9
21
27
Wombwell, Glen
28.7
29
37
Zorich, Joe
N/A
N/A

Photos

Malaysian Warriors Charity Golf Day – Amverton Cove Golf & Island Resort – 7th September 2013

On By Stuart TaylorIn Amverton Cove, charity, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Loose Cannons, Malaysian WarriorsLeave a comment

Here is the advance notice of the Warriors tournament at Amverton. Scramble with only 2 drives required per player out of 4 ball. Would be great if LCs could support this charity and Ted by getting up a couple of flights.





Revised USGA Handicapping System

On By Stuart TaylorIn handicap, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Loose Cannons, USGALeave a comment

After much previous debate it was decided to try and implement the successful handicap system that Mike Smith ran by calculating a USGA handicap then basing the Loose Cannons playing handicap capped on 3 above this USGA handicap.

I looked at Mike Smith’s existing software as well as the spreadsheets containing all the data. I also started to test a new online web based handicap system which my be a better option going forward. The  results and review so far are as below.

After a few weeks of testing this system we can decide if we wish to proceed with this annual paid system – so far the results are very good with realistic handicaps now for everyone and from the results of the first game using this system at Tropicana on 30th July 2013 the spread of scores look better with no 50 point wins …. this should make it a fairer opportunity for all players at all levels to compete and stand a chance of winning.

Loose Cannons Scoring Spreadsheet
I spent quite a number of days reviewing the Loose Cannons scores in the various spreadsheets from Mike Smith as of 15/11/2012 and the sheets that Ray Funnell has used since that time. I have taken all the score from 2013 for everyone plus the scores from 2012 from August to December and created a new and hopefully clearer spreadsheet. The older spreadsheets appear to have missing score data prior to August 2012 and also have extra columns, added rows for formatting – I have simplified this in the new spreadsheet allowing ease of use and ease of sorting by names or any other column.
The new spreadsheet has all scores input from August 2012 to date. The column titled USGA Handicap is a new calculated handicap based on a new online system I am currently testing (see below). These calculated handicaps are based on all scores from 2013 and if needed some scores from 2012. For those players who have not enough scores I have used the previous USGA handicap as calculated by Mike Smith in 15/11/2102 or they are blank as they have not played sufficient games.
Ray – I would suggest you use these handicaps for the next game at Tropicana. I will update this sheet on a weekly basis as well as generating weekly revised USGA handicaps. Please note they the Loose Cannons Handicap is capped at 3 above the calculated USGA Handicap. In the spreadsheet the capped scores are in bold/red under the KLLC Handicap column.
Handicapping Software
I have tried to get Mike Smith’s handicap application to work – this is essentially an Excel spreadsheet system with Macros to run the various calculations. I have loaded this but unfortunately the various calculations and input routines do not work due to runtime errors which I feel is due to the incompatibility between Excel versions and perhaps the older version of the software that Mike Smith has. I feel this may be a good time to review what we use and perhaps go for a new online system which will not have these problems.
I have looked at many systems that can be used for handicap calculations – we of course need one that can calculate handicaps for a large group – we have around 80 names on the Loose Cannons database list although only about 20-30 are really active. One system I am testing right now and seems to be excellent is from www.golfsoftware.com which has both a desktop and a web based system. The desktop version is a Windows only application and would need one Administrator to enter all scores and generate all reports as well as printing handicap cards, etc. I am testing the web based system where all data is input online and all USGA calculations can be done based on the past scores input. There are comprehensive reports that can be generated and you can easily customise your own reports. Handicap cards can be printed by the Admin as well as any individual golfer. All golfers will have access to this online system so they can loo up their scores, print reports and print their own handicap card. We can assign a few key people as admins to input scores and manage the system. I will be sending out details by e-mail to everyone later with how to access this system. I will be passing out handicap cards for everyone next week based on scores from August 2012 to date.
I have this system on a 60 day free trial after which time we can decide to purchase. I would recommend we go for the online versions as this gives us greater flexibility, ease of updated versions and access by al golfers from any computer at anytime. The online web system is pieced based on the no of golfers:
1-25 golfers $96 per year
26-50 golfers $144 per year
51-100 golfers $240 per year
We currently have 80 golfers on our list although there are less than 50 golfers really active.
I would propose we discuss over the coming weeks after you see the system working and decide if we want to commit to this system
I have already input all scores for everyone from Aug 2012 to present and have generated handicaps for everyone (except those without sufficient scores.) 
Below is a sample handicap calculation for myself for reference on the calculations used:
Stuart Taylor – How USGA Index is calculated.
1. Handicap Setup is as follows …
The table below is used to determine the number of handicap differentials to use :
Number of Acceptable Scores Differential(s) to be Used
5 or 6 Lowest 1
7 or 8 Lowest 2
9 or 10 Lowest 3
11 or 12 Lowest 4
13 or 14 Lowest 5
15 or 16 Lowest 6
17 Lowest 7
18 Lowest 8
19 Lowest 9
20 Lowest 10
Stuart has 20 scores so the highlighted parameters are used to determine which scores to use for handicapping
2. The Differentials for these scores are calculated…
Date Adjusted Grs Score Score Type Course Played Tee Course Rating Course Slope Differential Used
7/23/2013 93 KGSAAS White 69.0 128 21.2
7/16/2013 90 Kota Permai Golf & Country Club White 72.0 113 18.0 Used
7/9/2013 89 Bukit Unggul Country Club White 70.5 115 18.2 Used
7/2/2013 95 Rahman Putra White 71.9 129 20.2 Used
5/28/2013 96 Staffield Resort – N&S Course White 70.5 115 25.1
5/21/2013 87 Bukit Kemuning White 70.5 115 16.2 Used
5/14/2013 92 Saujana Impian G. & C.C. White 70.5 115 21.1
4/29/2013 92 IOI Golf Resort White 67.7 112 24.5
4/16/2013 94 KGSAAS White 69.0 128 22.1
4/11/2013 97 Orna – East/West Course White 70.5 115 26.0
4/2/2013 94 Bukit Unggul Country Club White 70.5 115 23.1
3/12/2013 86 KRTU White 71.0 130 13.0 Used
3/5/2013 95 Saujana Impian G. & C.C. White 70.5 115 24.1
2/26/2013 86 Bukit Unggul Country Club White 70.5 115 15.2 Used
2/19/2013 99 Templer Park Country Club White 70.5 115 28.0
2/5/2013 86 Nilai Springs – P&M Course White 70.5 115 15.2 Used
1/29/2013 92 The Club @Bukit Utama White 72.0 120 18.8 Used
1/22/2013 89 Perangsang Templer White 69.6 130 16.9 Used
1/15/2013 95 Tropicana White 72.0 120 21.7
1/8/2013 90 KGSAAS White 69.0 128 18.5 Used
The equation for calculating a differential is …
Diff = (Adjusted Gross Score – Rating) X (113 / Slope)
3. Use the differentials to calculate a USGA Index
Differentials ‘used’ are added together…
170.2 = 18.0 + 18.2 + 20.2 + 16.2 + 13.0 + 15.2 + 15.2 + 18.8 + 16.9 + 18.5
Then divide the total number used
Average differentials = 170.2 / 10  = 17.020
Multiply average by 96%.
USGA Index = 17.020 x 0.96         USGA Index = 16.3 (Digits after tenths place are deleted)
Final USGA Index = 16.3