Results – Bukit Unggul Country Club – 18th September 2012

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

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Cannons all.

We haven’t played Bukit Unggul since May, mainly because it was in pretty poor condition back then and the M&M service was very slow. Not a lot has changed in the interval. Granted, the course was generally in better shape than previously( the dead tree at the 18th tee box has been removed at last) but the time it takes them to prepare a simple meal is unbelievable.
There was a rush to get onto the first tee ahead of a large group of Chinese seniors; the orange & white shirt sociaty that we increasingly see on a Tuesday lately, who can be horribly slow, and so the 12 LC’s assembled were directed to the back 9 and with no one ahead we were all round in well under 4 hours. Thanks to Ray for taking care of the registration.
Bukit Unggul Golf & Country Club has so much going for it in terms of location and layout that it is almost a crime that it isn’t better managed and presented. It really wouldn’t take much effort to turn it around. They are doing some work to repair kerbs and drains that have lain in disrepair for years, and some of the buggy turning areas that were so ineptly laid a few years back have been extended, not in matching paving you understand but at least a buggy can be turned around now.  But there are still areas on the fairways and their fringes that are completely bare. This can be repaired so easily with just some turf! Of course, when you see the majority of the ground staff sitting under trees doing FA, only stirring from their stupor when when an opportunity to sell a few balls occurs, there is little that can be achieved on the maintenance front.
What a pity.
In a nut shell, the greens were OK but slow and many had patches of damage that had only been sand filled rather than turf plugged. The fairways were average at best and the bunkers were poorly maintained. Out of 10 I would give it 6 at best. But it’s cheap and fairly close to town.
The weather was excellent and a stiff breeze that arrived about half way through meant that we all walked off the course almost dry.
The winner  was myself with 40 points and the runner-up was Andrew Robinson with 38 points. The lowest gross was 85 by Andrew and the most golf was played by Allan McNicoll with 124. I am cut 4 strokes and Andrew 1 stroke.
All 12 of us took lunch at the club house but as I said earlier, the service from the kitchen is so slow that some of us actually visited the kitchen to find out what was causing the delay. 45 minutes seemed about the norm from the time of order to receiving the dish And we were the only ones in the place. Hello!!! The only good news was the bill which left us with a surplus to go into the kitty.
Photos
 Aftab Ahmad tees off into the mist.
 Vincent makes it look easy.
 Ray Funnell making it look not so easy.
 The wild boar had been at work in many places all over the course this being a prime example.
The sun trying to cut through the morning mist and cloud.
 A panoramic view over the course.
 Ray in trouble
Bukit Unggul course is located in a very scenic hilly location … if only the course was in better condition.

A new hazard …. a bunker on the green! No the guy who was cutting the greens broke a hydraulic hose on his mower and spewed oil over the green …. this was his repair job!

 Vincent looks in vain for his ball which had disappeared into this grotty drain.
 Ray having the putting yips again.
 Ray and his trusty caddy.
 Ray manages a smile despite the putting blues.
 Another scenic view over the course.
 Ray Funnell drives on the last hole.
 Vincent blast one away on the last.
The Amber Fluid Team make up for fluid loss and await the lengthy time for makan to arrive.
Video

Results – Tasik Puteri Golf & Country Club – 11th September 2012

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Cannons all.
 
Tasik Puteri was in very good condition overall, the only grumble being the bunkers which had been recently refilled with fresh sand that was so deep and soft as to make playing out of near impossible. Remedy; avoid the bunkers I suppose! With surprisingly few other golfers at the course we were off on time after a short dispute between the starter and the supervisor over which of the nines were in play, but once that was sorted out the round proceeded at good pace (for most) on the Puteri & Putera 9’s.
 
The weather too was good with a strong breeze picking up towards the end of the round.
 
The winner  was Bernhard Romahn with 44 points and the runner-up was Barry Cousins with 43 points.
The lowest gross was 80 by John Laidley and the most golf was played by Alan Holgate with 119.
Bernhard is cut 8 strokes and Barry 1 stroke.
 
With the demise of the Equatorial we mustered at the Chin Hiong Restoran half way back to the toll where the food was so-so but the price reasonable. But this was not a patch on the Equatorial.

Photos

 The usual chaos at the start to get 20 odd Loose Cannons into buggies and away.
 Our group’s starting hole was the 10th hole – a misty start.
Tony tees off and sets his usual blistering pace around the course – we never saw the group behind us the whole round.
Now just check out the bend in Alan Holgate’s club as he swings through demonstrating the monstrous power he is applying to the club …. now if only that power could be transferred to the ball.
 Aftab chips onto the green on the short over-the-water par 3 14th hole.
 A serene view over the lake …… after we waited for the ripples to die down after Alan’s ball went in.
 Alan again showing his driving prowess.
 Tasik Puteri is a beautiful course and fairly well maintained.
 Alan Holgate has his “energy bar” break after abandoning his play on this hole.
 The tough 18th hole …. it’s uphill all the way.
 Aftab follows the caddy’s lead in combatting the strong morning sun.
 Tony in action on the dance floor.
 Our helpful and always smiling caddy … Dini.
 Tony hits on on a short par 3 3rd hole.
 Alan Holgate in jovial form.

A panoramic view of the long par 5 4th hole.

 Tony Morris also demonstrating his power at club bending.
 Aftab hits one off the tee in a steady and consistent manner.
 You can just see Alan’s ball heading off straight down the middle.
 Tony ponders his putt – the clubhouse drawing closer in the background.
 A fine band of Loose Cannonites – Tony Morris, Alan Holgate, Aftab Ahmad and Stuart Taylor.

 Finally we reach the 8th hole which was our 17th hole … one to go then it’s a much needed refreshment and lunch.
 Tony impersonating an Australian cattle rustler.
 Alan Holgate impersonating an F1 Honda Team driver.
 The final hole – Alan hits his second to the green … or rather short of the green.
The new restaurant “Chin Hiong” was successful although not quite as good as our previous haunt the “Equatorial Restaurant”

 After numerous amber refreshments and a belly full of food, spirits were good.
Barry is in great need of a wardrobe consultant

Video

Results – Berjaya Hills Golf & Country Club – 4th September 2012

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

Cannons all.
For the second week running we played in the rain.
18 LC’s made their way to the mountains through the KL haze and endured the lengthy registration process that seems to be the norm these days at most local golf venues. We eventually got started at 8:15 under leaden skies; all from tee box 1 as the tenth tee is at the farthest point on the course, and this always leads to a rather long delay between the first and last flight. But more of that later.
By the time the first flight got to the second tee the rain began; a heavy drizzle, and it continued intermittently for much of the front nine. Berjaya Hills was in very nice condition with much long needed maintenance in evidence including the repair of the land slip at the 4th tee box which, while not completely repaired, at least has a new tee boxes to replace those at the foot of the slip and a new buggy track circumnavigating the slip which is a great improvement on the temporary detour across the neighbouring fairway that has been in place for the past year or more.
Berjaya Hills is always a delightful place to be, high in the hills with wonderfully clean air and spectacular vistas. The gallery of Gibbons were very noisy, a bit like American golf galleries, and a magnificent Owl swooped into a tree and watched the LC’s putting exhibition with great disdain before silently gliding away in search of something more interesting.
The winner OCB was Stuart Taylor with 42 points and the runner-up was Ted Parslow.
The lowest gross was 77 by Geoff Parlow and the most golf was played by Allan McNicoll with 118. Stuart is cut 6 strokes and Ted1 stroke.
As I mentioned earlier, there is always a long delay at this track because we believe that we have to start from TB 1 as TB 10 is so far away. The first flight, a 3 ball, were back in under 4 hours with the second 3 ball 10 minutes later. There was then a delay of almost an hour before flight 3 walked off the 18th, 10 minutes of it searching for balls within 150 metrs of the green!!! The last flight came in 90 minutes after the first flight. Maybe we need to bite the bullet and put up with the 10 minute drive to the 10th. But even this will not help unnecessary slow play.
Speed the game up guys.
Poor Bob Simpson was sat at the restaurant for nearly an hour before anyone joined him. He text me with “Where is everone?” followed 45 minutes later with “Am I in the right restauant?”. We had left the changing rooms together! And he was in flight 2!!!! 2 members of flight 1 didn’t stay for lunch and Erol, their 3rd member had to wait for John who was in a later flight and I had to wait for George who was in the last flight. Erol & I had a beer at the 18th to pass the time while waiting for flight 3 to appear.
Anyway, some lessons learned. At venues like this where we adjourn to an off site venue for lunch I will pre arrange the flights. This will help.
Lunch at Restoran 126 in the village was excellent and accompanied by much amber nectar and very reasonably priced.
Despite the delays, a good day out.

Photos

Geoff Parslow, Ted Parslow, John Laidley and Glen Wombwell warming up on the 1st tee. Well not exactly warming up … but Glen is warming his hands!
 Erol Akinci and his “Rusty Pecker” at the 1st tee.
 We thought much of the fairway damage on the course had been caused by wild boar action … but here is proof that Alan McNicoll was also to blame!

Panorama photo of the 4th hole.

 “Stop and smell the flowers” as famously quoted by golfer Walter Hagen. These beautiful flowers had dropped from the trees which surrounded the fairways on the 5th hole.
 Here we see some wild boar damage caused just off the green on the 9th hole.
 The unmistakeable profile of Mr. Richard Moss.
 The Berjaya Hills course has some wonderful views over the surrounding hills and has the advantage of being relatively cool due to the altitude.
 Alan McNicoll blasts one away with this new driver on the 10th hole.
 Richard Moss looking in awe at his drive on the 10th.

Panorama photo of the 10th hole green.
 Richard Moss in the valley of sin on the 12th.
 Geoff McLaws looking happy …. couldn’t say that by the 18th!
 The bizarre Colmar Tropicale buildings nestle in the hills in the distance.
 Another fine swing from Alan McNicoll propels him further forward into triple figures.
The fairly straightforward 16th to lull you into a false sense of security and confidence before the last two holes.
A scarifier machine had been in action on the 17th tee box.
Looking back down the tough 17th hole it’s easy to see where you went wrong.

Video

Audio

Something extra this week to complete your multi-media desires – some recorded sounds of the gibbons in the jungle surrounding the golf course. It sounded like they were all screeching with laughter …. and this was probably exactly the case given the displays of our golf proficiency.

Results – Nilai Springs Golf & Country Club – 28th August 2012

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


Cannons all.
22 LC’s assembled at a very wet Nilai Springs on Tuesday morning to decide the Champion for August.
Over the years we have had few weather disruptions on a Tuesday morning and only one washout; that was many years ago at nearby Staffield, and so sitting in the clubhouse with the rain falling like stair rods from lead grey sky a certain amount of pessimism was gathering. But by 8 o’clock it started to ease up and by 8:20 we were making our way to the tee. Intermittent rain continued through the first 9 but later gave way to pleasant overcast conditions.
Historically Nilai Springs Golf & Country Club is one of the best maintained tracks we play but I’m sorry to report that this was not the case yesterday. In fact the course was in the poorest condition I have seen it for several years. Not bad you understand…..just poor by Nilai Springs standards. However, I’m sure they will get it back into shape fairly quickly. The dry weather in July and early August had dried out the new herring bone drainage that was recently installed and so several of the fairways had strips of brown grass and they needed a hair cut. The greens were slow, mainly because of the early morning rain which prevented them being cut, and the Pines greens had been recently hollow tined, probably just before Ramadan with poor follow up treatment and so they were very uneven and patchy. Not at all what we have become used to at Nilai Springs.
With few other golfers on the course early on we were round in good time with 20 players gathering for lunch in the clubhouse which was up to the expected standard. The only complaint being the extraordinarily long time it took to prepare my fish & chips. I know that Dory is a farmed fish from Vietnam but I had no idea that they actually had to go there to collect it!! 
  
The winner of the August Trophy was Vincent Vijayan with 43 points off the stick plus 3 bonus points for a total of 46. The runner-up was Siegmund  with 41 points.The lowest gross was shared by the 2 Geoff’s; Parslow & McLaws with 81 and the most golf was played by newcomer Allan McNicoll with 122. Vincent is cut 7 strokes and Siegi 1 stroke.



Photos

 Rick Brown may be difficult to recognise when looking at his new fresh-faced look …. but you only need to check out his shorts to confirm that it’s Rick. Mike Smith as always … counting the money.

 A rainy, wet start to the day

 Bob Simpson hits over the water … yes he did get it over.

 Tony Morris takes cover under his umbrella as the rain persists.

 Tony belts one out in his usual quick fashion. As I noted he is usually picking up his tee before his backswing is even complete!

You can’t see the wood for the trees .. in this case I can’t use my wood for the trees! 

Luckily the greens were exceedingly slow otherwise this putt of mine would have rolled past the hole and down the slope towards the water. 

 Richard Moss didn’t make it today …. but he was in our thoughts.

 The buggy tracks were somewhat waterlogged in places
 Bob Simpson’s secret weapon …. The SkyCaddie …. didn’t appear to help him much!

Nearing the end of the round …. thank goodness



A beautiful panorama on the last hole with Tony Morris waiting till the green clears

Video



Results – Kajang Hill Golf & Country Club – 22 August 2012

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

Cannons all.

This was a sad day. The long awaited axe falls on Kajang Hill Golf & Country Club on the 31st August, or so I was informed by the counter staff, and so this will almost certainly be our last game at this delightful destination. This is a tragedy for Malaysian golfers as Kajang Hill is certainly one of the better tracks we have had the privilege of playing. Opened in the late 90’s, this M. Saito designed course has established a reputation for good management and maintenance and will be sorely missed.

RIP Kajang Hill.
We had 24 players registered but a late withdrawal saw 22 LC’s and one guest; Ian Hughes, son of David, assemble on a clear morning after heavy overnight rain. We got started at 8:15 and with buggies allowed on the fairways which were surprisingly firm, most of us were round in just over 4 hours. The course was in reasonable condition considering it’s imminent demise but the greens were very slow and the bunkers rather hard with little sand. The lakes too were very low which, after the recent heavy downpours, was a little surprising but didn’t make them any less of a hazard. But all-in-all the course was very playable and greatly enjoyed by all.
The winner, paying us a rare visit these days was Ian Geekie with 43 points and the runner-up was Geoff McLaws with 40 points.The lowest gross was Geoff McLaws with 77 and the most golf was played by Richard Moss with 114.
Ian is cut 7 strokes and Geoff 1 stroke.
All 23 of us enjoyed lunch at the clubhouse where the food was excellent and a nice change from last weeks rip off. Plenty of amber nectar was put away and we were only just short of the amount needed for the bill. A whip round of RM10 per head left us with RM85 for the kitty which has been depleted in recent weeks from subsidising some expensive blow outs. We now have RM1192 in hand.
Photos


And finally we have a little “extra” this week with a specially edited video of Flight No 1 in action on the turf, including many useful tips, insights and instructions from these experienced pros ……. enjoy!
//www.youtube.com/get_player
Alternatively you can see the video at better quality on YouTube here: