Date: Jan 23, 2024
Time: 11:44am
Location: SICC, Bukit Course, Hole-17th
It is a Tuesday, and it is a walking day at Bukit @ SICC. As usual, I have a happy face, means, I have good sleep the day before and was very happy.
The weather is nice. Getting a bit hot later.
I am playing with my usual golf buddies: Allan Teo, Raymond Ong and Jeffrey Khoo.
Walking day means, carry your own bag, no buggy, just walk walk walk.
Like what shadow shows. Carry my own bag. In Singapore, cannot afford a caddie.
The scenary is great at Bukit. I love to walk Bukit course.
There is NO RAIN on that day. Look how blue the sky is, and how happy I am…
The wind is mild, and it is a good golf day.
It was excellent to play golf on that day. No rain. A bit hot but that is fine. I was trying all the shots.
As I approach Hole 17. Allan goes first. He hit a rock solid shot. The ball landed around where it should land, and the ball start rolling towards the pin. But halfway, it looses the rolling. I think because he hit it high and there is some back spin.
So, I used my range finder and it was 122m on that day. There is a bit of follow I think, and I look at the tee box, there are messy. So, I move my team 1 ft from the tee as I can see the nice nice green instead of sandy stoke marks. I stand behind and see my alignment, and I told every one, I will hit a bit to the left of where Allan;s ball land.
I did not do practice swing, as I never practice swing. But I did pull my club back a little and sway the club a bit to make sure my hands are flexible and my back swing will have a bit of corking. And then making sure the swing down part uncorking the club at the correct center.
I brought my Yamaha UD+2 (2022 model). So, I will be using my Approach (AW) iron with 42 degree loft angle. My yamaha AW hit about 120-125m with 115-120m carry. With a bit of help from the follow wind, that should give me the pin high distant.
Hole-In-One
So, I remembered telling myself tempo tempo tempo. And here it goes. Making sure the head not move too much no swaying, I hit the ball high up, it was a sweet spot clean shot. When the ball half way flying towards the pin, I already shouted HOLE-IN-ONE, as the ball is flying towatds slightly left of the pin, and it was going straight. The ball landed just right side of where Allan’s ball landed, and my mouth keep shouting HOLE-IN-ONE HOLE-IN-ONE. The ball start to roll towards the pin. And then, a very fast moment later, the ball disappeared into the hole. Every one saw it. I raised up my hand and finally confirmed with HOLE IN ONE and I DID IT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!
The left side fairway (hole 16) are all my friends, Tan Hwee Tong and his wife Jane, Albert Moh, and Jeffrey Teo. They heard the shouts. They congrats and echo “Hole In One”. On my right are golfers we don’t know them on the hole-2. They too shout back “Hole In One”.
I take out my phone to video myself and shout… “I have done it, don’t say in Singapore I cannot do it huh….”
It was a great feeling. It was great feeling.
Miss HIO Misses in Past 4 Weeks
I have a strong feeling, the HIO is coming to me. Because it the past few weeks, I have a lot of near misses.
On Jan 19 (4 days before), I was playing with my boss. I did this… Forest Hole-4, my ball landed perfectly on the rightside bumb. The ball started to roll left and to the front, but it lost some steam, because the bump I hit is a bit short, so does not create enough run to run into the hole.
On Jan-17, I was at Long Thanh golf club. One of the par-3 I hit the ball, it landed, and the ball disappeared from our view. Me and Albert Moh raised our hand up and shouted Hole In One. 1.5 seconds later, the ball appear on the right not far away from the pin. There is a slop near the pin. Wahahahaha Did you see where is my pitch mark?
On Jan-16, at Song Be Golf Club in Ho Chi Minh. One of the Par-3, do you see how near my ball is to the blue flag? Nearly hole in one.
Dec-19 Bang Pa-In Golf Club in Bangkok. Another near miss.
Video of Me Picking Up my HIO ball
I was so happy. Please forgive me my dear playmates. After I saw the video, I found myself so rude. Sorry Sorry. I should be quiet to let Raymond and Jeff finished their attempt then go and pick up the ball happily.
I now can match my good golf buddy – Albert Moh. He had 2x hole in one 2 years ago. He says he will passed the “Par 3 Specilist” title to me. He did two hole in one not long ago. And out of the few near misses, he was presence.
As I walking slowly, I was analyzing the pitch mark. I was using a Bridgestone “Extra Soft” ball. Allan’s ball roll shorter because of the backspin I think. The trajectory of my ball flight and his flight is almost identical, and my ball landed much behind of his ball, but I think my ball of lesser back spin and it just keep going straight.
I must admit. 10 years ago, I was not good at golf. I hit the ball, and then when me and my caddie walked to the greem, I asked everyone where my ball gone. And it actually was inside the cup. Hole in One. If you ask me about that, I will tell you it is 95% pure luck. Of course, 5% contribute to be able to hit the ball up high.
Today, I was checking the back swing, checking club face, checking the swing path, checking the corking and uncorking, checking wind speed, and tempo tempo tempo. So, today, if you ask me, it will be 50% skill, 50% luck. Hole in One.
What a great joy, what a great feeling.
Here comes the Interview part. Video by Allan Teo.
Who do you have to thank?
Of course, My coach Ms. Taekyung Kim. She is the one who has been very patient coaching me, this old stuborn man who refuse to change the swing in 5 lessons, instead spending 30+ lessons to slowly take my own sweet time to make the changes. Thank you coach for making me fit to play golf without hurting myself. Also teaching me all the techniques slowly on my own pace.
Of course, although I only play 2 times with him, and I never take any classes from him. But from the play on the course, he makes me realise some of the great mistakes I had which I did not realize it. Tempo tempo tempo. Body swing body swing. Mr. Kicheol Kim, my coach fiance. 🙂
Both of them are from Korea. Thanks Hidden Castle for bringing these fantastic coaches into Singapore. Ya… my practice playground is at Hidden Castle. That has many good simulators to check my swing, my speed, ball speed, alignment, launch dir and angle, etc.
Thirdly, I also never take any lessons from her, who is from Bangkok, but I have played with her may be few times, and have seen her teaching videos from time to time. ProNim taught me some tips too.
Here is my thankyou video to them.
Without these coaches and inspirations, I couldn’t possibly finished 203 games last year!
This is GAME #200 where I played in Bang Pa-In Golf Club with my favorite golf buddies and of course caddies. I did it last year. I passed the 200th games on Dec-19, 2003.
In year 2022, I played 199 games. In year 2023, I played 203. And I have played the 203rd games (last game of year 2023) SO BADLY. Because I was trying to score a PAR from the blue tee in front of this young guy wearing long pants who played black tee. He is Ryan Ang the current Singapore Amateur champion. Hahaha So, he had never seen people played “Double-Par” before, and I did it 6 times playing with him. So, Mental is still very important in play golf games. Wahahahahaha
So, I end up with this.
And quite happily submit my score card to the Golf office. They will make all the certificates and thropy, and the sponsor also will give a bottle of whiskey I think with thier certs too. The insurance will cover the $1,000 for all the drinks and makan sessions.
And the drinking sessions too..
This concludes my adventure of golf year 2023, and the beginning of another golf year 2024. Last year, I engaged my coach Taekyung early in Feb. My handicaps drop from 27 to as low as 17. But most importantly, I did not hurt my fingers, elbow, shoulders, back, knees and ankles. This is so proven in my 203 games I did in one year (2023). I travelled many places to play golf last year too, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Japan. This year 2024 based on Fengshui, dog suppose to have one of the Not so Good luck year. But I managed to have this Hole-In-One to start year 2024. Some argued that CNY has not arrived yet. but this hole in one definitely create some POSITIVE ENERGIES to me, and I hope this small little positive mindset and energy is enough to cruise me thru this challenging year 2024.
May every one, no matter who you are, have a nice nice CNY and prosprous 2024. Please do not ask me to gamble as my fengshui luck already predicted I may lost all the bets. So, you know what to do. I will stay low profile, but I still will look for you guys to drink, to eat and to play golf and to talk cork and for fun!!! Cheers! And stay healthy and be safe in every aspect, everyone.
My last hole-in-one was almost 10 years ago on Nov 27, 2014. Here are the blog memory of that HIO.