Raffles Connection (Raffles Country Club Newsletter | May - June 2017)) by Raffles Country Club

Raffles Ch rit y

RAFFLES COUNTRY CLUB NEWSLETTER | May - June 2017

The Final Chapter

Make a difference in someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life!

Raffles Country Club Singapore www.rcc.org.sg

Vol

Raffles Ch rit y

1 & 2 July 2017

Lake & Palm | AM & PM

The Final Chapter

Make a difference in someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life! Join us as we extend a helping hand to those in need, at the final chapter of Raffles Charity. Since its inception 27 years ago, Raffles Charity has raised over $8 million for schools and charitable organisations around the Jurong vicinity, improving thousands of lives through its yearly charity event. Hoping to provide relief to those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantages, your generous contribution and support will go a long way in helping the less privileged in our communities.

ive a + Rece Bag Goodie

Charitable Organisations

Schools

Guests-of-Honour: 1 July 2017 ESM Mr Goh Chok Tong 2 July 2017 DPM Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam Special Guest Mr Lim Boon Heng

Hole-in-one Prizes

$250,000

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Sponsored by: Esun International Pte Ltd

Sponsored by: Daimler South East Asia Pte. Ltd

Cash Prize

2 SARCAR Luxury Gold Watches (worth $78,500)

Sponsored by: Leong Poh Kee Pte Ltd

Call 6861 7655 to book or visit www.rafflescharity.org.sg!

s t n e t n o C

GENERAL COMMITTEE President Mr Paul Singh

CLUB NEWS

Vice-President Chairman of Food & Beverage Mr Loh Kum Chuen

LIFESTYLE

Snapshots

Body & Mind Restoration

Town Hall Meeting

Gut Health

Raffles Charity 2017

Beautiful Bali

New Staff

A Golfing Mission 34 GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE

FOOD & BEVERAGES What's Happening at Golfers' Terrace

GOLF

Managing Soilborne Turfgrass Disease on Lake Course Greens

Seaside Venues Bring Out the Best in Golf Course Architecture

Ang Pow Golf Competition to Welcome a Brand New Year!

Mercedes Trophy Qualifier 2017

Inter-Club Friendly: RCC vs TPCKL

Treasurer Chairman of Finance Mr Tom Yeo Secretary Mr John Goh Chairman of Communications & Information Ms Cheong Yoke Keng Chairman of Facilities & Estate Mr Hoe Boon Leong

Chairman of Lifestyle & Social Mr Phee Thian Chye Member Mr Henry Ho

FACILITIES

Monthly Medal

Captain Chairman of Golfing & Greens Mr Sebastian Song

MANAGEMENT

Improvements around the Club 38

General Manager Farrock Ebrahim farrock.ebrahim@rcc.org.sg 6864 0889 Finance Manager Anthony Low anthony.low@rcc.org.sg 6864 0828

Course Superintendent Christine Chung christine.chungbhivat@rcc.org.sg 6861 2725 Golfing Operations Manager Ng Yuk Fong yukfong.ng@rcc.org.sg 6864 0836 F&B/Lifestyle Manager Dave Chiang dave.chiang@rcc.org.sg 6864 0863

Sales & Marketing/ Communications Manager Joanne Ng joanne.ng@rcc.org.sg 6864 0838 Facilities Manager Kevin Kwan kevin.kwan@rcc.org.sg 6864 0883

EDITORIAL BOARD Raffles Connection is published by: Raffles Country Club, 450 Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim, Singapore 639932 l www.rcc.org.sg MCI (P) 104/04/2017 For Advertising and Magazine Enquiries, please contact Sales & Marketing/Communications Manager Joanne Ng: joanne.ng@rcc.org.sg/ 6864 0838 All information and dates are correct at time of printing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher.

Chairman Cheong Yoke Keng Editor Justine Moss Members Ven Sreenivasan Edmond Ang Nina Koh Joanne Ng Relle Lee

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s ' t n e d i s Pre ge

Raffles Connection • May - Jun 2017

Messa

In the previous issue, I wrote about the acquisition and steps the General Committee (GC) has taken to appoint the legal counsel and valuers so that we can start the process of submitting our claims and legal representation. I also mentioned about the staff compensation discussions with the union as well as the Town Hall Meeting. On 17 March 2017 we held the Town Hall Meeting. I am pleased to mention that 192 members attended the Town Hall Meeting, which goes to show the concerns that members have with the acquisition process. We had legal representatives from Rajah & Tann to assist in explaining the acquisition process to members, and this was followed by the GC going through the agenda items. I am glad to mention that there were many good questions raised by members about the acquisition. The papers presented at the Town Hall Meeting can be viewed in the RCC website - www.rcc.org.sg - at the Members’ Area. For members who do not have the password to access the Members’ Area, please write to our IT personnel: Samuel.ee@rcc. org.sg or call 6864 0868. You can also send your land acquisition enquiries to: rcclandacquisition@rcc.org.sg. All questions raised will be answered. Our valuers Knight Frank have been working with us to complete their valuation of the Club. There has been lots of data that they have requested from us in order to do the valuation. Due to the large amount of data that needs to be reviewed and analysed, they have asked that we request SLA to grant us an extension of the Collector’s Inquiry date. On behalf of the Club, our lawyers have written to SLA and they have granted us an extension to 5 May 2017.

With effect from January 2017, the GC has removed the Minimum Spending Levy. From 1 May 2017, the monthly subscription will be reduced to $1. In doing so, the GC is doing what is necessary to draw down the reserves to benefit every member. The GC is aware of the concerns members have with the reserves. Please be assured that the GC is working closely with our legal advisers Rajah & Tann as well as with the SLA on this matter. We will be updating members as we move forward. On the operations side, members would have noticed that we have continued to work hard in maintaining both our courses to ensure they are in tip top condition. The greens on Lake Course have recovered and we continue with our cow grass eradication programme to ensure our fairways on Lake are free of cow grass. The GGSC and the Club management are also working towards ensuring that members are able to get slots on weekdays, and as such are working towards managing private events and golf promotions. We will be monitoring course usage very closely. I would like to take this opportunity to update members on our Raffles Charity 2017 taking place on 1 and 2 July 2017. The Club has been a strong supporter of raising money through this Club charity event for the needy. The Raffles Charity – the Final Chapter - will be our last charity event, and as such the organising committee is making plans to make this the largest and greatest event for the Club. Please join and support this event and raise funds for a good cause. On the F&B side, members have spoken to me about the continuing improvements on the food at the Golfers’ Terrace (GT). The F&B sub-

Paul Singh President

The GC is aware of the CONCERNS

MEMBERS HAVE WITH THE RESERVES. PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT THE GC IS WORKING CLOSELY with our legal advisers Rajah & Tann as well as with the SLA on this matter.

committee, led by our VP Mr. Loh Kum Chuen, has been working hard to improve the food and service quality at the GT. I sincerely request members to support their efforts. Ciao for now!

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s ' r e g a n a eneral M

Raffles Connection • May - Jun 2017

e g a s s e M

I am pleased to be given the opportunity to say ‘Hi’ to everyone here in RCC. Having just come on board since 3 Feb 2017, I lost no time in getting to know the RCC staff and learning the ropes of the Club. The GM position has been left vacant for nearly six months and I am pleased to say that the Club is still well-oiled and running like clock-work. But, it is unfortunate that the news of the SLA Land Acquisition was announced on 4 Jan 2017 and this piece of news has thrown everyone off guard – both members and staff alike. It takes time for everyone to get used to this idea. For the staff, that means losing one’s livelihood and, for the members, a second home to meet friends and to golf. To be honest, having just handed over the land occupied by Jurong Country Club (JCC) to Singapore Land Authority, I feel for the staff as I have experienced what they are experiencing now. My five-year stint at Jurong Country Club (JCC) has taught me many things especially in regard to closing a club. I have to add that I was not chosen for the GM’s position because of my experience in closing the club. I have been asked this question many times and, for the record, I accepted this job before the news was announced. Here’s a little on my background. Before JCC, I had the opportunity to manage three properties - Palm Resort Golf & Country Club, overseeing three championship golf courses and a 300-resort hotel in Johor and Fairway Club in Singapore for seven years. I

also had the opportunity to run the Singapore Polo Club as Finance Manager and was then GM for 16 years. I am familiar with all aspects of Club management and the latest addition to my skill set is on the Land Acquisition of Clubs. With the Club’s impending closure, there are many things at hand that need to be done. A Town Hall Meeting took place at the Club on 17 March 2017 for members to voice their concerns and to be updated on the Club’s plans moving forward. This was followed closely by the EOGM that took place on 7 April 2017 at the Club. I just want to assure everyone that the GC has everyone’s interests at heart, both members and staff. Other pressing issues include the Golfers’ Terrace (GT) operations and the quality of food. With a new menu in the pipeline and a new Senior Sous Chef and Northern Indian cuisine chef on board, I am sure members can look forward to a new dining experience at GT from now.

Farrock General Manager

With the Club’s impending closure, THERE ARE

MANY THINGS AT HAND THAT NEED TO BE DONE.

With the announcement of the SLA land acquisition, we are also giving priority to members when it comes to golfing at the Club. We are cutting down on golf promotions for nonmembers and private golf events to make more golfing slots available for members’ enjoyment. So for those who haven’t been golfing for a while, come on down to the Club and have a round of golf! Golf while you can as the beautiful Lake and Palm courses at RCC will soon be things of the past. See you around Club!

Snapsh ts Ladies Flag Competition: 22 February 2017 The first ladies-only event of 2017, Ladies Flag Competition saw an encouraging turnout of 32 eager participants on a sunny afternoon. Decked in their colourful attire, the ladies of Raffles Country Club swarmed to the ever-stimulating Palm Course, in preparation to plant their flag as far as possible according to their course handicap. After strokes and strokes throughout the sultry afternoon, Ms Maria Teo emerged as the eventual winner with the furthest flag planted and outstanding play. WINNER: Maria Teo (HI: 16.0) - Hole no. 1, 250m to the green (extra hole) 1st Runner-up: Theresa Ng (HI: 17.8) - Hole no. 18, in the hole 2nd Runner-up: Judy Cho (HI: 19.1) - Hole no. 18, 3m to the hole

Reduction of Monthly Subscription: Effective 1 May 2017

Corrigendum

Further to the suspension of charging of Minimum Spending Levy (MSL) to all members effective 1 January 2017, the General Committee has decided to reduce the monthly subscription currently paid by the principal member of the respective categories of membership to a nominal $1 per month.

We sincerely apologise for three mistakes in the March-April Raffles Connection:

This rate will also be applicable to Absent Members. The new rate of subscription will be effective from 1 May 2017 and will be billed in the April 2017 Statement of Account onwards. Kindly contact Finance at 6864 0808 or 6864 0801 for any billing queries.

Pg 14: Under ‘A’ Division Ladies’ January 2017, Jessie Oh’s HI is 9.9, not 19.9 Pg 15: Under ‘A’ Division Ladies’ February 2017, Judy Quek’s score is 34 Pts, not 24 Pts Pg 15: Under ‘A’ Div Men’s February 2017, 1st Runner-up is Brian Seah, not Bryan Seah

Raffles Connection • May - Jun 2017

CLUB NEWS

Town Hall Meeting 17 March 2017

he Singapore Land Authority announced on 4 January 2017 that the land occupied by RCC will be acquired for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail, Cross Island MRT Line’s Western Depot and other transport related uses. The Club closure date is set at 31 July 2018. A Town Hall Meeting took place on 17 March 2017 at the Stamford Suite for the Club to address certain issues pertaining to the land acquisition with the members, and to take questions from the members. With a turnout of 192, it was evident that members were concerned about the land acquisition. Legal representatives from Rajah & Tan Singapore LLP were present to explain to members the acquisition process and the General Committee (GC) also took the opportunity to address the members and to go through the agenda items. At the meeting, the following were highlighted: • An ExtraOrdinary General Meeting (EOGM) to be held on 7 April 2017 for members to vote on five resolutions. The Notice of EOGM was mailed to members soon after the meeting. • Minimum Spending Levy (MSL) was ceased with effect from January 2017. • The GC is reviewing the monthly subscriptions; and subsequently the fees will be reduced to a token $1 with effect from 1 May 2017. • The GC is reviewing the distribution of Club Reserves in consultation with the valuer and Legal Advisor. • The Club will have to use the Club reserves to maintain Club operations due to no income from subscription, transfer fees and MSL. Operation costs will remain status quo till the Club closure in July 2018. • In anticipation of higher member utilisation for golfing, golf promotions are being reviewed to ensure slot availability for members. • The golf courses will continue to be maintained at top notch condition till the final date of operations. • The Club will continue to improve Food and Service quality at the Golfers’ Terrace. • Written feedback from members will be given serious consideration by GC. • Communications with members will be through our regular channels such as e-mail, website or other forms of notifications. There is a dedicated page in the Club website (www.rcc.org.sg) on Land Acquisition in the Members’ Area. For members who do not have the password to access the Members’ Area, please write to our IT personnel: Samuel.ee@rcc.org.sg or call 6864 0868. You can also send your land acquisition enquiries to: rcclandacquisition@rcc.org.sg.

Summary of

Sponsorship Packages (Diamond) Corporate Flight

(Platinum) Corporate Flight

(Gold) Corporate Flight

(Silver) Corporate Flight

Cash Donation

$30,000 and above

$20,000

$10,000

$5,000

Product-in-kind

$60,000 and above

$40,000

$20,000

$10,000

Golf Invitation

1 Flight (AM or PM) on either Sat or Sun

Dinner Invitation

Dinner Invitations for 4 Dinner Invitations for 4 Dinner Invitations for 4 Dinner Invitations for 4

Complimentary Flight

Publicity & Acknowledgement

2 flights on weekday (Palm or Lake)

1 flight on weekday (Palm or Lake)

♥ Acknowledgement as "Diamond Sponsor" on RCD Website

♥ Acknowledgement as "Platinum Sponsor" on RCD Website

♥ Acknowledgement as "Gold Sponsor" on RCD Website

♥ Acknowledgement as "Silver Sponsor" on RCD Website

♥ Publicity around the Club to include: • Two (2) buntings • Event Photo Board • Logo placement in slideshow • Two (2) A-sign boards on the golf course

♥ Publicity around the Club to include: • Event Photo Board • Logo placement in slideshow • One (1) A-sign board on the golf course

♥ Publicity around the Club to include: • Event Photo Board • Logo placement in slideshow

♥ One (1) full page ad in 2017 Souvenir Magazine

♥ One (1) half page ad in 2017 Souvenir Magazine

♥ One (1) full page ad in 2017 Souvenir Magazine

Individual Flight Rates (Palm or Lake) Member

$380 per ball

Weekday member

$450 per ball

Guest

$500 per ball

Rate includes: 1. Meals for all golfers: *Morning Golfers are invited to breakfast, lunch and **dinner (**golfers need to indicate their attendance for dinner upon regisration). *Afternoon Golfers are invited to lunch and dinner. Breakfast also included if needed. 2. Goodie Bag

Raffles Ch rit y

Raffles Connection • May - Jun 2017

CLUB NEWS

The Final Chapter

affles Charity has been an integral part of the Club’s effort in improving the lives of residents living around the Jurong vicinity since 1991. An annual charity golf event that has garnered much support from its esteemed members and sponsors the past 26 years, the Club has raised over $8 million for the needy to date.

Henry Ho Chairman of Raffles Charity Organising Committee

This is not the end, THIS

IS NOT EVEN THE BEGINNING OF THE END, this is just perhaps the end of the beginning.

With news of the SLA acquisition of land occupied by Raffles Country Club, it is with great sadness that we announce the final chapter of the biggest and most meaningful event at the Club. After a lengthy discussion with the Organising Committee, it was unanimously decided that the last event should be one to remember for all the members and sponsors who have shown unwavering support for our cause throughout the years. Set to be fun and engaging, this year’s charity event will be featuring a carnival themed golfing experience; imagine the aroma of food, icecreams, colourful flags, mini game stations and marquees. All

participating golfers will also receive an extremely attractive goodie bag each! Perhaps best of all, hole-inone hopefuls will be seeing some of the best hole-in-one prizes in history thanks to our generous sponsors. We hope that, together with the generous donation from our members and sponsors, we can finish the last chapter of the 27-yearold charity event with a grand finale. The donation will mean the world to our beneficiaries; 11 schools and 8 charitable organisations who will receive your contribution in the form of educational bursaries or scholarships, food and groceries, training programmes, as well as much needed treatments. To end my message, I would like to borrow a quote from Winston S. Churchill, “This is not the end, this is not even the beginning of the end, this is just perhaps the end of the beginning.” Let’s continue to do our part for the community and reach out a helping hand to those in need.

New Staff Ng Yuk Fong Golf Manager

I have worked in a country club for as long as I can remember. I enjoy interacting with members and fellow colleagues, the friendly and relaxed setting and the beautiful scenery that greets me at work every day. People at the club are mostly genial, making my time here akin to spending time with close friends. With almost my entire working career spent in the golfing department, not only do I have plenty of opportunities to meet different people and learn something new every day, I also get to enjoy my favourite sport – Golf! I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to RCC for opening its door to me and giving me another opportunity to excel in a job I love.

Maimunah Binte Abdul Kadir

Admin Executive

With over 25 years of experience working in country clubs, I can safely say that every club I’ve worked at is like my second home. Assigned to the golfing department since day one, I fell in love with the vibrant atmosphere, calming greens and friendly people almost immediately on my first day. During my free time, I like to spend time with my family members, especially my children as they are the people closest to my heart. Working in a club means working odd and sometimes long hours. I am glad that my family members are especially understanding and supportive, making it possible to do what I love while having my loved ones close by me. A big “Thank you” to RCC for welcoming me into your big family!

Samuel Ee

IT Executive While I have been working in the IT field for some time, it has only been a few years since I started working in a country club. In the few weeks that I’ve spent here, I am very happy to share that I’ve enjoyed working here and that Raffles Country Club is a vibrant place filled with many wonderful people. I hope I will be able to help better the Club with my experience. During my free time, I like to research new hardware available in the market, so that I can upgrade my CPU to enhance its performance. I also enjoy reading up on the latest technology news and gaming.

e g a r e v e Food & B Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening at

Golfers' Terrace?

BSC hopes to bring more life to your GT by engaging different live bands on Saturday nights for members to socialise and to enjoy their evergreens.

Singapore Carrot Cake

We are negotiating with caterers to set up Live Stations to introduce your favourite local fare from time to time. All these efforts will come to nought if members do not come to patronise our very own GT. No other cafeteria in Singapore can boast the fantastic environment and ambience that we have here. Before long, all these will be taken away from us so better enjoy whilst it lasts.

Great news! Live Band on Saturdays Local Fare Live Stations (Planning)

Our Northern Indian dishes have received very good response. To complement these dishes, we are trying to purchase a secondhand oven to make Naans, which our newly recruited Sous Chef Chatterjee Partha is very skilful at creating. Our Senior Sous Chef Alex Yap specialises in Peranakan dishes and the first item he has introduced is the authentic Peranakan Curry Fish Head. Some of the earlier new dishes such as Roti Prata, Mee Siam, Mee Rebus and Fried Carrot Cake have been improved upon after being reviewed by Alex and the FBSC. We are constantly looking into how we can make improvements in our food quality and service. We welcome feedback and suggestions from our members. Cheers! FBSC & F&B Management

Live band on Saturdays.

Curry Fish Head

Raffles Connection â&#x20AC;˘ May - Jun 2017

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Chicken Butter Masala

Chef Chatterjee Partha, Northern Indian Cuisine specialist, is our new Sous Chef. With his extensive working experience in India, South Africa, UK, the Seychelles and China, his skills will definitely bring additional colours and aroma to our menu.

Introducing our new Chef de Partie - Chef Chong Chin Fui. Prior to joining us, he was attached to Sunway Hotel Kuala Lumpur as an intern. A young and talented chef, he cooks with the same passion as he would cook for his loved ones.

Golf

Monthly March 2017

Medals

RESULTS

Saturday, 4 Mar 2017 Format : Strokeplay, Palm Course

‘A’ DIV. MEN’S MARCH 2017

‘A’ DIV. LADIES’ MARCH 2017 Best Nett: Michelle Ang HI: 11.2, 68 Nett Best Gross: Jessie Oh HI: 11.0, 91 Gross.

Chen Liang How

Samir Bedi

Chua Teck Beng

Best Nett: Chen Liang How, HI: 8.9, 69 Nett Ocb Best Gross: Samir Bedi, HI: 3.0, 77 Gross. Runner-Up: Chua Teck Beng, HI: 8.4, 69 Nett

Michelle Ang Jessie Oh

‘B’ DIV. LADIES’ MARCH 2017 Best Nett: Lim Boon Eng HI: 27.4, 70 Nett Best Gross: Cho Yong Kum HI: 19.3, 97 Gross.

‘B’ DIV. MEN’S MARCH 2017 Lim Boon Eng Cho Yong Kum

NEAREST THE PIN James Tan

Patrick Lye

Ang Hoon Siang

Best Nett: James Tan, HI: 13.6, 67 Nett Best Gross: Patrick Lye, HI: 12.6, 88 Gross Ocb Runner-Up: Ang Hoon Siang, HI: 17.7, 70 Nett

‘C’ DIV. MEN’S MARCH 2017 Best Nett: Perry Kwek HI: 24.0, 69 Nett Best Gross: Jeremy Tan HI: 18.5, 91 Gross

Perry Kwek

Jeremy Tan

Hole no. 3:

Willie Ong (10171) 1.5 m

Hole no. 7:

Sara Lew (1505102) 1.75 m

Hole no. 12: Willie Ong (10171) 1 m Hole no. 17: Daiki Ikeda (34591) 2.03 m

Raffles Connection • May - Jun 2017

GOLF

April 2017 RESULTS

Saturday, 1 Apr 2017 Format : Stableford, Lake Course

‘A’ DIV. MEN’S APRIL 2017

‘A’ DIV. LADIES’ APRIL 2017 Winner: Jennifer Tan HI: 15.2, 42 Pts Runner-up: Judy Quek HI: 12.8, 41 Pts Ocb

Henry Lim

K S Teo

Brian Seah

Winner: Henry Lim, HI: 10.0, 40 Pts Ocb 1st Runner-up: K S Teo, HI: 10.5, 40 Pts Ocb 2nd Runner-up: Brian Seah, HI: 9.8, 40 Pts Ocb

Jennifer Tan

Judy Quek

‘B’ DIV. LADIES’ APRIL 2017 Winner: Chen Liang Yi HI: 22.2, 40 Pts Runner-up: Ibolya Stark HI: 19.1, 38 Pts Ocb

‘B’ DIV. MEN’S APRIL 2017 Chen Liang Yi Ibolya Stark

Bobby Ang

Alan Koh

Patrick Lye

Winner: Bobby Ang, HI: 14.4, 43 Pts 1st Runner-up: Alan Koh, HI: 15.4, 41 Pts Ocb 2nd Runner-up: Patrick Lye, HI: 12.7, 41 Pts

NEAREST THE PIN Hole no. 2:

Patrick Low (15191) 0.9 m

Hole no. 8:

Sonia Liu (1503102) 1.5 m

Hole no. 14: Raymond Lim (14825) 2.1 m Hole no. 16: Robert Stark (80030) 4.2 m

‘C’ DIV. MEN’S APRIL 2017 Winner: Chua Kim Hock HI: 20.0, 49 Pts Runner-up: Eddie Sua HI: 21.0, 42 Pts

Chua Kim Hock

Eddie Sua

Hole In One

Achievers

Yeo Bee Kheng

Ng Chiau Meng Amos

Choo Cheuk Yew @ Choo Chok Yew

James Tan Kheng Hoe

(15108) Palm Hole 3 17 March 2017

(11720) Lake Hole 8 21 March 2017

(15826) Lake Hole 8 19 March 2017

(1612801) Palm Hole 17 26 March 2017

Shayne Lim (Z0006) Palm Hole 12 3 April 2017

Raffles Connection • May - Jun 2017

GOLF

Upcoming

Club

Competitions May 2017 6 May 2017

• May Monthly Medal, Palm PM

13 May 2017 • Committees’ Day, Lake PM – Shotgun

21 May 2017 • SGA ICL 2017, Palm PM

June 2017 3 June 2017

• June Monthly Medal, Lake PM

17 June 2017 • Senior & Ladies Evergreen Challenge 2017, Lake PM

18 June 2017 • SGA ICL 2017, Palm PM

Your G lf

Calendar

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Public Holiday Labour Day

Palm Course Closed AM Only (For PM Session, Tee Off from 1st tee Only) Private Competition / Lake PM Shotgun

Private Competition / Lake AM Regular Tee Off - 40 pax

Lake Course Closed Whole Day

Private Competition / Lake PM Shotgun

May Monthly Medals / Palm PM Strokeplay

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Private Competition / Lake AM Regular Tee Off - 64 pax

Palm Course Closed Whole Day

Lake Course Closed Whole Day

SGA ICL 2017 / Palm PM Regular Tee Off

Lake Course Closed Whole Day

Palm Course Closed Whole Day

Private Competition / Lake PM Shotgun

Palm Course Closed Whole Day

Public Holiday Vesak Day

Private Competition / Lake PM Shotgun

Palm Course Closed Whole Day

Private Competition / Lake PM Shotgun

Lake Course Closed AM Only

Private Competition / Lake PM Shotgun

Lake Course Closed AM Only

Private Competition / Lake AM Regular Tee Off - 40 pax

Lake Course Closed AM Only

Private Competition / Lake PM Shotgun

Committeesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Day / Lake PM Shotgun

Private Competition / Lake AM Regular Tee Off - 48 pax

June Monthly Medals / Lake PM

Palm Course Closed Whole Day RCC Fishing / Palm PM

Lake Course Closed Whole Day

SGA ICL 2017 / Palm PM Regular Tee Off

Public Holiday Hari Raya Puasa

Palm Course Closed Whole Day

Public Holiday Replacement Hari Raya Puasa

Lake Course Closed Whole Day

Palm Course Closed Whole Day

Lake Course Closed Whole Day

Palm Course Closed Whole Day

Lake Course Closed Whole Day

Lake Course Closed AM Only

*Calendar is accurate as of 3rd Apr 2017, and is subject to changes. Kindly refer to RCC website for latest event calendar. Private Competition Course Closed Club Competition/Event Lifestyle Public Holiday

Senior & Ladies Evergreen Challenge 2017, Lake PM

Raffles Connection • May - Jun 2017

GOLF

Seaside Venues Bring Out the Best in Golf Course Architecture By Chris Marriott – Head Professional, Raffles Country Club

reat golf course architecture has always intrigued me. There is a real art that goes into the successful creation of 18 unique, challenging yet fair, beautifully manicured and picturesque golf holes that blend well with their natural surroundings and make excellent use of the topography of the land. Every year various golf publications and associations put together an extensive panel of golf industry experts to assess and rank the very best golf courses around the world. Based on Golf Digest’s 2016 ranking of the World’s Greatest Golf Courses, the dominant theme is proximity to the sea with almost 50% of the Top 100 adjacent to oceans or inland bodies of water. Many golf enthusiasts often refer to these rankings in their quest to tick off many of the World’s Top 100 courses from their golfing bucket-list, however many of those courses high on the rankings such as Augusta National, Pine Valley and Royal Melbourne are so exclusive and private that member invitations are as rare as having an albatross! The most highly acclaimed seaside course is the Cypress Point Club on the Monterey Peninsula, California. This Alister MacKenzie masterpiece sits at the pinnacle of the 2016 rankings published by “Top 100 Golf Courses of the World” and is 4th on the Golf Digest ranking for 2016. Given Cypress Point’s world acclaim, great history, legendary designer and dramatic location along the Pacific Ocean, I was absolutely thrilled to receive my invitation to play! Cypress Point Club is a classic “old school” set up where members and their guests walk the course with

caddies. There’s no tee box signage, distance markers or range finders. Commencing at the highest point on the golf course in front of the modest clubhouse, Cypress Point’s opening stretch of holes wind their way beautifully down through the Del Monte Forest before opening out into a series of terrific holes carved out of huge sand dunes. MacKenzie designed the course back in 1928 and not too much has changed since. The club has fortunately not succumbed to the pressure of lengthening the golf course like many great old layouts do, in order to combat modern equipment. The first 10 holes at Cypress provide a fantastic mix of short, challenging, fair, intimidating and risk-reward holes. The 11th hole is where the course turns back toward the ocean and starts bearing its teeth. There is a superb run of par 4’s that lead into the series of three iconic and very dramatic holes played along the rugged, rocky coastline of the Pacific Ocean. The signature par three 16th hole is a jaw-dropping piece of golf course architecture that demands a 233yd tee shot over the Pacific to a modest sized and heavily bunkered green. The ladies play this hole as a par 4! The golf course finishes with two spectacular aesthetically pleasing par 4’s near the ocean that leave you wanting more. It was certainly a great privilege to have played this incredibly private seaside masterpiece and a real honour to have been invited back to do it all over again!

Ang Pow Golf Competition to Welcome a Brand New Year! 11 February 2017

s per our yearly tradition, RCC welcomed the Lunar New Year with a bang!

The well-received Ang Pow Game Competition recorded an all-time high in attendance this year, with over 240 members flocking enthusiastically to the registration counter bright and early. The festive mood hung bright over all participants, many of whom were decked in bright red apparel. To further fuel the enthusiasm of the golfers, not only were both Palm and Lake Course primed to tip top condition to host the highly-anticipated event, staff, buggy and counters were extravagantly decked in festive costumes and decorations! Other highlights include novelty games like Nearest-the-Lion contest, the appearance of a bubbly God of Fortune prancing around the golf courses and, of course, the life and soul of any Chinese New Year celebration â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a roaring lion dance performance! With all members hyped up from the performance, they were quickly ushered into the Stamford Suite for a compulsory round of Lo Hei. Welcomed by the aroma of food and the bubbly emcee at the helm of the stage, members dined, cheered, won prizes and had tons of fun during the post-event celebration! Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wishing all members a prosperous and good year ahead, HUAT AH!

Raffles Connection • May - Jun 2017

GOLF

Results Lake Course

Saturday, 11th Feb 2017 Double Peoria (Team)

Palm Course

Winner : Ng Teck Chew GN001 72 PTS Lee Chuan Ann 10927 2nd : Hao Xiaoming 15306 71 PTS OCB Yao Jingying 1530602

Winner : Chan Sheng Tuck 13570 Albert Soh 14735 2nd : Koh Kuek Chiang 12445 Alan Choo 15563

68 PTS OCB

3rd : Kenneth Ong Marcus Heng

3rd : Michael Low Michael Toh

65 PTS

NOVELTY Nearest the Lion : – Hole 15 Nearest the Pin : – Hole 2 Nearest the Pin : – Hole 8 Nearest the Pin : – Hole 14 Nearest the Pin : – Hole 16

15961 15958

71 PTS

Ang Hoon Siang (10652) 2.2 metres Lim Chwee Kwang (11338) 0.25 metres Tom Wu (15959) 0.19 metres Nishi Guchi (15688) 1.5 metres Alex Eow (11056) 2.8 metres

NOVELTY Nearest the Lion : – Hole 11 Nearest the Pin : – Hole 3 Nearest the Pin : – Hole 7 Nearest the Pin : – Hole 12 Nearest the Pin : – Hole 17

10962 15670

68 PTS

Nibu George (16052) 2 Metres George Zhuang (13945) 1.8 Metres Loah Kwee Wah (1270202) 1.5 Metres Thong Tuck Seng (16006) 0.3 Metres Leonard Yeo (15051) 3.2 metres

Mercedes Trophy Qualifier 2017 25 & 26 March 2017

he prestigious Mercedes Trophy took place at the Club over two days, challenging playersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; skills at the undulating Palm Course. To top it off, rain permeated the course on both days, considerably increasing the level of playing difficulty. With some of the top players gathered to vie for a spot in the Singapore Country Final, the game witnessed one of the most intense competitions on Palm Course. Many players were playing neck to neck, with the winners emerging only after adopting the count-back scores. A total of seven players qualified for the Country Final â&#x20AC;&#x201C; six men and one woman. Of notable mention was the Hole-in-One achieved by James Tan at Hole 17. What a great shot! The Club wishes our players all the best in their next game at the Singapore Country Final on 2 June 2017, and look forward to their progression to the Asian Final and World Final!

Raffles Connection • May - Jun 2017

GOLF

Results

25th and 26th March 2017 Format : Individual Stableford Palm Course Men A Division (HI : 0 – 9.4) Winner : Samir Bedi Runner-Up : Ben Chua

15998 15799

37 PTS OCB 37 PTS

Men B Division (HI : 9.5 – 13.4) Winner : Brian Seah Runner-Up : John Yam

15725 15620

40 PTS 38 PTS

Men C Division (HI : 13.5 – 18.0) Winner : James Tan Runner-Up : Thong Tuck Seng

1612801 16006

38 PTS OCB 38 PTS OCB

Ladies Division (HI : 0 – 29.9) Winner : Doris Wong

30091

39 PTS

Inter-Club Friendly: 19 March 2017

RCC vs TPCKL

his year, RCC hosted the much anticipated annual inter-club game with our long-time friend, TPC KL. Held on 18 and 19 March 2017, the first day involved catching-up between friends and a practice round. A total of 34 players from TPC KL came down for the practice game on Saturday, 18 March 2017 and was received by a RCC welcome party bearing fresh coconut drinks for the guests! The practice round was unfortunately cut short due to inclement weather. To bring some cheer to the dreary weather, a delicious buffet spread served at Albatross was complemented by a live band played by Band by Jerry and the Neufaces. Good food and music soon brought the level of mood to a couple of notches higher and members from both clubs started to sing and dance to the lively music. The friendly inter-club match was held on the following morning at the ever pristine Lake Course. Our energetic guests arrived bright-eyed and cheery at 6.45am despite the previous late night, to enjoy the breakfast spread prepared for them before the shotgun start at 8am. The friendly game concluded with RCC winning the match with 652 points against TPC KLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 606 point, based on the format Four-ball better ball where the team with the higher stableford points wins the match.

The grand farewell lunch and prize presentation were held at the Stamford Suite to celebrate another year of friendship and a game well-played. Both sides of the players were seen happily chatting and exchanging promises to visit each other for another game even after RCC is no more. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the kind of friendship we have built over the years! The management would like to congratulate all winners and Mr Amos Ng, who achieved an ace during the game at Hole 8.

Raffles Connection • May - Jun 2017

GOLF

Results

Sunday, 19th March 2017 4 Ball Better Ball (Stableford) Lake Course RCC – 2017 INTER-CLUB FRIENDLY CHAMPION (Top 16 pairs score)

TEAM RCC – 652 pts TEAM TPCKL – 606 pts

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e l y t s e f i L

Body & Mind Restoration

Alila Seminyak

e all know the importance of keeping fit and healthy – not just for a round of golf but also to ward off stress and illness. Justine Moss checks out some ‘wellness’ places which can help restore both the body and mind.

Organic Garden, learning to cook authentic Indonesian dishes using only the freshest ingredients. The retreat concludes at Alila Villas Uluwatu, one of Indonesia's top eco-friendly hotels. Sitting 100-metres above the Indian Ocean, Alila Uluwatu offers breath-taking views, varied activities, amazing cuisine and first-class indulgence. Ph: +62 361 236 384 Email: indonesiasales@alilahotels.com www.alilahotels.com

Alila Ubud - Valley Villa Bedroom

Alila Bali – Manggis, Ubud, Seminyak and Uluwatu Alila recently launched their Wellness Retreat at different locations throughout Bali – these can be tailored to suit the individual, but the five-night retreat has been designed to stimulate the senses and help restore body and mind, with uplifting spa treatments at each resort, gourmet healthy dining, and plenty of time for reflection. After a night at Alila Seminyak, you set off to the secluded retreat of Alila Ubud, set high on the edge of the Ayung River and a short drive from Ubud. The following day guests will travel to Alila Manggis on the island's east coast for two nights where you can take in some culture and temple tours, treks and sightseeing tours. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in a private group-cooking lesson in the hotel's

COMO Metropolitan Bangkok Newly renovated, this hotel’s 169 rooms are now equipped with latest in luxury and comfort - walkin rainforest showers, smart TVs and wireless BOSE SoundTouch music systems. Its renowned COMO Shambhala Urban Escape has a 25-metre outdoor pool, a gym, Thai massage, reflexology, new hydro-pools and steam rooms for effective post-workout recoveries, and a yoga studio offering five different types of yoga practice. Do check out their ‘Wellness Á La Carte’

COMO Metropolitan Bangkok

Raffles Connection • May - Jun 2017

LIFESTYLE

package (available until October) which includes accommodation, private wellness sessions and treatments and a COMO Shambhala Cookbook. Located on South Sathorn Road, the hotel is near Bangkok’s business and shopping districts and a short walk away from the Sky Train. The Met Bar, a stylish lounge-style bar, serves a comprehensive selection of Martini cocktails and frequently hosts live music events. The hotel is also home to the award winning nahm restaurant, which specialises in world-class Thai cuisine from Australian chef David Thompson. +66 2 625 3333 res.met.bkk@comohotels.com www.comohotels.com/metropolitanbangkok

COMO Shambhala Urban Escape Singapore

COMO Shambhala Urban Escape Singapore Earlier this year, they launched four tailored sports recovery programmes. Named Performance, Total Performance, Recovery and Total Recovery, they have been designed to treat the body holistically in order help one recover from current sports injuries, but also to work to prevent future injuries as well as increase one’s overall performance levels. The four packages — designed and curated by expert sports nutritionist, Eve Persak, and experienced resident acupuncturist, Mark Chern — combine complementary therapies provided by a range of COMO Shambhala experts. Depending on which one you choose, they include a sports nutrition consultation, sports massage, Pilates, yoga and gyrotonic session, Chinese medicine and sports acupuncture. Centrally located on Orchard road, this centre gives urban clients a way to proactively look at their

health and wellbeing through yoga, Pilates, nutritional counselling, preventative health and massage therapy with expert hands-on healing and consultation from resident and visiting experts. Ph: +65 6304 3552 Email: singapore@comoshambhala.com www.comoshambhala.com Focus Pilates More and more golfers have embraced the study of Pilates – a form of exercise developed by Joseph Pilates, which emphasizes the balanced development of the body through core strength, flexibility, and awareness - and have included it in their overall fitness and wellbeing regime. While there are many pros who practise it, it has also it has also become a popular exercise for amateur golfers who want to improve their core stability and movement, which in turn can help their performance on the golf course. Focus Pilates, which has been around since 2004 and are located in Orchard Road and Raffles Place, offers a number of Pilates classes and physiotherapy designed for fitness, rehabilitation and sports conditioning. Says Focus Pilates’ Daniel Dittmar, “The golf swing is a ballistic one sided activity repeated many times. This means that throughout the course of playing golf, you don’t get to balance out both sides of the body in movement. This makes it critical that you have adequate conditioning to play golf rather than the other way around and expect to get conditioned by playing golf!” He adds, “Many golfers have areas of their spine that are stiff and don’t rotate well. When this happens the body needs to ‘find’ movement, and it does this by moving in the more mobile areas of the body (lower back, elbow, shoulder), this excessive movement is responsible for the common golfing injuries.” Ph: +65 6733 8785 / +65 6235 3938 Email: orchard@focuspilates.com.sg / raffles@ focuspilates.com.sg www.focuspilates.com.sg

Focus Pilates

Gut Health Article contributed by Loh Kum Chuen

More people, especially the elderly, are suffering from poor gut health, with significant increases in cases of Indigestion, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Diarrhoea, Constipation, Bad Breath, Candidiasis (Yeast Infection), Eczema and other skin problems.

he Gastro-Intestinal Tract (GIT) plays a very important role in food digestion and absorption. Poor digestion can lead to flatulence and bloating. Poor absorption leads to malnutrition and the body cannot function optimally. The common symptoms of IBS include Altered Bowel Movement, Incomplete Bowel Clearance, Diarrhoea or Constipation and Abdominal Pain. Symptoms may come and go and may flare up suddenly after a meal or a specific trigger food or during a stress period. It has been reported that 20.9 % of Singaporeans suffer from IBS and the incidence is on the rise. “In 1998, IBS prevalence was only 2.4 per cent and in 2004, it was 8.6 per cent”. For our GIT to be healthy there must be a balance of “good” bacteria to counter the “bad” bacteria and to prevent them from causing harm. Probiotics (Prolife) are good bacteria which help to maintain good gut health, help in digestion and produce vitamin B-complex and vitamin K. They protect against bad bacteria which can cause diarrhoea and food poisoning.

A healthy gut ideally contains sufficient good bacteria to help breakdown your food into all its essential nutrients, helping to increase the absorption of minerals like calcium, and support normal digestion and bowel movement. Depletion of probiotics and upset of intestinal balance may be due to infections, prolonged use of antibiotics and other medications. Antibiotics kill not only bad bacteria which cause diseases but also kill the good bacteria in the gut which are needed for good health and well-being. Probiotics colonize the gastrointestinal tract to prevent the detrimental pathogenic organisms from proliferation. Many people, especially the elderly, are now suffering from the following conditions due to lack of or imbalance of probiotics in their gut (besides other factors) :*Constipation *Diarrhoea * Bad Breath *Indigestion/ Flatulence (“Winds”) *Allergies * Eczema *Adverse skin conditions * Acne * Premature Ageing *Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)/ Vaginal Infections * Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) / “Leaky Gut” * Stomach Cramps *Bad Breath and * Colon Cancer. Probiotics help reduce the risk of allergies, psoriasis, eczema, colitis, periodontal disease and more. Some 80% of our immune system is located in our digestive tract, making a healthy gut a major focal point if you want to achieve optimal health. Your GIT produces serotonin (to improve mood) and forms the foundation of good

Raffles Connection • May - Jun 2017

LIFESTYLE

combination of a few potent species of good bacteria to have significant health benefits. Yogurt contains only a few million probiotic cells and only one or two common species of probiotics and you may need to consume at least one whole carton of yogurt daily to have any significant effect.

health--physical, mental and emotional. Probiotics also help to boost the immune system to fight against infections. Probiotics are perfect for preventing travel emergencies (diarrhoea) and treating food poisoning cases. Probiotics have also been used in the eradication of H. pylori infections, which is associated with gastric ulcers. Researchers at the Griffith University School of Medicine and Griffith Health Institute in Queensland, Australia found that “the consumption of the proper amount of probiotics over at least two months appeared to modestly lower blood pressure. Previous studies have shown probiotics can have a positive effect on blood sugar, cholesterol and certain hormones-- all of which can impact blood flow “

A combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium longum have been identified as an effective selection of probiotics with a daily dose of minimum 3 billion cells and to consume up to 6-9 billion cells daily for some conditions such as diarrhoea and UTI. Lactobacillus species help to handle dairy products, creating natural antibodies to support your immune system and produce vitamin K, an essential nutrient for healthy bones and blood. Bifidobacterium bifidus helps you absorb your vitamins and minerals and to convert your food into B-complex vitamins and help to fight off bad pathogenic bacteria. Probiotics Help Maintain A Healthy Gut and Good Health!

It is important to understand that the beneficial effects of probiotics can only be achieved with the right dosage (minimum of 3 billion cells daily) and having the right

Beautiful Bali

Nirwana Golf Club

ali is one of the world’s top tourist destinations and has long been a magnet for those wanting to experience a relaxing holiday with its beautiful beaches, rice terraces, surf, food, arts, culture, SPA’s, temples and rich culture. There are also some superb golf courses on which to have a round or two – Justine Moss checks them out. Bali National Golf Club Redesigned a couple of years ago by Nelson, Haworth Golf Course Architects, this 18-hole championship course, which first opened in 1991, measures 6552 metres from the championship tees. The front nine is a par-35 that plays on undulating land away from the ocean, while the back nine is on relatively flat land with a par-37 configuration. Most of the layout has retained its original design, except for the dramatic new 17 and 18 holes. The penultimate par-3 is now an island green and therefore club selection is key. The finishing par4 hole requires an approach shot over water to land on the green in front of the clubhouse. Another hole worthy of a mention is the deceptive uphill par-3 fourth which features Balinese stone wall terraces on the right in front of the green. It’s much better to take one more club and be over the green than trying to battle through the grasses and bunkers in the terraces. This course is a must on any golfer’s itinerary. Facilities include villas, clubhouse, pro-shop, restaurant, bars and Leadbetter golf academy. Tel: +62 361 771 791 reservations@balinational.com www.balinationalgolf.com

Bali National Golf Club

Handara Golf & Resort Bali An award-winning resort, Handara has one of the oldest courses in Bali. There are a number of challenging holes which start with hole number two - the first Par 3 and arguably the most difficult. Not only is the green defended by two large bunkers, There is O.B. on the left and impenetrable jungle on the right. The finishing hole – named The Bulldozer - is the longest Par 5 on the coures with 566 metres from the championship tees. It also has the biggest green. There is O.B. all along the left hand side and the Buyan Creek crosses the Course for the first time 377 metres from

Raffles Connection • May - Jun 2017

LIFESTYLE

Facilities include a clubhouse, restaurant, driving range, pro-shop, SPA and golf academy. Tel: +62 361 8481 333 reservation@newkutagolf.com www.newkutagolf.com

Handara Golf & Resort Bali

the green – it may come into play depending on which tee you are playing from. There is also a small cluster of bunkers on the right hand side just after the Creek which need to be avoided. This is a really lovely course to play so try and include it in your itinerary. Facilities include accommodation, tennis, clubhouse, driving range, pro-shop, sauna and Japanese baths. Tel: +62 362 342 2646 sales@handaragolfresort.com www.handaragolfresort.com New Kuta Golf This 18-hole golf course was the first links-style course in the country when it opened in 2007. It features scenic oceanfront and challenging inland holes - the front nine is in a natural tropical lowland setting with creeks, long grasses, scrub and creepers, while the back nine is on the spectacular ocean side of the course. They provide excellent ocean views where you will want to whip out the camera and take a few ‘wefies’ with your flight mates. The short par-3 15th, known as the Cliffhanger, is the signature hole on the edge of the ocean, and is a great spot to drink in the wonderful views. With a number of excellent hotels a five-minute drive away, this is a good spot to base yourself while in Bali.

Nirwana Golf Club One of Asia’s great courses, this Greg Normandesigned features five ocean-side holes with stunning views of the Indian Ocean, three cliff-to-cliff tee shots and eight holes sculpted into the terraced rice fields. The gorgeous signature Par 3 7th hole overlooks the famous Tanah Lot temple and your drive needs to carry over water – it’s better to club up and hopefully land on or behind the elevated green. A couple of other holes deserve a mention – play it safe on the deceptively difficult par-4 13th as the Indian Ocean forms the right side and it’s more often than not windy. If misjudged your ball could literally fly anywhere so a safe tee shot should be played to the valley between the bunkers, leaving a low punch shot into the elevated green. Another beautiful hole with ocean views is the par-3 14th. From the Shark tees, surrounded by roiling surf, the hole plays across open ocean and rocky beach to another cliff-top putting surface. Facilities include the five-star Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort, Clubhouse, Golfers’ Terrace and pro-shop. Tel: +62 361 815 900 golfreservation@panpacific.com www.nirwanabaligolf.com HOW TO GET THERE A number of airlines fly into Bali directly from Singapore and they include Garuda Indonesia, KLM, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Tigerair. WHERE TO STAY Depending on one’s budget and geographical preference, there are plenty of excellent options which will appeal to all budgets located in Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Denpasar, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Sanur, Ubud and further afield. Or opt for one of the hotels near the golf courses such as the Pa Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort or Le Grande, Anantara Uluwatu and Karma Resort which are near New Kuta Golf. WHAT TO DO Visit Tanah Lot temple Check out the shops in Seminyak Stop at Jenggala in Jimbaran for ceramics Visit the beaches for surfing and swimming Scale the strato-volcano Mount Agung Sample Babi Guling (roast suckling pig) Take a day trip to Ubud to shop, eat and relax Try yoga by the sea on Sanur beach

New Kuta Golf

A Golfing Mission

by Nina Koh, RCC CISC Member

Golfing with a view. What a cooling weather!

On 29 March, a total of 63 RCC members converged at Dongguan with a Mission: to conquer the legendary Mission Hills Golf courses at Dongguan and Shenzhen. And conquer we did with great vigour at six of their 12 signature masterpiece courses. Everything about Mission Hills - one of the world’s largest and most prestigious and luxurious golf clubs spells sprawling space and 5-star services with a tinge of glamour and style. Their owners, two Hong Kong brothers, selected a large piece of wasteland between Shenzhen and Dongguan and invited top golfers such as Greg Norman, Annika Sorenstam, Vijay Singh, David Leadbetter, Jose Maria Olazabal, Jumbo Ozaki, Jack Nicklaus and Ernie Els to help design, and name, their courses. This smart move has resulted in some of the prettiest, yet challenging, courses whose fairways sit on valleys that straddle scenic mountain ranges and cliffs. Green fees here are exorbitant and we are indeed grateful for our club’s reciprocal arrangement that grants us waiver.

hillsides, while the back nine lies gingerly in lush valleys. Most members found their game trying in such difficult circumstances. But that did not deter Lily Chian, a 31 handicapper, to ace Norman’s 16th hole. This Mission Inspiring Hole-In-One (HIO) achievement was a morale booster for all, and the next day we heard of more birdies and even an eagle achieved among us. Everyone was fired up to chase that elusive HIO! The next few days saw many Missions Accomplished at the Annika, Els, Vijay, and Leadbetter courses, which feature some very spectacular views of natural terrain. Panoramic tee shots perched high above spacious fairways and pristine greens erased any excuses for bad golf. In the midst of such beauty: sometimes picturesque with lovely lakes fringing the verdant course and at other

The first day of golf was enjoyable as the Ozaki course offered an easy golfing experience – playing golf on wellmanicured greens and fairways. The mission got harder the next day, as we took on the challenging Greg Norman course in rainy weather. Norman is known for designing challenging golf courses in the traditional style of his native Australian Sand Belt layouts. His 7,228-yard offering at Mission Hills is no different, with narrow fairways surrounded by long grasses and dense forest vegetation, and is reputed as one of the most difficult courses in Asia. The front nine meanders through dramatic mountain ridges and

Annika course - beautiful curvy fairways with many greenside bunkers.

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LIFESTYLE

Trying out the local cui View from room balcony.

times, wildly breath-taking natural terrain, it was a Mission Memorable experience for all of us in the cool 20o C weather. Some diehards amongst us even attempted Mission Incredible to play 36 holes at their own expense. This trip had its share of ups and downs. After a nondescript welcoming dinner, we were saved by Stella’s generous home baked chiffon cakes and bakwa that she had laboriously lugged to Shenzhen from Singapore! Our planned second day trip to Luohu was aborted due to a bus delay and we ended up having a sumptuous Teochew dinner and excellent massage nearby. After our third game, a side trip to a golf accessories shop in Changan, recommended by our Captain, yielded many good value buys for most. The evening dinner of seafood Teochew porridge next door was indeed Mission Satisfying. Managing 63 members in two large buses was close to Mission Impossible and there were miscommunications & even mishaps. Never mind that some members displayed impatience with unintentional slow play; or that K.S. dropped his bathroom glass and got a nasty gash on his pinkie; or that we had to squeeze into a school bus with children seats for a dinner trip; or the 15 minutes wait by 48 members for one missing person…. the Raffles Spirit came to the fore as members just rallied to help. It was like everyone was determined to have a good time and

sine. Delicious!

wanted this trip be one of their most memorable. Who wants to remain grouchy in the midst of such beauty and good camaraderie? Old friends were reunited and new friendships minted. The common topic of conversation was what will be next after July 2018 and discussing golf club memberships to buy. Many instances of betting and “saddam” were shared amidst laughter. Golfing somehow unifies people in Mission Impossible situations. The journey home was a vast contrast from six days earlier. Instead of a quiet bus, it was nonstop chattering. Many were asking for a return trip and some were enquiring about the next overseas club trip. Perhaps PK Tan’s remarks best encapsulate the RCC spirit:

“Our club may close but friendship and memories of the trip will survive the Club. Hope everyone can stay on in this chat group so that we can continue to keep in touch.” YY Seow summed it up for all of us:

“Great job and thanks to all the Organisers, especially YL. And many thanks to all for the happy memories. Hip Hip Hurray!” Indeed, it was Mission Accomplished and we are thankful to Phee Thian Chye, Lee Yuke Lan and the Lifestyle Committee for a Mission Well Done!

Champagne toast for Lily Chian’s Hole-in-One.

e c n a n e t n i a M e s r ou

Golf C

Managing

Soilborne Turfgrass

Disease on Lake Course Greens

urfgrass disease develops when three essential factors are met. These specific factors that contribute to plant diseases occurring are the host, the pathogen and the environment. A period of time is normally required between when a host comes in contact with a pathogen and a favourable environment for disease to develop. Why is the management of soilborne disease more difficult? • Symptoms / signs are underground. Difficult to diagnose early. • Infection and damage accrues, so significant damage is already done when plants start to decline. • Significant barriers to control measures such as thatch and poor infiltration. • Soil condition such as poor drainage soil is susceptible to Pythium root rot. Poor drainage soil is also prone to develop hydrophobicity, which leads to fairy rings turf disease. Lake course greens have poor infiltration thus leading to poor drainage. This primarily can cause Lake greens to be susceptible to strings of fungal diseases, most prominently Pythium Blight and Pythium root rot. In addition, Lake green profiles have inconsistency of sand depth and sand particle size distribution. This causes “layering” in the greens profile. Each sand layer has a different infiltration rate causing false perch water table in the greens. Layering and sand particle size difference. Finer on top, black layer then coarser sand at the bottom. Profile depth at 6 inches (150mm). Ideally sand particle size should be consistent for the top 300mm. The construction method and materials used in Lake greens do not conform to modern USGA standards. This is not ideal. Golfers may also notice that Palm greens are less susceptible to turfgrass disease compared to Lake greens. This is because Palm greens are built better. They do not have such distinct layering of intensity that Lake greens have. Also the turf species in Palm greens are mixed cultivars. They are mutations of Bermuda Tifdwarf, varieties of fine-leaf zoysia and Paspalum cultivars. This multiple turf stand develops through time and it is the survival of the fittest, thus they are also more resistant to fungal disease.

Layers in the soil profile taken at 4” depth, distinguished by colour intensity. Layering encourages Pythium root rot.

Another limiting factor in managing Turfgrass disease in RCC is the restriction on chemicals and fertilisers allowed to be used by the authorities in water catchment areas. There are some very effective fungicides in the turf market that we are unable to use in our premises due to the close proximity to Tengah Reservoir. This also restricts our disease prevention programmes. The turf maintenance team is keeping up with the necessary cultural practices to compensate for the shortfall of chemical usage due to restrictions. Regular greens aerification is carried out by needle-tining and hollow-coring. Modification of soil conditions is also carried out by the “drill and fill” method. Regular dethatching by scarifying, vertical-cutting and grooming, light sand topdressing are also performed. Factors we are unable to control or manipulate are from Mother Nature. Too wet, too dry and too hot can affect Lake greens. However, with the work we have done over the years we notice that Lake greens are progressively becoming less susceptible to diseases and we are able to contain the spread better than in the past. The disease outbreak intensity is also not as much and as extensive.

Raffles Connection â&#x20AC;˘ May - Jun 2017

GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE

Core aerification and top-dressing on greens.

Needle-tine aerification on greens.

Drill and Fill method on greens to improve soil structure. 600mm depth backfill with sand and inorganic material 80:20.

Lake course #7 green 3 weeks after intensified disease recovery work.

Lake course #7 green during the peak of Pythium Blight attack.

Lake course practice putting green 4 weeks after intensified disease recovery work.

Lake course practice putting green during the peak of Pythium Blight attack.

s e i t i l i c a F

Improvements

around the Club

Sing your hearts out at the Albatross again! No more leakages! The Facilities team arranged for contractors to fix the leaking chrome bottle traps at the Ladies washroom located beside Golfersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Terrace. Works included the extension of drainage pipes and necessary connection work. The male changing room is prone to leakage at several areas during a heavy downpour. The team has since engaged a contractor to patch up the leaking spots so that the room remains nice and dry.

The four KTV speakers at the Albatross have been damaged for some time. During their downtime, Captain Sebastian Song kindly loaned the Club a set of speakers, so that members can continue enjoying their favourite pastime. After tinkering around with the speakers, the Facilities team finally managed to fix them in-house. Hooray to another KTV session at the lounge!

b u l C d e t a i l cal / Affi

Recipro RECIPROCAL CLUBS

AUSTRALIA

Avondale Golf Club New South Wales, Australia Macquarie Links International Golf Club New South Wales, Australia Mount Lawley Golf Club Western Australia, Australia Sanctuary Lakes Club Victoria, Australia St. Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Golf Club New South Wales, Australia Sun City Country Club Western Australia, Australia The Cut Golf Course Western Australia, Australia The Lakes Golf Club Eastlakes, Australia The Links Kennedy Bay Western Australia, Australia The Vines Golf and Country Club Western Australia, Australia The Western Australian Golf Club (Inc) Western Australia, Australia Wanneroo Golf Club Western Australia, Australia

BRUNEI

Pantai Mentiri Golf Club Brunei Darussalam

CHINA

BFA International Convention Center Golf Club Hainan Province, China Guangzhou Foison Golf Club Guangzhou, China Meishi Mayflower International Golf Club Hainan Province, China Shanghai Sun Island International Club Shanghai, China Kunshan Sun Resort & Club Jiangsu Province, China

Tianjin Fortune Lake Golf Club Tianjin, China

The Montgomerie Links Vietnam Quang Name Province, Vietnam

Tianjin Warner International Golf Club Tianjin, China

AFFILIATED CLUBS

INDIA

AUSTRALIA

INDONESIA

BRUNEI

Gunung Geulis Country Club West Java, Indonesia

CAMBODIA

Oxford Golf & Country Club Pune, India

Finna Golf & Country Club East Java, Indonesia

JAPAN

Ashinoko Country Club Shizuoka, Japan

MACAU

Macau Golf & Country Club Macau *Weekday only

MALAYSIA

Glenmarie Golf & Country Club Selangor, Malaysia Kelab Golf Negara Subang Selangor, Malaysia Kelab Golf Sarawak Sarawak, Malaysia Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Golf & Country Club Selangor, Malaysia Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia Selangor, Malaysia TPC Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Meru Valley Golf & Country Club Perak, Malaysia Tropicana Golf & Country Resort Selangor, Malaysia

PHILIPPINES

Alta Vista Golf & Country Club Cebu City, Philippines

Suzhou SunIsland International Club Jiangsu Province, China

Eagle Ridge Golf & Country Club General TriasCavite, Philippines

Mission Hills Golf Club Shenzhen, China Nanjing SunIsland Leisure &

VIETNAM

Resort Club Co. Ltd Jiangsu Province, China

Yangzhou Prime International Vacation Club Co. Ltd Shanghai, China

Chi Linh Star Golf & Country Club Hai Duong, Vietnam

Araluen Country Club Western Australia. Australia

The Empire Hotel & Country Club Negara Brunei Darussalam

Grand Phnom Penh Golf Club Phnom Penh Capital, Cambodia

CHINA

Orient Pearl Golf Club Beijing, China The Dunes Hainan Province Island, China

INDONESIA

Rancamaya Golf & Country Club Ciawi Bogor, Indonesia Bintan Lagoon Resort Ltd Bintan, Kepri Indonesia

JAPAN

Robert Trent Jones II Clubs

MACAU

Macau Golf & Country Club Macau *Weekend only

THAILAND

Blue Canyon Country Club Muang Kaew Golf Club Samutprakarn, Thailand

Chiangmai Highland Spa and Golf Club Chiangmai, Thailand RESTRICTED LOCAL RECIPROCAL CLUBS**

SINGAPORE Keppel Club

Orchid Country Club

Sembawang Country Club

Long Thanh Golf Club Dong Nai Province, Vietnam

Warren Country Club

Sky Lake Resort & Golf Club Hanoi, Vietnam

**Booking via club balloting

Seletar Country Club

For more information and assistance, please feel free to call the Golf Reception Counter at 6861 7655 or e-mail: golfrecep@rcc.org.sg

ry o t c e r i D / s e i t i l i c a F b Clu DIRECTORY Golfing Reception Ms. Maszni Bt. Mamat Golf Administration Officer maszni.mamat@rcc.org.sg 6861 7655 Tournament & Corporate Booking Mr. Yen Yee Kiat Executive (Business) yeekiat.yen@rcc.org.sg 6864 0880

GOLFING

Golfing Operations Mohammed Sufandy Bin Kamis Assistant Manager (Golf Operations) fandy.kamis@rcc.org.sg 6864 0846

Golf Reception Tel:6861 7655 / Fax: 6861 5563 Open Daily: 7:00am - 6:30pm Golf Courses â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Palm & Lake Open Daily: First tee-off: 7:14am Last tee-off: 6:15pm (9 holes)

F&B / Banquet Jennielyn Suarez jennielyn.suarez@rcc.org.sg 6864 0833

LAKE COURSE Green Fee (Guest) Mon to Fri, am: $117.70 Mon to Fri, pm: $171.20 Weekends & PH: $235.40 Green Fee (Visitor) Mon to Fri, am: $171.20 Mon to Fri, pm: $235.40 Weekends & PH: $374.50 PALM COURSE Green Fee (Guest) Mon to Fri, am: $96.30 Mon to Fri, pm: $139.10 Weekends & PH: $235.40 Green Fee (Visitor) Mon to Fri, am: $149.80 Mon to Fri, pm: $203.30 Weekends & PH: $374.50 Buggy Fee / Golfer $24.61 / 18 holes $13.91 / 9 holes Driving Range Tel: 6861 6563 Opening Hours: Mon: 1:00pm - 9:00pm Tue to Fri: 8:00am - 9:00pm Sat: 7:00am - 9:00pm Sun: 7:00am - 7:00pm PH: 7:00am - 8:00pm Last issue of ball: 45 minutes before closing time Ball Fees $1.46 / 30 balls $2.15 / 50 balls $4.30 /100 balls Pro Shop Tel: 6863 3551 Open Daily: 7:00am - 6:30pm Rental of golf sets is available Palm Halfway House Opening Hours: Mon to Fri: 9:00am - 5:00pm Weekends & PH: 8:15am 5:00pm Changing Room Opening Hours: Daily: 7:00am - 8:00pm

Lifestyle Mr. Joeness Lamban Executive (Operations) joeness.lamban@rcc.org.sg 6864 0823 Membership Ms. Sau Man Ling Executive (Membership) manling.sau@rcc.org.sg 6864 0812

SPORTS & RECREATION Recreation / Reception Tel: 6861 7649 / Fax: 6862 3965 Open Daily: 8:00am - 9:00pm Jackpot Room Mon - Sun: 11:30am - 8:45pm (Inclusive of public holidays) Card / Mahjong Room Open Daily: 8:00am - 9:00pm Table Fee: $5.35/5 hour/session Guests: $10.70 per entry Fitness Centre Open Daily: 8:00am - 9:00pm Members: FOC Guests: $5.35/guest/day Sauna Open Daily: 8:00am - 9:00pm Members: FOC Guests: $2.14/guest/day Tennis / Squash Courts Open Daily: 8:00am - 9:00pm Court Fee*: $3.21/hour Badminton Court Open Daily: 8:00am - 9:00pm Court Fee*:$10.70/hour Swimming Pool Open Daily: 8:00am - 9:00pm Members: FOC Guests (Mon to Fri): $1.07/guest/day Karaoke Closed on Monday Open Sun, Tue, Wed & Thur: 4:00 - 9:00pm Open Fri & Sat: 4:00 - 11:00pm *No guest rates

FOOD & BEVERAGE Golfers' Terrace Tel: 6861 7649 Open Mon to Fri: 7:00am 8:00pm Weekends & PH: 7:00am - 9:00pm Open to members and golfers only The Albatross Lounge Opening Hours: Tue to Thu, Sun & PH: 4:00 10:00pm Fri & Sat: 4:00 - 11:00pm Mon Closed Open to members and guests only Available for private function booking Fu Lin Men Chinese Restaurant Tel: 6861 0127 Open Daily: 11:30am - 3:00pm 5:30 - 10:00pm Open to public Fukuya Japanese Restaurant Tel: 6897 1990 Open Daily: 11:30am - 3:00pm 5:30 - 10:00pm Lake Front Restaurant Tel: 6898 4964 Open Mon to Sat: 11:30am - 8:30pm Sun Closed

Housekeeping Ms Lim Shu Peng Executive (Housekeeping/M&E) shupeng.lim@rcc.org.sg 6864 0800 Accounts Ms. Magdaline Chin Assistant Manager (Finance) magdaline.chin@rcc.org.sg 6864 0808 PR & Communications Ms. Relle Lee Executive (PR & Communications) relle.lee@rcc.org.sg 6864 0816 Golf Course Maintenance Mr. Chua Kiat Beng M&E Superintendent kb.chua@rcc.org.sg 6861 2725 Human Resource Ms. Lisa Wan Assistant Manager (Human Resource) lisa.wan@rcc.org.sg 6864 0818 website: www.rcc.org.sg email: feedback@rcc.org.sg