Raffles Country Club

May-June 2009

Give generously at RCO 2009

Restoring our greens

Welcome to new members

CONTENTS Lee Ek Tieng, Chairman Robert Yap, Deputy Chairman Committees General Committee Kee Sue Gee, President Lek Seow Yam, Vice-President Tan Chin Huat, Captain Yap Giau Peck, Treasurer Peter Tan P K, Secretary Charles Lim A C, Member John Tan K S, Member Kay Kong Swan, Member Perry Kwek K L, Member Ven Sreenivasan, Member

Golfing Sub-Committee Tan Chin Huat, Captain Kay Kong Swan, Vice-Captain May Mak, Lady Captain Henry Chiam, Member Hoong Bee Lok, Member Lawrence Lee, Member Mark Higgs, Member Sng Cheng Kang, Member Tan Cheng Hai, Member

Finance Sub-Committee Yap Giau Peck, Chairman Ho Chye Hoi, Member Quek Eng Chye, Member

Audit Committee Charles Lim Aeng Cheng, Chairman Tan Hong Bak, Member Stanley Tien Lee, Member

House & Recreation Sub-Committee Lek Seow Yam, Chairman Perry Kwek Khin Lian, Vice-Chairman Henry Ho Kok Wai, Member Aurora Regacho, Member Ong Ho Kiat, Member Kelvin Tan Lip Kwang, Member

Handicap Sub-Committee

02

Captain’s Message

21

Club News

03

Dr Robert Yap Departs As Deputy Chairman On May 31

Mr Soo Kok Leng Becomes Deputy Chairman From June 1

04 07 09 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 18

Helping Kids Restoring Our Greens Progressive Update On Condition Of Greens Coming Up Aces

Fishing Day Draws Reasonable Crowd

Food & Beverage

22 23

Specials At Golfers’ Terrace Shanshui Palace Restaurant Promotion

Reciprocal Club

24 25

Long Thanh Golf Club & Resort

Table Of Reciprocal And Affiliated Clubs

Instruction Hole-in-One Achievements February Monthly Medals March Monthly Medals Ladies’ Flag Competition 2009 Chairman’s Trophy 2008

26

Playing Palm 2

Calendar Of Events

27

Calendar Of Events

Fitness

A Fine Showing

31

Welcome Spread For New Members

Reminisces

Singapore International Racing Festival/ Singapore Airlines International Cup

19

The Strange Things People Do With Golf Carts

Social & Recreation

32

Eating For Golf

The Transformation Of

Lake Course

Club Information Club Officials

O

Kay Kong Swan, Chairman May Mak, Member Mark Higgs, Member Lawrence Lee Beng Teck, Member

n T h e Cover

Corporate & Communications Sub-Committee Peter Tan P K, Chairman John Tan Kheen Seng, Co-Chairman Ven Sreenivasan, Member Edmond Ang Eng Huat, Member Kelvin Mok Siew Kit, Member Paul Nalliah Jacob, Member

Golfing Wing Upgrading Adhoc Committee Kee Sue Gee, Chairman Hoong Bee Lok, Vice-Chairman Lek Seow Yam, Member Lau See Kiat, Member Loo Boon Kang, Member Ong Thiam Huat, Member

Golfing Sub-Committee member Tan Cheng Hai presenting a cheque to a proud young recipient during the Raffles Charity Open 2008 Cheque Presentation event on February 28, 2009.

Captain’s MESSAGE

Captain’s Message I look forward to your support and wish you all the best in these difficult times. named Gaeumannomyies graminis.

The disease was confirmed through soil samples we sent to the UK for testing.

In our previous issue of the Club’s newsletter, I spoke about the nematode problem on the greens.

These microscopic worms affected the health of our greens and it took us nearly 16 months to the end of February this year to bring our greens back to a reasonable condition.

Unfortunately, with the extremely hot and wet weather in March, coupled with the residual effects of the nematode problem, our greens became inflicted with a disease called “Bermudagrass Decline”.

This disease is caused by a fungus

RCC Golf Palm 13

We were fortunate in early April to call upon the expertise of Dr Colin Fleming, Head of Plant Diagnostics and Biomaterials Section at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute for Northern Ireland. Dr Fleming, who was fortuitously in Singapore to conduct a seminar on nematodes for golf course superintendents, took some time off from his busy schedule to inspect our greens.

His professional diagnosis is that our greens are currently infected with the above-mentioned disease.

However, he noticed the infection has stopped spreading and is confident that we will be able to nurse the greens back to health again. A full report on our discussion with Dr Fleming starts on page 7 of this newsletter.

We hear of buggies careening into ponds in golf course more often than we should. In nearly all such incidents in our Club, these buggies are parked on slopes without the hill brakes engaged. In the past, we’ve

always had disputes on these incidents even though the Club has a comprehensive maintenance programme to ensure that the buggies are in top condition.

But, going forward, we hope such incidents won’t arise with the new buggies that the Club has purchased from EZGO. This new series of buggies comes without hill brakes.

It’s an innovative design using an electrical/mechanical brake system in which the mechanical brake locks the wheels when the buggy comes to a complete stop. There is still, of course, the foot brake to slow down or stop the buggy. We would advise you to bring your buggy to a complete halt before you leave it, especially, when you are close to the banks of our water hazards.

On the weekend of July 4-5, we will again be holding our Club’s annual charity event, the Raffles Charity Open 2009. In this event, money is raised to provide for bursaries and scholarships to needy students in primary and secondary schools in the Jurong area. Monies are also

CLUB NEWS

donated to charitable organisations to support their various projects, which are mostly targeted at making life a bit easier for the needy.

Under the difficult economic environment this year, we expect charitable organisations are finding it harder to raise funds to drive their projects. They certainly need a helping hand. But we realise too that the economic downturn does have an impact on our members.

However, if you are able to, do come forward to help the less fortunate.

Any contribution, whatever the amount, will be greatly appreciated.

If you want to see how your efforts count, look at the proud faces of some of the recipients of bursaries and scholarships raised from the event last year in Page 4-5 of this newsletter.

I look forward to your support and wish you all the best in these difficult times.

TAN CHIN HUAT Captain

Dr Robert Yap Departs As Deputy Chairman On May 31 Dr Robert Yap will complete his current 2-year term as Deputy Chairman of Raffles Country Club on May 31. It will mark the end of his six-year stint in that position. Dr Yap is chairman of YCH Group, which is a company dealing in logistics and supply chain management spanning across the Asia Pacific region.

His work at YCH takes him away from Singapore very often, but

he still visits the Club for a round of golf when he’s in town. He also makes it a point to attend our events whenever possible.

Robert has been very supportive of the Club’s programmes, often offering advice and ideas on how we should proceed. We would like to thank Robert for his contribution to the Club and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

Mr Soo Kok Leng Becomes Deputy Chairman From June 1 Our new Deputy Chairman, who takes up his position on June 1, will be Mr Soo Kok Leng. Mr Soo is the Chairman of Singapore Technologies Electronics Limited and he holds directorships in several companies. He is also currently the chairman of Mount Faber Leisure Group Singapore.

We welcome Mr Soo as Deputy Chairman and look forward to seeing him at the Club soon. His experience and expertise will be invaluable and we hope we can harness his thoughts and ideas on our projects going forward.

CLUB NEWS

Helping Kids The Raffles Charity Open is truly an event that has a far reaching impact within Singapore’s social fabric. We look forward to the next Raffles Charity Open, which will be held on the July 4-5 weekend.

On February 28, 2009, Raffles Country Club was proud to present bursaries and scholarships to 130 students from primary and secondary schools in the Jurong area in the Raffles Charity Open 2008 Cheque Presentation event. The monies were donated in the Raffles Charity Open 2008, held on July 4 to 6, 2008. A total of $304,000 was raised by our Club in the event which was held in conjunction with the Metta Welfare Association’s Charity Golf Tournament.

Incidentally, Metta raised $168,000 through the tournament and the funds were to be channeled to provide special education, medical care and welfare services for the intellectually disabled, elderly and terminally ill.

Thus the Raffles Charity Open is truly an event that has a far reaching impact within Singapore’s social fabric. We look forward to the next Raffles Charity Open, which will be held on the July 4-5 weekend.

CLUB NEWS

CLUB NEWS

2009

Saturday, 4th July 2009

Corporate Division - Lake Am/Pm, Palm (Am only) Ladies Division - Palm Pm

Sunday, 5th July 2009

Corporate Division - Lake Am/Pm Men’s Open and B Division - Palm Pm

Main Sponsors:

Hole In One Sponsor: DaimlerChrysler South East Asia Pte Ltd

Closing Date : Friday, 12 June 2009

CLUB NEWS

Restoring Our Greens Raffles Country Club’s golf courses are going through something of a mini-crisis at present because of the poor conditions on some of our greens. The good news is that the problems are solvable and manageable. But members should be patient before we see results. In this report, we speak to Dr Colin Fleming, Head of Plant Diagnostics and Biomaterials Section at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute for Northern Ireland, who, after spending some time on our greens assessing the damage, offers his thoughts on the conditions of our greens and how to repair them.

Head of the Plant Diagnostics and Biomaterials Section at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute for Northern Ireland.

Senior Lecturer, Queens University of Belfast, Belfast UK

Dr Colin Fleming (PhD, MIBiol, CBiol)

Dr Fleming is a senior government plant pathologist for the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland working for over 25 years on the diagnosis

and management of invertebrate pests and pathogens in agricultural crops and amenity turfgrass. He is also responsible for detection, identification and management of quarantine pests and diseases in N. Ireland.

He is currently acting as a consultant for a number of elite golf clubs throughout Europe (e.g. Old Head Golf Links Kinsale, K Club, Royal County Down, The Grove) and soccer clubs (e.g. Middlesbrough FC, Arsenal FC, West Ham Utd FC, Chelsea FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC) and is involved in the development of management programmes for plant parasitic nematodes at these clubs.

He is involved in the testing of novel plant protection products and has contributed to nematode pathology projects in Europe, Asia and the United States of America. Current research projects include the identification of novel control targets in nematode nervous systems and the development of GM solutions for nematode attack.

Dr Fleming, before we begin, tell us a bit about what you do?

I have been a senior government plant pathologist for the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland for over 25 years working on the diagnosis and management of invertebrate pests and pathogens in agricultural crops and turfgrass. I act

as a consultant for a number of golf clubs throughout Europe including Old Head Golf Links Kinsale, K Club, Royal County Down and The Grove as well as football clubs like Middlesbrough FC, Arsenal FC, West Ham United FC, Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC. I am involved in the development of

management programmes for plant parasitic nematodes at these clubs.

What does a plant pathologist do?

A plant pathologist is a professional who specialises in plant health just as a physician specialises in human health or a vet in animal health.

Keeping plants healthy requires an understanding of organisms and agents that cause disease as well as an understanding of how plants grow and are affected by disease.

What causes plant disease?

Plant diseases are caused by a variety of living organisms, called pathogens, such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, phytoplasmas and parasitic plants. It is also caused by nonliving agents such as air pollutants, nutrient imbalances and various environmental factors.

Are you up to speed with the problems we are having in the greens at RCC?

Yes, I have been working with your Course Superintendent, Derek Wee, on the nematode issue for several months. I think we are progressing well on that front.

Before we move on, perhaps you could give us an expert view on nematodes. What are they and how do they affect the turf?

Nematodes are microscopic worms

CLUB NEWS

that live in the soil. They are found everywhere, in gardens, parks and golf courses. But only a small proportion of them attack plants.

These are described as parasitic nematodes. They burrow into the root system and make holes in the root. This in turn affects plant growth because the root system is damaged. As a result, the plant makes less sugar via photosynthesis. This is obviously an unhealthy situation. The whole plant is stressed and the leaves which we see on the greens gradually gain a yellowish brown tinge. I should say that the grass on greens is the most stressed in any golf course because it is cut so short – there is less leaf to capture sunlight and create sugar. I know golfers love fast greens, but the shorter the grass, the more stressed it is because it cannot capture sunlight adequately to create sugar. More sugar means more roots can grow and the plant is healthier. You know, during the Masters at Augusta, everyone marvels at their fast greens. But after four days of competition, there is an adverse impact. I believe they re-grass all the greens completely after each Masters tournament because the severe stress causes irreparable damage.

You mentioned that we are progressing on the nematode issue at RCC?

Yes, I would now classify the nematode problem at Raffles Country Club as Moderate compared to High a few months back. Derek recently sent me some soil samples and I can say that the nematode count is down. I’m very optimistic.

(Note, in designing a programme to repair the greens in the wake of the nematode problem, we had to experiment with a variety of application rates that would allow a maximum intake of nutrients without damaging the turf. The experiments yielded positive results with a combination of foliar applications.

The turf started to grow and positive results on the root system were seen. A variety of foliar applications were used on the greens daily.

This meant a substantial increase in expenditures on fertilisers and approved pest control chemicals.)

Why has the nematode problem surfaced only recently (around end 2007)? Before that, we didn’t have any problems from the time we opened in 1988.

I’m afraid no one knows for sure. It has to do with the climatic changes.

It’s the same in Europe. Nematode problems have only cropped up in the last 10 years or so. In fact, I know of a course in Europe that has been around for 180 years but only started having nematode problems five years ago. Some people theorise that the Americans have brought the parasitic nematodes to Europe and Asia in their golf shoes.

Nematodes may also have been brought into courses in construction or bunker sand. I would expect that nematodes can potentially be a problem in all courses in Singapore. The hot and wet weather is perfect for them to proliferate.

I believe there’s nothing that your club could have done about it.

Now that we have an improved nematode situation, a new problem has emerged on our greens – Bermudagrass decline.

How has that happened? Is it related to the nematode issue?

Bermudagrass decline is caused by a fungus called Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis (Ggg) which, like nematodes, is always around in the ground. When these fungi affect the roots, the problem becomes serious. It results in large areas of turf with weakened, short, brown-toblack root systems and an absence of feeder roots and root hairs. I believe that the weakening of the root system by the nematodes has made

the turfgrass more susceptible to the fungal attack. The situation has been exacerbated by the hot and wet weather that I understand you have been experiencing in recent months.

Some golfers have suggested that this new problem is a result of our maintenance crew over-fertilising or “burning” the grass in our efforts to solve the nematode issue. Is that a possibility?

No, not at all. If you have simply overfertilised, then the affected patches wouldn’t be expanding as they had been. The current problem is clearly a fungal attack because I understand from Derek that the affected areas started as small patches but expanded to their current condition.

What is your immediate reaction to the Bermudagrass decline on our course? Does it look bad?

The damage on your greens does look bad, but I have seen much worse elsewhere. The most important thing is that the situation is retrievable and it won’t be expensive to do so.

How is it retrievable?

Before I go into that, I need to explain something about thatch levels.

Thatch is a layer of dead turfgrass that sits between the grass and the soil. It is an organic layer of living and dead stems, leaves and roots.

It may be decomposed or in a state of decomposition. While a certain amount of thatch provides more resilience or cushion to the grass surface, it can harbour disease.

The thatch acts as food for the Ggg fungus which is affecting the greens now. While disease-causing organisms always exist in the soil, there are a lot more of them in the thatch layer, especially when it is deeper than one inch and it starts to act like a sponge and hold a lot of water. Sometimes a lot of insects hide in the thatch layer too. It is just a matter of time before the fungus

CLUB NEWS

attacks the turf. All it needs is just the opportunity when the turf is weak as it has been in the wake of the nematode problem. I believe that reducing the thatch levels will help reduce the incidence of the fungus in the greens. This can be done by coring, spiking, aerating and light top-dressing. All these methods will help to reduce the thatch level and consequently, the incidence of the fungus. Unfortunately, these actions affect the speed and smoothness of the greens and are frowned upon by golfers.

What is the purpose of these methods?

Ultimately, we are aiming to do anything that promotes the growth of new roots. This will make the plant stronger. In addition, I must say that I would always recommend cultural methods to augment the use of fungicides to address such problems on greens. Fungicides will help but they never solve the problem.

In your opinion, what would be the best solution to address the current problems our greens face?

I will say you have to raise the cutting height on the greens.

You can see the difference for yourselves right now. If you go to the greens around the course affected by Bermudagrass decline, you will see that the grass beyond the collars of the greens is healthy and not affected. Why is that? This is simply because the grass is taller.

There’s not as much stress on it because it is not as deeply cut as the grass on the greens. There are more leaves to capture the sunlight.

But raising the cutting height on the greens will mean slower greens. Our golfers won’t like that.

It’s a necessary evil as you try to restore your greens. It’s a problem

I have faced in my own golf club in Northern Ireland where I have been Captain in the past. But I find that if you explain to members why it has to be done, 95 per cent of them will understand and bear with the inconvenience for a while. I have always found that it’s important members know exactly what’s going on and when they understand the problem, they will definitely be more accommodating. Currently, you have to find a compromise between the speed of the greens and the health of the turf. As the disease gradually disappears, the cutting height can be reduced and the speed of the greens increased.

How long will it take for our greens to recover?

I can’t give a specific timing because conditions are different in different

parts of the world. I would say one to three months. Still, I can safely tell you that once the recovery starts, you will notice that it will accelerate.

But I have to stress that raising the mowing height will certainly increase the rate of recovery.

Any final words?

As I have mentioned, I have seen much worse conditions elsewhere than on your course, and all these places have recovered with a properly implemented repair and maintenance programme. I would recommend that the Greens Committee takes the time to educate the members about the programme that Derek is putting in place to address the current problems. Finally, I really don’t think the members should be overly concerned. It’s certainly not as bad as it looks.

PROGRESSIVE UPDATE

ON CONDITION OF GREENS

- 24 APRIL 2009 Since consulting with Dr Fleming, the Club has implemented his recommendations. Lake Course greens have been hollow tined while the Palm Course greens have been solid tined. Tining helps to aerate the soil and make it less compact. The greens on both Lake and Palm are also being top-dressed more heavily and frequently. These procedures will result in less thatch and less fungi.

Also, to enable the grass to grow faster and stronger, the mowing height of our greens has been raised to 7 mm. The longer grass will make our greens more grainy and slower, but it is essential for their restoration because it helps the grass to fully mat faster. As of April 22, we have already noticed that grass on the greens is recovering and new shoots are appearing. The higher mowing height also ensures that new shoots are not hurt by the mowers.

Unfortunately, the Bermudagrass Decline on some of the greens is so extensive that it will take some time for the greens to be totally covered with grass again. We hope our members will bear with this inconvenience and appreciate your kind understanding on the situation.

CLUB NEWS

Coming Up Aces “It came as a surprise. My priority on all par 3s is to put the ball near the pin for a birdie chance, but when I saw the ball in the cup, it was definitely a welcome bonus.”

—— Gregory Woon Tzi Wei “The hole-in-one feeling was exactly what I felt when my wife conceived my son.”

—— Ng Hong Whee “I hit a beautiful draw that landed two feet from the hole and rolled in.”

—— Kang Yong Chiang In April, many of us were enthralled by a rare telecast of the Par 3 Contest during the Masters in Augusta. According to the Masters official website, the Contest was first played in 1960 and won that year by the great Sam Snead. The Par 3 course was built in 1958 by architect George Cobb and Clifford Roberts. Tournament participants, non-competing past champions, and honorary invitees are invited to participate in the Contest. The nine hole course is par 27, 1,060 yards and played over DeSoto Springs Pond and Ike’s Pond. Previous winners have included Snead, Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh, Arnold Palmer and Mark O’Meara. The winner of the Par 3 contest this year was the South African, Tim Clark.

He had a hole-in-one on the 9th hole and finished two shots ahead of U.S. amateur Jack Newman and two-times Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal. An interesting fact about the Par 3 Contest is that no player who has won it has gone on to win the Masters the same year.

Raffles Country Club’s Par 3 stories are obviously not as famous, but

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nevertheless our members who hit holes-in-one in recent months possibly experienced a similar type of elation and excitement that Clark felt when he hit his ace in the Par 3 Contest in April. Golf tends to be egalitarian in that way. Eight of our members reported that they had hit holes-in-one, with Patrick Wee Chow Sing performing his feat at the beautiful Cabo del Sol golf resort in Mexico. Playing the 7th hole of the Ocean Course on December 28 last year, he saw his ball roll into the hole in a golf facility that has been rated among the world’s top 100 as well as the top course in Mexico. We couldn’t get a comment from Patrick, but his holein-one must have been icing on an already sweet cake.

Closer to home, Gregory Woon Tzi Wei hit a hole-in-one at Keppel Club on February 27. Playing the elevated 138-metre Hole 16 which is guarded by a large bunker, Gregory was chuffed by his achievement.

“It came as a surprise. My priority on all par 3s is to put the ball near the pin for a birdie chance, but

when I saw the ball in the cup, it was definitely a welcome bonus.” he said. Yeong Chun Song also hit his ace at another golf club, doing it at Hole 3 of the Masters course at Laguna NGCC on February 2.

Meanwhile, there were five members who hit holes-in-one at our Club. Ng Hong Whee, who hit his ace on Hole 8 of the Lake Course on February 26, couldn’t conceal his excitement.

“The hole-in-one feeling was exactly what I felt when my wife conceived my son.” he beamed. We sincerely hope his wife shares his elation. Also at the Lake Course, Wang Hwee San hit an ace at Hole 2 the day before Hong Whee’s ace. “I have played golf for over 10 years and this is my first hole-in-one. It’s my lucky day,” he said. The other three members to hit holes-in-one were Seet Chon Nge, Ong Hin Bee and Kang Yong Chiang. Performing his feat at Hole 3 of the Palm Course on February 22, Yong Chiang sounded like he knew exactly what he was doing. “I hit a beautiful draw that landed two feet from the hole and rolled in.” he said.

CLUB NEWS

Hole-in-One Achievements Seet Chon Nge

Wang Hwee San

Course : Lake Course Hole 16 Date : 24/1/2009

Course : Lake Course Hole 2 Date : 25/2/2009

Ong Hin Bee Course : Palm Course Hole 12 Date : 1/2/2009

Yeong Chun Song

Course : Master Course,

Laguna NGCC , Hole 3 Date : 1/2/2009

Ng Hong Whee Course : Lake Course Hole 8 Date : 26/2/2009

Gregory Woon Tzi Wei Course : Keppel Club Hole 16 Date : 27/2/2009

Patrick Wee Chow Sing Kang Yong Chiang

Course : Palm Course Hole 3 Date : 22/2/2009

Course : Cabo del Sol, Mexico Ocean Course Hole 7 Date : 28/12/2008

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CLUB NEWS

February Monthly Medals The February Monthly medals were held on the Palm Course on Valentine’s Day. The A Division competition was a closerun affair with Mark Oh edging Goh Leng Khiang by 42 Stableford points to 41.

Wang Hwee San, who would hit a holein-one just 11 days later at Hole 2 of the Lake Course, finished third on count back with 37 points.

Mark Oh ‘A’ Division

The B Division competition, which was played on the same day on the Palm Course, was even closer with the first 3 players within 2 Stableford points of each other. Koh Yau Chai won the competition with 39 points, ahead of A Ramaswami who garnered 38 points. In third place on count back was Tan Choon Seng with 37 points. There were no C Division or Ladies competitions in February.

A Division Winner

1st Runner-up

2nd Runner-Up

Player

Mark Oh

Goh Leng Khiang

Wang Hwee San

Stableford

42 Pts

41 Pts

37 Pts (ocb)

Handicap

10.2

10.0

5.4

Winner

1st Runner-up

2nd Runner-Up

Player

Koh Yau Chai

A. Ramaswami

Tan Choon Seng

Stableford

39 Pts

38 Pts

37 Pts (ocb)

Handicap

13.6

15.3

18.0

B Division

Koh Yau Chai ‘B’ Division

Men’s Senior Medals On March 11, the Men’s Senior Medals were played at the Lake Course under a Stableford format.

Wai Shiang Woh emerged as a clear winner, scoring 42 Stableford points.

The battle for the runners-up positions

Wai Shiang Who

12

was intense, with 1st runner-up Dave Wang edging out Koh Yau Chai, who won the Men’s B Division Monthly Medal in February, by 1 point.

Best Nett

Runner-up Nett

2nd Runner-Up

Player

Wai Shiang Woh

Dave Wang

Koh Yau Chai

Stableford

42 Pts

39 Pts

37 Pts (ocb)

Handicap

15.9

10.0

14.9

CLUB NEWS

March Monthly Medals There was a full schedule of competition in the March Monthly Medals, which were played on the Palm Course in a Strokeplay format. The Men’s A and B Division competitions were played on March 7 while the Men’s C Division and the Ladies A and B Division competitions were played on March 14.

The Best Nett score in the A Division was hit by Tan Ju Hong, whose 66 was two strokes ahead of the runnerup on count back, Richard Tay; who hit 68 Nett. The best Gross score came from Teo Keow Seng who played a 79. In the Men’s B Division, Peh Kwee Seng hit the Best Nett score with 69, three strokes ahead of the runner-up on count back, Maung Yu Swan, who hit 72 Nett. The best Gross score in the B Division was 87

by Ng Kok Sen. A week later, in the Men’s C Division, Henry Yu Hong Chin garnered the Best Nett score of 69 while Mak Kwok Thong hit 94 Gross.

The Ladies A Division was won by Norlia Embong on count back. She hit 72 Nett. The Best Gross score was returned by Jessie Oh at 78. In the Ladies B Division, Linda Yeo hit the Best Nett score of 69 while ST Yeo hit a Gross score of 94.

A Division Best Nett

Runner-up Nett

Best Gross

Player

Tan Ju Hong

Richard Tay

Teo Keow Seng

Stroke Play

66 Nett

66 Nett (ocb) 79 Gross

Handicap

6.5

10.7

7.1

Best Nett

Runner-up Nett

Best Gross

Player

Peh Kwee Seng

Maung Yu Swan

Ng Kok Sen

Stroke Play

69 Nett

73 Nett (ocb) 89 Gross

Handicap

13.5

14.1

B Division

13.9

C Division Best Nett

Best Gross

Player

Henry Yu Hong Chin Mak Kwok Thong

Stroke Play

69 Nett

94 Gross

Handicap

23.0

19.7

Ladies

A Division Best Nett

Best Gross

Player

Norlia Embong

Jessie Oh

Stroke Play

72 Nett (ocb)

78 Gross

Handicap

9.8

5.3

Best Nett

Best Gross

Player

Linda Yeo

S.T. Yeo

Stroke Play

39 Nett

94 Gross

Handicap

23.4

18.9

B Division

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CLUB NEWS

Ladies’ Flag Competition 2009 The Ladies Flag Competition was held on March 11 at the Lake Course. A Flag competition is a strokeplay game in which each player is given a flag. When the competitor has played the number of strokes equal to the par of the course plus her handicap, she places a flag in

the course at that point. The winner is the player who goes farthest around the course with her allotted number of strokes. The flag competition was won by Boo Geok Ching. She set her flag down on the 1st fairway, 210 metres from the pin.

Player Boo Geok Ching

Winner

Boo Geok Ching 1st Fairway – 210 metres from Pin

Handicap

Course Rating

Total Allotted Stroke

14

72

86

Chen Horng HS 1st Runner-Up In the hole of 18th green

25

2nd Tan Joo Ee Runner-Up 18th Green – 18 metres to Pin

24

Teo 72 Keow Seng

97 96

72

Chairman’s Trophy 2008 Ladies

Cynthia Tin and P. C. Tan

Men

Score

Winner

Adeline Ting

Alex Choo

50 Pts

Runners-Up

Linda Yeo

Pak Hong Kong

47 Pts

2nd Runners-Up Lim Boon Eng

Yeo Bee Kheng

46 Pts (ocb)

3rd Runners-Up

Michelle Seow

Henry Yu

45 Pts (ocb)

4th Runners-Up

Cynthia Tin

P.C. Tan

45 Pts (ocb)

5th Runners-Up

Ivy Liow

Clarence Liow

45 Pts (ocb)

6th Runners-Up

Rusuanti

Vincent Foo

45 Pts (ocb)

7th Runners-Up Eileen Chew Vince Wong 45 Pts (ocb) Finally, we also have to report the results of the Chairman’s Trophy 2008, which was 8th Runners-Up Susan Leong Ng Kay Meng 45 Pts (ocb) played in December 20 last year. It was a 90% Off Handicap Mixed Competition 4BBB Stableford competition played on the Lake Course. Adeline Ting and Alex Choo emerged as winners, 3 points ahead of Linda Yeo and Pak Hong Kong. As you will notice in the table, the Runners-up positions were very, very tight.

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CLUB NEWS

A Fine Showing RCC was A Division Runners-up in the SGA Inter Club League 2009. The final leg of the tournament was played at the Sentosa Golf Club Tanjong Course on April 19. It was played in an Individual Stroke Play Gross Competition based on each player’s Course handicap.

The overall winner, NSRCC, lost to RCC at Tanjong. Both teams returned a score of 243 and RCC won on countback.

But NSRCC held a six-stroke lead at the start of the final leg and came out overall winners. The RCC team who did us proud comprised Yeap Chee Leong, James Fu, Kevin Chan and KY Leong.

Chee Leong, who plays off a handicap of 10, also shot the lowest gross score of the day at 77. The 80 posted in the final leg by James Fu, who’s also a 10 handicapper, was also the joint second lowest gross score of the final leg.

The B Division event was also won by NSRCC, whose team was a fair way ahead of second-placed Sembawang Country Club.

Our team finished third in the overall standings. But

RCC managed to grab second place in the final leg behind NSRCC. The RCC’s B Division team comprise of Raymond Lim, Roger Tay, Peh Kwee Seng and Clarence Liow. Like Chee Leong in the A Division, Raymond also hit the best gross score of the day in the competition. A 14-handicapper, he certainly rose to the occasion by hitting a 79.

In the Premier Division, the competition was intense and RCC managed 5th position behind NSRCC, SICC, TMCC and Sembawang. The RCC team comprised of Lau Wing Cheok, Koh Deng Shan, Teo Keow Seng and David Soh. Finally, we would like to congratulate NSRCC which swept all three division titles in the SGA Inter Club League 2009. It was a fantastic result and they have set the bar for all teams in next year’s competition.

Yeap Chee Leong

Raymond Lim

Overall Division : “Premier” (up to 7.0) National Service Resort & C C Singapore Island Country Club Seletar Country Club Tanah Merah Country Club Raffles Country Club Keppel Club Warren Golf & Country Club Changi Golf Club Jurong Country Club Laguna National Golf & C C

Gross 876 886 914 920 947 947 960 729 730 739

Rank 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th T 5th T 7th 8th 9th 10th

A Div Overall 1st Runner up

Division : “A” (7.1 - 11.0)

Gross

Rank

National Service Resort & C C

489

1st

Raffles Country Club

495

2nd

Tanah Merah Country Club

502

3rd

Seletar Country Club

506

4th

Changi Golf Club

509

5th

Jurong Country Club

512

6th

Warren Golf & Country Club

513

7th

Sembawang Country Club

258

8th

Orchid Country Club

260

9th

Keppel Club

261

10th T

Singapore Island Country Club 261

10th T

Division : “B” (11.1 - 18.0)

Gross

Rank

National Service Resort & C C

1014

1st

Sembawang Country Club

1041

2nd

Raffles Country Club

1071

3rd

Keppel Club

1075

4th

Seletar Country Club

1078

5th

Changi Golf Club

1082

6th

Laguna National Golf & C C

1084

7th

Tanah Merah Country Club

815

8th

Orchid Country Club

827

9th

Singapore Island Country Club 833

10th

A Div Champion Final Leg

15

CLUB NEWS

Welcome Spread For New Members We held our traditional quarterly introduction session for new members on February 20. There was a fantastic spread of snacks and drinks as new members mingled with members of our various sub-committees and watched our introductory video.

Our next introduction session for new members will be held on 15 May 2009, Friday.

16

CLUB NEWS

17

CLUB NEWS

2009

Singapore International Racing Festival/ Singapore Airlines International Cup

Mark your calendar this April and May for the Singapore International Racing Festival, the region’s premier racing event. Catch Singapore’s biggest racing extravaganza from 26 April till 17 May 2009. The Festival will kick start with the launch of “Fashionista Horseshoes” on 26 April at Bishan Junction 8 shopping mall. The ten 7ft fi berglass horseshoes are painted in various fashion themes and adorned with colourful accessories ranging from dainty laces to heavy metal chains. The public can also win attractive prizes in the Horseshoe Pitching Contest held in the major shopping malls.

The Festival will climax on Sunday, 17 May 2009 with the running of the region’s two richest races – the Singapore Airlines International Cup and the KrisFlyer International Sprint. Leading international thoroughbreds and jockeys from around the globe will converge at the Singapore Racecourse and racing fans can look forward to thrilling world-class action on the tracks starting from 3.30pm on Cup Day, with the Sprint at 7.50pm and the Cup at 8.40pm. Special SIA Cup Day packages which include admission to the racecourse as well as F&B are available.

Visit www.turfl cub.com.sg for more information on the Festival and the two international races.

Jointly Organised by:

18

Sunday, 17 May 2009 Format of play: Stableford Entrance fee : $15/Palm Course, Shot-Gun Start at 1.30pm Closing Date: Sunday, 10 May 2009

The competition is open to all RCC members with official handicap.

Men’s ‘A’ Division – Handicap indexes 0 to 16.0 Men’s ‘B’ Division – Handicap indexes 16.1 to 24.0 Ladies’ Division – Handicap indexes 0 to 36.0

Winners will be invited to the post-event dinner cum races on 29 May 2009, Friday (Maximum of 10 persons).

Hole-In-One Sponsor:

In conjunction with:

CLUB NEWS

The Strange Things People Do With Golf Carts As our Mr Tan Chin Huat noted in his Captain’s Message, we have bought a new series of EZGO golf carts which should help to eradicate embarrassing incidents of golf carts careening into our lakes. The New York Times recently listed some of the weird things that golfers do with their carts: •

•

People dump carts in golf course ponds with stupendous regularity, and they submerge them deep enough that the police and heavy-duty tow trucks have to be summoned.

One golfer outside San Jose, California, nearly drowned when he tried to swim to shore with his golf bag around his neck.

Runaway carts are a problem, often caused by the driver not activating the parking brake. But the runaway leader in golf-cart injuries is fractures that happen when the driver or the passenger leaves a leg hanging out the

side of the cart. Many modern golf courses have landscaping features near greens and tees, like railroad ties and rock walls.

A toe or spike typically catches a railroad tie while the cart is speeding past at 20 miles an hour and, one quick twist of a limb later, someone has a broken ankle.

•

Rolling a golf cart is not uncommon, and neither is falling out when the driver makes a sharp turn. Driving directly into

low-hanging limbs is another of golf’s hazards that you won’t find in the rulebook.

•

Some safety experts have theorised that players are so upset by the frustrations of their golf games that they are distracted when driving a cart - sort of like someone driving a car while having an argument on a cellphone. You’ve seen those people with beet-red faces.

You’ve seen them on the golf course, too, haven’t you?

Classified Advertisement Full graphite sets for sale. S-Yard U101 - $500, Yuji Super Maraging - $500, Mizuno Zephyr (3 woods + 9 irons) - $350.

SMS 96967575. All sets more than5 years old but in good condition. SMS Jimmy Tan Jing Leow at 96967575.

Notices  Tell us your RCC stories Do you want to share your reminiscences of your times at RCC? Email us at feedback@rcc. org.sg with your thoughts or ideas for our Reminisces column, leaving your name, membership number and contact number. We will contact you to flesh out a story. Who knows, you may see your story in the next RCC newsletter!

 Classified Ads for July/August Newsletter From this current issue, we are running a Classifieds advertisement section to help members and their friends sell second-hand items, preferably golf related. While we hope open this service to non-members of the Club, only members can submit advertisements. What we need from you to run a classified advertisement: • The item you want to sell

• How old it is • Brief description of the item

• Selling price • Your contact number Each classified advertisement must be 50 words of less. There will be no charge for this service. The deadline for submissions for the July/August Issue is June 4, 2009. Please submit ads to the following email address: classified@rcc.org.sg

19

Fun Karaoke Cum Dance Nite

Lucky

Draw

1) r o f 1 Beer ( rformance

and Live b

pe

13 JUNE 2009 Saturday 7.00pm -11.oopm ALBATROSS

Hurry & sign up. Limited to 100 participants only.

Charges: Member $ 15 Guest $ 20 * Fees are inclusive of GST.

to sigN up, pls call maria or lilian at

6861 7649

SOCIAL & RECREATION

Fishing Day Draws Reasonable Crowd Our Fishing Day on April 13 drew a reasonable crowd of anglers. We opened the lakes at Hole 2 and Hole 5 of the Lake Course from 2 pm to 6 pm for this activity. At about 4 pm, we counted about 10 groups of anglers trying their luck, including some families. Even though it was a weekday afternoon, if you give anglers a chance to fish at a new or rarely used spot, they will come. It was an overcast day, which wasn’t particularly conducive for fishing, but nevertheless anglers are a patient and hardy bunch. Some catches of Aruan were reported. All in all, it was a rare opportunity to savour the lush, serene surroundings of our golf course without thinking of how to play your next shot or cursing a bad shot that lands in the water. For our next fishing day, look out for more details in our July/August Issue.

21

Food & Beverage

Specials At Golfers’ Terrace The Golfers’ Terrace has prepared some new dishes to whet your appetite before or after your game. For a start, you won’t be disappointed with the Fried Hokkien Mee, a dish of thick yellow noodles braised in thick dark soy sauce with pork, squid, fish cake and cabbage as the main ingredients and cubes of pork fat fried until crispy. A small plate goes for $5.30 while you can dig into a large plate for $7.50, though you may need to get one of you golf pals to help you finish the dish.

Another special during the period is the Fried Pork Ribs in Imperial Sauce at $8 a plate. The key to the dish is the Imperial sauce which is made from a intriguing mix of simple ingredients. Butter is melted in a large saucepan into which onions, green pepper, celery, green onions, pepper, garlic powder, salt and parsely are added. After this combination is sauted, mayonnaise, pimiento, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce are added. The resulting sauce is added to the fried pork ribs creating an impressively tasty dish.

More basic but no less tasty fare also available in the Golfers’ Terrace are the Pork Chop Noodle Soup and Prawn Bee Hoon Mee Soup. Both dishes are priced at $6.50, and are loaded with pork and prawns respectively. They represent a hearty meal at the end of a strenuous morning game of golf or can serve as energy food before golfers go out for an afternoon game.

22

Fried Hokkien Mee

$5.30 L $7.50 S

Fried Pork Ribs in Imperial Sauce

$8.00

Pork Chop Noodle Soup

$6.50

Prawn Bee Hoon Mee Soup

$6.50

Food & Beverage

Shanshui Palace Restaurant Promotion Deep Fried Tial Style Soft Shell Crab

Prawn with Superior Soy Sauce

潮式特价精选套餐 Teochew’s Special Set

软壳蟹鱼翅套餐 Soft Shell Crab & Shark Fin’s Set

每位 $ 23.80 / Person

每位 $ 32.80 / Person

最少三位 / Min. 3 Persons

最少三位 / Min. 3 Persons

棒棒鸡丝 Shredded Chicken with Peanut Sauce 明火煲靓汤 Soup of the Day 鸭片卤水豆腐 Sliced Goose Meat with Bean Curd 鱼子鲜菇扒胜瓜 Hallow Melon with Fish Egg and Mushroom X.O 鸭粒炒饭 Fried Rice with Diced Duck Meat in XO Sauce 金瓜芋泥 Sweet Yam Paste with Pumpkin & Gingko Nut

香芒沙叻脆鹅片 Deep Fried Goose Meat with Mango 碧波鱼茸鱼翅 Braised Shark’s Fins Soup with Fish Meat & Spinach 泰式软壳蟹 Deep Fried Thai Style Soft Shell Crab 鱼子鲜菇扒胜瓜 Hallow Melon with Fish Egg and Mushroom X.O 鸭粒炒饭 Fried Rice with Diced Duck Meat in XO Sauce 金瓜芋泥 Sweet Yam Paste with Pumpkin & Gingko Nut

• Price subject to 10% Service Charge & Prevailing GST • Menu subject to change

S : $12 M : $18 L : $24 Hallow Melon with Fish Egg and Mushroom

23

Wok Fried Beef

Reciprocal Club

Long Thanh Golf Club & Resort

Important Club Information Long Thanh Golf Club National Highway 51 Tan Mai II Hamlet Phuoc Tan Village Long Thanh District Dong Nai Province, Vietnam Office: (+8461) 512512 Fax: (+8461) 511813 Email: contact@longthangolfresort.com.vn

How to get there from Ho Chi Minh City: From the center of Ho Chi Minh City, take the National Highway 1 road towards Hanoi. Drive for about 30 kilometers and turn right onto the Vung Tau Spur (National Highway 51). There is a large Super Market called “Big C” by the roundabout/ junction. Continue on National Highway 51 for 8 kilometers and the entrance to the Long Thanh Golf Club and Residential Estate can be found on the right side.

The Long Thanh Golf Club and Resort is just 40 minutes out of Ho Chi Minh by road. Amid countryside panoramas, the golf course offers 36 holes of golfing for experts and novices alike. The palm-lined fairways, water features, and softly rolling greens provide a fine city escape for golf aficionados. It has been rated the best golf club in Vietnam in a poll conducted by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and Vietnam Golf Magazine.

Like RCC, Long Thanh also has an 18-hole course called the Lake Course. The course has a familiar feel to it, with fairways curving around waterways. The Lake Course is 5,848 yards long from the white tees. Long Thanh’s other 18-hole course is called the Hill Course. It is longer off the white tees at 6,089 yards. There are some spectacular holes along the way on both courses.

Perhaps the most memorable hole is Hole 4 on the Hill Course. It is a Par 3 hole that has two greens away to the left of the teebox. The shorter green is possibly harder to get to, being surrounded by what the locals call the “Great Wall of Long Thanh”.

There is water guarding the front of the green and a rock face behind the green. This is definitely one of the holes that linger in your memory.

Among the facilities available are a driving range and a pro shop with all the golf essentials available for purchase or rental, to ensure that you are ready to play. There is also an excellent restaurant and locker rooms with private showers, sauna as well as a Jacuzzi.

Green Fees

Raffles Country Club members can play at Long Thanh at just a cost of a buggy (US$22 for 18 holes). If you plan to play with friends who are non-members, the weekday rate for visitors is US$55 and the weekend rate is US$110 (both excluding buggy fees). Bookings must be made vide RCC and the confirmation letter should be brought with players for identification at the reception desk upon arrival. A minimum of three players per flight is required for weekends and public holidays.

24

Reciprocal Club

Table Of Reciprocal And Affiliated Clubs Comfort food If you recall, a group of RCC members went to play in Long Thanh Golf Club & Resort in December last year and gave the club and their group trip a unanimous thumbs-up.

Apart from the golf, they said that a great reason to go to Vietnam is to taste Vietnamese cuisine at its most natural and best. Many of us have tasted Vietnamese food in Singapore but, frankly, any cuisine tends to taste better in the place where it originated.

Vietnamese cuisine boasts a huge variety of noodle soups, each with distinct influences, origins and taste. A common characteristic of many of these soups is a rich and very tasty broth. For example, Bun bo Hue is a spicy beef noodle soup originated from the royal city of Hue in Central Vietnam. Beef bones, fermented shrimp paste, lemongrass, and dried chillies give give the broth its distinctive flavors.

Often served with mint leaves, bean sprouts, lime wedges, shredded banana blossoms and shredded rau muong or water spinach. Another popular dish is Bun Cha, which is one of the more simple Vietnamese dishes. It is basically a combination vermicelli plate. Grilled pork, often shredded and vermicelli noodles are served over a bed of salad and sliced cucumber, herbs and bean sprouts. It also often includes a few chopped up egg rolls, spring onions, and shrimp. Vietnamese cuisine is generally uncomplicated, healthy and delicious. Some people describe the simpler Vietnamese fare as comfort food. A golfer tucking into lunch at the Long Thanh clubhouse after a sweltering morning out in the course may agree with this notion.

RECIPROCAL CLUBS

AFFILIATED CLUBS

AUSTRALIA

ROBERT TRENT JONES II CLUB JAPAN

The Lakes Golf Club PO Box 545 Mascot, NSW, 2020 Australia Tel: +612 9669 1311 Fax: +612 9669 6206

Sanctuary Lakes Club Greg Norman Drive Sanctuary Lakes Victoria Australia 3030 Tel: + 613 9395 2888

The Vines Golf and Country Club Verdelho Drive, The Vines, WA, Australia Tel: 618 9297 3000 BRUNEI Pantai Mentiri Golf Club Km 15-1/2, Jalan Kota Batu Peti Surat 1646 Bandar Seri Begawan BS8073 Negara Brunei Darussalam Tel: +673 02 791021, 792014 Fax: +673 02 790773 INDONESIA Finna Golf & Country Club Jalan Raya Barsari Prigen, Pandaan 67157 Indonesia Tel: +62 343 632 153/4/5 Fax: +62 343 632 156 VIETNAM Long Thanh Golf Club National Highway 51 Tan Mai Hamlet Phuoc Tan Village Dong Nai Province, Vietnam Tel: +84 61 512510 / 512511

Chi Linh Star Golf & Counrty Club Sao Do Chi Linh Hai Duong, Vietnam Tel: +84 320 585617 Fax: +84 320 585618 MALAYSIA Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club No. 10 Jln 1/70D Off Jln Bukit Kiara 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: +02 03 253 1111 Fax: +02 03 253 3393

Damai Golf & Country Club Damai Beach Jalan Santubong PO Box B203 93862 Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia Tel: +02 08 284 6008 Fax: +02 08 284 6044

Meru Valley Golf & Country Club Jalan Bukit Meru 30020 Ipoh Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia Tel: +02 05 529 3303 Fax: +02 05 529 3387 Kelab Golf Sarawak Petra Jaya 93050 Kuching Sarawak Malaysia Tel: +082 440966 Fax: +082 441733

CHINA Mission Hills Golf Club Mission Hills Road Guanlan Town 518110 Shenzhen, China Tel: +86 755 802 0888 Fax: +86 755 802 4868

Quan Zhou Golf & Country Club Zimao Town Jinjiang, Quan Zhou City, Fujian Province, China Tel: +86 595 595 1999/1988/1711 Fax: +86 595 598 5302 MACAU Macau Golf & Country Club 1918 Estrada de Hac Sa llha de Coloane, Macau Tel: +853 871188 Fax: +853 870011 INDONESIA Rancamaya Golf & Country Club Jl. Rancamaya Utama, Ciawi Bogor 16720, Indonesia Tel: +62 0251 242 282 Fax: +62 0251 242 283 AUSTRALIA Araluen Country Club Country Club Avenue Roleystone 6111 Westem Australia Tel: +61 08 9397 9000 Fax: +61 8 9397 9001

The Golf Club Kennedy Bay Port Kennedy Drive, Port Kennedy WA 6172 Australia Tel: +61 8 9524 5333 Fax: +61 8 9524 5444 BRUNEI The Empire Hotel & Country Club Jerudong BG3122 Negara Brunei Darussalam Tel: +673 241 8888 Fax: +673 241 8999 THAILAND Blue Canyon Country Club 165 Moo 1, Thepkasattri Road, Thalang, Phuket 83110, Thailand Tel: +66 076 328 088 Fax: +66 076 328 068

25

Instruction

Playing Palm 2 Hole 2 on the Palm Course is not a very long par 4 – 328 metres from the white tees. But it is an Index 1 hole, which makes it the toughest hole on the Palm Course. It is statistically even tougher than Hole 18 on the Palm Course, which we featured in our last newsletter.

Its low Index rating could be because many players underestimate the degree of difficulty of the hole due to its relatively short length. Many of us are used to playing in Par 4s that have low stroke indexes because they are quite long.

The fairway on Palm 2 narrows from the tee-box to a creek about 200 metres away – it looks something like the head of an eagle. All along the left of the fairway there is water, while there are trees on the right, skirting the buggy track.

To carry the ball over the creek, you need to hit an accurate 240-metre drive. That’s not the likely option for the majority of players, regardless of how low your handicap is. Even exceptionally long-hitters will be reluctant to take on the creek because the landing area across it is small and fraught with danger.

As you stand on the tee-box, you should aim for a target in the middle of the fairway just before the creek, about 170 to 190 metres away. At that point, the fairway has narrowed considerably - you have to choose a club that gives you the best accuracy for that sort of distance.

A fairway wood is the usual choice of club, while beginners may be able to get away with a driver, though it will have to be a good, straight shot. For the better iron players, the ideal club would be a long iron, somewhere between a 5iron and a 3-iron.

26

If your tee-shot strays even a bit to the right and lands close to the buggy track, you will likely find the ball above your feet on the second shot. You will also have to contend with the second cut or rough. These factors combine to make your second shot tougher to execute, especially because there will be a tendency to go left from that lie. So, if you are aiming for the green, there’s a chance that the ball will veer left. This, in turn, opens the chance of your ball catching the water on the left side of the fairway after the creek.

If you manage to land safely in the flat portion of the fairway close to the creek, you’re still not completely off the hook. Your second shot has to be precise. The ball should be around 130 to 150 metres from the green. The green slopes down to water on the right and is guarded by a bunker at the back to snare any balls that are overhit.

The preferred second shot would be to the left of the green, but it should land softly. If you land too far right on the green, there is a chance that your ball will roll down the slope and head for the water.

A safe play on the second shot could be to take a sand wedge or pitching wedge and lay up the ball in front of the green. If you hit the ball correctly, this should take away any water danger on the right and left. It gives you the opportunity to chip and putt for a par, or chip and two-putt for a bogey.

Even if you hit a bogey at Palm 2, you will walk away happy in the knowledge that it has hurt many scorecards worse than that. And, in all likelihood, that’s because of a poor tee shot.

2 Tell us how you play Palm 2. Email us at feedback@rcc.org.sg with your advice, and we will highlight your thoughts in our next newsletter.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Calendar Of Events MON

TUE

WED

MaY 2009

THU

FRI

SAT

SUN

01

02

03

Public Holiday Labour Day

Timesheet Am/Pm

Timesheet Am/Pm

Timesheet Am/Pm

Men’s A & B Medals –Lake (Pm)

RCC Dance Night

Jackpot Bonus Nite Karaoke / Social Dancing Night

Macau Golf & Country Club

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

Palm Closed Whole Day for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Public Holiday Vesak Day

Timesheet Am/Pm

RCC Dance Night

Timesheet Am/Pm Men’s C & Ladies’ Medals - Palm (Pm) Jackpot Fortnightly Draw Karaoke/Social Dancing Night

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

Lake Closed Whole Day for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Timesheet Am/Pm

Timesheet Am/Pm

Jackpot Bonus Nite Karaoke/Social Dancing Night

S’pore Airlines International Cup Friendly Golf - Palm (Pm)

RCC Dance Night

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

Palm Closed Whole Day for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Timesheet Am/Pm

Timesheet Am/Pm

Jackpot Fortnightly Draw RCC Dance Night Karaoke / Social Dancing Night

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Lake Closed Whole Day for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Timesheet Am/Pm

Timesheet Am/Pm

STA Golf Comp 2009 – 120 pax, Lake (Pm)

Karaoke / Social Dancing Night

RCC Dance Night

Golfing

Social & Recreation

Events are current at time of publication

27

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Calendar Of Events MON

TUE

WED

June 2009

THU

FRI

SAT

SUN

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

Palm Closed Whole Day for maintenance

Palm Closed Am Only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am Only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Timesheet Am/Pm

Timesheet Am/Pm

Men’s A & B Medals – Palm (Pm); Men’s C & Ladies’ Medals – Lake (Pm) Jackpot Bonus Nite Karaoke / Social Dancing Night RCC Golf Palm 17

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

Lake Closed Whole Day for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Timesheet Am/Pm

Timesheet Am/Pm

The American Club vs Tanglin Club Friendly Golf – 40 pax, Palm (Pm)

Jackpot Fortnightly Draw Karaoke / Social Dancing Night

RCC Dance Night

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

Palm Closed Whole Day for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Timesheet Am/Pm

Timesheet Am/Pm

RCC Dance Night

Men’s Senior & Ladies’ Evergreen Medals – Lake (Pm) Jackpot Bonus Nite Karaoke/Social Dancing Night

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Statoil Hydro Golf Day – 60 pax, Palm (Am)

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Timesheet Am/Pm

Timesheet Am/Pm

SSG Annual Golf – 100 pax, Lake (Am)

RCC Dance Night

Chung Cheng High School 70th Anniversary Fellowship Golf – 100 pax, Lake (Pm)

29

30

Palm Closed Whole Day for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

28

Karaoke / Social Dancing Night

Saturday, 4th July 2009

Corporate Division - Lake Am/Pm, Palm (Am only) Ladies Division - Palm Pm

2009 Golfing

Jackpot Fortnightly Draw

Social & Recreation

Sunday, 5th July 2009 Corporate Division - Lake Am/Pm Men’s Open and B Division - Palm Pm

Closing Date : Friday, 12 June 2009

Events are current at time of publication

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Calendar Of Events MON

TUE

Deep Fried Tial Style Soft Shell Crab

WED

JULY 2009

THU

FRI

SAT

SUN

01

02

03

04

05

Lake Closed Am Only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Raffles Charity Open 2009 – Corporate Div & Ladies Div - Lake & Palm Am/Pm

Raffles Charity Open 2009 – Corporate, Men’s Open & B Div – Lake & Palm Am/Pm

RCC Dance Night

Jackpot Bonus Nite Karaoke / Social Dancing Night

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

Lake Closed Whole Day for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Timesheet Am/Pm

Timesheet Am/Pm

Timesheet Am/Pm

Timesheet Am/Pm

Men’s C & Ladies’ Medals, 1st Round for Ladies’ Intermediate and Club C’ships / Qualifying Round for Men’s Aruan Cup – Lake (Pm)

Jackpot Fortnightly Draw Karaoke / Social Dancing Night

Jackpot Fortnightly Draw Karaoke / Social Dancing Night

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

Palm Closed Whole Day for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Timesheet Am/Pm

Timesheet Am/Pm

Men’s A & B Medals, 1st Round for Men’s Club & Intermediate C’ships – Lake (Pm)

2nd Round for Club C’ship – Lake (Pm)

RCC Dance Night

Jackpot Bonus Nite Karaoke/Social Dancing Night

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

Lake Closed Whole Day for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Timesheet Am/Pm

Timesheet Am/Pm

2 Round for Ladies’ Club & Intermediate C’ships, Men’s Intermediate & Aruan Cup / 3rd Round for Men’s Club C’ship – Lake (Pm)

Final Round for Ladies’ Intermediate & Club C’ships / Aruan Cup & Men’s Club C’ship – Lake (Pm)

nd

The 10th Hui Ann Association Golf – 144 pax, Lake (Pm)

RCC Dance Night

Jackpot Fortnightly Draw Karaoke / Social Dancing Night

27

28

29

30

31

Palm Closed Whole Day for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance

Palm Closed Am only for maintenance

Lake Closed Am only for maintenance Alpha Golf Day – 144 pax, Lake (Pm) RCC Dance Night

Prawn with Superior Soy Sauce

Golfing

Social & Recreation

Events are current at time of publication

29

FITNESS

Eating For Golf Some fitness experts will recommend a protein intake before a game, but you should not overdo it because too much protein overworks the kidney, which can cause dehydration. Drinking lots of water both before and during a game is one of the most important things, especially in tropical Singapore when the weather can get extremely hot and humid. If you start feeling thirsty, it is probably already too late as you are already dehydrated.

Contrary to popular belief, golf can be a strenuous game, especially if you play on a walking course without a caddy. Sometimes, by the last few holes, tiredness sets in and you find yourself straining hard to play your shots, especially off the teebox and for long second shots.

At the same time, if you feel tired, it could affect your concentration levels, which will affect your game.

If you watch golf on TV, you will often see professional golfers eating a banana, a muesli bar and drinking fluids. As these men and women are usually physically fit in the first instance, you won’t be too far wrong following their lead. Snacking keeps their energy levels up. Some fitness experts will recommend a protein intake before a game, but you should not

overdo it because too much protein overworks the kidney, which can cause dehydration. Drinking lots of water both before and during a game is one of the most important things, especially in tropical Singapore when the weather can get extremely hot and humid. If you start feeling thirsty, it is probably already too late as you are already dehydrated.

Many fitness experts also talk about the value of carbohydrate intakes.

Simple carbohydrates include sugars, fruit juices, syrups, honey, chocolate, sticky stuff and stuff that melts. This is easily digestible, quick burning “rocket fuel”, giving a rapid kick of energy. Walking to the 17th but feeling jaded and nervous…go for these and a big slug of fluid, says Bob Wood of UK-based Physical Solutions on its website.

Meanwhile complex carbohydrates like potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, cereals are slow burning that release a lot of energy, but over a long period of time. As such, a simple porridge could be just the ticket to complete your golf game feeling as comfortable as when you started.

31

ReMINISCES

The Transformation Of Lake Course The returning nines were very well received by members. But Lake Course had to be renovated again because it started to be affected by accumulated organic material and insufficient sand. We took the chance to redesign the course along new lines. The new design by the golf architectural firm of Nelson & Haworth sought to make the Lake Course friendlier and resort-styled.

Many old-time members will recall that the Lake Course used to be a non-returning 18-hole course.

Though it was a beautiful course, these members will also recall that it left golfers a long way from the clubhouse on rainy days. They would usually be drenched by the time they got back to the clubhouse, often cursing their bad luck. And when the rain ceased and the course was reopened for play, they had to travel quite a distance to the holes they abandoned when the rains came.

One of the reasons for the initial design of the course was that space was limited by the presence of a broadcasting tower and control room, which were located at the current 10th tee and practice putting green. They looked out of place alongside the fairways and added an urban feel to the course.

When Jurong Town Corporation relocated the broadcasting tower and control room in 1990, it freed up valuable land to carry out minor design modifications so that the Lake Course could become a course with returning nines.

The transformation took a year and the new Lake Course was ready for play in November 1992.

The returning nines were very well received by members. But Lake Course had to be renovated again because it started to be affected by accumulated organic material and insufficient sand. We took the chance to redesign the On 15 Sep 2002, the newly renovated Lake Course was opened by course along new lines. the then Prime Minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong, to much fanfare.

The new design by the golf architectural firm of Nelson & Haworth sought to make the Lake Course friendlier and resort-styled.

Founded in 1987 by

senior partner Robin Nelson, Nelson & Haworth originally formed part of the diversified Belt Collins group of companies, based in Hawaii.

Architects Robin Nelson, Neil Haworth and Brett Mogg purchased the Belt Collins interest in Nelson & Haworth in early 2000 and now operate the company from offices in Singapore, Shanghai and San Francisco. The firm retained the waterways on the Lake Course so that the water on the course could drain quickly after a heavy downpour.

The total cost of the renovation was $12.5 million. In September 2002, the newly-renovated course was opened by then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, an avid golfer himself.

(Adapted from “20 Years and Swinging: Raffles Country Club 1988-2008� For availability of copies of this commemorative coffee-table book, please contact Roy at 68640812.)

32

CLUB NEWS

11

5b[Q_RQ` \S VZ]_\cRZR[a` \[R T_RNa _R`bYa

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The detailed improvements will keep you out of the shop and on the fairway producing the results you’ve come to expect. After all, beauty lies in the details.

To ďŹ nd out more, call (800) 803-8676, or visit toro.com/fairways.

Exclusive Distributor:

I N D U S T R I A L

D I V I S I O N

33 Gul Circle Singapore 629570 Tel: (65) 6305 3688 Fax: (65) 6305 3699 Website:www.technology.jjsea.com

Green Fee (Visitor) Palm Mon to Fri am $128.40 pm $ 139.10 Mon to Fri (9 holes) $ 69.55 Weekends & PH $ 321.00 Weekends & PH (9 holes) $ 160.50

Golf Reception Tel: 6861 7655

Fax: 6861 5563

Opening Hours: Daily

7.00 am - 6.30 pm

Golf Courses

(Palm & Lake)

Opening Hours: Daily Green Fee (Guest) Mon to Fri am $73.50 pm Mon to Fri (9 holes) Weekends & PH Weekends & PH (9 holes)

First tee-off: 7.15 am Last tee-off: 6.15 pm (9 holes) Palm $ 96.30 $ 48.15 $ 203.30 $ 101.65

Lake $ 117.70 $ 58.85 $ 235.40 $ 117.70

Buggy Fee / Golfer

Lake $ 181.90 $ 90.95 $ 374.50 $ 187.25

$ 21.40 / 18 holes $ 13.91 / 9 holes

Tel: 6861 6563

Ball Fees $1.45 / 30balls

1.00 pm - 9.00 pm 8.00 am - 9.00 pm 7.00 am - 9.00 pm 7.00 am - 7.00 pm 7.00 am - 8.00 pm 45 minutes before closing time

Golfers’ Terrace Tel: 6862 0095

Opening Hours: Mon to Fri Weekends & PH

7.00 am - 8.00 pm 7.00 am - 9.00 pm

Open to members and golfers only

Opening Hours: Daily (except Mon) Daily (except PH)

Rental of golf sets is available.

Opening Hours: Mon to Fri Weekends & PH

9.15 am - 5.30 pm 8.15 am - 5.30 pm

Changing Room Opening Hours: Daily

7.00 am - 8.00 pm

Shanshui Palace Restaurant Tel: 6862 1838/9 12.00 nn - 8.00 pm 12.00 nn - 12.00 mn Closed

Opening Hours: Daily

Open to members and guests only Available for private function booking.

Open to public

Lakefront Café

Opening Hours: Lunch Open to public

Opening Hours: Mon to Fri Weekends & PH

7.00 am - 6.30 pm 7.00 am - 5.00 pm

$ 2.15 / 50 balls $ 4.30 / 100 balls

The Albatross Lounge Opening Hours: Tue to Sun & PH Sat Mon

Tel: 6863 3551

Halfway Houses

Driving Range

Opening Hours: Mon Tue to Fri Sat Sun PH Last issue of ball

Pro Shop

11.00 am - 3.00 pm 10.00 am - 7.30 pm

11.30 am - 3.00 pm 6.00 pm - 10.00 pm

Raffles Lounge 11.30 am - 3.00 pm

Open to public

Card / Mahjong Room Opening Hours: Daily Table Fee

Recreation / Reception Tel: 6861 7649 Opening Hours: Daily

Fax: 6862 3965 8.00 am - 9.00 pm

Jackpot Room

Mon to Fri 11.30 am - 8.45 pm Sat & PH 10.00 am - 10.00 pm Sunday 10.00 am - 8.45 pm Members aged 18 and above only

Sports / Recreation Billiards Room

Swimming Pool 8.30 am - 9.00 pm $ 5.35 / 5 hour / session members only

Video Games Opening Hours: Daily

8.30 am - 9.00 pm

8.30 am - 9.00 pm

Fitness Centre Opening Hours: Daily

8.30 am - 9.00 pm

Members Guests

FOC $ 5.35 / guest / day

Table Fee Guest Fee Locker Rental

$ 3.21 / hour $ 2.14 / person/ hour $ 38.52 / per year

Opening Hours: Daily Members Guests

7.30 am - 9.00 pm

Members FOC Guests Mon to Fri $ 2.14 / guest / day Weekends & PH $ 3.21 / guest / day

Tennis / Squash & Badminton Courts

Sauna

Opening Hours: Daily

Opening Hours: Daily

8.30 am - 9.00 pm FOC $ 2.14 / guest / day

Opening Hours: Daily

8.30 am - 9.00 pm

Court Fee Guests

$ 3.21 / hour $ 2.14 / guest / hour

TV / Reading Room Opening Hours: Daily

8.30 am - 9.00 pm

Members

FOC