2/10/2009 Friday Palm Resort Melati Course Hole number 4 Par 4

First time that my wife Christine is playing 6's with us. We had to give her 1/2 stroke for Par 3's, 1 stroke for par 4's and 2 strokes for par 5's. The previous hole, she tee-ed off longer than any of us, hit a monster of a 3 wood for her second shot, and was essentially 100y from the green, nett zero strokes. No wonder Pete and Chuck were giving me dirty looks. Sadly, her short game showed its ugly side, and she muffed her next couple of shots. So, in the end, the handicapping was just about right.

On to the short par 4 hole 4. from the blue, it is about 350y, with OB running down the left side, defined by the fence. Right is safe. A tee shot to the right side of the fairway is ideal. Boomed a driver down the right side, leaving myself a 91 yarder (by rangefinder) from the first cut into the green with a white flag. Unfortunately the ball was nestling on the slope of a little hump on the ground, with the ball slightly above my feet and slight right to left slope. Decided to take more club but choke down on it. Used a 54' wedge and aimed right of the flag, knowing that it would auto pull right to left given the lie. Knocked the shot safely on, about 6 feet past the pin. The birdie putt was a slight downhill with a very faint right to left line. A firm putt was needed, taking the line just rightt of the cup. Nailed it, centre of the hole. Won that 6. Good start to an excellent day!

AT

2/10/2009 Friday Palm Resort, JB Melati 18th hole

Playing the last hole for the day. Weather was cool and overcast. Sixes already won, so no stress. before teeing off, was interesting to note a group of people gathering around the 17th green and 18th tee. Apparently they were trying to corner a wild boar with the help of hunting dogs. We were surprised to see this 4 foot long wild boar charge out of the bush on one side before disappearing into the bush on the other side of the 18th tee box. The 4 of us figured we better hang on to a club each to defend ourselves just in case the boar came back! :D

Teed off from the blue, decided to go with the driver for this 400y tee off, which was a dogleg to the right. the fairways being lined with oil palm trees (now defunct, more ornamental than anything else). Was hoping for a shot down the middle, but ended up fading the ball right at the end amongst the treeline. Was looking all over for ball but couldnt find it near the 150y marker. Was pleasantly surpised when Chuck found next to the 100y marker but on a slight downward lie and in the rough. Not much wind, so took out the 54' wedge with the rangefinder showing 108y. Sadly, I didnt compensate enough and pull the shot into the greenside bunker, pin high though. Thank God for rangefinders.

Found the ball resting nicely in the sand, had a slight lip to clear, but not much green to work with. Choked down on my 60' and splashed out my shot sweetly to some 5 feet past the pin. Made sure that I took enough sand behind the ball this time. Couldnt really do much more. Was very please that I did not skull the ball across the green :s. The putt was a right to left breaker with a slight downhill lie. Was telling myself I made a similar part on Allamanda 9th the last time we played at Palm resort. Also telling myself that the putt was a quick putt and I should just stroke it in with a little forward roll strength about 2/3 the distance. The best result would be for the putt to die into the cup. I executed the putt to perfection, with the putt dropping in right at the death on its last roll. Sandy Par! High 5's all around! :D

That putt was clutch and enough to shoot my 80 for the day. All in all, a good day of golf!