At the range

Finally took the time on Sunday afternoon to hit the range for a practice session. Played on Saturday morning and was having a torrid time. Shot a 100 (+1) which wasn't terrible, but it frustrates me when I know I can play much better.

In particular, I was chunking my longer irons and hitting them fat. Seeing the divot start way before the ball is disheartening. And if you're like me, it takes me a while to sort out the problem. The outside in / over the top swing was still apparent too.

Thankfully, the short game was quite tuned. Was comfortable chipping around the greens and managed to chip over a bunker and watch the ball roll down the basin and into the cup for a much needed birdie on Hole 7.

I thought it was a good idea to record my swings and it really helped me to visually focus on what needed to be fixed. Tips and suggestion are gladly welcome. 

If you notice, I placed an alignment stick on the mat just to help to groove proper alignment and check that your ball flight is consistent with your target line. Also definitely record your swings or have a friend help (I positioned my phone on my bag which worked perfectly). It makes it so much easier to identify the problems.

There were a number of swing issues that I concluded from the video(s):

1. Outside in / over the top;

2. Incorrect swing plane during the down swing;

3. Club head was pointing too much to the right of the target line on the back swing. Ideally it should be parallel to the target line;

4. Not keeping / maintaining posture during the swing;

5. On the downswing, my lower body wasn't leading my upper body and thus the outside in swing and incorrect swing plan.

EDIT: 6.08.2014
6. My friend told me that my 'take-away' was too close to my body, thus, too rounded a swing which, contributes to the outside-in swing. He advised that I try to push further from the body whilst maintaining the swing plane. Also mentioned that my right knee was turning too quickly. Tried some adjustments and it helped with my ball striking, so that's good news.

I also managed to sort out my 'Hitting-fat' problem. Essentially, if you' re hitting it fat, the swing is bottoming out much earlier in the swing arc then it should, thus the divot before the ball. The pros will tell you that you always make contact with the ball first then the turf, to compress the ball. Easier said that done though. So what was I doing wrong?

Figured out that I wasn't transferring my weight sufficiently and effectively during the down swing. Plus my ball position was a little more towards my lead foot when it should have been more centre for my setup and swing. 

I was also making a conscious effort to push off my right to shift the weight and I was really extending my arms on the down swing and through the follow through for better contact and distance. Worked a charm.

Towards the end of the session, I was pleased with how I was hitting the ball and was trying to get the hang of feeling the lower half of my body lead the downswing (i.e. bump my weight / hips to the left to allow the arms to drop and swing from the inside). It's not there yet, but it's improving.

For those hitting it fat, here's a good video, which explains why you hit it fat and demonstrates an easy tip to over come it. 

Played at Borneo Highlands (next post) yesterday during the second day of Hari Raya and was pleased with how I was hitting my irons so the practice at the range definitely helped. 

The new big boy

I had been gaming my trusty Callaway Razr Fit Driver, 9.5 (with Graphite Design's DJ-6s shaft) for the last year or so and really like how it performs. 

However, during an impulsive buying spree at the end of last year, I splashed on the Titleist 913 D2 Driver, 9.5 (with Graphite Design's BB-6s shaft) and had it kept away in my spare bag as I couldn't bring myself to use a brand new driver, just yet. 

Weeks turned to months until I recently read about the soon to be launched 915 drivers on mygolfspy and realized it was about time to get acquainted with the new big boy. 

I initially thought about bringing it along to Thailand but thought against it. It's not quite a wise decision to get acquainted with new gear on the golf course and I usually like  to get a feel of them at the driving range first. 

I had been driving pretty consistently with the Razr Fit over the last two months or so, but due to the lack of game time in recent weeks, the slice started creeping back into my drive and perhaps it wasn't the best time to switch drivers.

Nevertheless, I decided to introduce the 913 to the course anyway and as expected, it wasn't a good 'driving' day. I skied my first drive, popped and sliced a few and only managed 2 good drives that day. 

Impact felt very solid and visually, I was getting more distance on the ball, but I do feel that I have to 'load' up and swing more aggressively with this BB-6 shaft compared the the DJ-6 shaft.

Once I get the hang of the 913, I will write another post to see if it's better suited to my game compared to the Razr Fit.

The long weekend is here and you know what that means. Time to hit the fairway!

7 days in Utopia : See it, Feel it, Trust it

It premiered in 2011, but I watched this 'golf - christian themed' movie a while back and thought I would say my piece on it. Spoilers ahead if you plan to watch it.

I have nothing against Lucas Black or the legend, Robert Duvall. But 7 days in Utopia was crap. 

-14% rating on rotten tomatoes.

- Corny, cliche scenes and a predictable plot.

- Product placement. I am a Callaway fan but you could count the scenes where you didn't see the Callaway logo. Even the commentator had to say how good the Callaway Octane driver was. (in defense though, it was a pretty sweet driver as I recall)

-T K Oh? why didn't they just have K J Choi? I mean Rickie Fowler and Stewart Cink appeared as themselves.

- Worst ending EVER. 

- This one went out-of-bounds, in my books. 

Don't say I didn't warn you.

The Open

What's the best way to answer your critics (yours truly included)? Win your 3rd major at 25.

Looks like Rory McIlroy's back. 

Well played young sir, well played. Had a 6 stroke lead heading into Sunday but played a solid round of golf. 

His birdie on the 16th shut the door on the chasing pack and with a 2 stroke victory, Rory's now one away from a major grand slam. The Golfing world salutes you and with all the flak he's been getting about equipment change over the last two years, I am sure Nike will be stoked (and relieved) with this victory. Am waiting to see the congratulatory ad.

 

And what a year Rickie Fowler is having so far. At 25, he may have some catching up to do, but 3 top 5 finishes in all the majors so far this year (and a likely spot in the Ryder cup team) can't be bad. I am rooting for him to get a win before the season wraps up.

Golfing in Thailand - Part 3 (Thai Country Club - Bangkok)

I was starting to feel unwell by the second day and by the time we arrived in Bangkok, I had developed a bad case of the flu and cough. Probably a result of the lack of sleep the first two nights (usually have a hard time sleeping on hotel beds) and the day's exertion had taken its toll.

Anyways, I wasn't going to let the cough and flu get in the way of my golf holiday so we soldiered on.

The Thai Country Club is a private club, but our tour agency arranged a slot for us with a tee off time at 10.30 am. (earlier tee times reserved for members)

The Thai Country Club has played host to a number of Asian Tour events. Perhaps most notably was the 1997 Asian Honda Classic which was won by none other then Tiger Woods (who happens to be a honorary member). 

I usually like to check out the club house facilities and golf course by having a look at the course layout and I have to say, I was mighty impressed with their website and the detailed course layout and details here. Probably one of the best golf course website I have come across in a while.

The green fee we paid did not include the rental of a buggy so golfers can opt to walk the course instead, which is what we did. Our caddy would pull our bags on a trolley and we would take in the sights. 

We were told it was one of the more popular courses in Bangkok and judging from the number of golfers at the time, they weren't kidding.

The course itself is rather flat and even which makes for a nice course to walk on. Though the downside of a 10.30am tee off time is really the heat. There was a slight over cast when we reached the tee box, but the sky cleared and by noon, the mid day sun was shining bright.

Hole 1

Again, course conditions were immaculate and with plenty of water hazards and bunkers, it certainly made for a challenging round of golf. 

But the greens were something else. I can't remember the stimp reading but these greens were faster and much firmer then the Old Course, Siam Country Club. I was rather bewildered. Perhaps a single handicapper would fare better but I spent most of my time watching my ball roll way past the pin or bounce off the putting surface. Once on the green, I didn't have the right reads or judgment of speed and thus was averaging 2-3 putts.

During our second nine, I was really feeling the heat in spite of the voluminous amounts of liquids I was drinking. My mate noticing my condition suggested that I use my umbrella, which my caddy promptly took from the golf bag. I only ever use the umbrella on the course when it rains but my word, did it make a difference.

Speaking of caddies, unfortunately I was assigned yet another new caddy. Whilst she was attentive, and had good work ethic, her course knowledge and command of english was unfortunately sub-par.

Back at the club house, we took a long deserved rest before making our way into the locker rooms. While I was impressed with how new and modern the locker rooms were, it wasn't as spacious and the shower cubicles left much to be desired. For starters they were small and more importantly, there weren't enough shower cubicles to cater for the large number of golfers. Just to be sure, I asked one of the locker room staff and was told that these were the only shower cubicles available. Something I wouldn't expect from a club house of this standard. 

However, that said, we still had a great time (me less so due to my physical condition) and I am was very pleased to have had the opportunity to play on the course. 

Onto the ratings.

My Ratings:-

Course condition - 5/5

Course difficulty - 5/5

Caddy rating - 3/5

Club house facilities - 3/5 

16/20 - Play it!

And so ends our golfing holiday to Thailand and what a trip it was. My second trip so far and already have Chiang Mai lined up for our next trip. 

In other news, The Open starts today and a certain Mr. Tiger Woods will be in action. Can Phil retain the Claret Jug? he played well in Aberdeen, but  the spotlight now shines brightly on the man of the hour Justin Rose. 2 back to back wins and in fine form. Can he make it 3? 

Golfing in Thailand - Part 2 (St.Andrews 2000 - Links Golf in Pattaya)

Yikes. My apologies for the late posts. Have been traveling a fair bit (and not for golf unfortunately) and haven't had time to blog. Without further delay, here's Part 2.

"The St.Andrews2000 Golf Club in Rayong was designed by Desmond Muirhead in 2000. Located 120 Kilometers southeast of Bangkok and a short drive from the seaside resort of Pattaya, playing golf here during your visit to Thailand in a must. The sprawling par 74 course adjoins its sister layout, the older, well established par 72 layout of the Rayoung Green Valley Country Club.

It's not a typo-par is 74 for an astounding back marker length of 7700yards, thanks to two endlessly long Par 6. The couse both power and accuracy as the water hazards are strategically located. If your handicap is 18 or lower the course will be very challenging, with elevated tees and greens, split elevation fairways coupled with huge putting surfaces. Really a course for the true golfer."

From their course profile / introduction.

You read that right. Probably the only course in the region with 2 Par 6 holes.  

Taking its name after the home of Golf, St. Andrews 2000 by design is meant to resemble a 'links' type of golf course. Uneven fairways, good thick rough and plenty of elevation. It was certainly very different from any course I have ever played on. If it wasn't for the tropical weather, I might have thought we were teeing off in Scotland.

At the entrance of the club house. Plus points for the drink machine dispensing cold water and tea for visitors. A very nice touch

The clubhouse though slightly aged has a very quaint and welcoming feel.

Hole 1.

 

In spite of the few greens with small brown patches and a few shallow bunkers, the course is still very well maintained. Compared to the Siam Country Club the Old Course has better landscaping and excellent green conditions. I am nitpicking really.

Whilst having a sharp short game was crucial at the Old Course, I felt that St. Andrews 2000 was a test of your whole game as I navigated through the uneven fairways, thick rough, elevation and quick greens. You really had to think about your next shot and game plan. 

The 1st Par 6 hole. At a whopping 642 yards from the white tee, I made a big mistake in my approach to this hole. When I first formulated my plan, I thought I needed to go out there and play a monster combination of driver, 3 wood, 3 wood to get on the green in 3 or 4. I thought my 3-wood was hot after the round at the Siam Country club but I was wrong.

As a result I ended up with an unnecessary double bogey. My kaki (who took a more conservative approach) went, Driver, hybrid, hybrid, iron, got on in 4 and 2 putted for a nice par. Definitely a better option. 

There's also a Hole 19, a par 3 featuring an island green ala Hole 17 at TPC Sawgrass somewhere along the first 9, but by the time we were done with 18 holes, we were unable to go back due to time constraints and congested traffic on the course. TIP: Remind your caddy that you want to play hole 19 if you play on the course. 

All in all I enjoyed my round of golf at St. Andrews. It's one of a kind and a fun challenge indeed. So if you're golfing in Pattaya, St. Andrews 2000 along with Siam Country Club are definitely two must play clubs in my opinion.

Back at the Club house, the locker rooms though not as new or as grand as say Black Mountain, Hua Hin or the Siam Country Club, it was spacious and they had plenty of shower cubicles, lockers and attentive staff.

This time, I was assigned a more experienced caddy who had a better command of english and was very knowledgable. So that helped to contribute to a better score.

My Ratings:-

Course condition - 4/5

Course difficulty - 4/5

Caddy rating - 4/5

Club house facilities - 4/5 

16/20 - Play it!

We take on the old Thai Country Club in Bangkok in Part 3.

Samarahan Country Club

Effective 1st July 2014, the Sarawak Club Golf Resort is now officially known as the "Samarahan Country Club". It's been quite a long wait, but club memberships are finally up for sale. It's great to see the club now moving upwards and onwards!

Golfing in Thailand : Part 1 (Siam Country Club)

July has arrived and we are officially into the 2nd half of 2014 and what a golfing year it has been so far. 

Last September, my mates and I traveled to Thailand where we played two courses in Hua Hin (Black Mountain & Banyan Country Club) and the Lotus Valley Golf Resort in Bangkok. 

This trip (19th - 23rd June), we decided to play two courses in Pattaya and one in Bangkok. All ground arrangements were made through a golf tour agency, which I will post about later on. For now, Golf!

Upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport, our friendly guides / drivers were there to greet us and we were whisked away to Pattaya. It was after dusk by the time we arrived and after we settled in at the Mercure Hotel, we made our way to dinner and had an early night in anticipation of our early tee-off at the Siam Country Club the next day. 

Bright and early the next, we assembled for a hearty breakfast by the pool-side and soon made our way for our first round of Golf. 

Breakfast by the pool. Can't get any better then this.

There are two Courses at the Siam Country Club, the Old Course and the Plantation Course. We took on the renown Old Course which was the venue for the Honda LPGA Thailand (2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2008) How's that for credentials. Here's a look at the score-card.

The weather was great and we were raring to go. Needless to say, like most courses in Thailand, the Old Course is beautifully landscaped. But more importantly, how would amateur-weekend golfers like us fair on this LPGA course?

For starters, playing conditions were immaculate. The fairways, bunkers and greens were in great shape. Water hazards were not prominent in the layout, but there were plenty of bunkers, undulating / elevating terrains and narrow fairways to contend with.

Teeing off at the 10th hole

Compulsory group photo before tee off.

My first drive found the fairway and I was feeling very pleased. However, my joy was short lived as we reached the greens where the course revealed its true colours. 

The greens were undulating and super quick. A true test of one's short game. It was difficult to attack the pin and leaving your chip short on the fringe would stop your ball in its tracks. Chip it too hard and watch as your ball speeds off past the pin.

Missed a couple of putts and watched with trepidation as the ball rolled a good 6-7 feet past the hole.The putts back were just as nervy.

Hole 8 - Par 3

Hole 18 - Par 5

Measuring 471 yards from the white tee,  the par 5 - Hole 18 isn't very long, but plays longer due to the uphill elevation from tee to green.

Pars were a premium on the day and one was content with a bogey. But that said, the Old Course isn't a difficult round of 18 holes. If your short game is in key, you will tame the testing greens and produce good scores.

Green Fees etc

After the round, we adjourned to the club house and locker rooms which were 5 star in my opinion. After a nice hot shower and brief souvenir stop at the pro shop, we made our way back to Pattaya and bid farewell to the beautiful Old Course. A must play in my books and I would love to give it another go in the future.

There was though, a minor downside. Each golfer is assigned a caddy and in my past experience, the caddies really know their stuff. Yardage, green reads etc. My caddy that day was had been in the job for all of 3 weeks and thus was not as knowledgeable. 

But that said, she had a cheerful attitude and good work ethic (attentive and hardworking) so the round of golf was still very enjoyable and relaxing.

Just for reference, the usual tip for a caddy is THB300 (which is about RM30.00) and feel free to tip more if you want. So, on to the ratings. I will rate the courses in four categories (Course condition, difficulty, caddy rating and club house facilities)

My Ratings:-

Course condition - 5/5

Course difficulty - 4/5

Caddy rating - 3/5

Club house facilities - 5/5 

17/20 - Play it! But make sure your caddy is up to par

Next up, St. Andrews 2000.