Quote

"Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose."

Winston Churchill



Thursday, September 29, 2011

Next Game - Bukit Unggul - 4th October 2011

Cannons all,

Golf next Tuesday 4th October will be at
BUKIT UNGGUL COUNTRY CLUB
Usual arrangements
Be there by 07:30 LATEST
Names to Mike Smith soonest

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Loose Cannons Southern Tour - Batam

Cannons all.

8 LC's made it to Batam and enjoyed 2 days of golf on 2 very good courses in sublime weather.

Batam has changed out of all recognition since I was last there in1979. Back then there were no metalled roads and most of the buildings were wooden. The island was covered in forest with 
a population of only 6000 in 1970 and probably no more than 10,000 by 1979. Today most of the forest has gone, clear logged with mostly secondary forest and shrub left. There are wide dual carriageway roads and a bustling commercial / industrial based community supported by a population of just over 1M with an annual population growth of 8% over the last decade. Amazing! 

Mind you, there are plenty of signs of a country trying to run before it can walk.

Flying Fire Fly for the first time was a good experience; the flight being on time in both directions and their terminal at Subang is both comfortable and efficient. Such a wonderful change from the LCCT at Sepang. Entry was via a 7 day USD10 visa.

The Hotel Harmoni was also a good choice being a reasonable 4 star and right in the heart of Nagoya. Everything was literally just around the corner.

On day one we played Tering Bay in cool cloudy weather with a nice breeze blowing throughout. 

Tering Bay is a testing Greg Norman track and although the course was in good shape; especially the greens, the bunkers with their steep deep sand faces were very challenging especially if you were embedded in the face. The clubhouse is in need of some TLC but adequate and good friendly service. The club found us a mini bus for the return to the hotel and we hired him for the rest of the tour.

For the record Kevin Wiggins returned the best score of 83 for 42 points with Ted Parslow R/U with a superb 78 for 40 points.

Day 2 was the September Medal Game played at Palm Springs. This was a lovely picturesque 36 hole layout having 5-shared greens. We played the toughest of the 4; Palm & Island, measuring 5445 metres with a slope of 126. With a mixture of forest and beach backdrops it was a pleasure to play, again in delightful weather. The clubhouse too was excellent, Balanese style with all amenities and overlooking the beach.

The winner was Kevin again with 82 for 44 points and the R/U was myself with 39 points. The lowest gross was 76 by Geoff Parslow (34 back 9) finding his form, and the most golf was played by Richard Moss with 106.

Kevin is cut 8 strokes and myself 1 stroke.

A very good tour and worth another visit when we can try some of the other 5 courses on the island. Lots of fun.

I will be forwarding some photos to Stuart for inclusion in the Blog.


The photos and captions below by courtesy of Raymond Keys


If you wish to see the photos in original format (large size) please click on the photo itself

Watch this space for next Tuesday's venue.

The Batam Tourists

My ball is in there somewhere!!!

I'll give that hole a good whack and see what happens!!

I see the little bugger!

Can anyone see Barry's ball?

No. - His shorts are too long!!

Richard, proving that he has had training as a mountain goat!

Good balance and well executed back swing.

No follow - through, but job well done!

Barry played with 'FANI' all afternoon, but she knew what I was up to and craftily managed to covered up the 'FA'

Oh Susana.....Lovely girl.

Barry seeking confirmation that 100,000 is really only seven quid!

One of the cheery waitresses. (Note her belt has slipped)!

What a happy bunch of golfers. Especially the guy at the end of the table;-)

Day 2 "Trophy Day" at 'Palm Springs'

And we still have a 'full house'!

Beautiful back drop.

Ted lets rip!

There is a very large water hazard behind the green!

A little bit of TLC and this place could be even better!


Fishing or collecting balls?

Kevin - Did you lose your wallet?

Yummy - What a tasty bull frog!

That looks like my miracle ball!

It bounced on the water in front of the wall and somehow managed to get up over it!

The second flight playing the 'Waiting Game!'

The 'Pro' says "Keep both feet firmly on the ground!

Kevin - A very happy September Trophy winner, (until he learned that he had been cut EIGHT)!
Barry contemplating dessert!

I wonder what he chose?
Mike

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Next Game - Southern Tour Batam - 26th to 28th September 2011

Next week LC's will tour Batam. 9 have signed up and the Itinerary is attached below. The 9 are:-
Mike Smith
Barry Cousins
Kevin Wiggins
Raymond Keys
Tony Morris
Richard Moss
Ted Parslow 
Geoff Parslow 
Glen Wombwell

We will be playing Tering Bay on Monday 26th and Palm Springs on Tuesday. This is the September MEDAL GAME. Both courses are TP and Stevie Heong has generously donated 4 or 5 sets of vouchers for those without TP books. I will have them with me. Thank you Stevie. A word of warning though. If you have the TP book BRING IT. If you haven't but can BORROW ONE do so as the clubs may not accept vouchers that are not attached to the TP Book.
Bring some USD and some Rupea. The Visa on Arrival will cost you USD10. If you have Sing $ that will work as well.
Be at the FireFly terminal at SUBANG by 08:45.
As I say, we are 9. If anyone would like to join the Batam tour that would be good. 3 would be great. The hotel still have rooms and there is still room on the flight. It will be a blast. Contact Mike Smith ASAP.



Loose Cannons Southern Tour

Date:-  26th to 28th September 2011 for 2 nights & 2 rounds of golf
Destination:-  Batam Island, Indonesia.
Itinerary
26th September 2011
Meet at Subang Airport, Firefly Terminal at 08:45 LATEST
Firefly Flight # 3425
Dep Subang 10:05
Arr Batam 10:25
Visa on arrival USD10 for 7 day visa.
Taxi to
Tering Bay Golf & Country Club. TP course
We will air for a 12:30 tee time.
After the game Drinks & Light meal at the club.
Taxi to
Harmoni Hotel & Check In.
Evening free and easy

27th September 2011
After breakfast depart Hotel at 09:00 by Taxi to
Palm Springs Golf & Beach Resort. TP course
This is the SEPTEMBER MEDAL game
Drinks Lunch & Prize Giving at the club.
Taxi back to
Harmoni Hotel
Evening free & easy

28th September
After Breakfast Check out of Hotel and take Taxi to Airport
Firefly Flight # 3426
Dep Batam 10:45
Arr. Subang 13:00

For those NOT going to Batam a game is being organised by Ray Funnell & Andrew Robinson at RAHMAN PUTRA. Contact either of these guys if you are interested in playing.


Results - Kajang Hills Golf & Country Club - 20th September 2011

20 LC's made their way to Kajang Hill G&CC Tuesday 21st September on a damp morning but it had dried up by the time we teed off though the course was very wet underfoot but quite playable; especially the greens which were in excellent condition. the bunkers however would have been better if there had been more sand!
Recent rumours about the future of this nice, mature, well run golf course are true apparently. It has been bought by a developer who intends to convert it to housing and they are wasting no time as evidenced by the surveying parties on the course and most of the mature trees already numbered ready for transplanting. What a shame. It's one thing to lose a few of the really rough tracks but to lose a mature gem like KHG&CC is a real pity. I understand that a study of the possibility of incorporating a 9 hole layout within the housing development is being investigated but obviously it would be for the use of the residents and not the general golfing public. I have no time frame for this regrettable development but in whatever time that there is left we will try and play KH again.
The winner today was Ben Webb with 44 points and the R/U OCB was Tony Morris with 42 points from Richard Moss. Ben is cut 8 strokes and Tony 1 stroke. The lowest gross was 78 by Geoff Parslow and the most golf was played by Alan Holgate.
M&M was taken at the club as part of their package and very good it was too and at RM412 net per flight, it's value for money.
But for how long?







Photographs kindly submitted by AndrĂ© Holm.


Thursday, September 15, 2011

Do you know the origin of SHIT?



Manure: In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship and it was also before the invention of commercial fertilizers, so large shipments of manure were quite common.




It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, not only did it become heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by-product is methane gas of course. As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can imagine what could (and did) happen..... Methane began to build up below decks, and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM!




Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what was happening.After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the instruction ' Stow high in transit ' on them, which meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane.



Thus evolved the term ' S.H.I.T '  (Stow High In Transit) which has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.You probably did not know the true history of this word. Neither did I. I had always thought it was a golf term.

Next Game - Kajang Hills Golf & Country Club - 20th September 2011

Cannons all.

Golf next Tuesday 20th September will be at:-
KAJANG HILLS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
Tee off at the LATER TIME of 08:33
Be there by 08:00 LATEST
We need FULL FLIGHTS and 4 flights have been booked.
Names to Mike Smith soonest.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Results - Tasik Puteri Golf Club - 16th September 2011

Another good turnout of 16 Cannons found Tasik Puteri most agreeable,
the weather fine and the course very quiet.  Apart from the last
flight, all were round in good time.  Winner was Vincent Vijayan with
96 gross for 44 points and cut 8.  Runner-up was Simon Compton with 87
gross for 42 points and cut 1.  John Laidley played the least golf
with 84 and Stan Fine the most with 120.  Full results as follows:

1. Vincent Vijayan - 96/44
2. Simon Compton - 87/42
3. Jeff Pearce - 100/40
4. Glen Wombwell - 96/39
5. Kevin Wiggins - 87/36
6. John Laidley - 84/34
7. Hans Berger - 93/31
8. Ben Webb - 100/29
9. Alan Holgate - 110/29
10. Ray Funnell - 100/28
11. Andrew Robinson - 98/27
12. Raymond Keys - 103/27
13. Andre Holm - 104/26
14. Barry Cousins - 108/25
15. Erol Akinci - 100/24
16. Stan Fine - 120/16

An excellent luncheon was enjoyed at the Equatorial Restaurant.  And
there was a cameo appearance of Richard Moss, just back from his UK
sojourn.  Mike Smith is back at the helm for next weeks game and he
will let you have details accordingly

Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Lighthouse Club of Kuala Lumpur Golf Challenge - 7th October 2011

For anyone interested in participating in this event please contact Andrew Robinson.



Next Game - Tasik Puteri Golf Club - 13th September 2011



Next game will be at Tasik Puteri on Tuesday 13th September. Andrew has booked 4 flights at so would you please advise Andrew if you are going to play. Usual time.

Results - Port Klang - 6th September 2011

11 LC's turned out on a beautiful morning for golf at a very quiet Port Klang Golf Resort. We almost had the place to ourselves.
 
For some reason some of our members are reluctant to visit this club but let me tell you that this is a challenging course and it was in pretty good condition; especially the fairways and aprons. The greens were a little slow but true and the peaceful location near the sea is great. Old fashioned yes, but a true test of skill for sure. And it's only 35 mins from Bangsar (always assuming that you take the most direct route).
 
The winner with 41 points was Barry Cousins and the R/U John Laidley with 37 points. Low gross was by John Laidley with an excellent 82 and the most golf was played by Vincent. Barry is cut 5 and John 1.
 
The M&M was at the nearby Port Village Restaurant wher some excellent sea food was washed down with a variety of minums and we all had an absolute hoot.
Great day by the sea. We shall return.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Loose Cannons Southern Tour - Batam - Update



Those CONFIRMED for BATAM are:-
Mike Smith
Barry Cousins
Kevin Wiggins
Raymond Keys
Tony Morris
Erol Akinci
André Holm
Richard Moss
Ted Parslow 
Geoff Parslow 
Glen Wombwell
The confirmed arrangements are:-


26th September
Fly Firefly from Subang.
 Dep Subang 10:05 
 Arr. Batam Arr 10:25
 Visa on arrival
 Taxi to Tering Bay Golf & Country Club. TP course
 This will be the TROPHY GAME
 Prize giving and drinks at Tering Bay
 Taxi to Harmoni Hotel & check in.
 Evening free and easy.
27th September
After breakfast Taxi to
 Palm Springs Golf & Beach Resort. TP course
 After game drinks at Palm Springs
 Taxi to hotel.
 Evening free and easy.
28th September
After breakfast Check out of Hotel
 Taxi to airport
 Dep Batam 10:45 
 Arr. Subang 13:05      
Cost approx. RM1237
The cost INCLUDES Airfare, Carriage of clubs by Firefly, Hotel (single occupancy), Breakfast, Free Mini Bar, Golf Green fee, buggy & caddy (TOP PREMIER)
NOTE:- If you have the TP Book BRING IT. If you don't have the book BORROW ONE. If you can't borrow one it will cost you a little more but NOT MUCH.
It DOES NOT include Visa on Arrival, Departure Tax, Taxi (easimated to be RM40 p.p. based on 2 sharing)
Each golfer will be responsible for making their own booking with
Return fare RM343
Golf Clubs RM140
Delux room RM245 p.n.nett (Total 490 nett)
Rate include break fast ,mini bar & internet connection  
The names have been forwarded to Harmoni.
PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR HOTEL BOOKING ASAP

See you all at Subang on the 26th