Hell of a hole – courtesy of Thwaites, G

The day was to got off to the best possible start with the “post-Lebaran exit” traffic in Jakarta and surrounding areas at a level that can only be described as blissful. Despite a nearly empty car park, and a West course in a similar state, play before 12:00 required payment of an extra 400,0000 and not too many bothered, wisely taking breakfast instead.

The writer is firmly of the opinion that the very last time to take a holiday from Jakarta is a week either side of Lebaran as, with the city’s teeming millions largely emptied out into the rest of Java, traffic is a breeze, the courses drop their prices and four hour rounds and faster become the norm. This is not however a view held by all, with lots of Tee Setters on leave and we had a rather low turnout of just 21 therefore for the lovely scenery and reduced fees of Gunung Geulis on a splendid day when the rains were but an ugly, if still vivid, memory.

A number of relatively new Tee Setters who had never played there before, described the West course as pretty wonderful – and as being even better than the Royale Jakarta course recently played. It is indeed rather special.

Just one Newcomer on the day, so a warm Tee Set welcome to Sinta who even managed to improve the scenery and who we hope will return soon if she can ever get Frank off his Harley again.

Joe was there, and there, and …

Many Welcome Backs, most notably Joe Alchi who hadn’t picked up a club in more than a year and who shot a round that proved it, hitting most of the rocks on the course on his way round. You have to play more often, Joe, come back soon!

The Results

Fine round from Graham McGeady to take Low Gross with a 79 for his second best ever round off the stick with Tee Set.  Steady golf from the Grumpy Pirate with 11 pars and 7 bogeys and a net 66 took Low Net too.

A small but not insignificant body of opinion had it that there should be a 10 shot penalty for playing the Tee Set course the day before, however, the Committee’s view is that everybody else is perfectly free to do the same and that there should therefore be no such penalty. Case closed.

Tricky greens as ever at Gunung Geulis and a relatively high 30 blows with the putter were enough for Richard Newcombe to take Low Putts.

Just two birdies on the 378 holes played with one on the 6th for Neil Mullins being good enough to take 1st Birdie. Well done Tom Alcedo for improving by 7 on the back 9 to take his first prize for a while; he was a happy man.

Depressing day for the Treasurer as there were NO SKIRTS – and Monster Putter, Paul Lowndes, was OB when it came to collecting the penalties!

The various flights finished over a very long two hour period and we took a precautionary snap of Cucu before she left early as she was looking a very strong candidate for Monster Putter before she was rescued by Paul.

As it was the only snap your incompetent correspondent managed to take during  the day, Cucu therefore gets to star with the monkey she didn’t deserve 🙂

Full player by player results can be found here.

Next Week

Pondok Cabe is always a popular course with Tee Setters, offering as it does a very decent (and much improved) course at a rate that only a National Oil company could offer at 400,000 roops including shared cart, or 340,000 if walking. Tee off will be from 1 and 10, starting at 11:26 – or rather earlier if as quiet as we expect it to be on the first Sunday after Lebaran.

While Pondok Cabe has a poor reputation, with some, for its traffic, knowing the right way to go helps and traffic next weekend, with millions of vehicles still out of the city, can be expected to be light.  Steak, beers and wine are offered to those up to it after the prizes are given out, at the Miller’s place in Lebak Bulus, conveniently on the way back to the Outer Ring Road at Pondok Indah.

As usual, kindly register here at “Yes, I’m playing!” if you intend doing so.

See yah Sunday ….. Tee Set