The Day

With the Star Deli Tournament at Matoa taking the attention of many -including the President of Everything, a Star Deli regular- and a couple of no-shows due to the failure of the alarm clocks needed due to an almost unprecedentedly early tee time of 8am, there was a relatively small field of just 17 Tee Setters for the Fatmawati Iron Man competition.

No matter, those playing were blessed with glorious sunshine and Fatmawati fairways in really reasonable conditions for so far into the dry season. As promised, however, the Royal and Ancient’s greens were, erm, “unique” and regularly induced the most bizarre of behaviour in even the most expensive of golf balls.

Joe Alci returned for one of his rare outings and was to pay the penalty with the lack of hand-hardening activity bringing about a lot of skinning. Playing more often will spare you the pain, Joe!

Cheap and cold beer, excellent Bakso Kuah, a 10 minute journey to the course for many, great weather and small and crap greens, who could want for more ? – all agreed that it had been a fun day and that we should return to Fatmawati again – but that once a year was enough 🙂

The Play

Proving rather more Ancient than Royal, Fatmawati was a significant challenge, and certainly no pushover with just five irons in the bag.

Two Tee Setters revelling in the Challenge posed by greens that wouldn’t be out-of-place on an army assault course were Santi Miller who shot an amazing 39 on the “back nine” to take Low Gross with a total 85 – and Paul Evison who played probably his best ever round to take Low Net with 66. So, Tee Set’s first “Ironman” is ….. a woman ….

“I’m leaving my driver in the bag in future” was Paul’s view after a round in which he was to stay on the fairway with far greater frequency than is his wont. Santi also took Low Putts by some way with 29 – but suffered under the “one prize only” rule – and was also less than 12 inches away from her second hole-in-one of the month at the par three 9th!!

Judi Helsing had something of a dream day with First par for >= 30 handicap – and then rubbed it in with her first ever birdie! Husband Ed was also in the money with a share of Most Improved.

A warm Tee Set welcome to both David Shenman and Mike Spencer; trust us guys, the courses get much better! Mike immediately entered into the spirit of things by taking 41 putts therby enriching the Tee Set treasury.

Also adding to the pile needed for the Tee Set Championship in November were Jan Janda, Joe Alci. Mel Meeds, Mitchell Wiener and Nicky Moir, who each failed to reach the ladies’ tee on at least one occasion during the day. And Santi Miller proved a most enthusiastic “enforcer” by ensuing all fines were collected for once.

Full player by player results can be seen here.

Next Sunday

As trailed last week, the whole Tee Set group, both Interleague team and “socialites” alike, is back together at Jagorawi New Course on Sunday 22nd September for the first time this year in a long pre-arranged date that, for once, has not changed.  Rather unfortunately, the club’s propensity for treating its agreement with the Interleague as a convenience has not entirely gone away – and tee time will be at “around” 12:45 rather  than the usual 09:30.

With a shotgun start promised, all should at least finish before dark. Relatively reasonable green fees etc for a course of this quality of 800,000 roops, including shared cart, are somewhat offset by beers at 50,000 a shot.

Geoff Thwaites confirmed that his upcoming birthday is actually his 70th and not as previously and erroneously reported, his 69th; a Freudian slip on our part one imagines. Also confirmed is that, immediately after the Interleague formalities are over, Geoff will be standing his hand at the Jagorawi bar for all those who would wish to join him in celebrating this milestone in a lifetime of hard work – and an awful lot of golf and fun!!

Should be a great day, so do sign up at “Yes, I’m playing!” if you haven’t done so already.

See yah Sunday, Tee Set