Riverside, Sunday 1st February 2014

it’s a jungle out there …. one of the best afternoon’s golf, ever 🙂

The day

Tee Set golfers are a hardy bunch and, when they awake to the sounds of thunder and torrential rain outside their bedroom windows on their sacred golfing Sunday, they never consider that an event might be called off due to bad weather.

So it was that despite it having been raining constantly for up to 48 hours in parts of Jakarta, fully 23 of the 33 registered Tee Setters made their optimistic way to the lovely Riverside.

By the time the scheduled 12:00 tee time rolled around, the rain had not stopped and the Starter refused to start. Perhaps with an eye on the loss of revenue staring them in the face, we then received word that we could start at 1.15. Still raining though and 11 more gave up and went home to stretch their legs in front of a log fire or something.

The remainder, a group that was to be variously dubbed the “beating heart”, the “hard-core” and the “lunatic fringe” of Tee Set (choose your pick) hung in there however and tee-ed off in a light rain to an empty course led by the Head Lunatic in Charge (your scribe has made his own choice) the former President of Almost Everything.

Suddenly perfect playing conditions appeared and the course was now owned by Tee Set. Golf does not get any better than this and could be compared to being the first out of the chair lift on virgin snow or arriving at daybreak at Cimaja with a 6 foot swell running and nobody out. For those that did not stay for the experience, eat your hearts out.

Those who showed but didn’t play are credited with a round anyway.

Just one Newcomer this week – and he immediately joined the Lunatic Fringe – well done Mick Dodsworth – a flying start to your Tee Set career. Mick was so impressed with the day’s event that he even followed the group back to the Star Deli after the game.

Welcome Backs were just 4 and only one of them actually got to play, he with the winning number of 9 weeks, Doug McQuater. Welcome back, all.

The lateness of the start and the other unusual circumstances meant there were no Tee Set fees and, for once, no prizes or skirts and all the rest though we have of course recorded the numbers for the statistics. The lack of prize giving meant that there was more time than usual for drinks and food.

The play

Good finish Mick!

2 shot penalty?

While there was no money coming in and none going out, bragging rights still apply even though from a much reduced field of just 13 Tee Setters.

Simon Reynolds made a near-miraculous recovery from his back strain to post the best gross score with an 80 while Jiro took low net with a 69.

Welcome Back-er Dougie McQuater took low putts with 30 on a day when the worst putting result was a miserly 37. Just goes to show what you can do with soft greens.

Next up

Back once again to the ever-popular Pondok Cabe, a much improved course with plenty to offer including mostly wallet-lite green fees, “Tee Set friendly” fairways and, not least, the cheapest beer you will find on a course in Jakarta and its surrounds!

Sufficient time has now elapsed since the 2014 Set Championship for your maid/houseboy/jaga/wife etc etc to have lost/misfiled/burned/sold most of the gear you picked up on that magnificent day.

With one eye clearly on the beer prices available, your committee has therefore decided to offer a big bottle of Bintang or Anker to anyone turning up at Pondok Cabe in full 2015 Set Championship regalia, ie shirt, cap and socks – and bearing a Tee Set towel. Their generosity knows few bounds; we wonder how many will get the big green bottle?

Tee off at 11am from 1 and 10 as ever, with green fees etc of just 500,000 including shared cart so sign up here – and don’t be late, we sometimes get away early at Cabe.

See yah Sunday … Tee Set