The Day
No traffic issues at all. Rain got us at the end but the pace of play was so good that the last group had an hour break in the drinks hut before finishing their round still well before dark. BSD is well worth the extra Rupiah.
Both the Singing President and the Former President of Almost Everything were needed to explain a number of chaotic elements of the day. It’s been a while since we have both been there together and we managed our best to make it as clear as mud. What was clear was that everyone was enjoying themselves enough not to care.
But for future reference, let’s get it right now.
There was some confusion over tee boxes, with some playing off the whites, based on past rounds being subject to a local rule announced for BSD by the Committee, and others playing off blue tees as our normal Tee Set default, in the absence of a local rule being announced this round. BSD is such a long course that many prefer the whites, however, it does bring bunkers into play, and we have emailed you a quick poll to get your views before we play there again. Just so we can be clear! If we vote to leave the blues (BLEXIT) we will advise.
Some more confusion over lift, clean and place. Again to make this clear, we are playing “winter rules” – lift, clean and place, until further notice due to courses being wet. The USGA, whose rules we follow, allows local club committees to determine winter rules. Our interpretation, based on common practice on Jakartan courses, is that lift, clean and place is allowed within 6 inches (15cm) if your ball is muddy and if it lands on fairways or closely mown rough (first cut). You should mark your ball first and announce to a playing partner you are taking relief under winter rules. Please note this is different from taking relief for casual water or a plugged lie out of a bunker, this is always available.
And finally, due to ongoing negotiations on the Monthly Medal venue, we decided this would be a standard round so we did not score stableford or award a Medal this month.
As expected for BSD, a great turnout, with 51 players including 5 newcomers (pictured here) and a host of welcome backs led by Amarjeet after 94 weeks and Tarun after 35 weeks away.
An early finish encouraged people to stay for a few beers and get to know each other afterwards, ending a very enjoyable day out. We’ll be back soon BSD.
The Play
As usual, BSD brought out some good nines, with A graders Stuart and Ken carding 38 and 40 and B Graders Al and Jaroslav carding 42s. Jaroslav had one of his best rounds shooting 67 nett to pip Laurie and Al who both also shot under handicap for the B Grade Net. Anirudh took Low C Grade honours with a 68 from Ricardo (71) who continued on his good form. In A grade, we couldn’t separate Ken (sporting his first ever beard) and Roger (who took off before photos), who both carded net 75s. Stuart had a great round of 80 for Low Gross but we decided to take him out of the Low Net contention, and as it turned out, had to leave before presentations leaving a happy Treasurer.
In other prizes, Bushy was Low Putter with 29, Lis again won First Par Over 30 and first timer Luuk won Most Improved. There were quite a lot of birdies but Romeo got in first on the fourth hole and Emil had the first of the first of many sandy pars on the third hole. Special mention to Jeff Landau whose sandy par on the sixth included two bunker shots.
A couple of great matchplay battles – James took the honours over Stuart and Laurie over Roger, demonstrating how tough matchplay is on the low handicappers who both had strong rounds. Well done to Laurie and James who are proven matchplay performers.
And now for the booby prizes. It is rare, although it has happened, that the Net A Grade winner also wears the skirt….and we saw it again today with Ken…joined here by first timers Matt and Luuk, and incognito Max under the wig and Art making up the motley crew. Regular cross dressers Mel and Ricardo were conspicuously absent for the photo.
Monster putter was “won” by Aaron who was joined here by Brett after getting lost with a 12 for Most Strokes on a hole.
Next Week: Senayan Nasional
Updated details above.
Tee Set 
I think that each event you should announce whether winter rules in place or not. This will let those who do not attend every week know what that week’s event rules are without guessing.
Similarly confusing to some is the new allowance for older members to select to play from the white tees (to be done at the beginning of a year). Those teeing off after them will or might think that the event is played from the white tees by all. I think when you announce next weeks course you should also announce the tee boxes that will be played. Little effort involved but would result in less confusion. Cheers AL
Thanks Al – good suggestion. As far as I know, no older folks are exercising the option to play off the whites as a default now, so that experiment known as the “Hayne Exemption” after our dear friend Harold, may be over, although Harold is welcome to play off the whites any time he returns to Tee Set. The only courses we would consider playing off the whites are the ones with longer par 4s, like BSD. Assume winter rules for Senayan…bound to be plenty of muddy balls there!
On a lighter note, Brenda took a great shot of Bushy here – he looks like he is in a spaceship or straight out of Saturday Night Fever with those lights around his head.