Tee Setters kicking up their heels to get started at Permata Sentul.

The Day

Numbers were lower than usual at 23 because 18 or so Tee Setters were competing in the inaugural Battle Royale against Bali’s Par 5 society at the Nirwana Golf Club in Tanah Lot (special post mid week).

Like Bali, we enjoyed bright sunshine and blue skies. The news from the starter that we could tee off at 11 am instead of after midday was very welcome and allowed all flights to finish in what would have otherwise been a round cut short.  The dark clouds moved in late afternoon and gave us a repeat thunder and lightning show, similar to last week and our terrifying last visit to Permata Sentul, where we were caught in the centre of the storm…but fortunately survived to enjoy the free pitchers of beer.

This time, we were already safely back in the clubhouse when the skies opened up in full force and although most results were in quite early the announcements were delayed due to the downpour on the clubhouse roof making even the loudest loudmouth unable to be heard. Thanks to VP Mel and Brenda for carrying the torch this week and doing a great job.

Three newcomers with Peter, Mariah and Corey and welcome back to Jochen and Kalea after 24 weeks. Jochen did not attract the photographer enough for an individual snap but can be found in the group photo below behind his free pitcher of beer.

After the early start, and even with the rain delayed announcements everyone had finished the jug of beer and post match meal before 6pm and left relaxed and ready to cope with the 2 hour trip back to central Jakarta, feeling nostalgic about only a few weeks back during Ramadan when the same trip took only 30 mins.

The Play

The Tee Set Matchplay is in the last rounds now and Tee Set legends, Fernando Gaggino (aka El Guapo, fomer El Supremo of Matchplay) and Mick Dodsworth, known for his golfing endurance after surviving a legendary 9 day visit from golfing buddies to Jakarta earlier in the year, teed off together. The match was extremely tight throughout with the gents tied after 17 holes. As they lined up to putt on the 18th green, with Mick being in a better position relative to the hole and looking like he had the last whole won, a bolt of lightning struck ground what seemed like less than 100 metres from the green with caddies dropping to their knees, making sure the golfers were a more likely path to ground for the following bolts.

Fernando seemed to take longer than usual to line up his putt, possibly in the hope that the siren may sound requiring a repeat match next week at his home course Gading Raya. This was not to be and Mick won the last hole to take the match, in a contest that VP Mel remarked was a pleasure to witness with the two great sports mutually gracious and supportive as their fortunes see-sawed throughout the match with not one club broken over a knee or thrown in one of the numerous available water hazards.   Good to hear all are safe and the story had a happy ending.

Some very good rounds, with Divya taking Low Gross with 84 (net 68), Frank winning A Grade and Craig and KK winning B and C Grades respectively. Frank and KK also won Low Birdie but had already collected, making a very happy Treasurer who missed out on skirt fines this week.

Craig Edwards’ low putts with 30 on very challenging greens was a miracle, especially after a late Saturday night with some fellow Tee Setters, who wondered if he would even make it to PS after his strong performance downing Bintang one for one with others that had a distinct weight advantage.

However he had been awarded Low Net B Grade so Richard (left) with one more at 31 took Low Putts for the second consecutive week, with his putting matra printed across his chest. Sudhir joined the prize winners above with Most Improved.

Only one skirt to Rolf which is unusual even with the reduced numbers.  Rolf had to go early so missed a repeat  of last week’s shot with wig and skirt, but paid his fine before he left. Kalea (pictured above) was the only fine of the day with Most Strokes, but there is a fair chance the VP for Increasing Ladies Membership may have waived this one as a strategic gesture.

The Monster Putter monkey was still in Ric’s house so no photo there either this week: shared between Kalea and Gerald.

Next Up: Tee Set Monthly Medal and Eclectic, Gading Raya, Sunday 31st July 2016, 11.30am

Yes, we are ready to start the next monthly medal and eclectic cycle after a temporary shift from Imperial to Gading Raya for the next four months.

This cycle is the fourth after wins to Jan, Fernando and Pascal.

Gading Raya is popular across all handicaps so is sure to attract good numbers, so register here as early as you can to give us a good idea of numbers.

The defending champ and Monthly Medal Co-ordinator, Pastis Pascal is still travelling so the way is open for other challengers to swoop in and get a good start. Unlike other eclectic formats, Tee Set does not discount handicaps so high handicappers have a genuine advantage in this competition, but they have to perform well because we have seen some very low scores across the grades in previous Gading Raya rounds.