Once again the end of the month rolls around and once again TeeSetters roll down the Airport Toll in search of Jakarta’s best greens. This road leads us to the wonderful Cengkareng Golf Club, a golfing fixture that has been at the forefront of the expatriate golf scene for well over 20 years. It has hosted many an AFL or Irish scramble plus a long list of other charitable events and for the last few years it has hosted the TeeSet Kojo Monthly medal. We usually get a big roll out for the monthly medal as players test their mettle in the vain hope of victory. Cengkareng makes a very good frozen margarita which washes away the disappointment of not winning. Ok so we have the scene in our minds of Cengkareng GC, now readers let’s read on and see what happened on that last fateful Sunday in September.

A big field of TeeSetters had signed up for this week’s Medal game with nearly full capacity of 50+ golfers. During the week there was a desperate scramble to get hold of Cengkareng cart by some of our more infirm and aged members. Cengkareng carts are as rare as hens teeth so a waiting list was put in place. Club secretary, Adhe, has arrived early as usual and taken up a strategic vantage point in the restaurant area and started a line of communication with the President, who was recovering from a serious injury. There were a few too many 3 balls and a bit of streamlining needed to be done. Then a player or two pulled out, this is normal, things pop up on Sunday’s. More re-jigging the flights, more dropouts.

President now in car, self-driving to the course and ignoring the pings from the hand phone as he masterly maneuvers his way through Jakarta’s treacherous traffic. Arriving at the course he flings his keys to the Valet and dashes to the change room before heading to the restaurant. Arriving in the restaurant a scene of horror envelops him. There, sitting at the head table is Nicolas drinking a tea or some other similar hot beverage, the next table we have Bert choking back a ciggie but where’s his good luck beer. My god what is happening here! More cancellations are coming more flights being re-worked has covid re-emerged? No, worse a large number of TeeStters have been hospitalised with the Pocks, a rare tropical disease caused by copious amounts of alcohol intake after a round of golf, only surfaces every 40 years.

Roger wanders in looking like he’s been run over by a herd of buffalo, Dean and Siti are quietly holding their heads. What’s wrong with everyone, a large section of today’s turnout look like they have turned out for their own funeral. A quick glance in the bathroom mirror reveals that I also look like one of the living dead. An iced latte does nothing to fix that appearance but a couple of smokes manage to kick start the lungs again, whew! This is looking like being a long day.

The Starter calls us to the tee boxes early and Roberto and Irene have to discard their menus and play the round on an empty stomach. Golfers are hurrying in all directions to get to their allotted box. Caddy and bags are located, equipment checked, Sammi on his second beer. Teeing off in the 3rd group, I grasp the first rule of TeeSet, must stand unassisted on the first tee, I believe I can do this. I must, for the dignity of the office of President of TeeSet. Meanwhile Sammi and Ezra are checking out if it safe to blast one down past the bunker on the 10th, I am checking the distance to the red tees with limited ambitions. All starts well with a high handicapper drive to the right of the fairway, way better than Sammi (hit 3 fairways for the day) and Ezra who went off onto nearby fairways in search of their balls. Does that sound right?

Anyways it was very hot for the first 3 holes, but not nearly as hot as Tom’s 3 pars and a bogey on the first 4 holes as he and Cucu fought for supremacy in their social match play versus Nicolas & Reni. Narrowly going down 2&1. The round started off slow and it looked like we may be chasing the sun over the last few holes but things picked up a bit on the back 9. My partners started a bit slow but Ezra and Sammi were soon into the groove a few putts lagging on the way to the hole stopping a good score being record. Both players had some very good moments and their company was good and words of encouragement accepted, wouldn’t take a beer though as I had the Pocks.

Most scores were a tad off the usual high expectations TeeSetters have, but the early heat and the initial slow play may have sapped a few golfers concentration. All in all a good day.

THE WINNERS

Kojo medal winner, Jude with a pretty handy net 66. Well done.

Low gross to a surprise winner today Nicolas no religious beers to start his round.

Claudio with the day’s first birdie. Welcome back.

Tom takes first sandy on hole 1. Cucu takes the flamingo.

Anna takes the long drive 175m

Well done to Jaco who took long drive with a 235 whack.

Roberto does it easy with a nearest the pin win.

Sunday the 1st at Riverside.

Back to the enchanting layout that is Riverside, gorges, bridges and jungle all make for a pleasnt day. See you there sign up on MyGolf2U you can download the app onto your phone.

NEWS

Next wek we will announce the date and venue of the Annual Championship. Also remeber to get your Matchplay games organised, we are now at the pointy end of the season. The next JAkarta Interleague game is hosted by the mighty TeeSetters and is the last of the season so a sumptuous BBQ will follow. If you are keen to help TeeSet to a victory offer your services to Dean. The game will be at Imperial on the 22nd of October.