The Day:

Can you believe, that after all the Christmas / New Year shenanigans, we’re already over a week into 2025?! As the saying goes, ‘doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun!’ Or, as the slightly less snappy saying goes, ‘doesn’t time fly when you’re one of the 11 TeeSetters that played last Sunday!’

Jakarta Golf Club, conveniently located in the center(ish) part of the city, played host to the TeeSet 2025 curtain raising event. Founded way back in 1872, it has the title of being the oldest golf club in Indonesia and one of the oldest in Asia, Coincidentally, 1,872 is also the approximate number of shots that it would take me to play 18 holes there… the tight and tree-lined fairways would prove too much of a match for my notoriously wayward drives!

With the absence of most of the committee this week, it was the turn of Former Singing President, Craig Tinggi Ewers to step in and host. As it turned out, that personnel decision was perfect as after 11 (or so) holes, the heavens opened, the lightning struck and Craig & The Gang were left singing in the rain… or, more accurately, singing and drinking the wine generously donated by TeeSet sponsors Wine Cartel, in the clubhouse!

With the golf washed out, the wine consumed and still some hours to go before bedtime, in what must be TeeSet record, over half the contingent decided to continue the entertainment at Bull & Vine, another TeeSet sponsor. Work on Monday wasn’t on the agenda!

Jude, Dewi and John swinging into 2025

With the absence of most of the committee this week, it was the turn of Former Singing President, Craig Tinggi Ewers to step in and host. As it turned out, that personnel decision was perfect as after 11 (or so) holes, the heavens opened, the lightning struck and Craig & The Gang were left singing in the rain… or, more accurately, singing and drinking the wine generously donated by TeeSet sponsors Wine Cartel, in the clubhouse!

With the golf washed out, the wine consumed and still some hours to go before bedtime, in what must be TeeSet record, over half the contingent decided to continue the entertainment at Bull & Vine, another TeeSet sponsor. Work on Monday wasn’t on the agenda!

The Play:

Given the fact that the golf was somewhat abbreviated, I’ll quickly recap the serious prizes before moving onto the fun stuff!

The runner-up and featuring on the blog for all the right reasons for the third consecutive week, was Dougie McQuater. His 20 points through the holes played good enough to earn back-to-back-to back prizes! The winner this week though, a man who had a stellar year in 2024 (2 holes in one, a Big Dog and a trip to The Open), was John Gutske… his 21 points through the holes played enough to take top spot! Starting 2025 off just how he finished 2024! Well done John!

Given the weather, there was no low putts prize this week, though there was a first birdie, the Former Singing President coming up clutch at the long par 3 3rd hole to take the Rupiah!

Dougie, John & Craig chuffed with their prizes. What are Gary and Hitoshi plotting in the background?

As I wrote in the previous blog (and I hope you were paying attention), given the tree-lined nature of the course there were some special prizes for this week only! To qualify for a… wait for it… ‘woody’, you had to hit a tree and get a nett par on the same hole. Dewi came out the gates hot and jumped right on it, grabbing her woody after hitting a tree on the 3rd hole on her way to a nett par.  However, size matters in this competition and it was Hitoshi ‘The Samurai’ Maruyama’s woody that was the biggest and the best… he nailed three trees on his way to a nett par at hole 9! Both players looked delighted!

Thank you to Wine Cartel for sponsoring the prizes and by popular demand, the woody will return at a future TeeSet event! 

Wine Cartel: Speaking of Wine Cartel, perhaps you’ve had a heavy December and vowed to take it easy in January, deciding to spend a few cozy nights in with Netflix and whatever comes next. You see someone who takes your fancy, you slide into his/her DM’S, you get your ‘rizz on’ and invite your special someone over to ‘chill’. Then, shock horror, you realize, that you’ve got no wine left!

Fear not! The night is not ruined! Just get hold of Wine Cartel! Add them on Instagram @winecartel.id or on WhatsApp (+62 817 774 666) and order wines and spirits directly from them at excellent prices including quick delivery… ideal for those emergency situations! They’re currently offering a 10% discount on your first order by visiting www.winecartel.id/discount/SAVE10%2525.

Coming Up:

January Games: We’ve got some cracking games lined up for you and the schedule until the end of February is posted on (the revamped) MyGolf2U. This coming Sunday (January 12), it’s ‘time for Teletubbies’ as we head to Imperial. The week after that (January 19), we have a special one as we return to the world-class Emeralda… a course that’s been off the rotation for at least the last decade. Finally, to round off what has been a scintillating start to the year, we have the Kojo Monthly Medal at Cengkareng on January 26.

Valentine’s Day Scramble: I know, I know… we’ve just got through Christmas and I’m already writing about Valentine’s Day. However, mark your calendars as the first TeeSet special event of the year is soon to be upon us! Sunday February 16 sees us head to Pondok Cabe for the Valentine’s Day Pairs Texas Scramble. Keep an eye out for the one you love, like, or can merely tolerate for 18 holes and send them a valentine (or a bottle of wine from Wine Cartel) and start arranging your pairs now. More details about the event in due course and you can, once you’ve found a partner, sign up on MyGolf2U!   

That’s it for this week! Happy golfing and as always, Long Live Glorious TeeSet!

S.W.