The Return to Emeralda

The Day

After conducting some quality journalistic research, the world was a very different place the last time TeeSet visited Emeralda. COVID travel restrictions / lockdowns were a thing, the Queen was still the Queen and Blinding Lights, the most streamed song EVER on Spotify, had just been released! Bet you never knew that!

Traditionally, TeeSet has been a society where we have tried to price golf at / around 1JT for a Sunday afternoon. With the boom in popularity of golf in Indonesia, the traditionally ‘cheaper’ courses have all hiked prices, which means that courses thought of as ‘top quality’, such as this week’s host Emeralda, are only just that little bit more expensive… and judging by the feedback of the 17 TeeSetters present on the day, very well worth it!

Fantastic weather greeted the TeeSetters as they began their rounds slightly earlier than planned on both the River and Lake courses. As it turned out, starting on the Lake course was substantially quicker with those players finishing about 45 minutes ahead of those that started on the River course, though special mention / kudos has to go to the starter at Emeralda who helped with the transition between the courses and allowed TeeSet groups to play through… something that is typically unheard of! A big TeeSet thumbs up to Emeralda!

Despite the pleasant weather to start with, there was a spot of, as Weatherman Ian Pemberton so beautifully put it, ‘Mancunian Drizzle’ about halfway through… though as is typical at this time of year, the monsoon conditions didn’t last too long and within a short while, the glorious sunshine returned to cap what was another glorious TeeSet Sunday!

Ignore the water, ignore the water, ignore the water!

No new players or official welcome backs to speak of this week, though joining us for the first time this year were father and son duo Andy and Carter Cross, Italian Stallion Alessandro Perciante and last year’s match-play runner-up, Luca Parolin! Nice to have you back with us!

The Play

The prize for ‘most extraordinary hole of the day’ goes to Ian ‘Mr. Clean’ Pemberton, who started his round by promptly knocking his 3-wood (for safety) straight into the water on the left of the River’s 1^st hole. After dropping, laying up to about 100m, he then channeled his inner Bryson DeChambeau and holed out for the unlikeliest of birdies, which promptly brought an end to the crestfallen violin music that accompanied his walk down the fairway, replacing it with a crescendo of whooping, jumping for joy and caddy hugs all around! The dots, as always, were paid out accordingly… how many dots is it for a hole out by the way?

And where was King Dottie whilst this was happening?

In the Stableford competition, fresh off a solid performance last week and continuing his excellent form after his Seattle trip, Axel ‘The Vanisher’ Hertzke was the winner on paper with another fabulous round of golf, firing 41 Stableford points! Unfortunately, he’s far too cool for school to stick around and because of his disappearing act, the prizemoney went to another player who has been consistently showing up on leaderboards (and in blogs), over the last few weeks… Dewi Wardoyo with 39 points and surely another handicap chop coming her way! Well done Dewi!

On the gross side of things, a few good scores to mention this week. Ian ‘Mr. Clean’ Pemberton, fresh off what appeared to be a golf-filled trip to Australia, fired an 81 to take the bronze. In second place, really coming into his own of late, was teenager Carter Cross with another solid round, shooting a 79. In first place, it was Axel ‘The Vanisher’ with a wonderful 1 over par, gross 73… but as he had already vacated the premises, it was Carter (who is both cool and still at school), adding to his piggy bank!

Onto the skill prizes and first birdie, unsurprisingly, went to Mr. Clean after the heroics on his first hole. Lowest putts was again Axel ‘The Vanisher’ with just 27 (no mean feat on Emeralda’s treacherous greens), but as he was already halfway back to goodness knows where, it was the turn of John Gutske to take the prize… another man who’s winning so much cash he’ll have to start making tax declarations soon!

Carter Low Gross. Mr. Clean first birdie Dewi Low Net

Given that John and Dewi had both featured in the prizes, it only seemed fitting to award them a bottle of wine to celebrate their day… so the snappily titled Wine Cartel Bottle of Wine Prize Draw Prize went to John & Dewi! Remember… @winecartel.id on Instagram and www.winecartel.id for all your alcohol needs!

John & Dewi the dynamic duo of the day, enjoy the wine.

TeeSet Matchplay Championship 2025:

Sign-ups are coming thick and fast and if you haven’t already, you can do so via the TeeSet WhatsApp group! The entry cost is 100K and you can pay when you next see Adhe… either this week at Cengkareng or next week at Riverside. Entries will close after the Riverside game and the draw for the first round will be done at the presentation on the day. As always, the first round isn’t a knockout – it just determines your bracket – so even if you lose the first match, you can still go on and win the competition! For more rules / procedures, consult the TeeSet WhatsApp group… it’s all on there!

Coming Up:

The New & Improved Kojo Monthly Medal: The first Kojo Monthly Medal of 2025 sees us return to Cengkareng and this year, things are hotting up. Many thanks to Geoff Thwaites and Kojo who have very kindly sponsored an ACTUAL gold medal for the winners this year! There are still a few spaces remaining for this inaugural-ish event so as normal, sign up the usual way on MyGolf2U!

There be gold in dem dare medals

February Games: All the February games are now posted on MyGolf2U so sign up as usual! February 2 sees us nip down the Jagorawi Toll Road to the former home of Jakarta Interleague Riverside Golf Club which, I am reliably informed, has a new GM in place. February 9 sees TeeSet head to Modern golf Club in Tangerang and on February 16 it’s the turn of Pondok Cabe and the Valentines Day pairs Texas Scramble (more info below. The week after that (February 23), it’s another monthly medal event at Cengkareng! You really are spoilt for choice!

Valentines Day Pairs Texas Scramble: I’ve been binge-watching Love Island Australia on Netflix this week (don’t ask why), so those that watch it will know what I’m talking about. Find someone you ‘vibe with’, go ahead and ‘pull them for a chat’ so that you can ‘couple up’ and take part in the Valentines Day Pairs Texas Scramble on February 16! Further details will be provided nearer the time but when you have found your significant other, you can enter now via the TeeSet WhatsApp group and via MyGolf2U!

Speaking of Valentines Day…:

Bull & Vine are generous sponsors of TeeSet (and in my opinion, the best hang-out spot in Kemang), so it only seems right to give them a mention. If you’re like me and stuck for ideas of where to take your special someone on Valentine’s Day, then look no further than Bull & Vine. They are hosting a ‘romantic evening filled with enchanting moments’ along with a complimentary cocktail and romantic gifts (sounds much classier than Love Island) for 499K ++ per person. For more information and to RSVP, contact 0856 9385 9717.