actually one of Riverside’s easier par 4’s, just looks rather daunting
For those golfers who have been in Jakarta for any length of time then the stunning Greg Norman designed Riverside course needs no introduction, for the rest of you – do not miss the opportunity afforded by Tee Set on Sunday, an opportunity already taken up by 25 Tee Setters at just 745,00 including shared cart.
The match up of leaders after round 4, Tee Set, against second placed Tin Cups could almost have been considered the grand final on Sunday with both teams having pulled away from the pack in the previous events.
School holidays were to cut out our young guns from the equation with siblings Barbora and Daniel returning for holidays in Europe.
Nevertheless Tee Set has great depth in its ranks this year and quality replacements were quickly found with Simon Reynolds itching to go head to head against match play expert Joseph Peries and the game was worthy of its build up, with Simon playing under his handicap to take the match 2 and 1.
The other singles was Joseph d’Cruz up against Indonesian junior champ Tika. Although Joseph had a stroke on every other hole it was not enough to beat the champ and the match went to Tin Cups 4 and 2.
That however was where the day ended for Tin Cups, with all three doubles games going to Tee Set. First up were Anlo and Divya taking apart Bags and Tee Set’s very own VP of Exotic Drinks, James Young, by 4 and 3.
The next two matches were particularly hard fought see-sawing affairs with the lead moving back and worth constantly however Geoff/Murcho saw off Fuku /Sebastian 1 up while Chris Lever paired up with Captain Ric to see off John Church and Robert Humberson by the same score.
So 8-2 and a fantastic result for Tee Set!
Respect and thanks to Tim Cups for their part in a hard fought tussle played in a great sporting spirit. An excellent example of what the Interleague competition is all about.
Two more Interleague matches to go now with the first against Mad Dogs in September followed by the final match of the season against Sand Baggers in October.
With Tee Set now 13 points clear of its nearest rival we are now odds-on favourites but nevertheless these last two games need to be wins to close out our statement for 2015. So let’s get behind the team, come join Interleague us next month to show your support.
Can the journey to and from Permata Sentul have ever been as smooth? … driving straight up to the Tol gate at Cimanggis rather than the usual 15 minute grind being a particularly sweet memory – and something which bodes well for some other events coming up in Ramadan.
Given that the Interleague team and supporters were away at Jagorawi, a turnout of 30 players on the day was a fine result and they were to be rewarded by a course in top condition, a quickish round, sublime weather, undoubtedly the cutest caddies in town – and a free pitcher of beer for every flight.
Three Newcomers this week in Phil Nervig, Olivier Bowmans and John Johnson – all related to the soon to depart Thurmond Borden. As they all refused the Tee Set shirt and buggered off immediately after play we don’t have high hopes for seeing them again – but they would always be very welcome with or without Thurmond!
Welcome backs headed up by Jan Albeck at a remarkable 135 weeks and followed by Sita at “only” 99 weeks and long time partner Frank Musgrove at a mere 55 weeks.
As well as playing, Frank was present to express thanks to Tee Set for our past efforts in supporting the Yayasan Hog Charity based here in Jakarta, an organisation essentially run by a bunch of inspired expats.
While we are not a charity ourselves, and don’t intend to be, we do everything we can to support the “HOGS” in all that they do; their work on behalf of disadvantaged kids, particularly those suffering from cleft palate and cleft lip, is inspirational and absolutely life transforming for those kids – and worthy of our strongest support.
In the absence of what he termed “the Grown Ups” – all away at Jagorawi, the Web Guy accepted a framed testimonial for Tee Set’s efforts on behalf of the HOGS to date.
To further support the HOGS objective of financing 100+ cleft palate operations this year, we will be having a “Tee Set & HOGS” day on the occasion of Tee Set’s 32nd birthday event at the original home of the group, Sewangan Besar, in August. Watch this space for details nearer the time.
Another surprise with the scorecards today, however, leaving them in the car rather than at home provided less of a challenge this week for a vaguely embarrassed Web Guy.
Super day, super course, clearly a Tee Set favourite.
The play
A rather more modest than of late 5 skirts to report this week, with Ivan Byriel returning to the Sunday cross-dressing fraternity after an absence from the rostrum of more than 2 years while Newcomer Olivier Bosmans took Monster Putter with a splendid 46 of them to win by a clear 4 strokes and Thurmond’s 11 was good enough to take Most Strokes, to the visible relief of a whole bunch of Tee Setters just one stroke behind him.
A happy Evaldo accepting his just rewards for Grade A Low Net
Evaldo, Karel and Daniel all shot under par on a net basis to take the honours in Low Net Grades A, B and C respectively while big-hitting Rasmus shot what he modestly described as a “disappointing” 80 off the stick to win Low Gross. If only.
Amongst the minor prizes, the standout was surely Mick Dodsworth’s 62-44-106 in making Most Improved something of a formality today. The Webs Guy’s advancing years led him to imagine that this was a new record, however, he was to be immediately challenged by a Mel Cantarella sitting inconveniently opposite.
Mel was right of course, see the Most Improved League table below from which it is clear that Mick was only to secure equal 4th place with an 18 shot improvement on his back 9 today.
Mick was modest enough to put his improvement down to the 3 refreshing Bintangs he was to “liberate” at the clubhouse between the two halves of his lopsided round.
Happy to report that Ivan got his money back, and a little more, by securing 1st Par HC >=30 on the very first hole he played. Even more delighted to report that Keith took Low Putts with 27 and was alone in recording a Sandy Par, though the Tee Set principle that only one prize is awarded per player meant he had to pay for his own food 😦
A fantastic 8-2 result for our team against Tin Cups at Jagorawi!
The counting of chickens before they have emerged blinking into the daylight is a human activity frequently frowned upon, so, suffice to say at this time that today’s win puts us in a very strong position to win this year’s Interleague itself – and for the first time ever. Your committee had deemed that in the event that victory is indeed achieved then a modest celebration would be in order, so GO TEAM!!
A full report on the win to follow.
Next up
Ramadan always provides an opportunity to access the greatest course of Jakarta at reasonable prices and our hardworking venue organisers, Wina and Simon, have put in great efforts this year to put together an outstanding programme for the period – and indeed the whole year – and all at attractive prices!
Next up, you lucky people, is the awe-inspiring Riverside course out on the Jagorawi Tol when, hopefully, Ramadan will once again mean that the traffic is just as benign as it was today.
Tee off at 11:30 from two tee boxes after paying your green fees of 745,000 roops, so sign up at “Yes, I’m playing” as usual. As ever we will try our very best to respect requests for flights made when registering, but please note that requesting to be put in a group you would like as you take breakfast on a Sunday morning may lead to disappointment, as this is often not possible and, if it is, causes both work and angst that we can do without. Please help us to help you, thank you.
Yep, delightful course, the cutest caddies in town, an efficient clubhouse staff and a free pitcher of beer for every flight – what’s not to like?
Well, there is a rather earlier tee off time than we have become used to of late of 11am, however, the 728,000 roops for the green fees aren’t going to kill you!
We mentioned that our next round at Imperial was to be the last under the current agreement and, in an unprecedented act of democratic governance. asked you earlier in the week for your views on the alternatives we have identified – the results are here:
The vote for staying at Imperial at 70% is as clear as you will generally get outside parts of the Former Soviet Union and Africa. We will try therefore try to negotiate an extension on the best terms we can get, with Matoa as a back-up in the event that they should try to pull a “Senayan” on us.
The location of Imperial just off the Merak toll, and connected to south Jakarta by the outer ring road toll, makes the drive to this fabulous course a breeze. So easy is it in fact that one can arrive, discover that something important has been left behind at the house, send the driver back and still make the allotted tee time. Just ask the Web Guy who was to prove the theory on Sunday in distributing the score cards just seconds before a shot had been hit 🙂
Brenda on family duties last Sunday so many thanks to the Web Guy who once again took over the registrations with handy assistance from the forceful Pascal. Come back, Brenda, please!!
A couple of Newcomers recruited by Craig and Bags, with Ozzy Phil Miller testing his skill
for the first time with Tee Set as did American recruit Brandon Curson. Brandon is known for his sporting prowess but he’s finding the game of golf a very humbling experience. Welcome, both!
Richard Bolton has been registered to play numerous times in the past but has not made it for whatever reason but, today he finally returned to the fold after 87 weeks away. The next best was a much smaller but still impressive 28 weeks away by Daniel Tandjung and Yangin Chung. Welcome back to all.
There are always grumblings from the troops whenever the order of play is generated by the FPOAE. Priority is given to the web master if he’s on secretarial duties and those that arrive ahead of the majority.
Nevertheless the FPOAE assures us that he listens to all this whining – and on the odd occasion even remembers what they were. As an example, Wina has been promised first tee off next week, even though she seldom arrives more than 5 minutes before tee time. This because after being given a very late tee time she complained that she had actually arrived early – but fallen asleep in the changing room so it just looked like she was as late as usual!!
The current President, fresh from his European travels, was seen sporting a close cropped and extremely grey facial statement, a statement that was to singularly fail to impress Imperial’s female staff who once upon time thought he was handsome. We have absolutely no doubt the beard will be off by Monday morning.
Skirts were at an all time record high of 14 including the somewhat tardily recorded Brandon Curson. The rule about standing behind the line of the tee box when a player is teeing off applies 110% for Brandon as backwards is about the only direction he was not to hit it from the tee today. We can expect a steady stream of skirt income from Brandon, at least until he gets that driver under control!!
The play
A coveted place on the Monthly Medal Shield for Lina Bunter with a fine 37 Stableford points on a day that the Imperial course was set up at its very meanest with many tough tee positions.
Brenda is back again next week to ensure the handicap system catches up with your recent excellent form, Lina 🙂
As mentioned above, a new record haul of cross-dressers today with fully 14 of our number out of the 44 potentials managing to fall short of the Ladies tee. Usually required for such a record is both a good size field, which we had, and a strong Ladies Committee ensuring long distances between red and blue tees – something which with a couple of exceptions was not to be the case. Maybe it was be kind to the Treasurer day. Photo to follow when they have been collected form the length and breadth of Jakarta.
Maybe a new record for Most Strokes on a hole also, with 5 players tied on 11 !!
Month Medal from August onwards
Our 6-months contract with Imperial finishes next month when we could:
1. negotiate an extension to the end of the year with Imperial, or
2. return to Matoa thru the end of the year.
In an unparalleled act of democracy, we ask you for your views here:
We really would appreciate those views.
2015 Eclectic
With our leader after round 4 of the eclectic, James Ross, missing, King Tirto was to take advantage and move to the head of the pack by 1 stroke, while many others also made ground. Perhaps most impressively, David Baglivo moved into contention at net 59 despite only having played 3 rounds.
So, plenty left in with a shout and everything to play for – and go down to the wire next month in the 6th and final round at Imperial!!
2015 Matchplay
Just one result to report from Imperial today where Joe D’Cruz beat Sofree 2 and 1 in another close match.
2015 Schedule
The schedule has been updated and reflects some great developments, not least in the near term where we have been able to secure Riverside and BSD at very attractive Ramadan rates – and the near impossible, a potent mix of 9 holes of the Old Course at Jagorawi plus the 9 holes of their stunning Z course!!
To add to our joy, we will, thanks to the efforts of Tee Set member Richard Mau, be playing for just 525,000 roops on August 2nd!!
If you have never played this glorious Jagorawi twosome before then you are in for an absolute treat, though they are tough – so tough in fact that in recognition of reality, every Tee Setter playing that day will receive a free sleeve of Tee Set Balls!
People, mark it in your diary, the 2nd of August is NOT one to miss!!
Next up
With the Interleague team engaged at Jagorawi (Skipper Ric will be in touch with those selected), the rest of us will be at the lovely Permata Sentul where we have a relatively early start of 11am when we will be looked after by what are generally reckoned to be the cutest caddies in the entire Greater Jakarta area – and for only 728,000 roops, for which they also throw in a free pitcher of Bintang per flight.
Don’t miss the fun of another fine Tee Set day in the sun and register here.
See ya at Sentul !! …… Tee Set
PS not forgetting to wish the best of luck to the team at Jags New Course where a good result will all but clinch the 2015 Interleague for Tee Set – the first ever such win. Go Tee Set!!
Our Monthly Medal at Imperial Golf Klub with a K has moved from its traditional last Sunday in the month in order to accommodate the Interleague, who were rather uncharitably to choose it as the date for their 5th (?) round of matches.
Green fees of 750,00 including shared cart, a fine rate for a great course on a weekend, and a first tee off from 1&10 allegedly at 11:48.
There are some courses where we encourage you to come early just in case we can get away early; Imperial is NOT one of them unfortunately.
As well as all the usual Medal prizes and paraphernalia, Sunday also sees round 5 of the 2015 Tee Set Eclectic, a competition now attracting rather more attention than at its start.
A mix of high and low handicappers still in the hunt which is what it is all about – though there has been some whingeing that it should be based on 50% of handicap. On just the practical grounds of the amount of extra admin that would involve, it ain’t going to happen. Enjoy.
2015 Tee Set Matchplay
Matchplay Overlord, El Guapo, reports reasonable progress in this year’s Matchplay but insists that you don’t rest on your collective laurels, “get them played!!” is his usual message.
Current status of the Bracket Emas half is here and Bracket Kuningan here – though you may have to get off your smart phone to be able to read them so here are the outstanding matches in no discernible order.
30 Tee Setters arrived at Palm Hill to find a rather full car park but happily the Starter was soon offering us an early start, a start before less than half the field had even arrived.
1st par HC >= 30 for On on her return
No Newcomers to report this week, but happily some Welcome Backs to a number of Tee Setters now resident outside the land of the Durian, George “Pulpy” Beverage and On and Dave Shenman, now finding themselves in a land possessed of but a single golf course, and one with just 11 holes at that, the Solomon Islands.
Scant wisdom shown in cutting that particular baby in nearly half.
Having missed his lift from Cecelia’s Cafe, we had already taken Pulpy off the play-list when his cheery visage made an appearance after the flights had been completed. Trust it was good night George!!
In glorious weather once again, a lightly loaded course and cute and mostly knowledgeable caddies meant that most rounds were to be around the magic 4 hours mark.
Palm Hills is of course no pushover and that winner of First Birdie was only to perform his feat on the 13th hole served to confirm that – as did the relatively high average putt count despite relatively flat greens.
The Honorary Vice-President of Exotic Drinks made a long overdue return to the fray courtesy of a private flight from Singapore in the early morning – only to find that there were no cocktails available despite their extensive presence on the drinks card. He promises to permanently carry his own Margarita mix in the car to cope with such unfortunate circumstances in the future. James is also now an expert at removing amazing amounts of sand out of bunkers with but a single blow as you will see below.
While traffic in the morning had been rather kind, there was to be no repeat of this in the evening with the traffic from the Puncak being absolutely murderous with return journeys of around 2 hours being the norm. Your committee’s decision to move the emphasis of our schedule to the West, and the joys of a still unclogged outer ring road, was to prove once again that they can occasionally get things right.
With no Brenda, it was the Web Guy’s turn to get it in the ear for the full two hours from Malty on the way home this week, fortunately the former was exhausted from answering stupid questions, a day in the sun, recording all the scores and joining in the merriment of the apres golf – and was to spend most of the journey asleep.
The play
A crushing Low Net of 66 from Lina Bunter to take the Grade C honours while a net 9 strokes more were good enough to share Grade A for Alastair Livingston and Anthony King while Harold Hayne, in his 42nd and last Tee Set before returning to the US, took full advantage of playing off the white Tees to come in with a net par.
Best wishes and Selamat Jalan to Harold and his family from us all at Tee Set – we hope to see you back in a couple of years!
Seemingly inevitably, Simon Reynolds took the Low Gross honours once again with 81 off the stick, 3 shots ahead of James Young, though James was to get some consolation with a terrific 27 putts.
Evaldo marked his return to Tee Set fun with a sandy on his very first hole, while Fernando’s 4 sandy pars on the day were to be of no avail.
While on the business of bunkers it is well worth clicking on the photo opposite to take in the full glory of James Young removing an heroic amount of sand from a bunker, while his ball remains obstinately exactly where it started as you will see 🙂
Close mates and eternal rivals, Malty John and Koen, played together as ever and each managed to improve by a rather high 12 stokes on their respective back nines. Malty seldom walks away empty handed.
Palm Hills is always a healthy revenue generator for Tee Set and 6 skirts from the 28 qualifying for the honour was once again a decent return. Happily most of them we able to set off their fine against their winnings!
Santi Miller was absent due to being a bit “sakit” and, with the deadline about to pass, conceded her matchplay to Anthony King. The on-the-ball Matchplay Fuhrer immediately spotted the opportunity for Anthony to play his next round against the waiting Neil Mullins when Anthony was to win 2 and 1, but only after having withstood a fightback from a Neil who had been five down at one point.
Next up
With Interleague having nabbed the last Sunday in the month, our Monthly Medal at Imperial is advanced to next Sunday, 21st June. We promise to bring the Shield this time.
As well as the Monthly Medal, Sunday will also be the penultimate round of the “Tee Set 2015 Eclectic”. Definitely not one to miss, especially if you are still in the hunt!
Green fees of 750,000 roops including shared buggy and a start at sometime after 11:48.
PS it doesn’t seem so long ago the El Guapo was given to bragging that he had NEVER “won” a skirt. Having finally broken the ice last month, he seems to be positively enjoying his second one here along with some of the Usual Suspects!
…. Palm Hills is always a nice little earner for the Treasurer – even when he forgets to bring the skirt!!
A very popular regular Tee Set course on Sunday, Palm Hills, where it will be interesting amongst other things to see progress on the building site that was the clubhouse last time we visited back in April.
Tee off from 1&10 at midday means you can have another lie-in this week and still have plenty of time for breakfast and “ngobrol” with your mates.
Green fees of 708,000 roops represent a fair price for a good course. Sign up here for the fun-in-the-sun if you are not one of the more than 20 who have done so already.
2015 Tee Set Eclectic
Eclectic leader board after 4 rounds
The Web Guy has been a bit busy with stuff and let us down, taking nearly two weeks to cobble together the Eclectic Scores after the 4th Round at Imperial, no matter, it is done now and you will see the leader board to the right.
James Ross’ recent good form combined with some judicious decisions around when to leave the driver in the bag sees him at the head of the pack. James can hit it a country mile but direction can most kindly be described as unpredictable 🙂
Both the Bunters, Chris Murcho and King are close up behind but there is a whole bunch of peeps still in with a shot at becoming this year’s Tee Set Eclectic Champion, the 1st holder of the magnificent trophy that we will almost certainly get around to buying at some stage, possessor of excellent bragging rights – and no prize money 🙂
By and large it is the high handicappers that are shining in this competition as, over multiple rounds they are always in with a chance of par or net par at almost every hole.
Remarkable therefore that Mucho, Anlo, Guapo and Bags have gotten as close as they have.
The other clear lesson is that it is best not to miss a round if you are going put yourself in with a chance, two rounds to go so don’t miss ’em!
The trip to Padang Golf Modern in Tangerang has its own unique navigational challenges with a number of tricky manoeuvres required to find the course once off the Merak tol.
23 Tee Setters managed to find the course, however, with a steady stream of registrations right up to the official tee time of 12:04.
The starter did offer an 11:30 start since the course was quiet, something which rather prompts the question as to why the earliest tee time we could book was 12:04; maybe 11-12am is reserved for members only?
With 3 groups off from each of the two tee boxes made available, the round got off to a flying start and the pace was to continue throughout the day, this despite the oppressive humidity, with rounds of from 4hrs to 4hrs 15 minutes being typical which meant the 19th hole banter back in the club house got started in record time.
Nearly all players hung around after the game for a bite to eat, cold beer and to sample some of John “Malty” Suermondt’s single malt. Quality of food was good and the service excellent – and only marred somewhat by the 535% markup on the wholesale price of beer to 64,130 roops
Last time out, Pieter and Deddy Groen would have earned the Vasco de Garma award however they never managed to find the course so went shopping instead. This time around they gave themselves plenty of lead time just in case history repeated itself but somehow managed to take the correct turns and arrived a full 3 hours before tee off 🙂
That’s a lot of time to kill on the practice green but it was still not enough to save Deddy from the highest putts category for the day with 39. Her time might have been better spent in the club house drinking beer with the rest of us!
Although we’ve had a few SNAFUS in the past with overbooking, the management outdid themselves today with hospitality and organisational skills second only to Imperial.
A dedicated check in table was provided with two lovely hostesses, lovelies whom Mel Cantarella immediately endeavored to get to know better as you see.
A special area was made available for us in the restaurant and carts were lined up ready to go with signs identifying our group and starting tee boxes. They even printed special score cards with a Tee Set header. A rare case in Indonesia of the meeting and beating of customer expectation? In any event well done, Modern.
A very healthy four Newcomers to report this week, a welcome to them all, Manfred Borer, Mike Dougherty on a holiday visit from the US, Fanny Lie and an Edward Ng making his maiden appearance on the green stuff from the joys of the driving range.
Particularly pleasing was to see another addition to our lady members in Fanny Lie who was to make a sound start with us today, while Ed took to being a Sunday cross-dresser for the first time with good grace!
Biggest welcome back was Dede who last played at the 2014 Tee Set Championship while in second place with a modest 12 weeks, and making a periodic visit from the US to reacquaint himself on the Jakarta traffic situation, was Rusty Witwer. Welcome Back all.
In summary, and despite the extortionate beer prices, a great day’s golf was enjoyed by all and there are certainly plenty of reasons to return (with a packed essky) to Padang Golf Modern some time soon.
All made it home safely so no Vasco de Garma award this week, though Malty gets the award for longest one sided conversation spoken during a 1 hour car ride to Star Deli. Brenda has been promised ear plugs before the next trip.
The play
The flyer for today’s event promised a Tee Set friendly course but it has to be said there were a number of elements that rather belied that expectation, with the rough claiming many a ball and resembling the challenge thrown out to pros in tournament play, while the bunkers were deep enough to be straight out of a links course design, requiring side-ways shots to exit in some cases.
mmmm, putter?
One young caddy, perhaps tired of watching her boss butcher a number of shots climbed in to show him how it’s done. At fault, taking 4 shots out of a bunker on his way to 10 on the par 3 #11, was of course the Former President of Almost Everything.
James Ross once again shot under his handicap with 69 to take low net B grade while Tom Alcedo with 72 took C grade. Tom also managed to get his Slaney’s beef voucher after taking out the monthly medal way back in December 2014. Proves the old saying that all good things come to those who wait.
The monthly medal shield showed up on the presumption that last week’s winner Koen Verheyen would be onboard for a victory snap missed last week, however, domestic matters got in the way so both Fernando and Malty stepped in to take Koen’s place.
Of the 21 blokes in a position to earn a skirt today nearly 20% of the group succumbed, thereby achieving immortality in our Hall of Skirt Infamy.
A couple of regulars there in Mel and Malty but who’s that hiding under the wig? Welcome to Tee Set, Ed.
Just the one match play result to report from today with Mustafa prevailing 2 up after a prolonged up and down battle with Mark Fiorello. The closeness of the game is reflected in their net scores with Mark shooting 71 and Mustifa’s 69 taking low net A grade. The consolation prize for Mark was taking low gross with 82.
Palm Hill is deservedly one of Tee Setters favourite courses and, with a 12 noon tee off and reasonable green fees etc including compulsory shared cart of 708,000, it will be a great and relatively wallet-lite day.
A fine course, fine weather, and a fine day in fine company. Hard to resist such finery!
Tee off from 1 & 10 at a time that will give you an extra hour to luxuriate in bed this week, or walk the dog or wash the dishes, your choice.
A Peter Thompson designed course with relatively Tee Set friendly fairways (ie wide and jungle free at the edges) and green fees all in of just 730,000 roops.
Permata Sentul
Although we’ve had a few SNAFUS in the past with overbooking, the management outdid themselves today with hospitality and organisational skills second only to Imperial.
Of the 21 blokes in a position to earn a skirt today nearly 20% of the group succumbed, thereby achieving immortality in our Hall of Skirt Infamy.
