Tee Set

The day before

Before 9.30, the WhatsApp group set up for the event was abuzz with horror stories of the traffic on the Jagorawi Tol, something which led to all sorts of mitigating actions being taken including even using the Old Bogor Road and a variety of Tol exit strategies.

In the end journey times of between 100 and 150 minutes were the norm; horrible but there have been worse. Adding to the joy of the journey for several parties was  the discovery of the old Chinese cemetery area on one of the back ways to the course – some quite amazing structures complete with sitting areas for the entire extended family.

Some of our younger members arrived in some style in a Rolls Royce as you will see above. Yep, this was our weekend to do something by way of thank you to our long suffering partners and kids – and a great time they had by all accounts.

As the significant others had fun in the Kid’s Club, swimming pools, Bouncy Castle etc, the round on Saturday was of course, pick up and go – and the highlights  were Anlo’s eagle 3 (1 putt) on the par 5 13^th and Lin Bunter’s  first ever sub-100 round! Well done both!

  Fantastic BBQ in the evening with the best mass catered food that any of the committee had ever experienced and which was to find the big people full of Czech beer, malt whisky, fine cheese and heaven knows what else,

Thanks to Jan for the impeccable preparation and execution for the Rancamaya weekend. The tone for the BBQ was spot on for a family night and everyone had a great time either talking and relaxing, playing pool, grooving to the reggae and jazz of the band, assisted by Bill “Freestyler” Lloyd making a return to his roots and the Singing President living up to his moniker.

Great to welcome back Joseph, Mel and Bill after decent breaks from Tee Set since the 2014 Tee Set Championship – and to welcome Newcomers Kim Pham, Tomas and Lottis (who came all the way from Semarang for the weekend) and Sheinal and Jacqueline – all of whom we hope to see again very soon.

The day

The day started for some with a coaching clinic from our own resident pro, Ken “Do as I say…” Runyon, where everyone came away with helpful hints to improve their game and some then put them into action.  The Former Past President of Almost Everything tried pointing both of his thumbs down his shaft and found it gave him far more control.

The coaching was followed by a chipping contest which proved to be far more difficult than it looked and Thurmond was the only first round winner, being the only one to land his ball in the circle; Anlo, Chris and Jess achieved this on their second attempt and took the minor prize.

The majority of the field played with the benefit of a Saturday practice round

With so much going on, and no Brenda to help, we did our best to get all flights out early as the course was available from a little after 11:00 and some flights were joined by “late comers” who came ready to play at the scheduled tee off time of 12 noon.  Chris Lever had left a seat in his cart expecting Rina but got Mel instead – no doubt a factor in Chris’s focused performance on the day .

The course was in excellent condition and the weather perfect for play.  Rancamaya has become a community for lovers of golf, and some residents have clearly settled in to the lifestyle. We can only envy them.

The play

There were some very impressive scores in every grade.

In A grade, Barbora and Simon shared the same cart and posted scores of 76 and 77 off the stick, with Barbora shooting a one under par 35 on the front nine.  Exceptional rounds both and it is great to see our top players bringing in gross scores under 80.  Barbora therefore took the premier prize of Low Nett A Grade with a 66, with Simon being awarded Low Gross.

The Singing President had the great pleasure of joining the flight as more or less a spectator as he struggled through his own rather less impressive round.  At one stage, he had to step in as rules official when Simon asked a question of Barbora’s iphone with the very handy 19^th Hole app which measures distance to any point of the course. Clearly in an indulgent frame of mind, and in flagrant disregard of the USPGA rules under which we operate, he refused to award a two shot penalty

Simon’s new found extra height and length, thanks to a newly started and vigorous yoga regime, had him in danger of overshooting on a number of tee boxes.

Chris Lever continued his outstanding recent form with his best ever score of 81 to win Low Net B Grade with 64.  Playing off the white tees under what is now known as “The Hayne Exemption”, Harold Hayne fired an excellent net 66 to narrowly pip Leona’s 68 for Net C Grade winner.  There were a number of other strong sub-par and par rounds. Bit of a cock up there as Harold is of course a B Grade Player – we are sure that Leona will eventually forgive the officiating staff involved.

In the skills prizes, first birdies went to the Web Guy, Tom and Anlo on the very  first hole, Alistair had the only sandy par of the day on the 7^th and Thurmond raided the Treasury again with the first par over 30, no doubt due to his excellent chipping.

Barbora had a miserly 26 puts but had already been a winner, so we had to look to 27 putts and found Alistair, but he had won first sandy, and Malty, who had clearly discovered sensitivity around the greens after last week’s harsh bollocking…think of it as tough love Malty.

Jan Jelinek won most improved with 10 strokes, but was not prepared to claim it as a skill prize…don’t worry, Jan, as the Web Guy demonstrated last week, it is a reward for refusing to give up.

Sheinal was welcomed to Tee Set with two fines, both Monster Putter and a Skirt.  As many Tee Setters will tell you Sheinal, this is a sign of our affection and we hope you will return soon to reclaim your contributions.  Others having skirts included Bill Lloyd, Chris Smith and Mel Cantarella while Tom gave back half his winnings with a fine for Most Strokes.

2015 Tee Set Matchplay

There were four matches staged ever the weekend with Bill Lloyd drawing first blood on the Saturday in beating Ric Wymer 4 and 2

On Sunday James Ross took out Chris Smith with a 3 and 2 result in a battle of wits that started the night before and lasted into the wee small hour.  Wina was also to convince Mike Webb to join 7 women (including the caddies) before whipping him mercilessly in a 6 and 5 drubbing.  Jan Janda stayed steady for a solid 5 and 3 victory over the unsteady Bushy, who lost an admirable 8 shots in penalties.

Next up

Back to the bread and butter and a course that offers perhaps a greater variety of challenges than any other in the Greater Jakarta area, Pangkalan Jati.

11:00 am start and with green fees of 490,000 walking plus about 100,000 for a shared caret

If you have not been selected for the Interleague match at Jagorawi then do come and join in the fun at the inimitable PJ and play for half price. Sign up here if you haven’t done so already.

Good luck to our Interleague team …. and see the rest of you at PJ!!! …. Tee Set

After what seems like a rather long wait, the Rancamaya Stay & Play weekend is finally on us – and we can start packing for one of the great highlights of the Tee Set year.

All those joining in the weekend of fun will receive an Information Pack about the weekend by e-mail later today, but some highlights here:

Players accompanied by partners and kids etc. can check in anytime from 12 noon on the Saturday, subject only to room availability

Others should play first and then check in – but you may be able to do so before play if you wish, so long as there are rooms available.

Payment for golf is separate unfortunately, however there will be a dedicated desk for handling this in the hotel lobby area from 10am each day – and you will be able to pay for both days at the same time.

Play on the Saturday afternoon is entirely casual, no prizes or skirts or whatever, just form up into groups of your own making – and get out there and
play anytime after 12 noon.

The legendary Tee Set Bouncy Castle will be available for the use of children from 6 to 60 and beyond, from midday on Saturday until 6pm on the Sunday. You MUST supervise your kids when they are using the thing – please note that the club/hotel and us will not be responsible for any, erm, accidents!!

The Band will start to play at 7pm in the Golf Club lobby and terrace area and, in a master stroke of planning, very close to where the BBQ will also be held. Dress code for the evening is casual but, from experience, the ladies generally show up in pretty frocks and smelling of expensive perfume – something we would certainly not wish to discourage. The guys generally show up dressed as beach bums and no amount of discouragement is going to change that 😦

Previous such events have also seen Tee Setters bringing a wide range of delectable eats and drinks for sharing with all and sundry to supplement the extensive range already on offer.

Sunday is also of course our regular Tee Set round and therefore with all the usual prizes and fines, and we have seven signed up just for the Sunday already – if you haven’t signed up for the weekend or just the Sunday, then please do so here, we still have room.

A fair number of us are staying on the Sunday night also and most of them are also playing the following day at Rainbow Hills before a tearful departure for Jakarta and home. Should you wish to join them then drop Coordinating Supremo Jan Janda a line. And while we are on the subject, many thanks to Jan for putting a whole bunch of work into getting the entire weekend organised – and organised so efficiently – well done Jan, we will buy you a beer at the BBQ, scant reward we know but it’s the sentiment that counts, right?

See y’all at Rancamaya!! ….. Tee Set

PS a chance to have fun and support a great cause on Monday May 25th