As of today my Winter handicap is 15ish. Not that it matters, but it gives some perspective. About 40 years ago I was ready to throw my driver in a fairway pond...my hair started smoking I was so mad, and why?... yea, shanked one. Now my score looked like 110 rather than 109. Big deal.
So I thought ( a rarity) ...why did I spend all that money on clubs, and $20 for the round only to drive myself to the brink of insanity? hmm....good question. At that point, life changed...for the better. If you can relate to this, here are some ways I've learned to enjoy the game.
3rd annual last trip to Thailand
Golf Trip VII, 3-12 Sep 2013
Prices are slowly creeping upward, but I'm determined to keep this incredible trip priced around $3,000 for those in Japan. Of course, the US based hackers will spend a bit more on airfare (but not much).
This year I plan to arrive on Tuesday night, Sep 3, and depart after golf on Wed, Sep 11 (arriving back in Japan on the morning of Sep 12th). This remains open to minor modifications, but at least it's a starting point.
Look at the Trip Details page for a tentative course schedule. As the prices are confirmed I may switch it around a bit so we can get on the better courses for a more reasonable cost.
This is it...your last chance to experience the trip with all details taken care of ...you'll have nothing to worry about beyond how you strike the ball.
You might also notice I've included an elephant ride and a tiger zoo visit.
This never happened....but if it did, the name "Jose" would come to mind. I do know he's considering this year's trip...notice, there are no caddies in sight. We had to drive our own carts after this disgusting incident.
Laem Chabang tee #1
Well, I spent 17 wonderful days in northern Thailand mostly working, but also getting in 9 holes of golf each morning as the sun peaked above the horizon. It was absolutely great, and believe it or not, my game showed signs of improvement and consistency.
Now I'm not only back in Japan, but I'm also back to the flopsy-mopsy golf style I embraced years ago....and the associated increase in my average scores. Today Ron, Kyle, Nardo and I beat the rain gods and got in a pleasant 18 holes. Well, we did get drenched during one particularly wet shower, but after that it was just the gusty winds. The highlight of my round was eating a Fuji apple...really good. Oh, one other highlight was not losing any balls despite my best efforts to do so.
Someone in the commissary stopped me today and asked about this year's golf trip...perhaps we'll get another golf nut to join us...and as I always say, "the more the merrier."
In two weeks I'm headed to the Philippines on business...like meeting Al Ouellete to see his new house and perhaps sneak in a round of golf. After all, I have to verify the astronomical handicap he claims is legit. Then it's off to the central island of Negros to check out memberships at two golf courses in Bacolod City. Work, work, work...my life is just too busy.
The Foursome
by Troon McAllister
The Foursome
The Green
Scratch
Barranca
Rick Reilly
Missing Links
Shanks for Nothing
J. Michael Veron
The Greatest Course That Never Was
the Greatest Player Who Never Lived
The Caddie
Bob Mitchell
Match Made In Heaven
Philip Reed
In Search of the Greatest Golf Swing
James Patterson & Peter de Jong
Miracle on the 17th Green
Golf fiction’s finest hustler— Eddie Caminetti—returns in a laugh-out-loud novel featuring a foursome of upwardly mobile golf fanatics who get their just rewards. Mixing equal parts of suspense, hilarity, and raw human drama, Troon McAllister deftly shows readers what can happen when money, friendship, ambition, and greed converge explosively in a single round of golf.
______________
A Golfer's Life
by Arnold Palmer
Khao Kheow's island green is both beautiful and challenging. Everyone in our group made it onto the green, and as I recall, I made a birdie.
Below are some more pictures of the Sabai Resort, where we plan to stay in 2010. Rooms are nice, the pool is great!
10 nights at the Sabai is aprox $580 (private poolside rooms pictured above)
Want to know your USGA handicap, for free? Here's a little program I created to do just that. Download the Handicapper (shown at the right) and take a look.
For a lot of additional trip details please click here.
