Members Column

Keok Meng and some senior golfers enjoyed a cruise on the Royal Carribean to Phuket. Here is a video clip of him free and easy on the piano ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM-socUpYRg
and guess who is in this video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGjetyqRe_U

Members who have items to contribute to this blog please email to sporesgs@singnet.com.sg or sporesgs@gmail.com

Golf Tour to Ho Chih Minh - Feb 09

Golf Tour to Ho Chih Minh – 17-21 Feb 2009

SSGS President Toh Shung Chee led 17 members on an enjoyable golf trip to Ho Chih Minh in February. It was an eye opener for those who were there for the first time.

The cityscape reminded us of Singapore in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Children played in the backlanes. People sat on the pavements fanning themselves in the heat. Mud puddles and clogged drains assailed the senses. Most striking was the scene of motorcycles everywhere moving incessantly along the streets. Pretty girls hidden behind nosemasks to keep out the dirt kept pace on their motorbikes with families (4 on a bike-2 adults with 2 children) trundling along happily. At intersections the bikers had their own way of accommodating each other. They gave way to each other and there was a certain pattern of movement which enabled the traffic to flow.

If a Singaporean were to cross the road the way we do-look left, look right, cross when clear- we will have to wait for hours. The advice is to walk slowly across and ignore the cars and motorbikes. They will weave around you. You will be knocked down if you hesitate or move back as the vehicles will not know how to go round you. Our senior golfers learnt to cross the roads pretty fast!

If you have not seen ‘thin’ buildings, go to Ho Chih Minh. There are many such buildings with narrow frontage but 4 storeys’ high. Unlike other Asian cities, tourists do not seem to get the same warmth from the Vietnamese. Tips are expected to be large from tourists. Prices of shopping items are upped for strangers. Bargaining is not welcomed. It might have been our bad luck to come across the wrong locals.
Highlight of the trip was the visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. This is an underground system of tunnels over 200 km long. Some parts have several floors with accommodation. These were the tunnels that the wily Vietnamese used to fight the Americans. Some of us went down some easy sections but found them quite intimidating. Of course some one like Hon Sec Pang Boon Hee would get stuck in.
Our meals were mainly Vietnamese. We tried tasty dishes of all varieties not forgetting the beef noodle “Pho” and the smooth touch of the Viet spring roll. They went well with the light Saigon beer.

Long Thanh Golf Course was the best of the 3 courses that we played. It looked like a superior version of Palm Resort, lush with palm trees. The fairway and greens were well maintained. Song Be Golf Resort gave us a feel of what it was like to play under desert conditions on its Desert course. The green fairway could be found between cacti and sand. On a warm day, one really felt like being in the desert. The Lotus course was green and friendly.

We had a friendly tournament with the Saigon Golf Association at the Vietnam Golf and Country Club. It was organized by them and all the golfers had an enjoyable game. It was stroke play including putt outs. With some of our seniors losing up to 10 holes to their opponents, you can imagine the thrashing we received. However, we made some Vietnamese friends and SSGS President Toh hoped that they would soon join the Asean Senior Golfers.

The trip was well organized and the participants gelled very well. We are looking forward to the next SSGS golf trip.

Medal Results-Jan 09

SSGS January Medal - Orchid Country Club - 8 Jan 2009

The society organised the medal at the Orchid Country Club on January 8, 2009 and as in previous occasions, the response was very encouraging - 44 members signed up for the game.
Members had the opportunity to play at the newly renovated nine holes - Dendra.

We congratulate the following winners:-

A Div 1st Sim Kwang Seng (23) 37 pts
2nd Ben Tan (18) 36 pts
3rd Andrew Ong (18) 35 pts

B Div 1st Leong Kong Yon (10) 42 pts
2nd Choo Bock Kee (17) 37 pts
3rd Toh Yeo Teck (15) 37 pts)

C Div 1st Heng Jee Yong (24) 42 pts
2nd Peh Choon Seng (17) 40 pts

D Div 1st Chin Kok Kwong (24) 41 pts
2nd Peter Tan (21) 38 pts
3rd Charlie Wee (20) 36 pts

SSGS February Medal at Warren Golf & Country Club

Response for the game played on the 26 February 2009 was good. The greens which were painstakingly maintained by their new course superintendent from the Philippines were excellent.

The following are the results:

A Div 1st Lim Choon Hwa (24) 46 pts
2nd Tan Choon Seng (19) 39 pts
3rd Pang Geok Keng (20) 37 pts

B Div 1st Choo Bock Kee (20) 45 pts
2nd Steven Chew (24) 40 pts
3rd Lau Koi Fong (12) 38 pts

C Div 1st Ng Ah Sek (15) 39 pts
2nd Paul Cheung (19) 37 pts

D Div 1st Stephen Ng (24) 38 pts
2nd Tommy Tan (20) 36 pts
3rd Dr Chan Kiat Choon (24) 32 pts.

Coming Events

SSGS Gold Meda/AGM
Members are reminded that the Gold Medal and AGM will be held on Friday 15 May 2009 at SICC Sime Course,Bukit Location. It will be a short gun- start

SSGS Lunch Get-together
THe Society is reviving the monthly lunch get-together. We will advise members when arrangements are finalized. Those attending will get a $5 discount.

Welcome Aboard
Banerj Gopal
Lie Khim Sin
Chew Sun Huat
Tan Keng Foo
Ng Choh Lian
Yong Hsiac Lien

Obituary
Kerry Ong - Jan 21 2009