Golfing During The Raining Season
Tiger Woods has apparently patched things up with Steve Williams. Sometimes people or friends working closely together can still fall out. Maybe what Woods did was not nice and Williams said something that was terrible. That's a golfer and his caddie. There are golfers who may at times treat us like caddies as they do not pick up the flag-stick throughout a game.
Picking up a flag stick is part and parcel of the game and usually the golfer who finished the hole earlier should do that. It is also a noble act of courtesy but picking up a flag stick during a storm can be dangerous as it becomes the highest point on the green and is a lightning conductor. Evil people who disguise as golfers can also attract lightning so beware who you golf with.
Some golfers are just downright negative. They see a dark cloud in the morning and they will keep saying it is going to rain. (This is the view of a storm threatening at Serapong course at Sentosa).
Some golfers are just downright negative. They see a dark cloud in the morning and they will keep saying it is going to rain. (This is the view of a storm threatening at Serapong course at Sentosa).
Lightning
This is the time of the year where golfers can feel gloomy due to inclement weather. You just need a huge cloud and it can cover the whole island and a hot day can suddenly turn stormy. Rain is not a problem but lightning can send an entire flight to heaven or hell. I would like to share some useful tips on lightning such as golf courses in Singapore which have their own lightning detector or subscribed to the Met Station, how do you know when lightning is about to strike and what to do immediately when lightning is about to strike. Please see a previous article I have penned. You owe yourself a favour.
You want to live to play another day so obey the siren and stop play when you are supposed to even if you feel like killing yourself for lousy golf. You will know when to stop or when play will resume by watching the birds or even a dog if there was one. Birds only fly out when the lightning threat has receded. So let the dogs out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He82NBjJqf8
If they don't you should not. Can you see the dog running in the picture? Although it was raining, lightning activities has stopped. The birds started singing first because they now have worms to eat. Then the dog ran out and soon the course opened.
Club House
Club Houses must learn to adapt. On a normal day, service can be painfully slow what more during a lightning storm where everybody returns to the club house. Whenever there is a lightning storm, club house should automatically announce a "Shotgun Food Order" much like a shotgun start after a storm delay or at a tournament. A shotgun food order means that instead of exhausting the entire food menu by taking individual orders, they should just do 2 or 3 types of food and drinks so that the order is just how may servings needed per table.
Halfway houses should be built a little bigger to accommodate more people. Halfway houses at some golf courses are just too small. Please be careful to take note that not all shelters are lightning proofed. Make sure you see a sign stating that it is designated as a shelter from lightning or that it is not a lightning shelter or just look for the lightning conductor.
ABC
The problem with playing at prestigious and expensive golf courses is that for some people after paying so much they are reluctant to stop play or like to play on a little while more. Then there is the frustration of wanting to play but you can't especially when it took you a month to fix the game. Then there are those who have played so well during the round but could not claim their winnings due to lightning closure and ABC declared, ABC being All Bets Cancelled.
Shoes
A fairly regular golfer needs more than a pair of golf shoes. During the monsoon season, not only are your clothes not dried quickly but your golf shoes may not dry sooner before your next game. You don't want to feel like a damp squid. If yours are water resistant it helps a bit.
The Rain
Take note that lightning is possible even when there is no rain. It is just that we can't see it. The reverse it true that sometimes when it rains, there is no lightning but usually lightning threat does not go away until it rains. If the the rainfall is incessant it will not be much fun anymore even when the course opens later. The green is wet, fairway soggy and bunkers can be flooded.
Siesta
What can you do? Nothing.You feel trapped and with nothing to do you will feel bored. People will start eating and drinking. If the stoppage at first is for an hour, they will eat and drink for an hour. If it is further delayed, the eating and drinking continues for another hour. Some folks could be caught napping. I have some photos of golfers slacking/napping and thinking if I should publish them. Those who have golf at least once with me may have been caught on candid camera. May be I could demand an incentive not to publish them. You know who you are sleepy heads.
Finally, there are a couple of things you could do when it rains cats and dogs. Go to an indoor golf simulator or take up bowling. Carry your bowling ball and stuffs with you so when it rains go for bowling indoor. You'll still have a ball game and your bets continue. Do not let the weather dictate your mood. Be of good cheer.
Golf as in life, play as it lies. Keep yourself alive!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He82NBjJqf8
If they don't you should not. Can you see the dog running in the picture? Although it was raining, lightning activities has stopped. The birds started singing first because they now have worms to eat. Then the dog ran out and soon the course opened.
Club House
Club Houses must learn to adapt. On a normal day, service can be painfully slow what more during a lightning storm where everybody returns to the club house. Whenever there is a lightning storm, club house should automatically announce a "Shotgun Food Order" much like a shotgun start after a storm delay or at a tournament. A shotgun food order means that instead of exhausting the entire food menu by taking individual orders, they should just do 2 or 3 types of food and drinks so that the order is just how may servings needed per table.
Halfway houses should be built a little bigger to accommodate more people. Halfway houses at some golf courses are just too small. Please be careful to take note that not all shelters are lightning proofed. Make sure you see a sign stating that it is designated as a shelter from lightning or that it is not a lightning shelter or just look for the lightning conductor.
ABC
The problem with playing at prestigious and expensive golf courses is that for some people after paying so much they are reluctant to stop play or like to play on a little while more. Then there is the frustration of wanting to play but you can't especially when it took you a month to fix the game. Then there are those who have played so well during the round but could not claim their winnings due to lightning closure and ABC declared, ABC being All Bets Cancelled.
Shoes
A fairly regular golfer needs more than a pair of golf shoes. During the monsoon season, not only are your clothes not dried quickly but your golf shoes may not dry sooner before your next game. You don't want to feel like a damp squid. If yours are water resistant it helps a bit.
The Rain
Take note that lightning is possible even when there is no rain. It is just that we can't see it. The reverse it true that sometimes when it rains, there is no lightning but usually lightning threat does not go away until it rains. If the the rainfall is incessant it will not be much fun anymore even when the course opens later. The green is wet, fairway soggy and bunkers can be flooded.
Siesta
What can you do? Nothing.You feel trapped and with nothing to do you will feel bored. People will start eating and drinking. If the stoppage at first is for an hour, they will eat and drink for an hour. If it is further delayed, the eating and drinking continues for another hour. Some folks could be caught napping. I have some photos of golfers slacking/napping and thinking if I should publish them. Those who have golf at least once with me may have been caught on candid camera. May be I could demand an incentive not to publish them. You know who you are sleepy heads.
Golf as in life, play as it lies. Keep yourself alive!
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