Pandemic, Golf, Golf Club Covers And The Rest
We must be aware that we must never take things for granted but then when life was routine, the order of things in the universe will be taken for granted. Who would have thought that a day will come where the simplest thing like going out, eating, working, travelling, meeting family and friends would come to an almost complete halt. Well, at least in Singapore, we never really had a complete lockdown. I said who not WHO.
Originally, I thought that this was a great opportunity for the world to band and come together as one but no as till this day, we still knew no better how the virus originated and from how it came about and are none the wiser. We even saw the horrors of racism rearing its ugly head. If we saw videos of some Americans beating up Asians unprovoked, does it mean that all Americans are racist? But who did that certainly are. And if Asians are being discriminated and abused for no reasons other than their skin colour then why do Asians also abused their fellow Asians? Some folks in New York or Los Angeles may despise their fellowmen who are hillbillies. Perhaps people in Shanghai may not have high opinions of their countrymen from the villages. India have their caste system. So racism is real, ugly and stupid. Human hearts have the propensity for hatred. How could one love your own parents and children and yet beat up others' parents and children? Even for their same countrymen and race, humans despise others based on status. If the condition of the human heart does not wake up at the time of such a pandemic, what will? No one is safe until everyone is safe is not just for the pandemic.
When everybody is away at work and comes home tired at the end of the day, there was peace and quiet at home but when many have to work from home things got somewhat ugly here and there. You get neighbours quarrelling and fighting over may issues. Quite often, we are quick to look at incidents and point it out as racism. There will always be racists among us but when neighbours confront one another over the smallest things, I think it is more a lack of tolerance, self-centeredness and inconsideration first and foremost for even people of the same race fight over things. Diversity is a strength. Back in the old days, our soccer teams were even formed to compete in tournaments as Singapore Chinese in the Ho Ho Cup, Singapore Malays in the Sultan's Gold Cup and Singapore Indians in the Bardhan Cup. We supported and enjoyed all of them. Then we came together as Singapore in the Malaysia Cup. You could see and learn that each race have their quality and strength. You are good because you are good not and never because of your skin colour.
It was a great shame to see Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka being racially abused for missing their penalties for England. This is pure racism which has no place in the world. Its just a football game, you could be sad or happy but just enjoy it without terrible behaviour and racism. Have you not seen enough what really matters in a pandemic? A simple question to all is if you find yourselves in some kind of trouble or danger and a person or persons of a different race come to your rescue and to help you, will you reject the offer? Imagine dangling at the edge of a cliff and falling to your death anytime, will you hold that hand that has a different colour reaching out to you when you look up?
The Covid-19 is the great equalizer. It does not see your colour or background. Wokeism is alive and knows only of outrage without any genuine concern for the victims nor empathy. So be aware and never judge and jump to conclusion. Its a tricky world out there by itself. Needless to add fuel to fire.
I have been running, cycling, walking and occasionally hiking at selected plots of nature for years peacefully but since the pandemic, I have to slow down or stop. With many unable to do much or go anywhere and exercise is allowed, every man, woman and their dogs were out swarming the parks, park connectors and nature trails. People who do not normally do these things are out in force. You could see many are masquerading. They are just taking a stroll without their masks, talking loudly and talking on their phones. Many others started cycling. Now bicycle business is in full boom. There will also be an increase in cycling injuries to come I am sure because cyclists keep chasing a new high. Pity that lamp post in Tuas.
Strangely for some cyclists, many of whom are also motorists nd pedestrians but once they put on a different attire and ride a bicycle they become a different animal. Worse when in large groups. When in Park Connectors or walkways they behave like kings. Then on the road, they continue the behaviour. They do not stop at the traffic lights, ride across roads and against traffic. They ride through pedestrian crossings without paying heed or stopping. Others with children in toll. They could even occupy an entire lane. No, at times across two or three lanes. Young and old are the same. Road kills do not happen to just animals. Your thinking should be superior to animals. Before you learn any sports, learn responsibility and safety first. In fact, in sports just as in life, the three top most important things to learn from the beginning are: safety, responsibility and to be a gentleman. In golf, you are required to have a handicap for proficiency but it is not to show how good you are at golf but to ensure you know how to be safe and to take care of others.
In the law of the jungle, the lion is king and elephants are huge. When elephants trample over you, usually it is not because they want to. Do not challenge the elephants and the lions. It does not matter who is right or wrong. The end result is you will be worse off. But huge trucks should give way to other smaller vehicles and vehicles should watch out for motorbikes and bicycles even if they are wrong and you are right. If 7 or 8 vehicles out of ten whizzed past you on your bicycle you show your centre finger. Then another. I could imagine that you will be holding you arm up and waggling your finger for the entire ride. I just saw one the other day. Better to hold your bicycle with two hands. Find another option or simply just practise safety. Singapore roads were never really built for cycling in the first place. So take care everyone.
With many stuck in Singapore, they could not travel for work, for holidays or for golf. Even those who gave up golf or do not golf started picking up the game. With restrictions at golf clubs plus the exponential increase in the number of golfers wanting to golf, it became extremely difficult just to get a golf flight where in the past it was just a routine. You are lucky if you get to do it once a month these days. Since you hardly get to play, there is less need to upgrade your golf equipment I supposed especially if yours are still brand new and you soon realized whatever skills you may have honed over the years have receded due to lack of game time. Most of us have been very disciplined, taking the mental and physical fatigue of WFH in our stride. Sacrificing face time with your extended family, parents, friends, colleagues and other activities but we are only as strong as our weakest link. We are already living the life of a recluse. Any lapse in policy, enforcement or the idiotic behavior of some people like the most recent KTV cases have made our efforts for the last one and a half years in vain. Not only that, it has cost the livelihood of many others with their selfish actions.
Then when the fishery port cluster came about and fishmongers and markets are ordered to be close, what do you think it was all about? Covid infection right? So what did some of you do? You quickly rush out to buy fish. That is the reason why they are ordering it shut for two weeks as the clusters spread and you go jump into it. You are no dying without fish for awhile. I read the large crowd gathered for the NDP rehearsal. I can only shake my head in disappointment. Just because you got couple of jabs and you think you are invincible. All complacent and self-centered. You are going to prolong the pain and wreck the lives of many.
Meanwhile, back to golf. I find something about golf equipment manufacturers that I could not understand. You pay quite a lot of money say for a golf driver, fairway wood, hybrid or putter. They all came with some nice but all PVC covers - faux leather. Most of them are not lasting. Worse, they start to peel by themselves. It is the same even if you seldom use them. It does not just peel and look ugly but there are fine, powdery stuffs between the base and the faux leather that drops all over your golf bag, your car and your house. Disgusting. Manufacturers should take note and instead of providing such poor quality covers, why not look at designing it differently and using different material. With green initiatives gaining prominence everywhere, why not use eco-friendly material that need not be expensive but yet durable.
I used to see nice golf club covers in shops but did not have the need to buy them since most of mine are quite new. Those form Star Wars and Marvel Comics for example. I like Yoda, a symbol of wisdom, of light and the greatest opponent of darkness. "Do or do not, there is no try". I need it now but there is no stock at the shops or even online for all these merchandise now. Sigh.
Not even for Darth Vader. Just to have the power to ward off my flight mates and say "Look (Luke), wa si lin lao peh". But again this one is faux leather.
I like the Chewbacca one. It looks really good and I can make that Chewbacca noise if I score a hole. Here it is...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr3sBks5o_8 (Chewbacca)
Otherwise, you could do with the Hulk. Just tell them "you wouldn't like me when I am angry".
If you by any chance could find a Yoda and / or Chewbacca, please let me know. I just want a Toy Yoda not a Toyota. So I explored online and found some.
Comments