Archive for category Asia
Weekend of Birdies @ Lotus Hill, China
We were in China this weekend for the Reunification Cup tournament between four of Hong Kong’s private clubs – Country Club (which we were playing for), American Club, Football Club and the Chinese Recreation Club.
We went up to prepare with a practice round on Friday and managed one Birdie. This happened on the Par 4 seventh. A blistering drive left us only 100 yards to the pin, but a pushed approach shot was 21 feet from the hole. At least I was pin high. A right to left break did not stop us from jamming into the hole. Birdie #1.
On the next day, the first day of the competition, we had a blistering start. A par on the first followed by a Birdie on the Par 3 second. A severe downhill tee shot got us three feet past the hole for an uphill putt. We also won the Nearest-to-pin prize for this! Then on the Par 4 that followed, our 5-wood just missed the right fairway bunkers and our approach landed pin high with 12 feet to go. The tricky downhill putt had a severe right to left break, so we just hoped to get close. But I was tracking perfectly and pleasantly ended up at the bottom of the cup. Then on the back-9, R’s back was starting to ache. At this age, he should refrain from playing too many consecutive rounds! Shots were starting to land 10-15 yards short, so on the Par 5 18th, we took an extremely conservative route. The strategy worked out, as we were on the green in regulation. A delicate downhill putt was left for Birdie and we made it. A good bonus considering R’s back.
On the final day, R’s back was worse and he couldn’t follow through. So we were taking one to two clubs more for shots. Our scores were not good but at least we managed a Birdie on the Par 5 fourth. A good drive hugged the right side of the fairway and our second shot left us with 100 yards to the green. Taking more club (a pitching wedge) we landed left of the flag with a 15 foot downhill putt for the Bird.
Note to R: Next year, please don’t play the practice round. Your back will thank you. I will too 
111104 Lotus Hill, Hole 7 (Par 4)
111105 Lotus Hill, Hole 2 (Par 3)
111105 Lotus Hill, Hole 3 (Par 4)
111105 Lotus Hill, Hole 18 (Par 5)
111106 Lotus Hill, Hole 4 (Par 5)
Jinxed Hole turns out to be a Birdie Hole @ Clearwater Bay, Hong Kong
The 8th hole at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club, Hong Kong is normally where our nightmares begin. This Par 4 hole repeatedly had given us problems off the tee, regardless of whether we were playing from the whites or the blues. This time, for the 2011 BMW Golf Cup International, we were playing as guests in the social category (we won last year) so there was no pressure. Playing off the whites (320 yards), we took a 3-hybrid and cut the Tiger line to leave 120 yards to the pin. With the green slightly uphill and wind against us, we took an 8-iron to make sure we reached the green. Hit perfectly, I flew directly towards the flag and landed just two feet past the hole. The downhill putt was no problem for a nice Birdie. Let’s keep this thought the next time we play this hole.
111021 Clearwater Bay, Hole #8 (Par 4)
Missed Eagle Chip for a Birdie @ Discovery Bay, Hong Kong
We were playing off the yellow tees today so there was an advantage. Nevertheless, our drive on the 4th hole on the Diamond Course at Discovery Bay (a 445 yard Par 5) was spot on and I managed to run down the slope leaving 170 yards to the hole. Slightly uphill and with the pin in the front left, we didn’t want to risk ending up in the greenside bunker. So we took the 4-hybrid but pulled it left a bit…still in play. Turned out to be just off the green almost pin high for a relatively easy Eagle chip. Unfortunately, we under-read the left to right break and missed, leaving a six inch tap in Birdie. A Birdie nonetheless.
111019 Discovery Bay, Diamond #4 (Par 5)
Final Leg of Shui On Land’s China Golf Challenge @ Caesars Golf Macau
We were invited by Marc Boggia to witness the final two holes of the Shui On Land China Golf Challenge at Caesars Golf, Macau. This unique event had Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy and China’s Liang Wen-chong play 18 holes in seven cities in China over seven days, playing two to three holes at eight different courses. Their last two holes were played on the 16th (par 3) and 18th (par 4) holes of Caesars Golf in Macau. Entering this stage, Liang and Westwood were tied at -2, Poulter at even par and McIlroy way back at six over. Everyone parred the 16th as well as the 18th, except for Poulter, who’s birdie on the 18th wasn’t enough to catch the leaders. So it was sudden death for Liang and Westwood to be battled out on the 18th until a winner emerged. Westwood’s 12 foot birdie putt sealed the deal as Liang’s chip from off the back of the green failed to find the hole.
The best part was the use of juniors as the stars’ caddies. Especially enthusiastic was Westwood’s caddie, 10 year old Nathan Han from Hong Kong. He was very serious when reading the break on the greens and played the part to the fullest. Maybe that’s how Westwood won…beware Billy Foster (his full time caddie).
This concept is wild, and it was all filmed by IMG with the players’ conversations recorded for the TV coverage coming soon to a station near you. Stay tuned.
111016 ChinaGChallenge - Billboard
111016 ChinaGChallenge - TV crew getting ready
111016 ChinaGChallenge - Fashionable Poulter
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Amazing Birdie @ Discovery Bay, Hong Kong
During the home game at Discovery Bay for the Intra-Club Championship with Clearwater Bay, on the Par 4 Diamond 9, we cut the Tiger line and ended up 86 yards to the pin but in the left rough on a severe down slope. Without our 56° wedge, we only had the 52° with us. This normally would be too much club, but adjusting for the slope, choking down and opening the clubface we executed the perfect shot. Went straight for the flag, and I ended up six inches from the hole. Very sweet…so sweet we forgot to take a picture :-p
