So I finally did it, I broke down and played a round of golf in Singapore. Actually I only played 9 holes which quite honestly was enough last Friday, it was 35 degrees at 8 in the morning and only got hotter.
Here's how it, and I, broke down;
First Roman and I had to make a reservation online and fill out a form which you had to give your passport number or residency card number as well as your credit card number on. Basically if you make the reservation you are going to pay, and if your credit card doesn't work they will send the Singaporean Caining squad to your house to get the cash from you.
So we arrive at the course and the green fee for 9 holes, yes 9 holes, is $59
Next we have to pay $10 for an old Singaporean guy to examine our swing to see if we qualify to play on the course
But wait I don't have any clubs so I have to rent some. I make my way to the clubhouse and ask to rent clubs. The guy behind the counter gets this look on his face like he has just won the lottery and say's that will be $68, I almost shit myself
Well at this point I know I need some balls, I felt like mine had just been kicked into my stomach, so I asked for a sleeve of balls, $18. No they don't have used ones here this is Singapore of course
I make my way to the old Singaporean guy to hit a few balls and he gives me the OK, what a relief I probably would have ended up in jail for beating on a old Singaporean if he had said I didn't "qualify" to play on their course. As I was walking away he stops me and says "I need to see the bottom of your shoes". Of course I know where this is going and after seeing I don't have on spikes he says I need to get some shoes. I say "of course" with absolutely no intention of getting any and walk away.
We make our way to the first hole and a guy stops us and asks to look at my shoes again and upon seeing no spikes says I have to get shoes with soft spikes. At this point I am getting a little pissed and its 35 degrees out which doesn't help. I say" Why, I don't have steel spikes. I don't have any spikes so isn't that better for the course than having even soft spikes.." He looks at me with that same shit eating grin and says I have to go get some shoes with spikes or I can't play. I could have throttled him, but off to the club house I go and it was like they were waiting for me.
$15 dollars later and I had some rental golf shoes. I might as well have been bowling.
So lets add this up $59 for Golf
$68 for club rentals
$10 for the old Singaporean guy to watch me swing the rental clubs
$18 for 3 golf balls
$15 for rental golf shoes that look like bowling shoes
Total to play 9 holes of golf in 35 degree heat with 100% humidity 1st thing in the morning
$170. Priceless my ass. No wonder I don't play golf in Singapore.
Ok, So all bitching aside it was a nice course, well kept and obviously the old Singaporean guy keeps the divot makers to a minimum. I am sure they have cameras everywhere to monitor your play and if you don't repair a divot they have cainers close by
Nice back drop, the city one way and the ocean the other.
And they imported their bunkers from St Andrews
Lucky enough I didn't play on the beach but Roman did. 6 swings and he still wasn't out so picked up the ball threw it over his shoulder and we counted it as 1 stroke
I am not sure where the section they are talking about is, this looks more like the edge of a patio with a 8 foot drop off. Safety standards in SE Asia leave a little to be desired
Another weird sign in a weird place in Singapore. There wasn't anywhere to wash your shoes
In need of a beer
Happy it's over. Next time we play in Indonesia where its cheaper.
