Golf In Singapore

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.

Penang

Bags packed and ready to hit Georgetown in Penang, Malaysia
Passports in hand
And the beard keeps growing, (insert Go Canucks Go)
And as per usual when arriving in Malaysia there was a down pour. The driver told us this was very unusual of course and it should pass shortly
The hotel we stayed at. Very nice
Comfy bed
Spacious plus very cool windows
And best of all a whirly tub, which surprisingly enough was Barbara's favorite spot in the room
Oh yeah the rain didn't "stop shortly"
It lasted for at least three rounds of drinks
Finally after it stops we headed out and found that we were just steps from the restaurant that made Malaysia
And they had the Crazy Set Dinner for 19.90 ringgit, that's like $7.00 sing. CRAAAZY
Clan house
Ice house, yeah that's the ice sitting on the ground in the 33 degree Celsius heat with 100% humidity. How long do you think its gonna last?

Some of the buildings were very colorful.This one must have been special since it had some kind of map or board saying what it was out front, I didn't read it of course, I just take the pictures and move on
a license plate for a rickshaw, love it
Night outside of another clan house. They turned on the lights to let people know that they were starting Kung Fu class
Is that politically correct..
Now this I loved. I didn't notice it at first but when I did I cracked up. You can even see the hockey sticks in the guys hands. I'm thinking that someone bought this off e bay
Kinda hard to make a call without a receiver
Free loaders
Taxi stand Georgetown style
Girl on a bridge, my girl on a bridge, even better
Government building
I'm sure that they've upgraded the national defense
Tempting
I love the electricians works, exposed wires in a country that an average of 80% humidity year round, oh yeah this is also a tourist area, Liability suit anyone
My Sandinista ready for battle
They're just cool
As was the Blue Mansion
I took as many pics as I could before I was shut down by security

Sounds good to me

I bet with an oil change and some fresh gas this baby would hum, its a Kawasaki after all
Inside another clan house
A little creepy but what ever
Chicken for dinner, a little rubbery but...
Lets shine a little light on the subject
I liked this picture and then I looked a little closer and liked it a bit more
What the hell is he sticking up his nose
Preparing for a ride in a rolling coffin of death, aka rickshaw
They are smiling now
Then they realized they were going the wrong way down a one way street
We were headed to the E&O Hotel to have a beverage. The driver pointed at this and said it there it is. I was a little disapointed
This was right next door, obviously what he was pointing at. Good thing I would have had a real problem paying 17 dollars for a pint of guiness in the other place. Hell I had a problem paying 17 dollars for a pint of guiness here who am I kidding
The girls drink G&T's, Did I mention we met up with Harriet and a friend of hers Frith
I just had to
White House Hotel, you think Obama stays here when he comes to Malaysia
An upscale taxi
Amazing what cameras have come too when you look at where they came from
Back garden of the hotel
Pineapple anyone
Sidewalk in Georgetown
Enough said
Nice setting for a dinner party, maybe some of that chicken from before
Who do you think is in there
A patio we would love to have
Another tardis
Polka dot bamboo
Crayons

A lovely afternoon snack
spoons
And we are done
Just before the rain

A few random picks around Georetown


Our own personal street
Bubbles bubbles
Keeping up with the game in the morning with a cuppa nescafe
Nice doors
If you ever need a pill this is the place to go

Some more of that lovely wiring
One last sunset
The gang after our final meal together at an Itallian restaurant, Barbara's suggestion, and 4 bottles of wine! The perfect way to finish off our trip to Penang.

Next stop Yogyakarta, Indonesia to visit Borobudur and the worlds largest Buddhist monument, very excited, but let me put everyones minds to rest, I shall not miss a Stanley Cup final game

GO CANUCKS GO