Seton Nakai Golf Club is about 30 minutes away by road from downtown Fukuyama. It is located in the middle of the massive industrial complex of the JFE Steel, Japan's largest steel conglomerate.
The Seton Nakai is a links course very much like the many courses in Scotland. It hosted the Japan Mizuno Open for the past 10 years.
As at the Kurashiki Golf Course, the course had not yet recovered from the effects of the winter cold and the first cut and the secondary roughs had not yet fully grown to its normal state. As such we were spared from the difficulties faced by the professional players if and when the ball did not land on the fairways.
We were also fortunate that the day we were there, there was only a gentle breeze on a warm and sunny day. So we were spared from having to deal with strong winds which were common features of most links courses.
I played in a flight made up of Mr Yap Wing Sun from RSGC, and our hosts from Seton Nakai, made up of Zakisan (who played with me at Kurashiki the day before) and Takasan. Taka Yoshioka is the son of Yoshikosan, our host to both the clubs in the Fukuyama prefecture. Takasan runs his family-owned boutique hotel in Fukuyama.
.Zakisan, Yapsan, pakdoktersan and Takasan.....
Mr Yap Wing Sun teeing off at the signature hole par-3....
After the game we were entertained to a lavish lunch at the clubhouse. I could not help but noticed that apart from the usual Japanese spread, we were also served 'pulut kuning' and beef rendang. On my enquiry I was told by Yoshiokasan that they always served this dish whenever they have Malaysian visitors there. He said this dish (pulut kuning and rendang) was Mahathirsan's favourite dish!
RSGC's Captain, Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon, thanking Yoshiokasan for the splendid hospitality..
Yoshiokasan had been a regular visitor to Malaysia for many years having being involved with the setting up of our own steel plant in Kertih many years ago. That's probably how he knew what Mahathirsan's favourite food is....
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