Chiang Mai Day 2 : The Alpine Golf Course

Thursday, 1st March 2012

The beauty of playing in Chiang Mai was that we did not have to wake up early as in Jakarta and there was no traffic jam to keep us on the road for hours. Our tee-off time for the second day was again at around noon - so we could take a leisurely breakfast and left the hotel at about 10 am. We could even make a short visit to a leather showroom on the way and some of us bought new wallets and belts.

Chef de Mission - pakZulkefli Rauf -

announcing the day's flight pairings

the Alpine Resort

caddies ever ready on our arrival


what a great 'motto' for a golf course


luxurious clubhouse




pakAzhar, pakTengku, pakAmin and pakAzhan


watching pakAmin at the tee..
'good sot......'

pakAzhan

pakTengku

pakAzhar played to a handicap of 26

and pakdokter was no longer in that class...he he..

pakZaher, pakSani, pakdokter and pakFakhrun....

Pakdokter's handicap was revised to 24 by virtue of the first day's performance. And pakdokter had to play with fairly strong golfers who gave pakdokter a few strokes each Nine. And pakdokter played commendably well to collect a few hundred bahts from pakZaher and pakFakhrun. And pakdokter even made it to the day's winning list of 5 with a score of 34 stableford points. PakAminJidon came out tops for Day 2.

PakZaher could not help that pakdokter should be awarded 'the most improved golfer' prize!....

as we all had a heavy late breakfast

the tour company arranged with a Muslim Restaurant

to prepare packed fried rice and

fried mee ( pad thai).....

and they were really tasty...

Chiang Mai Day 1 : The Night Market

After the golf game, half of the gentlemen decided to go for Thai massage at the Paradise Massage House recommended by Mr Happy, our tour guide. Thai massage in Chiang Mai was really cheap - only 400 bahts for 2 hours (RM40). However the place was full of Koreans who were noisy and spoilt our attempt at having a relaxing time.

The massage house provided its own van to sned us back to our hotel. Pakdokter disembarked at the 'Night Market' area and met up with pakdokter's partner and had dinner at a 'steak-house'. Then we spent the rest of the night checking out the night market.

Our hotel, the Imperial Mae Ping, was conveniently located within walking distance of the bazaars and night market.

Chiang Mai Day 1 : The Highland Golf Course

Although pakdokter had played at this course many years ago, pakdokter could not really remember very much about it. The last golf trip to Chiang Mai must have been some 5 or 6 years ago.

The 12 of us made a neat 3 flights of golfers. As in most places in Thailand - each of the golfer had to use one buggy each - there is no sharing business of the buggy here.

the Highland Clubhouse

Azhar, Azhan, AminJidon and Tengku

Azhar (above) and Amin (below) in action

above two were Amin's guests

pakZaher....suffered from 'overdose' of prescribed medicines

so his play was affected and his mood was 'grouchy'....

pakZulRauf was steady on Day 1

and came out the day's winner

a lovely house at the golf course

pakShaber, SGC Captain, has lost his old 'sting'...

Pakdokter, fresh from winning the February medal, shocked everybody by putting it 2-on at the first hole. However, pakdokter's game faltered after that, probably due to fatigue, and could not match pakZulRauf, who was in great form. However, the other two in pakdokter's flight played equally bad that at the end of the day, pakdokter and pakZulRauf collected money from pakShaber and pakZaher.

And for the record, pakdokter played to a handicap of 21.

Pakdokter's game came back at the 2nd Nine and managed to earn some money from pakZaher and pakShaber.

Zulkifli Rauf who played to handicap 17 came out the Day 1 winner.

Chiang Mai Day 1 : The Silk Factory and Luch @ Muslim Restaurant

The Staroba Golf Club finally managed to organise an overseas golf tour for its members after a break of about two years because most of the active members have been involved in the Koba Invitation Games in Indonesia since the beginning of last year.

An original group of 14 golfers was reduced to 12 when pakTgAzman had to cancel due to a family ill-health and similarly a guest of pakAminJidon also withdrew at the last minute when his father-in-law fell ill.

The group left on the early morning AirAsia flight and touched down at the ChiangMai Airport at around 9 am. As our booked time for golf was only at past 12 noon - the local handling agent took all of us to a Thai Silk Factory and Showroom where many of us started our holiday shopping straight away. The silk garments were lovely and the 'linen' shirts' were cheaper than the ones at British India outlets in KL.

being welcomed and garlanded

on arrival at the Thai Silk Showroom

the visit to the exhibition section was informative

After the introductory round of 'shopping' we were all taken to a Yunnan-Thai-Muslim Restaurant quite nearby the silk showroom. It was quite a big spread for an early lunch. There was tom yam, deep fried carp, omelette, vegetables, tofu, chicken curry and a platter of fresh fruits.

After the lunch, the ladies were taken in a seperate van for a tour itinerary whereas the golfers headed for the Highland Golf Course.