Pakdokter was lucky to be among the earlier registrants chosen to participate in the 'QUAD' 2010 golf tournament in China. The Airasia flight to Shenzen departed at 635 am. So pakdokter had to leave for the LCCT airport at the unearthly hour of 3.00 am. In the same flight were 5 other members of the RSGC contingent.
We landed into Shenzen on time at 1030 am. Devindran,the RSGC Sports Manager and Mr Chang See Tum, one of the RSGC comittee members, were transferred straight to our hotel. Pakdokter and 3 others, namely Mr. Zahardin Omardin @ Mr. Peter O'Malley, Mr. Megat Dziauddin @ Mr. Micheal Landak and Mr Lim Cheng Yeow @ Mr Liam Brady/Brandy? were all booked to play at the Harbour Plaza Golf Course. Notice that all these senior gentlemen from the RSGC have got 'aliases' to their names. They all belong to the 'old school' - having been brought up in English universities in the 60's and having also brought home European partners with them. So naturally, they are all stout, ale and whisky drinking gentlemen. Pakdokter , on the other hand, is a "Made-in-Malaysia" doctor, and since pakdokter went to university during the rise of the radical Islamic movement of the 70's, pakdokter was given the nick-name of El-Fadel by the other three.....the Arabic word "Fadel" means "most learned and most informed...."
The Harbour Plaza Golf Course is a 'members only' golf club. It belongs to the property magnate of Hong Kong, Mr Li Ka Shing. The golf course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. We were lucky that through some friends of our tour company director , we were allowed to play at this beautiful course.
The four of us decided to play a partnership game of 'sixers' - so that everyone has a fair share of losing or winning the little 'bets' between us. Pakdokter partnered Peter O'Malley in the first 6 holes and contributed little to the partnership. Micheal and Liam happily took out 5 balls from us. Pakdokter partnered Micheal in the next 6 holes and managed to win 2 balls from Liam and Peter. And in the last 6 holes, partnering Liam, pakdokter won another 3 balls from Micheal and Peter thus coming home with no loss or gain for the whole game. Poor Peter was the sole loser, groaning the whole evening that all of us made very bad partners for him! Anyhow, the winnings were generously spent for the rounds of 'Tsing Tao' after the game....
By the way, all of us had our golf handicaps adjusted by the RSGC just before this trip. Pakdokter's usual handicap of 25 was reduced to 17 and so was Megat's @ Micheal. Liam's usual handicap of 29 has now become 18 and Omardin @ Peter whose usual handicap was 22 is now 14! Mr. Peter kept complaining that this was not fair as his handicap should actually be higher than pakdokter's. Pakdokter told Peter that pakdokter would be 'proud' to carry that handicap if and when the club confers pakdokter that handicap....
Well, unfortunately Peter is not someone who is easy to be pleased.....
To pacify the unhappy Peter, we all agreed to only take one stroke from Peter......but still despite of that he came out the 'loser' in all the 3 pairs of partnership.....
Pakdokter reassured Peter that the 3 of us did not plan a 'sting' on him........
Liam Brandy? and Micheal Landak.....'Landak' is the Malay word for 'porcupine'...
generally quiet but if provoked will knock
you out with its projectiles....
the foursome....Peter O'Malley, el-Fadel, Liam Brandy and Micheal Landak...
pakdokter wanted to take a picture of the tree....but Peter ran into the view-finder....
Peter sent his ball into the water..of course...
pakdokter's China caddy...
pakdokter's new camera enabled these panoramic shots...All the four of us crashed early after dinner as we have had a very long day indeed.....
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