This month's golf news and features

MAYHEM AT PALM HILLS
Once again the Society was confronted by a problem of tee off times by a Korean group. Violence was not far away when their tour leader deliberately and physically tried to prevent our members from teeing off.
Only when a senior member of the Palm Hills staff threatened to call the police did this man calm down, and take his group to the 10th tee.
One wonders what pleasure these people get out of continous arguments with the very polite and friendly other golfers they meet in Thailand.
The management of Palm Hills must take 90% of the blame for allowing this incident to occur. Our society had booked the course on 29th August 2001 for 18.01.2002 tee off times 9.36 to 11.04. The starter was in possession of our list by names and times. We were all there in time when suddenly around 16 Koreans turned up in golf carts (some of which had been booked by society members, and were not available on our arrival), with their tour rep. and demanded to jump our group. Disgraceful is the politest word which can be used.
Our members must be congratulated on the restraint they showed when under extreme provocation from this very loud mouthed tour rep.
The AGM is scheduled for 1st Feb 2002 at, believe it or not Palm Hills. Open to all members who are encouraged to attend if available.
The agenda is as follows:
1. Minutes of last AGM
2. Matters arising
3. Treasurers Report
4. Chairman's Report
6. Election of Officers (Length of service)
7. Informal discussion of any other business.
I am sure all our members will join me in wishing a speedy return to full health of our chairman Martin Furzer who has suffered a series of illnesses since the middle of last year.
RECENT RESULTS: 21st December 2001 at Sawang. A grp 1st Fritz 66 net 14 hcp, 2nd Peter Korn 66 net 15 hcp. B grp 1st David Buchan 41pts 35 hcp 2nd Tom Tucker 34 pts 35 hcp.
25th December at Hua Hin, 4 club Stableford competition, on group special prizes including a bottle of HP sauceas a booby prize for 2nd to last by Paul from Rochdale. 1st Pon Evans 37pts 28 hcp, 2nd Peter Korn 35pts 13 hcp.
28th December at Lake View, A grp 1st Bernie 66 pts, 17 hcp, 2nd Peter Korn 74 net 14 hcp. B grp 1st Dan Stuart 42 pts 30 hcp, 2nd Toby 42 pts, 24 hcp.
4th January 2002 at Palm Hills A grp 1st Jim Kennedy 68 net 16 hcp, Brenda 70 net 13 hcp. B grp 1st Calum 44 pts, 24pts 2nd Toby 42 pts, 21 hcp.
8th January at Royal Ratchaburi A grp 1st Calum 34 pts 19 hcp, 2nd Karl Westholm 34 pts 10 hcp, B grp 1st Jim Lynch 35pts 21 hcp, 2nd Walter Sroke 34pts 25 hcp.
11 Jan at Majestic Creek A grp 1st Mick Evans, 66 net 13 hcp, 2nd Olavi 69 net 10 hcp, B grp 1st Norman Menzies 38 pts, 24 hcp, 2nd Han Hackvoort 38 pts, 25 hcp.
15th Jan at Lake View A Grp 1st Canada Bob 42 pts 10 hcp, 2nd Peter Korn 37 pts, 14 hcp. B grp 1st Craig Morgan 47 pts, 29 hcp, 2nd Ole 40pts 22 hcp.
18 Jan at Palm Hills A grp 1st Olavi 72 net, 10 hcp, 2nd Soppo 73 net, 15 hcp, B grp 1st Solomon 41 pts 23 hcp, 2nd Vivienne barber 39 pts 29 hcp.

HUA HIN GOLF SOCIETY FIXTURES FOR FEBRUARY
1st Fri Palm Hills (followed by AGM)
5th Tuesday to be announced
8th Friday Ratchaburi Army Course
12th Tuesday Springfield
15th Friday Lake View
19th Tuesday Royal Ratchaburi
22nd Friday To be announced
26th Tuesday Sawang

Pro Tips - Bad Rounds

Sometimes you play a round of golf and midway through it, you realize it’s not gonna be your day. Your mind and your body are out of synch. The score you had been hoping to shoot goes out the window. You get a twinge of pain in your back. You just can’t seem to do anything right. Instead of taking it, that’s when you have to use the adversity and try to do something worthwhile to help your game, to somehow get better. There is opportunity in adversity. Here are some ideas on dealing with bad rounds.

· REALIZE THAT BAD ROUNDS SOMETIMES HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE.
Let’s face it. Even the pros have bad rounds. Spanish sensation Sergio Garcia shot an 89 at the British Open. Everyone is capable of having a bad day. So, if you have one of those days, try to put it into perspective. We all have days when nothing seems to go right, so accept that it’s happening, and try to do something to fix it.
· DON’T LET ANGER AND FRUSTRATION SPOIL THE FUN OF GOLFING.
Too often, you start playing poorly, and then lose it. You get frustrated that you can’t hit those same good drives you were hitting on the practice range. You’re off the fairways. You miss greens. Then you miss a few putts. Then you stub a chip that should have been easy. Steam built up in your brain comes pouring out of your ears like a locomotive. You’re so angry, you feel like throwing that club five hundred yards. Well, don’t do it. It’s not worth it. Clubs cost too much. You might throw out your back. And try not to curse, because a) it makes you look juvenile, b) it makes you look like you’re spoiled, and c) it might get you tossed off the course.
Why not live up to the fact that you hit that bad shot. You’re not perfect. You make mistakes. And move on to the next shot. Or laugh about it. Screwing up can be really funny sometimes. Remember, it’s only a round of golf.
· FIND SOMETHING POSITIVE IN YOUR GAME THAT DAY, AND FOCUS ON THE GOOD.
Usually, when you’re having that bad day, you’re doing something pretty good. Maybe you’re driving bad, and missing putts like crazy, but maybe that day, you’re hitting wedges well. Or chipping well. You should try to build upon the good chipping or wedge play, so that you can be really good at it next time out. And maybe if the driving and putting are good (the next time) you can remember the good thoughts you had with your wedges and really put together a round. But try to come out of the round with good thoughts about something. Because during your next round, you’ll never know when you might want to draw back on some positive thoughts.

· TRY TO REVERT BACK TO THE SMOOTHEST, MOST EFFORTLESS GOLFER YOU CAN BE.
Most times when you screw up during a round,it’s because of excessive ension. The golfer who can stop the downward spiral of bad shots, tension, more bad shots, etc., is the one who can sometimes rescue a bad round. One way is to pull out extra club on a shot and slow down/smooth out your swing. You’ll be amazed how extra club can help revers the downward spiral. Next time you’re hacking the ball all over the course, due to excessive tension, try using a smooth six iron instead of that hard seven. Or even go down to a 3/4 swing on a five iron. But rescue yourself from excessive tension with a club selection that allows you to swing more easily.

· DON’T GIVE UP.
You never know what good things might happen if you keep trying to do something positive. Think about hitting good shots. Forget about the fact that your score is going to hell and try to get satisfaction from hitting it well. Years later, after some of the worst rounds of your life, you’re more likely to remember that one hole you chipped in than the fact you were slicing that day. There are tons of negative thoughts that day to bombard you during a round. Try to ward off the negative with positive thoughts. If you can’t muster up positive thoughts about golf, you CAN think positively about life.
We all know bad rounds can happen, but the important thing is to not let the negative aspects of golf get to you. Sometimes the going gets tough and you tend to react with anger and frustration. I’ve played with people who got so angry at their poor play, they quit. I think they’re missing out on a great sport.
I implore any of you who take it so seriously that you cuss, throw clubs, or become angry enough to consider quitting - CALM DOWN. Bad shots happen. Bad rounds happen. You’re playing a game that, when approached properly, is a fun thing to do. It beats the heck out of being at a 9 to 5 job. But playing golf is, after all, just a game.

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