golf at palm resort's allamanda course

now i know why those who are crazy about the game refer to golf as 'a game of love and frustration'. today, i played with kok weng at the allamanda course at palm resort because the melati course - on which i played last week - was closed for maintenance. it costs rm$20 more on play at this more challenging and more scenic course. it's challenging because there are eleven water hazards distributed throughout the 18-hole course.

when i played at melati last week, i hit the same ball throughout the whole course. this time, i had to replace two balls because i lost them to the water in the ponds. it was frustrating because i was fluffing some of the shots and creating some boo-boos. my excuse - the aching pain at my right elbow was still troubling me.

i enjoy playing golf with kok weng because he is very encouraging and he allows you to proceed at your own pace. as an inexperienced player, you tend to make mistakes, either topping the shots or sending the shots wild. he does not laugh at you but he laughs with you and gives your pointers on how to correct the mistakes.

during the course of the play, kok weng was telling me the antics of his sunday's flight members. according to him, nai ah, lay hian and low ai are great spotters...for lost balls. when play is being held up by the flight ahead of them, they will spend their time searching the bushes, water edge and the fairway for balls that have strayed.

yesterday, we managed to cover the 18 holes in slightly more than three hours. we started at about 11.15 a.m. and wrapped it up at 2.25 p.m. although it is very hot playing at midday, the consolation is that you do not have people chasing you and there is nobody in front to hold you back.