Golf, as it seems to many people, is a slow and boring game usually played by the older generation where they are into their retirement period and have plenty of time to spare. However in recent years, more and more young golfers are appearing on the golf courses.

I started playing when I was 14, remembering how my dad will drag me to learn when at that period I was only interested in soccer. It was a start-stop hobby as the interest wasn’t really there until when I started working in 2008. As age is catching up, soccer is definitely not a sport I can play for long as it is very much intensive  and hence I have decided to take up golf as a full time hobby and totally commit my time into it.

Yesterday I had an interesting game with my usual kakis and would like to share with you guys. My flight mates consist of:

1. Alvin Tan, owner of Visual Tech Solutions, specialises in audio and video equipment.

2. Guy Tan, Director of E-Sarn, Thai restaurant in Singapore

3. Francis, mutual friend

It is inevitable for a golfer to be involves in bets, as many would say if there are no bets involved you won’t treat your game seriously. While I have individual bet with Alvin and Guy, we also played a team game known as VEGAS. It was a game at NSRCC Kranji and after completing the first 9 holes, I was already down $100 for VEGAS. I am not usually a heavy better and having lost $100 is considered a disaster for me. While I was playing a decent game and had actually lead in the individual games, it was quite surprising that I can lose so much for VEGAS, because it seems unlucky that my partner for  each hole, either didn’t play well or the opposite team would score either par of birdie. So yes $100 down after first 9-holes.

While continuing our game with 8 holes remaining, Guy propose to play another team game known as Banker-Player. Ok so in my mind I was preparing to lose even more. Indeed the first banker player hole I lost another $20. Then came the turning point at hole 5, par 3 course. After teeing off, here is picture of where our balls have landed:

 

Ok so we have three balls, where is the fourth?? Well unfortunately the banker (Francis) got his ball into the hazard twice, which basically means game over for him. And can you guess which ball is mine? Alvin (left ball), Guy (center ball), me (right ball). YES MINE IS CLOSER TO THE HOLE AND ITS A BIRDIE CHANCE! Actually all three have a chance for birdie. However, I still need to score 1 better than the two of them in order to win more money from them to cover my losses. So here is the video of our putting results:

 

Yes the guy in green is Alvin and he MISS. The second is Guy and he ALSO MISS! ok par for them. I just need to birdied it, I didn’t ask anyone to video it as I know I will be distracted and miss it. So I just put my phone back into my pocket, walk up to the ball…..Putt…..BIRDIE! haha Ka-Ching $$$$. This was the hole that change my entire game. After completely 18 holes, we computed our bets and here are my results:

1. Individual with Alvin – Won $15

2. Individual with Guy – Won $25

3. Team game Vegas – Lost $60

4. Team game Banker-Player —- Won $45

Yes!! Overall Nett win of $25! That is why golf is such an amazing game. It is such that you might seem to be on the losing end, but you will never know until you put your 100% through it all and see the results. In life that is also a valuable lesson for us, we may fail to achieve things in our earlier stage of career, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end and game over for you. Keep pushing and trying and work harder, one day and who knows, success might come looking for you.