Kim Jong -il is the best Golfer in the world and a few more surprises...

It has been a busy couple of weeks at the shop for journalist; who have found a ready audience lapping up any news story that changes the subject from the big “E” (economic crisis). The old, new, electronic, paper, professional and social; all forms of media have been churning out hot stories covering, North Korea and the nuclear threat, the rigged elections in Iran and madness that followed; and finally twitting scaled new heights following the tragic death of Michael Jackson.

As a self-proclaimed writer representing golf addicts, I decided to do my own story for my fellow golfers. Armed with the power of Google I set out to do my research on the hot contemporary stories; wearing my Golf cap naturally. I kicked off my research on North Korea. To my complete amazement I came across an article from a couple years ago which explains the North Korean madness better than any other research available.

The Government controlled media reports that, Kim Jong-il is the best golfer in the world, hands down. On his first ever trip to the golf course, he shot 38-under par, including 5 hole-in-ones! He routinely shoots 3 or 4 hole-in-ones every time out. There is only one course in North Korea and it plays to about 7,700 yards, making Jong-il's feat even more impressive. 38-under par on a course that is longer than most in the world is NOT BAD at all Kim Jong-il! Don’t believe me read the full story

http://www.anyonefortee.com/Shots/Kim.html

What a complete Moron! In my view the current rhetorics are North Korea’s way of saying; "we want to negotiate". Kim Jong-il is obviously a golf fan. Send in Tiger woods to negotiate. A round of 18 with Kim should soften the "Dear Leader".

Moving on I discovered that Iran's Golf Federation (yes there is such a thing!) reported that the largest course in the Middle East would be built on the southern Kish Island, Hormozgan Province. Golf has never been a hot item in the nation formerly known as Persia. Even during the days of the democratic-leaning shah, there was only a single 18-hole course in Tehran: the Imperial Country Club. After the 1979 Islamic revolution, golf was demonized as a product of the West.

The winds have surely changed as the investors in the “The Flower of The East” a $2.2 billion GOLF RESORT project in Kish believe their project will attract golfers as well as buyers of upscale homes. Kish with its white-sand beaches, is visited by 1.1 million tourists a year, and is a very popular vacation spot. Iran's Golf Federation has also stated that additional golf courses in Qom, Shiraz, Tabriz, Khorramabad, and Hashtgerd are also on agenda.

I see a clear signs of progress in Iran and there certainly is hope. Suggest the world should not meddle in Iran’s internal affairs and gives Iran the time to evolve into a peaceful golfing society. However golfing brands such as Callaway, Taylor Made, Mizuno etc should be given UN aid to grow their presence in Iran. I sincerely believe that would foster a new kind of revolution that even the Supreme leader will approve.

Finally buried somewhere amongst the numerous stories on Michael Jackson, I found that before his tragic death Michael Jackson was auctioning a golf cart as part of a collection of items soon to go under the hammer. The vehicle is a black two-seater; complete with a painted picture of Jackson dressed as Peter Pan on the bonnet. Projections in March 2009 estimated that the cart would be bought for between $4,000 and $6,000. I guess you have a pay a lot more now.

So fellow golfers don’t be shy; if your life has been missing a golf cart with Michael Jackson painted as Peter Pan on the hood; just go for it!

Lastly on an unrelated note, the Hitler Cup, one of sport's most unusual trophies, has turned up in a businessman's display case in Glasgow, solving one of golf's strangest mysteries. The Hitler Cup was commissioned by the Fuhrer and was to be presented to the winners of an amateur international tournament in the spa town of Baden-Baden immediately after the Berlin Olympics in 1936.

Go figure that!

Enjoy it!

Driving Passion

The sun was setting in the horizon over the ocean. Beyond the stretches of green a beautiful skyline was starting to glitter in the twilight sky. I was in my paradise playing my round of evening golf. Singapore’s best and most beautiful spots; its skyline, reservoirs, oceanfront or rain forests are best seen from its various golf courses.

Singapore is a great place to play golf. It's sunny all year round, with lush greenery and world-class golfing facilities. Despite Singapore’s size, the island boasts of over 20 Golf courses. Take your pick from large and well-equipped public courses, or enjoy the more intimate atmosphere of the golf courses at country clubs. You also have the option of making a quick weekend getaway to a neighbouring Bintan and Batam (Indonesia) or drive across to Johor (Malaysia) where most courses are large and affordable.

Singapore is also home to the Barclays Singapore open which is one of the richest tournaments on Asian tour. Indian golfers like Jyoti Randhawa (2000) and Jeev Milkha Singh (2008) have made a mark for themselves by winning this tournament.

I got initiated into Golf about 8 years ago in Singapore. Couple of friends from the condominium decided to take up Golf. I don’t exactly remember what lured us into Golf. Was it Tiger Woods or the glamour of playing Golf with top corporate echelons? Whatever it was; I am pretty sure there was substantial amount of beers involved in the decision-making.

If you are considering taking up Golf; step one would be to find a Golf driving range that is conveniently located for you. For the uninitiated Golf driving ranges are to Golf what universities are to workplace. They are the place where you learn the basics, make friendships, work with your teachers (Golf pro’s) and prepare yourself to take on the challenges of the work place (the Golf course, naturally). Driving ranges are not just for beginners; even for the most accomplished players regular trips to the driving range is a must.

One is spoilt for choice when it comes to driving ranges in Singapore. Golf driving ranges in Singapore compete with each other to offer their customers the best of facilities; coaching (provided by Golf Pro’s) and even recreation facilities such as kids play areas and restaurants.
The 8 month old driving range at turf city offers “ As real as it gets” experience in the words of its manager George Wuu. Set amongst the lush green expanses of turf city with its numerous cricket, rugby and soccer fields the turf city driving range is fairly narrow and very long. The set up gives you a feeling of being on an actual fairway and helps your practise routine immensely. Its unique value proposition includes natural grass greens and facilities for chipping, putting complete with 2 bunkers. Turf city driving range also provides its customers the flexibility to bring your own Golf Pro or use the Turf City affiliated Golf Pros for your coaching.

I like to go to the driving range with my Golf Kakis (buddies) or my daughters whenever I get a chance. My practise routine includes alternating each session with odd and then even clubs so that I get used to hitting each club. I will start with the shortest club until the hits are fairly good, and then move on to the next club. At the very end of the practice session, I will start with the lowest club and hit one ball progressing to the next club with the idea of hitting a good shot with each club. If a chipping and pitching area is available, I will then practice this for a while and then move on to putting. Doing the slow swings after the range allows me to cool down.

Golf is a great sport that you can enjoy with friends and family for years to come. Here in Singapore Golf Parivaar (www.golfparivaar.com) organizes regular events that include Golf with a whole lot of family fun.

Enjoy it!

(An edited version of this post has been published in the sports section of the TABLA! Newspaper on June 12, 2009 in Singapore. Please email me if you would like a copy of the article)

Jack Nicklaus meets Jack Daniel’s

It was Brian’s birthday and couple of us decided to go over to Bintan with our families for the weekend. It was a great party till it started to go wrong. Let’s just say Mr. Jack Daniel's and Mr. Carlsberg should never be invited to the same party. I woke up next morning for my game of Golf with a terrible hangover. It was going to be a very hot and humid day. My head was spinning. I had to focus; I had to keep myself hydrated and, I could get through this… Man, what was I thinking?

There is no shortage of bad news anywhere today. The unending chatters in the newspapers, on television and even at the office water coolers about the economy is getting annoying. As if that were not enough, the recent out break of the swine flu have the doomsayers painting the Great Depression coupled with the London plague kind of a picture. The world today reminds me of this bum I saw in Manhattan once carrying a sign saying "The End Is Near!" I saw him being hit by a car and falling to the ground. As he wiped the dust and blood off his face, there was this cold smile rejoicing his prophecy being fulfilled.

Fellow Golfers, 2008 was like the last hours of a great party when things started to go wrong. Simply put 2009 is your round of 18 with a terrible hangover on a hot humid day. You have to focus and keep yourself hydrated…. you can get through this.

Focus in Golf is a combination of where you focus your mind, eyes, body, breathing and intention. In fact your beliefs about your ability, your fears and the optical illusions deliberately designed into any golf course will distort what you focus on. When you tell yourself “don’t hit it in the water, again,” the ball is likely to end up in the water. This is a funny quirk of our golf mind. It doesn’t hear “don’t”. It’s like parents yelling at their kids “don’t run”. What do they do? Better to yell what you want, in the positive “Walk”.

Now think of that in context of our work life. To get the desirable outcome each day we need to draw upon our experiences, people skills, and relationship’s working together for one outcome. Our beliefs about our ability, our fears and the various theories around the current economic chaos will distort what we think, we see and more importantly what we focus on. It is important to keep the focus on the positive outcomes such as “having a great quarter” or “delivering the project on time and within budget” rather than testing the quirks of the golfing mind.

It is also very important to stay hydrated. If you do not keep your body properly hydrated you will not be able to perform as well as you could on the golf course. It is recommended that you drink fluids, like water and Gatorade, in smaller amounts on a regular basis and not wait until you get to a drink station every six holes or so.

In the gloomy world outside the Golf course what this really means is we need to take regular breaks to refresh the mind and not just wait for the annual vacation. This applies even more in stressful times like we live in today. It could be simple things like spend the weekend doing nothing with the kids or writing a blog or planning to go for the “Pussy cat dolls” concert (don’t judge me these girls are really talented musicians).

When faced with all the ups and downs of life,

Still the mind remains unshaken,

Not lamenting, not generating defilements, always feeling secure,

This is the greatest happiness.

- Buddha

A Thai gentleman I respect a lot gave me a pocket watch last year with a Buddhist inscription “ this too shall pass”. This has become my Mantra, because I know for a fact that it will. Every day I notice I am a little less fearful or overwhelmed. I expect the odd setback like a lost night of sleep or a moment of discouragement or depression, but I'll get through.

The Golf game on Brian’s birthday is probably the most memorable round I have ever played. It was the beautiful Jack Nicklaus course at Bintan Lagoon resort. Despite the hangover I kept my focus, kept myself hydrated and completed the 1st nine with a respectable 49. When it came to the back nine I was a little less fearful or overwhelmed. I made five pars in a row shooting one of the lowest scores in my life.

The two Jack’s (Nicklaus and Daniel's) came together on that fateful and day and taught me a thing or two about grinding my way out of a difficult situation. I hope the 2nd half of 2009 plays like my back nine on Brian’s birthday.

Enjoy it!

So Mr. Obama, are you really up for an 18?

I appreciate your encouragement for my 1st blog, “Slumdog Millionaire is like a hole in one!” A close friend, “Sanjeev Gupta,” in an interrogating tone asked, “Did you really write it? I assumed your sister Sweta wrote it for you”. I am not sure if he was complementing me or just trashing my sister, who is an accomplished writer with two books to her credit. Anyway, I let it go; good friends are the only assets with a positive return on investment during these torrid times.

Talking of torrid times, I would like to ask with utmost respect. “What’s up Mr. Obama? Do you think you can save par despite finding yourself in a deep bunker on your 1st tee shot”.

It wasn’t that long ago when Obama won the longest presidential elections in the U.S. He made history by toppling his formidable rivals and succeeding in his improbable quest to become the first African-American president. Oprah cried at his swearing in ceremony and the rest of the world cried along (She wasn’t even handing out free goodies). Obama was the new messiah born to rescue the “planet in peril”. He was teed up for greatness.

I am religious too. When I was 1st introduced to Golf about 10 years ago, I instantly knew; this was not an ordinary sport but my religion. “Tiger Woods” was the Lord Almighty and “St. Andrews,” the home of Golf, was the Vatican. For years, I dreamt of my pilgrimage aka St. Andrews.

Obama’s passionate acceptance speech revealed how much the presidency meant to him. His journey of conviction and commitment meant: Giving up a fancy career education (He’s a Harvard graduate); starting out at the grassroots level as a social worker; and working his way up the political ladder. He and his young family made incredible sacrifices to get to where they are today.

During a family vacation in Scotland, my brother-in-law, Paul managed to get us a booking to play at St Andrew’s course. A round at the St Andrew’s was finally going to happen after years of commitment, hard work, and some wicked planning. I recall that experience as my “Obama moment”. There was family sacrifice involved too. Both Paul and I left our respective wives and kids in a café waiting for us while we went off to achieve our destiny.

Soon after the highs of his acceptance speech, Obama took office with a nation in the grip of the worst economic crisis in three-quarters of a century. He had inherited neither peace nor prosperity. He had to deal with global economic crisis, crippling deficit, spiraling public confidence, two wars, and things were about to get worse.

My moment had come. I was going finally going to play at St Andrews. I was anxious, excited, delirious, and all those things as I set for my 1st drive. Three holes later I was calling the experience a “complete nightmare”. Yes, you read it right; my dream turned into a nightmare. It was bitterly cold, the wind was crazy, and the links course felt like nothing I had ever played before. The ball would just hang there in the air teasing you and then make its way wherever the wind commanded it to go. By hole 6, I was loosing my mind. There was not a place on this course that we could buy water, and the gust was so strong that it was dislodging the ball from the tee at set up. By now my excitement was all gone, and I was fancying the idea of giving up and going back to the wife and kids at the café.

Obama went about forming a government and prioritizing a long list of costly demands at a time of unprecedented deficits. The crises deepened and financial markets reeled. Bernard Madoff and his ponzi scheme came to light. The long list of bailouts coupled with the un-repenting greed of corporate czars and the Wall Street vultures, added to Obama’s nightmare.

The wind was easing up and the cold was a lot more manageable. By the 9th hole, I had a much better understanding and respect for the conditions at St. Andrews. I started to enjoy the historic course and beautiful settings. I felt blessed walking the Holy Land (Scotland gave the world Golf and Scotch whisky). Nothing seemed to bother me anymore; the experience was unbelievable. I was absolutely up for my 18.

Obama is on his 3rd hole and things are likely to get worse for sometime before they get better. I am sure there are still Wall Street frauds that are yet to come to light; the global economy that will continue to hurt; and terrorists that will go about their mindless madness. But I will give a mulligan to the man, who in his brief tenure has given hope to the hopeless, shut down Guantanamo bay, and extended a hand of friendship to friends and foes. He has reaffirmed his commitment to fighting global warming in Copenhagen. Despite provocation by the naughty Kim Jong-il, Obama has called for a “Nuclear-free world”.


It is bitterly cold; the wind is very strong,
You will have to go without water for very long.
The ground will be very hard and bunkers will be mean
Even perfect approach shots will roll miles off the green
Before it gets better it will get worse
“Planet in Peril” is the Bush curse
On the path to greatness challenges lie waitin
So Mr. Obama are you really up for an 18?

Enjoy it!

"Slumdog Millionaire" is like a…… Hole in One!

There have been several debates around how good a movie was “Slumdog Millionaire” (SDM).While much of the world has raved about various aspects of the movie, many Indians believe SDM is a typical western stereotype of India that highlights slums, poverty, communal discord, child abuse, and yes, the Taj Mahal.

The way I look at it, who am I to judge SDM. The movie won eight Oscars, BAFTA, and God knows how many more awards. And, for those of us seeking desi- validation, our beloved Congress party has embraced the catchy Jai Ho number as their election theme song. (I have to admit that the thought of Manmohan and Sonia grooving to Jai Ho is a tad bit disturbing). Anyway now that Slumdog is the most internationally acclaimed INDIAN movie ever (the Brits stole chicken tikka masala first…so shoot me!), I think it is time, my fellow golfers to use simple GOLF FUNDA’S to bring this raging debate to a logical conclusion.

Danny Boyle’s creative genius has earned him a lot of credit. Boyle made his feature film directorial debut with “Shallow Grave”. The film was the most successful British film of 1995. The success of “Shallow Grave” led to the production of Boyle’s next project, “Trainspotting”.

Shallow Grave was a dream debut
Train spotting made Danny Boyle a star,
But then he made the Beach
which was like a Pro hitting “Double Par”

Today, the world can’t stop raving about Freida Pinto. Before starring in Slumdog Millionaire, Freida anchored the international travel show, Full Circle. She has also featured in several commercials. Her co-star, Dev Patel, is not only a British film and television actor but also a martial art artist.

For Frieda Pinto Slumdog was like a perfect “tee shot”.
I am not sure about her acting, but she is definitely hot.
She completely overshadowed her co-star,
It appears that the much distracted Dev Patel missed his “Par”.

The kids in SDM were precious. To most people, they were the real stars of the movie. People’s opinion has been most divided regarding how good or bad has SDM been for the little ones. Ayush (young Jamal),who has been acting in Bollywood since age ,four comes from a middle class family in Mumbai suburbs. He has appeared in many commercials and TV serials. In fact, he is an award winning artist. But the other stars, Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail (young Salim) and Rubina Ali (young Latika), were both discovered in the slums of Mumbai. Post SDM, they have both returned back to their humble lives in the slums.

Little Ayush, Azharuddin, and Rubina were cute and funny.
Like “amateur golfers” they got all the kudos,
But went home with no money.

AR Rahman and Anil Kapoor barely need an introduction. Rahman mesmerized the world with his music while Anil kapoor behaved like a raving lunatic and hogged all the lime light at the award ceremonies.

Anil showed his “handicap” anchoring the Crore pati game,
While the “Tiger Woods” of Indian music finally added a few Oscars to his name.

There is no denying that SDM was a phenomenon. It is impossible to articulate what really made it click. Was it the director? Actors? Children? Music? Or simplistic emotions that never failed to bring a smile to your face? My favorite was young Jamal jumping into a pile of poop, wading his way through the muck, and getting an autograph of Amitabh Bachhan. There was really no “formula” that made SDM a roaring success. . Every tiny bit fell into place, and the magic just happened.

My fellow Golfers, “Slumdog Millionaire” is best explained as a “HOLE IN ONE”. It is perfect in its imperfections.

Enjoy it!