BREAKING NEWS FROM THE 64TH PAL INTERCLUB

The REGULAR MENS DIVISION is underway with only one game to go. There are only 29 international teams compared to 40 teams in the SENIOR DIVISION.

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION

Surprisingly, local club DEL MONTE is leading the Championship Division with 412 points, 12 ahead of CANLUBANG – a favorite. In a modified Stableford system, par gets 2 points; bogie gets 1. Most of Del Monte’s members were near or below par during the last 3 days.

PINOY VANCOUVER is in 9^th place with 174 points. MILES is their leading scorer with a total of 48 points for the tournament. JOHN ROBERTSON contributed 41 points for his total.

FOUNDERS DIVISION

ALABANG GOLF leads with 362 points. FIL-AM HAWAII (International Team) occupies last place at 222 points.

FRIENDSHIP DIVISION

Here is an interesting development. PGABC (International Team) with some of our friends, TOTI EPONDULAN, GB FRAGANTE, CALOY LUKBAN, playing, leads with 269 points. They are being chased by UP TEE JOTS (winners in the Senior Division) who trail by 19 points; and SOUTH COTOBATO, also by an equal point deficit.

GREATER VANCOUVER covers bottom spot with only 127 points.

SPORTSWRITERS DIVISION

CAMP EVANGELISTA and ZAMBOANGA GOLF are neck and neck with 300 and 299 points, respectively. This is a toss-up. SEATTLE GOLF with our buddy, ALBERT BARCELON has 170 points and is in 24^th place. (Well, they admit they are only there for fun!) And the infamous EZPAR holds up the entire division from the bottom with only 95 points, at 28^th place. But hey! They are only 205 points behind the leader.

THERE YOU HAVE IT!

64th PAL INTERCLUB – SPECTABULOUS!!!

To describe our team’s first experience at the PAL INTERCLUB, I had to invent a new word to coin the words “spectacular” and “fabulous”. Oh, yes there are other suitable adjectives but these words do tell it all.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE TEAM PARTICIPATION

Before sharing with you the details of our first interclub participation, let me go over some of the logistics.

With so many teams applying for participation in the SENIOR and REGULAR MENs Divisions, the Pal Golf Secretariat’s task was daunting. What team to accept and what team to keep on the waiting list.

There were already seven (7) teams from Vancouver. Another one would bring the total required individual participation to 64! Really? Could there be “that many” golfers in Vancouver?

For our team to be granted participation represents the goodwill some of us have established over the years. This is the fourth team I have helped established and captained with the interclub over the last 15 years. It will be the last one.

The Team Captain’s responsibilities are horrendous. Just to give you an example, I was awakened by a knock on my hotel door at 6 am with one of our team members sounding so desperate. “How can I possibly get a ride to my hometown when my ticket indicates that I am booked on the 5:15 pm flight and my buddy who would give me a ride is taking the 11:40 flight?”

Does it make sense that something like this is left to the last minute? Should it not have been coordinated long before arriving at Cagayan? Oh, but what the hell is the captain for right? Yeah right!

And there are others:

• How do we get to the hotel?
• Where are we going for dinner?
• How could we get to the golf course that is 1.5 hours away for a 6 am start time?
• What is the best place for a therapeutic massage?
• Where can we go for entertainment?
• Where can I get my clothes laundered?
• Why is it that my Outlook can’t send messages out?

Oh, and there are myriads of demands for answers and assistance. The team captain has to be an expert in land transportation logistics and air bookings. He must be a professional hospitality agent, a software engineer, a public relations expert, a food, drink, and entertainment connoisseur, a messenger, slave, and banker. He must also be an accountant. Oh, and he must also carry a “Senior Citizen’s Card”. It comes in handy when dining out. A senior citizen is entitled to a 20% discount on food in the Philippines. And since he has the senior citizen’s card he also ends out paying for the bill.

Here is the funny thing. If the senior eats alone and spends P1000, he is billed P800. But since he is with a group of 4. 5, or 6, he MUST SHARE this discount with everyone else because the bill is divided amongst everyone!

That is not really so bad since most of the boys do appreciate that joint common expenses must be shared and most do willingly pay their share. How wonderful it is if everyone appreciates this.

In short, the team captain is the all around Joe who solves problems and makes everyone happy. If this is a paid job, the team captain’s honorarium for such job would be in thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, the BirdieHunters does not have a bank account; does not collect annual dues; does not withhold a portion of weekly winnings. The club has no money period. Thus, when expensive Lacoste Golf Shirts are imported and embroidered with team logo; when embroidered golf hats are given away, guess who shells out the dough?

It was a tough year preparing for this tournament. It was expensive. It was very demanding. And one would be crazy to do it again next year.

AND NOW FOR THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN

You have already read how our 1^st team (REYES, TRINIDAD, RAMOS, LAZUARDI) were soaked at Del Monte. They had a tough time under miserable conditions.

Our 2^nd Team (MENDOZA, CHANG, NG) got a great time slot at PUEBLO – 10:30. CHANG led the scoring with 48 points aided by a couple of birdies.

ERNIE started slowly and got his rhythm in the back nine with a string of pars and birdies. He was 2-under for the two monstrous par fives. A double bogie on the 18^th marred what could have been a great round – much better than 36 points for sure.

HARRY held his own against his opponents and contributed 31 points. Our team started 25^th out of 40 teams in the International Division with opening points of 65, and moved up to 22^nd after the 2^nd day – 115 points. We settled back at 23^rd position with 377 points on the final day (tied with Mabuhay SF and SF Heritage) . Three other Vancouver teams occupied 3 of the last 4 spots (Greater Vancouver-303; Par Breakers-299; Filcansa-292).

Imagine if we had RORY, HAN, and JACK, or maybe GERRY and ALAN. Wow, we’d be right up there.

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

We went to a Seafood restaurant by the sea – twice! That’s how good the food and entertainment was. The music was fabulous and HARRY was a star, singing alongside a pretty gal.

We also had a chance to go to a piano bar and a large hotel. The lounge was right in front of the swimming pool. A pianist could play just about anything. While enjoying the music, a fairly large man introduced himself to us saying that he is with the team from Hawaii….AND…..he owns the place! Ahem! Yup, this guy is the owner of the joint. He sat beside the pianist and belted a few Matt Monroe ballads. Well, it was enough to trigger HARRY vocal chords. Thereafter, there he is, our KKK – KING KONG of KARAOKE.

ERNIE was also forced to take the stage. Suddenly, the pianist wondered if we were “pros” – titutes…that is.

Ah, we had a wonderful time!

PARTY AT THE ATRIUM

Here is a short video of the Senior’s Award Night Party at the Atrium:

CADDIES COMPULSORY at CAGAYAN

Now, now, calm down. You are really hallucinating. What you see is not really what it is. These are Scotland’s new breed of caddies. They read the greens well. They know the yardage to every hole. They can guide a golfer on how to avoid mistake….on the golf course.

They are obliged to observe a dress code of white coveralls and Nike golf shoes. They are warned not to fraternize with the person to whom they are assigned.

If only they had very serious caddies at Cagayan like these four gentlemen, our team would certainly benefit.

With our Vancouver weather turning horribly foul each week, ERNIE, HARRY, VINCENT, CHANG, and perhaps HAN couldn’t wait to get out there on a warm sunny day and pick up some birdies and pars to help our team’s debut at the 64^th PAL INTERCLUB-best golf excursion in Asia.

LAST SATURDAY @ RIVERWAY

At least we picked a very good day to limber up those golf muscles and recall our golf swing. (With not much practice during these frigid days, the swing can quickly turn south!)

ALAN, HARRY, ERNIE, BERT, BILL, and newcomer, JIMMY, certainly had a great time. There was an hour frost delay but we were the 2^nd and 3^rd group to tee off.

There was only one “Birdiehunter” today – the sexy senior. He got his birdie on the 10^th hole when his 12-footer nicely settled at the bottom of the hole. However, HARRY is no longer the legitimate KING KONG. That honor now belongs to GIANT GORILLA. I thought that cranking a drive 240 yards at the 4^th hole would be considered a monster drive. The GORILLA’s drive was 15 yards past the 150 yard marker! On most of the holes he was easily 100 yards ahead of our best drive.

Don’t ask how he putts though.

As usual, the boys played KPs and Nassau. The wind was surging and most of the par three’s were tough to nail. ALAN got his on the 11^th. BILL hit the green on the 15^th and we awarded him the KP even though a temp green was placed in front. HARRY was barely on on the 6^th hole which played really tough against the wind. ERNIE muscled a mid iron to steal the KP.

The story of the day has to be the Nassau competition. BILL announced near the mid back nine that HARRY shot a 43! Since he was playing up front, we thought that he might be the hot swinger of the day. So those of us in the 2^nd group were trying to make pars for a decent game and a chance at winning a pot. GORILLA was leading the back nine with only three holes to play but with a triple on the nasty 7^th and 9^th holes (we started out on the 10^th tee), he surrendered the back nine to the “old guy”.

With everyone eagerly waiting for the Nassau results at the end of the game, it turned out that the “Harry shot a 43” was a hoax. The best in their group was BILL with his index! Unfortunately, their best was not good enough. The “sexy senior’s” net 73 was best for a rout – taking all three sides!

NO GAME THIS THURSDAY – PREDICTION – SNOW!

We will monitor the weekend weather instead.

FED UP OF THIS HORRIBLE WEATHER?

What kind of golfing experience would you rather have?

THIS?

OR THIS?

In case you have been wondering what the BIRDIEHUNTERS have been up to with this miserable Vancouver weather, here is the latest.

BBC is preparing for its participation in the 64^th PAL INTERCLUB at Cagayan de Oro – next month. We are definitely looking forward to warm weather, great golf courses, succulent food, fabulous hospitality and entertainment at this annual international golf tournament in the Philippines sponsored by PHILIPPINE AIR LINES – the best golf excursion in Asia!

It also appears that we may have a fair contingent from our regulars: CHANG, VINCENT, ERNIE, and now an excellent chance that KING KONG and HAN are excited to go. We are joined by ORESTES, OSCAR, SERAPIN, and REY. Too bad BERT’s lingering health concerns are pestering. There is also an outside chance that RENO and JOE may be last minute additions.

BACK FROM VACATION

We are happy to report that HARRY made it through the New York blizzard. He is back safe and sound – enjoying his “usual coffee at the workshop”. He says that he is “buying the first cup for everyone who joins him”. (You sound like John Yap! Are you running for Council?)

I suppose that the CHANG family is back from Palm Springs; so is COONEY’s. GERRY is still soaking in the sunny south. ALAN is not planning on a Vegas return just as yet. When SUNNY’s home in Vancouver is completed, he is on his way to his Palm Spring retreat.

(It is such a tough life, isn’t it? BILL, CHANG L and SUNNY have just completed a cruise just a couple of weeks ago.)

WE ARE PLAYING FLOG

THURSDAY, JAN 6 GAME at POINT ROBERTS is cancelled. Instead we have a SATURDAY (mainly sunny) game at RIVERWAY starting at 8:40.

BBC GOLF CONTINUES THROUGH THE WINTER

Last Tuesday, we played at LOOMIS. JOE blazed the course with a 76. He started the back nine at 2-under par after four holes. On the par five 11^th, he was on in two putting for eagle.

Last Thursday at Riverway, we waited patiently for the warm sun to clear the frost on the fairways and greens. We finally got to play golf at 11 am when the Parks groundkeeper finally gave the go signal. It was a wild and wacky day. With the hard frozen fairways, we were driving the ball like GORILLAS. We were also chipping and putting like GORILLAS. “Chip and run” was more like the golf ball doing an impersonation of USAIN BOLT….the ball keeps running before and after the hole.

2010 GREAT GOLF YEAR for BBC

In case you are still wondering if we love golf enough to play through summer, autumn, winter, and spring, DON’T!

Yes, we have a game this Thursday at Riverway at 8:40! Do we trust the weatherman? Well, if we did, we would not have played Northview last Thursday or Loomis on Sunday!

Best wishes to all those who have contributed to make BBC, a fun and fabulous gang of golf nuts….er….friends!

PAL INTERCLUB – Give BBC a great 1^st year at the interclub and give yourself an unforgettable golf excursion!

YOU PLAY ALL YEAR ROUND? What a question!

GOLF PROLONGS LIFE, GOOD HEALTH

“Golf can be a good investment for the health, according to a new study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institute. The death rate for golfers is 40 per cent lower than for other people of the same sex, age and socioeconomic status, which correspond to a 5 year increase in life expectancy. Golfers with a low handicap are the safest.” Quoted from EMAXHEATH

“You guys play all year round?” asked someone. So Simon replies, “Is the Pope Catholic?”

The BIRDIEHUNTERS never pack their golf equipment…. except to load them on PR 108 to Manila and Cagayan de Oro…or on a WestJet to somewhere in Palm Springs.

Now you know why JOE, PETER, or CHANG will live to age 100! (So will HARRY, if he stops polluting the air. Apparently, John will be carrying a placard next time out: “No smoking within 400 yards of my healthy body!) Just like Erin, John has his 3-iron ready for any violation. (Or is it a 9-iron?)

Yes, we played at Point Roberts. Yes, we got some birdies. Yes, we got some KP’s. Instead of Nassau and skins, we decided to play best of the front, back 9 and total. It gave everyone a fair chance at getting their hands on some “moolah”. HARRY, JOE, SIMON, & VINCENT took home the KP pots and “little” JOE stole the front 9 from ERNIE.

Meanwhile, like his “twin brother” (who was denied a chance to win at the Chevron Tournament last week-end by Graeme McDowell), PETER remains winless since his return two weeks ago. However, his strong play keeps his index lowest in the group. It is only a matter of time before he gets to getting himself in the winners’ circle.

NORTHVIEW CANAL THIS THURSDAY – DEC 9

We played at the Canal Course last Sunday and were skewered. But first, let me review the course’s condition. Surprisingly, fairways are relatively dry. Compared to Mayfair Lakes, the Canal holds up pretty well with hardly any mushy area except way off the fairway. The greens are in fair condition and about 60% slower than Point Roberts.

Thus, we decided to hold this Thursday game at Northview Canal starting at 8:36 am. The iGoogle forecast (which is more accurate that your local weather channel) is:

“Chance of rain. Overcast High 10⁰ C Wind SSE 14 km/h 40% chance of precipitation”

Conditions should improve according to my “Golf Good Health Calendar”.

Better confirm your attendance early.

Now, for the massacre that occurred last Sunday. It is now confirmed that the SB1 (Sandbagger #1) title goes to VINCENT. If he did not score a double bogie on the 9^th hole, he would have had a 41 in the front nine – which would be par for the course for a 10 handicapper.

“It is just my lucky day”, he says, (adding insult to injury). Luck is sculling a 3-wood on a 165 yard par three; rolling it around the green and doing a chili pepper chunky with a sand-wedge and popping it in the hole for a birdie! That is luck. Skill is: never missing a drive; taking a fairway wood or a hybrid to the green and making two putts for a par! Skill is: chipping 50 yards around the green and rolling the ball within 6 inches of the cup! Even McIlroy could not do that on the 18^th at Thousand Oaks!!! (McIlroy took a triple bogie on the same hole twice during the 3^rd and 4^th and final round.) VINCENT was better. He did not have a triple bogie last Sunday!

PAL INTERCLUB TIPS

#14 – Do you think it is a good idea to invest in a condo or home in the Philippines? Koreans. Japanese, & Australians think so. Three years ago, a commitment of $684 million capital investment was made by Koreans in Subic. In doing so, Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction brings its Philippines investment to more than $1 billion dollars!!! You might like to explore investment possibilities in Cagayan de Oro when you get there.

#15 – Some Real Estate companies will be at the PAL INTERCLUB. Agents will most likely be travelling from Manila in an effort to attract business. Collect brochures; listen to their “sales pitch”; but BEWARE and BE FAIR. They will bring a lot of “charm” with them, sometime doing more than what is necessary to earn business. If you are considering an investment, due diligence is necessary. Plan on visiting the site. Do your research. When you resist the temptation of “being lured”, you are being a good businessman but most important of all, you are being a gentleman.

Bear in mind, too, that Philippines is now the CALL CENTER CAPITAL of the WORLD beating India.

Significant future prospects are bright for those considering business possibilities in the country.

PAL INTERCLUB @ CAGAYAN DE ORO 2011

The BirdieHunters will be there

We have received an official invitation to participate in the International Philippine Airlines prestigious inter-club tournament at Cagayan de Oro during the last two weeks in February, 2011 which will be held in that challenging Pueblo de Oro Golf Course.

Why is PAL Interclub considered to be the best value golf excursion in Asia? If Miss Eco-Tourism 2010 were asked the question, I am sure she would have a thousand replies. (She is from Cagayan de Oro.)

However, those who have been there already know just how fabulous and green those golf courses are and how pampered the participants. From the moment one gets to the course, the amenities just pile up.

The nurses and doctors on site make sure golfers are kept in great shape. There are stations to monitor blood pressure and pulse; refreshment areas to quench thirst.

After the game, sumptuous fresh seafood buffets and tempting desserts and fresh fruit are in abundance at (shhhhhhhh!!!!) unbelievable price.

To suit the aching muscles and return the body to its youthful stage for another day of golfing, there are spas that offer Swedish or Shiatsu massage, facial, manicure and pedicure for the price of a Starbuck exotic coffee and biscuit! (Don’t say it too loud!)

For those looking for adventure off the golf course, there is plenty in Cagayan de Oro.

Pilipinos are known for their love of parties and fiestas. There is no shortages of entertainment.

Talk about shopping, ask Han! When he was there many years ago, he was mobbed at the shopping mall. They thought he was a relative of Prince Aga Khan the way he spent.

Another golfer went shopping for jewelry. He had quite a lot of explaining to do at the customs. (They did not buy his excuse that he really did not spend that much; that since he was gone golfing he had to bring home something to his wife and girlfriend. No, no, no, silly! He treats his wife like a girlfriend. He is that loving!) Remember to keep receipts for your purchases!

NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATION

Officially, we can only have eight players in the tournament. However, those who wish to enjoy Philippine Tourism may come and join us during the practice rounds. Also if you have friends who wish to visit the country at a discounted fare, reserve your spot now by sending an email to elmnetwork@shaw.ca. You will receive an Application Form with the instructions.

TOURNAMENT DATE

February 14 to 28, 2011