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Written by:
SuperUser Account
9/27/2008 8:00 AM
Event: IPA Golf Appreciation Workshop
Date/Time: Saturday, 27 September 2008, 2 pm - 6 pm
Venue: Sembawang Country Club
Photos: Click here! Upping the Zest for Golf By IRENA JOSOEB
The IPA VP of Public Relations and Publicity tries her luck once again with golf at this IPA Golf Appreciation Workshop, with happy results.
Being one who has not had much luck in trying to pick up the game of golf, it was with enthusiasm I greeted the news that Indonesian Professionals’ Association (IPA) Golf Club would be organising a beginners’ workshop on Sep 27!
Fortunately, it was held on a day that I could attend despite my travelling schedules, and I even managed to bring another fellow golf enthusiast along to double the fun. The event started out on the right foot by first providing easy transport to get into the event location into Sembawang Country Club, thanks to Christopher the IPA Golf Club Coordinator who kindly gave participants rides from Khatib MRT.)
By about 2.15pm the event – which saw a total of about 22 attendees of mostly predominantly male beginner level students – started with the workshop conductor Mr Annavi Chelliah, showing a video of Tiger Woods to inspire the audience and giving a quick breakdown on the history of golf, which started in Scotland in the 1700s.
Workshop attendees with Mr Annavi (second from right last row).
He also gave explanation on common golf lingo such as “birdie” (meaning, one under par), “eagle” (two under par) and “bogey”.
Mr Annavi especially captured the audience attention when he explained why golf is being played today, namely:
1. to bond with the boss (an important skill, as the boss would also need to play golf to bond with HIS boss)
2. to have a captive audience to facilitate business bonding
3. to know a person’s real character and integrity (especially if one misses a hole, he says)
4. to network with other professionals
He also debunked the myth that golf is an expensive game to play, given the number of public clubs now available in Singapore and even shared that sports like badminton and bowling are even more expensive to play in the long-run!
Other than explaining parts of the golf course – such as hazards, tee box, rough – Mr Annavi also shared on the dressing do’s and no-no’s on the golf course and the basic etiquettes that should be observed while on the course (such as repairing any ball marks or divots made after pitching, to rake bunkers after use and also to be conscious of our playing partner’s line of play).
Trying to handle imaginary golf clubs before hitting the range
Before taking participants for the practical session, there was an introduction on the different types of equipments required for the game of golf, which Mr Annavi shared once stood for “Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden” but now refers to the “Game of Love/Frustration”, much to the laughter of the audience. There were also explanation on the parts of the club (head-shaft-grip) and what materials they could possibly be made from (steel, carbon, graphite, leather, etc).
Participants were given a quick practice session in the room using practice grips, before all trooping down to the golf range, where Mr Annavi continued to give practical tips to all participants who tried their hand at pitching for a good 45 minutes. Later all went to the green where the workshop assistant Mr Wendon showed the basics to chipping and putting. As students trying their hand at these techniques find out, they look much harder to achieve than how it looks on TV! For sure the grass sure has a ‘bad’ effect on how the golf balls ultimately move!
Chipping is hard work!
During the workshop there was also a networking session as participants got to know each other over the delicious food catered by the club café, such as the chicken wings, fishballs, fried bee hoon, samosas and free flow of coffee and tea.
By the end of it, participants shared that the golf workshop was “very successful” in piquing their zest for golf, with all shared that they are interested to continue play golf on a regular basis after that!
Participants enjoying the great Sembawang Country Club food
Said Yenny, an auditor who attended the event, “This is a good session that captured the essence of what golfing is all about in half a day and from this workshop, I can better appreciate golf better.”
Another participant Tien Choi said, “The instructor is good and his teaching is direct and to the point. Thanks to this workshop I can start pitching on the driving range!”
And financial planner Mery expressed my very sentiments when she said, “It is just very satisfying when I can hit the ball!”
Since playing golf is now even more affordable and accessible today, it looks like I’m on to pursue this new interest with even more zest. Maybe you’ll even see me playing it for the next few decades!
Mr Annavi is a certified golfing coach who attained his Golf Professional status at age 16 in 1976. He has since represented Singapore in various international golfing tournaments, such as Johnnie Walker Inter-Club Finals, Mercedez-Benz Inter-Club Regional Finals, and The Rover Golf Championship. Mr Chelliah is a member of the Singapore Professional Golfers Association (SPGA) and enjoys teaching and sharing with his students his vast experience as a playing professional, on and off course.
IPA Golf Club meets on every Thursday, 7-9pm, at Marina Bay Golf Driving Range. To attend the weekly golf practice, please e-mail christopher.heng@indoprof.com. For more photos of the above event, click here.
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