Golf With Me

Golf With Me blog by me, the administrator and the blogger of this blog is really thankful for the support that the readers had given me. I may not be the best golf blogger in the whole world, or may not even be in Malaysia. But I believe I'm one of the earliest to get the involvement of golf in blogs. I've resources to write but I've no time to update 4 blogs at a time. I might need a writer who might write for me and I'm hoping that this blog can help a lot of people with my experience. I love golf all my life and I'm still an undergraduate. My target was, not to work but pursue on full time golf. If golf still comes good for me to be successful, it then shall be my path and destiny. If not, I'll still go for my Finance Career. hehe..please don't be afraid to put any comments and love and even request in this blogs. Thank you!

Retief Goosen - Iskandar Johor Open Winner!

It is Retief Goosen reign again in the tough field of Royal Johor Country Club. His victory marks the end of his 29-month drought that probably helped bring back his confidence in his game.

I went and watch him played starting from hole 12th in the final day. And I realise lots of important elements that I'll discussed in the later game. This is the second time i see him played and probably he showed to me why he is the world class players. First of all, Retief is very cool and easy type of players like our Big Easy, Ernie Els. He played his shots without rushing and taking each and every shot slow and steadily. His swing is smooth, so smooth that you hardly see any disturbances. In the sense, seeing how he swing makes you feel, ' YEAH THAT'S THE WAY TO SING' rather than 'WHY HIS SWING IS SO DISTURBING'. His tempo and rhymtn in his game is very great that you feel that whatever he do is good. Probably that's what you will see in a PGA Tour event too. And Retief Goosen is powerful, delivering all his shots in full that shows how his accuracy is obtained. That's the beauty of it.

Perhaps this is one good advise for people like me, who didn't play for a long time. From what my father said too, players will get better and will have their slump time too. While you are having your bad times, doesn't means everything goes wrong. BUT it is normal for humans to start changing things in and out, to fine tune our game. However, that may not be the case, as the more we try to change, the worse it may get. So sometimes, after a long break or a bad season for your game, we have to play some easy course or some easy events, to boost back our confident in this game.

I was back in Orna Golf and Country Club after nearly 2 years I did not step into that turf. I played the first line and resulting in a very bad shot. I hit far but wild shots. Hitting back pitch, in fact, topping the ball at my best margin when I was in my prime. I hit bad putts, although I make the green in regulations. Things ain't just working.
But on the second line, it was different. We played the easier golf course, and my confident slowly grew back. I start from parring the first hole, continued with the second. On the third hole par 5 (which is hole 21st in Orna), I played a birdie, after hitting a great drive, great second shot with my 3 irons to reach the apron. I went on parring the next two holes without much problems. After that, I still hit a good drive but land on water. Look at this bounce back stats, I drop a shot and still hit a good approach leaving a 15 footer for par. I miss just by a little to the hole. I felt I was strong to be able to recover from such obstacles. It is great to get a bogey. the next hole was good but I make a bad chip. Still the game hasn't gone over. On the last second hole, it is a very very long par 5. I hit a good drive, but I'm still left with a 276 metres to the green, with bunkers 40 metres in front of the green. THe confident level pulled me to hit the second shot with my DRIVER on the fairway. I hit a GREAT shot, one of the best in fact (in my golf ever), and give myself another 2nd shot on the apron. I tried so many times, to play that hole in two and couldn't even get that close to what I just did. I hit a good chip, but miss that 4 footer for birdie. Still it ain't that bad though. I went on hitting a very very very good 278 metres drive on the last hole, not the best pin placement and misses another 18 footer birdie chance. I shot a remarkable 37, not a very distinct score, but it is great. After being absent for so long. This is the reason why we need to boost that confident

Just like Goosen, he is having such pressures in his game in the PGA Tour and all. So winning in Asian Tour will probably enhance his skills and he may be winning in a few tournaments back in the States again. WHY NOT!! So work on your mentality, work on your confident

Iskandar Johor Open 2008

As a Johorean myself who had represented my state for quite a numbers of tournament, I'm nothing but proud of Iskandar Johor Open. Also, of Malaysian Players who is playing great in the field. The venue of Iskandar Johor Open is set in Royal Johor Country Club, which I once mentioned it is one of my local favorites golf course. Till now it is still because of the nature of the golf course. It is natural that if you are a true golfer you will enjoy it, otherwise, this golf course can force you to give up your golf. This is how great the venue is.

Apart from there, this year Iskandar Johor Open had attracted Retief Goosen, Niclas Fasth, Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant. It is a great field to watch as I'm ready to go back to my home-ground golf course probably this Sunday to experience myself the players. Apart from that, let's talk about local players.

We have quite a number of players who is doing great in the field. Apart from the popular Ben Leong and Airil Rizman, I'm really proud seeing the score boards having number of players who once I played circuit with, who once represent my state with me with and some whom I know they are great back in their Amateur time.

Let's put it this way, starting from Ben Leong, he is probably one of the player that me and some of my golf buddies anticipated who will give a chance to Malaysia to play well in a tour. And so far, it is so good for him and truly, Ben Leong might be the one who will be making Malaysia proud.

Airil Rizman, Shaaban Hussin, Sivachandran, Lim Eng Seng, Shaifubari Muda and M Shukree Othman was the local great players when I'm playing my junior circuit. I have seen them, never played with them but usually will still sit at the 18th hole watching how they play golf. Airil is probably the leading Malaysian Amateur for quite a long time and perhaps he is still one of the best. So is others, which I believe they played in RJCC escpecially for Johor Amateur Open, so this course should be nothing but familiar for them. All the best guys!

Next probably the same junior circuit and older than me will be Khor Kheng Hwai and Hanafiah Jamil, Paul Lim and Nicholas Pua. In this category, I've played with Paul and Nicholas, Khor Kheng Hwai is my great-golf-friend buddy, Victor Gan's friend and Hanafiah known him last time. Khor Kheng Hwai had been very good in golf ever since in Junior Circuit, he is one of the contenders last time with Ben Leong and had make a lot of impressions throughout the whole junior circuit season. A lot of people might not know him, because he is much elder than us, I mean in the sense, during his time of Junior Circuit, there are not much tournament, but still he already make his name known himself. Hanafiah is one of the youngest hard-hitting golfer, those that we used to call the ONE TO BEAT. Paul Lim is probably my mentor, coach, and the one that inspire Johor Team a lot. He is the one that helps us throughout our whole training as one of the most diligent youngest trainer in our team.

Next will be the Johoreans that played with me either in MSSM (National-Level Golf Championship) or SUKMA (Malaysian's Games) that is Haziq Hamizan and Abel Tam. Haziq teamed up with me once only in SUKMA games whereby we went to Seremban and if I'm not wrong he pursued his collegiate golf in Australia. A great round on the first round shows that he is getting better and that's good. haha...Abel Tam is one of the juniors that I took care of back in our Johorean's golf times. Haven't seen him for quite some time. Played two MSSM with him and we always like to joke and play with him. Haha..like your cute little brother. But now I think he is more mature and it is really great as one of the Johor most potential player. Very good exposure especially at such young age to play in professional tour tournament. Just hope that he is keeping it up and doing the great thing. All the best Abel.

Next will be the one that I'm seeing that might make a lot of breakthrough in our country, that is Gavin Kyle Green. Probably one of the players that I really see the prodigy potential and a very big heart, both the parents and he himself. He won the under-14 US Teen in July so I bet you all might know who is this guy already. So watch out for him.

Last time my coach used to bring me once to play with Rashid Ismail, and he is one great players too. I wish that he could still remember me and all the best in his game.

Anyway, for all the players that I did not mentioned or sort, I did not forget you all or something, as this blog is just to introduce about some players. all the best guys..I will be back in your scene too, 3 years from now.

the Legend of Bagger Vance

The question for today and the post will be, how many movies have you watch after you started playing golf. Hmm..too broad. How many golf movies have you watch ever since you started playing golf.

I've watched plenty whether it is comedy, real life, or just stories that can actually inspire you. You know when you watch TV series like Grey's Anatomy, House or Prison Break, it somewhere somehow inspire you to be a better person or to be a greater professional depending on what you do.

I have watched Tiger Woods story (i forget the actual name already), comedies like Caddy Shack and a couple which I also forgot already, Happy Gilmore, The US Open something the movie about Bobby Jones want..haha..I'm really getting old forgetting those movies. I'll update with you all soon. But there is one that I never forget, maybe you can say because of the actors, but NO, it's because of the content of the movie.

The movie name is The Legend of Bagger Vance. It is not about the player, but about the caddie name Bagger Vance (Will Smith) and caddying for a golf prodigy(Captain Rannulph) during that time but due to war, went missing and never play golf again. Role is played by Matt Damon (one of my favorites too). So the movie set in where Damon wanted to get back to his game to play for his homeground, after a kid reflect that their small town did have a great player. So Will Smith, as the caddy did help him out, which he came like from Heaven or sort, and there are very interesting phrase in the movies that inspire us to be a better golfer. Sort of like CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM by a caddie to players like us. Because if you are in the golf course, if your caddy commented that way on you, I think he better off run away from you, if not, it might be a murder case already..hehe.

So this movie tells us about a lot of things in golf. The nature of golf, the swing, the feelings of golf and most important thing, THE MENTAL when you are playing golf. There are couple of funny words if you actually go and watch it, look out for the scenes that Bagger Vance said.


1) When Rannulph was practising his golf shots(after a long break and finding his swing) in the middle of the night, Bagger Vance walk up straight to him from far. And Rannulph goes, " Hey man, why are you walking there, be careful I might hit you!
Bagger Vance replied, 'I'm alright, but you can't hit me cause I'm walking straight to you'. ( this shows that Damon shots is bad that he can't hit it straight)



2) Bagger Vance in that scene also advised Damon that you got your swing already, everybody got their own AUTHENTIC SWING, is just how you want to find it. Do listen carefully to what Bagger Vance said throughout the whole movie, and you will find a better way to play your game of golf. Trust me!

Head Movement

It's been quite a big problems for most golfers whether they realised or not. Thus, this makes them unintentionally or intentionally have make a few mistakes in golf which cause a big difference in their game.

One of the biggest problems in golf may occur is the head movement before, during and after our swing. The critical period will be upon contacting the golf balls. So I'll break this my content into three categories. Before, During and After

BEFORE- So the thing goes like this. Before part is mostly focused during your upper swing. The reason behind the problems is a lot of people tend to be rigid afraid that may make mistake in their swing, simply by, NOT MOVING THEIR HEADS IN THEIR BACKSWING. This may not be critical as they are still players who can play with it, BUT, you have to treat a golf swing like a living thing. You need to be alive swinging a great swing, so the point is, when you move up your swing, your head will definitely moves along. Try to move the head along with swing probably around less than 2.5inches of your original address. This will make you feel more comfortable swinging(of course prone to more mistakes, but it's just the same if you do not move it). Try to move your head effortlessly and not too much, feel like you are moving with the wave. This will probably help two points in your game,
1) the ease in your swing
2) the better distance

DURING- In the during part of your game, which sounds a little funny but it's easier for me to explain. What my terms means is contacting point time or the middle part of your swing. A lot of things can happen, even the slightest thing. The important thing about contacting point is that, when upon contact, your head should lie the same as how you address it. That is objectively speaking, but it should be around that alignment. Thus, any movement, back or front, too right or too left means deadly. Thus, you have to be sure, that upon hitting the ball you head should lie nicely approximate +/- less than 5% of default address. So be very sure about it. And very important point is this, a lot of people may have not move their head and stay according to line, but ball didn't went right. This is because..very important. PLEASE JOLT DOWN IN YOUR GOLF PRACTISE BOOK. That even when you did not move your head, YOUR BODY MAY LIFT UP OR YOUR COORDINATION MAY HAVE MISALIGNED YOUR HEAD. So becareful at this point.

AFTER- The AFTER part is after you have contact your ball. This part may seem irrelevant, but it is more important than the backswing especially for people at the handicap below 14. This is because of the maturity in your swing and game. The contacting point may vary among several people. Usually people will move their heads with their follow through around 1.5 secs later. Which will produce a very significant great results already. However, they are a few players in the tour like David Duval and Annika Sorenstam, they have their swings being able to move their heads alongside with their follow through. This is not an impossible feat but it is a wonderful and great thing if you can do it. The results produce more consistent, more clean and more greater executed shots. But it's not that easy. Back to the normal 1.5 secs or lower head turner, a very important key point for players is that, if you move slow and just remain your head there, chances is you might get a hook shot. Also hitting the ball at the back of it instead of front of it. Moving too fast, will cause you to topped the ball or hitting too front causing a slice. Thus, if you can make it according to your clubhead speed, to move your swing and head correctly, a good timing will produce a better results of the game. This may seem very small, but this is perhaps one of the most made mistakes in amateur. So brush up your games..and if you have any enquiries just let me know.

Golf Swing Review

I'll add another column in my golf blog. And this is nonetheless that is the golf swing review. I'll always love to see swing sequence here and there and analyse them. Of course, in the movie called The Legend of Bagger Vance once quoted by the Caddie named Bagger Vance (Will Smith), he said, "Everyone had his own authentic swing, it's just how we going to find it".

It is very true, that all of us have the greatest swing in the history of golf, just that do we make it popular in the whole world. And in fact, just like sitting for final examination, you are given 100% marks, it's just that how you seized it and maintain that 100% compare to just getting less than that. It's the simple truth that all of us are constantly being distracted.


A very good example and will definitely be in my collection will be Jim Furyk Golf Sequence. Jim may have the swing that a lot of people might giggle or think, 'How he swing that'. But behind the analysis of his swing, do you all know something? He had the greatest club squaring upon contact of the balls. And some of his arm sequence are nothing but the best..so what do you say? Do you want to swing like Tiger with lots of problems (after trying hard to imitate his swing) or following your own swing but coordinating it with much ease. The right swing and rhymtn is what we aim to achieve, so why do we need to study other people swings.

The main purpose is to analyse and study what is the right fundamentals and the best thing to do. So let's enjoy it then..

Knowledge in Golf

In everything we do, we need knowledge. Even when we play golf, if you do not have knowledge, do you know how to whack a 30 yards further from how you usually teed off? Will you know how to chip near the pin? Or do you know how to play a better game?

Is it all based on instincts? NO..seriously NO! I mean a N and a O = NO.

Game of golf as mentioned is used to compensate and minimize our losses. Some people may fared well after getting a professional and learn fast. However, even with or without your coach, you still need to do a lot of homework. Because, golf is never like studying. You study in the middle of the nite, burning up midnight oil hoping for a better game tomorrow?? That can never happen.

Golf involve plenty of patience and perseverance. You need knowledge and a lot of extra knowledge. And a very important key reminder is that, ALWAYS GIVE CHANCE TO EVERYONE TO GIVE YOU THE KNOWLEDGE YOU WANT. In other words, doesn't mean all branded stuffs are good, some cheaper brands serve the same purpose. Or Specifically, doesn't mean you are taught by David Leadbetter or Butch Harmon, you will be the world greatest player (take Tiger changing his coach to Hank Haney, I'm not saying Hank is not good, he is very great, but changing from world number one coach to Hank, what he did that??). Just like getting tips from Golf Channel, some tips can be pretty accurate and correct and it may apply to you. Doesn't mean all the tips that is given can correctly fit everyone, but somehow it may serve as a precaution or reminder. Thus, what's the next best thing to gain this knowledge??

READDDDDDDDDD!!!!!
That's what always happen to a lot of people who did not gain enough knowledge. You have to read a lot to know a lot. Example, reading from magazines giving you all tips and tricks. However, those may not be sustainable sometimes for future reference. So I suggest, getting books. I've tonnes of books and magazines. If to take it professionally, when I was young I take golf like my profession. I read everyday, while going for tuition, while relaxing, come back home. I've read from successful people's books like Tiger to normal players who share their tips. There are a lot of knowledge being put in. And that's good. When you know more, you get to explore and understand more of the complexity of the game of golf. I've read popular books like How I Train a Tiger, How Do I Play Golf (recommended) all by Tiger. And I've read a book talking about the legends of golf from Sam Snead to Bobby Jones, Harry Vardon. Understanding them like a Historian makes you different and better of course. As a favourite Historian George Santayana quoted, ' Those who don't remember their history, will repeat the same mistakes again'. So do grab some of the books either is E-books or physical books. It serve a good purpose. You can ask which book are good when you want to purchase them. I'll let you know. I have links at the side bar of HOT PRODUCTS..where you can buy those books too..hehe