Thursday, October 12, 2006 Chiongbian: Golf in the city By Edgar R. Chiongbian Teetime
WELCOME to your new city of Cebu, a city with an international convention center, a city with a road that closes at night, a city that has count down numbers on Fuente Osmeña and count up numbers at the Capitol building, the city that will host the Asean summit this December, the city that will be the heart of tourism in the Philippines and a city that counts vigilante killings in the newspapers.
When California USA became the boomtown many years back, there was a huge influx of foreigners and out-of-state migrants going to California, which made the natives very restless. They were so threatened by the amount of people coming in and the rising crime that they sent their message through bumper stickers that said, “ Welcome to California and now get the hell out” and also ” Native Californian.” With some similarity to our Cebu, I hope that we won’t have to resort to that.
And Yeah, Cebu Pacific now has direct flights from Inchon international airport in Korea but none from Seoul. I guess I was right when I said there were no direct flights from Seoul to Cebu but that doesn’t mean I am correct. You have to say what you mean and mean what you say. That is lesson number one in public speaking. It was my good cousin Bruce C and good friend Efren Belarmino that advised me of this. So maybe we better get that Korean golf course built in a hurry so we won’t have to worry what these guys will be doing when they get here.
Speaking of tourism and golf, well the same Efren Belarmino, the GM of the five-star Plantation Bay, has a one-stop shop golf package for their clients. I had a chance to play golf with him after he got back from Moscow taking care of business there for their Russian tourists who are drawn annually to Plantation Bay.
He informed me that Plantation Bay has a golf package that is connected with Mactan Island GC. At the hotel, you register for golf and you’re ready to go.
Transport is waiting, tee times, caddies, golf carts at MIGC are all taking care of by the hotel and all you need is show up at the first tee and off you go. They have comfy booths at the airport that can also arrange this and you can go directly to the golf course while your luggage is brought to the hotel.
In my many travels, I always notice brochures of hotels and golf courses at the airport or at other tourist places and things like that are what we need in Cebu. It is great advertisement and is a big help to the tourists. I know that Plantation Bay is looking for more golf courses to tie-up with and GM Efren is just a phone call away.
On Saturday Oct. 21, the Federation of Seniors will have a golf tournament at Mercedes Plantation GCC. Most of you who have made this trip before know how much fun this trip is so get you permission and plan your trip with your golfing buddies. Awarding follows when the last group comes in, which is about 5:30 p.m. at the golfers lounge.
The 6th edition of the Island Tee of Mactan Island GC has been set for Nov. 9-12, 2006. This promises to be a huge event with the organizers working on getting you a ton of prizes for the tournament. There will be prizes to win everywhere. The par 3’s will have three holes and three changes to make a hole in one with a high-end Honda car, a residential lot, and golf clubs.
The tournament is a two-man team play, modified Stableford on full handicap. No limitations on the partnership. It can be a member-member, member-guest or guest-guest. Sign up early because MIGC is expecting a sold out tournament. The registration is a measly P2, 000 including caddie fees.
Golf Tip: The long bunker shot is the hardest shot in golf. When faced with this situation, instead of using the sand wedge, use a gap or pitching wedge to avoid having to swing hard. Rhythm is very important, the quicker your swing, the more likely you will hit the ball heavy.
Play the ball just left of center in your stance. Square the clubface instead of the usual open-face to give you the distance you need. And don’t bury your feet too deep because it will lower the bottom of your arc.
Take the club back slowly and make a low wide swing to produce a shallow divot and a lower ball flight. The bunker shot should be the same shot as your normal full swing but only try to hit the ball a little heavy. Pick a spot about one inch behind the ball and make a full swing through that spot.
