Thursday, December 14, 2006 Chiongbian: Why a senior golfer needs a younger caddie By Edgar R. Rhiongbian Teetime
THE Club Filipino president’s cup golf tournament came quietly and gone without much fanfare. It was the quietest golf tournament in town.
I understand though that there was a good turnout for the tournament. I remember two years ago that the CFI president’s cup was so huge with a mix of golfers from the different golf clubs participating. Many out-of-town golfers even showed up for that tournament.
The tournament had so many participants that the awarding dinner was held at the grand ballroom of then brand new Casino Espanol. That tournament was very successful probably because the concept of requiring only one member to form a team actually encouraged the members to bring in their flightmates who are not members of the club.
The president’s cup of CCC, on the other hand has a format that is very popular with the members. It is a two-day tournament of two-man teams, where you must rely on luck the first day and skill the second day in order to win. Lucky because the teams’ total net score on the first day are tallied, ranked and then divided into three groups.
And if you happen to be on the cut off line you can either be at the last place or the first place of the A, B & C divisions going into the second day of competition. So all you need is a bit of skill to keep pace the second day using the scramble (best ball) format, to add your first day’s score and you’re a winner. The reverse of skill the first day and then luck next day is a more difficult if not an impossible road to the winners’ circle. The CCC president’s cup has been scheduled for Dec. 29 –30.
Last Thursday, the Los Jefes had their Christmas party at the Teatro of Casino Filipino Cebu, Waterfront Hotel. A new set of officers was elected but retaining me as president; Joe Suaco as VP, Jun San Juan-Sec., Fred Quilala -Treas., Johnny Casenas -PRO, Chester Cokaliong- Dir. and Bill Uybengkee –Dir. The overall tournament chairman for 2007 is Bunny Pages.
The PAL executives from Manila who attended the Los Jefes party came to Cebu to hit two birds with one stone as their other purpose for visiting Cebu was to check out the golf courses of Club Filipino and Mactan Island GC for the 2008 PAL Interclub golf tournament.
If you are an Alta Vista member, don’t forget the annual Christmas Fun golf tournament of the club this weekend. Lots of Christmas prizes for the taking. And next Wednesday December 20 is the Federation of Senior’s Christmas golf tournament, which will also be at Alta Vista. In the world of the righteous, a senior cannot be blamed for forgetting due to the many birthdays already celebrated. But in the hearts of many, skipping the opportunity to be with other seniors can be reason enough not to forgive.
And why is it important that a senior golfer must have a younger caddie? So when he asks if the caddie saw where the ball went, he/she won’t say; yes sir but I can’t remember where! Don’t miss this annual Christmas golf because you are guaranteed a pleasant day, an excellent fellowship dinner and lots of raffle prizes to take home.
I understand that the battle of the CCC jungolf alumni is coming up. It is usually played around this time because many alumni’s are home for the holidays. This has become a bitter rival between the 80’s and the 90’s with the 90’s having the edge of winning the competition. Maybe this year will be a little different?
Golf Tip: If you are randomly pushing your chip shots to the right or pulling them to the left, it is often due to playing the ball too far away from your body. This set-up encourages you to swing the club with your shoulders rather than with your hands, wrists, and forearms.
Try moving closer to the ball but just enough so that you don’t have to turn your shoulders to swing the club. If that doesn’t work, check you ball positioning. Pushing can result from playing the ball too far back in your stance, and pulling can be due to the ball being too far forward.
And if your chip shots are flying too low and running too far, there is a good reason that you are rolling your wrists in a counterclockwise direction through impact.
