Thursday, June 05, 2008 Chiongbian: Hoping for a sunny June By Edgar R. ChiongbianTeetime
WELCOME to the month of June, the time when our youngsters go back to school and the favorite month for those who are old enough to make a lifetime commitment of matrimony. For us who have already done that, it is merely a hope that this month will bring clear skies and sunshiny weather.
What happened to the CCC monthly medal last Saturday came as no surprise.
After all, it was still May 31 and of course it got rained out. And rain doesn’t usually cancel a tournament, unless there’s lightning, or a really heavy typhoon-like rain. However, with so much bad weather we experienced lately, even diehard golfers are saying, no, no, enough is enough, I can’t go on, I can’t go on… Too much and too many rain showers for the golfers to endure!
The Albino Gothong memorial golf tournament tees off today and tomorrow at Alta Vista. It’s only 18 holes of play but Amo Gothong was a very popular man and many of his good friends want to pay tribute so that’s why there is a second day. For those who didn’t really know him are in the tournament, in pursuit of the bounty of prizes being offered to the participants.
I didn’t get a chance to play golf with Amo for the many years that I knew him but I have had many opportunities to dialogue with him in the golf course and golf dinners. He was a wonderful and a very caring man. He was practical, reasonable, generous, and always made sure that fairness be always an issue whenever he is involved in the organization.
He worked hard on golf tournaments in a way that we can almost say that he laid the foundation on how golf tournaments are being run in Cebu. He is gone but his legacy continues. My small tribute to him is that I will forever buy Bambi cooking oil, up to and until we meet again…
When a tournament is held for the first time, it usually never carries the word “First.” But this tournament does so it means that this will become an annual event. I know that Alta Vista president Oly Dychangco was a very close friend of Amo and worked hard hand-in-hand in organizing and sponsoring golf tournaments with him. So, “thick and thin” I know that Oly will never let his name just go away quietly.
Don’t forget that next Saturday and Sunday is the President’s Cup at Cebu Country Club. This tournament is usually in December but has been rescheduled for this month. There will be two days of play for two-man teams. The format for the first day will be the four-ball foursome and the second day, the two-ball foursome (alternating shots).
The two-man teams need not play very good on the first day and simply rely on luck in the rankings after the teams totals are tallied, ranked and divided into three divisions for the final challenge on the second day.
The alternating format on the second day is nerve-wracking because you know that how you played will determine how well your team did. The worse faith, however, is the pressure of knowing that you will be letting your partner down twice if you dumped his ball in the water and make him do the same shot all over again for you. Just smile and not worry about a thing because I am sure he will be returning the favor in due time.
GOLF TIP. Here are basic fun–damentals that can help you be more consistent around the greens. The first is to have a good body set up by standing tall. This will give you room for your arms to hang and to swing the club. Next, maintain a light grip pressure on the club and arm tension firm enough just to feel the weight of the club.
Finally, try to keep the clubhead from touching the ground on your set-up. When you sole the club to the ground, the tendency will be to overreach because you are measured to hit the ground first. By not touching the ground on the set-up, you will already have a nice firm grip and a better feel of the clubhead as you swing back and then downward.
