Golf

Golf is a funny game played with a set of 14 clubs and a tiny hard ball full of dimples. When I was a kid I used to watch golf on TV, most probably the US Masters Tournament, where Jack Nicholas, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player were fighting for the Masters Title. To be honest I do not have the slightest idea what I was watching, I was just impressed how the camera man can follow a small ball in motion. Par, birdie, bogie, under ….. these are all Greek to me but I like the vast area of open space, beautifully kept grass and lakes …… nice.
When I was a teenager, I got to know that golf is for the rich and old, so I didn’t bother to pay any attention to it. Later I got to know a rich man’s kid whose father plays golf and so did he. I was kind of a surprise why a young guy like him plays golf. One fine day he invited a couple of us to try out the game with him at the Ayer Keroh Golf and Country Club that his father was a member. We were not told to prepare anything so I went in my shorts, T-shirt and favourite sandals. He was in full golf attire and we looked like his caddies. Well, maybe that is his way of getting us in for a free game.
Once in the course we were each given a club and a ball. All I can remember it was kind of a frustrating trying to hit such a small with small headed club but I liked the vast greeneries and lakes. We had to walk because at that time buggies were unheard of. I enjoyed the walk and I have no memories of playing golf at all …… maybe I wasn’t able to hit it at all. I have no idea how many holes we actually “played” but it did not at all aroused my interest in golf.
It was after many many years that I was exposed to golf again. I was in my thirties and was having a  business dinner with one of my most important client together with a Japanese supplier and my Japanese boss. They were talking about golf and it was still all Greek to me then. Later on I was given a so called old set, it wasn’t complete and looks more like trash. By that time I realised that most of my clients and suppliers are into golf. So I decided to give it a try.
With no knowledge at all I went to the golf shop to just look around and have a feel of what it is like, wow!!! expensive. Anyway I bought a trainer ball, one of those plastic ball with a string attached to it and just starting whacking it. Just whacking the trainer ball is getting me nowhere, so I decided that I should get proper coaching. With proper coaching I guess I would be able to have a better basic foundation and understanding of the game better. My knowledge of golf is still like zero at that time except that one has to be a member of a club which was very expensive to become a member. I guess my decision to take up golf was to a certain extend the influence from my clients, suppliers and especially the comment made my big boss that I could be a nominated as a member to one of the golf club memberships owned by the company if I could play. With that in mind I invested in a basic golf lesson package.
It was not a easy decision to make and only after lots of thoughts that I decided to get involved in this funny game. After many hours invested in the swing, I only managed to get the ball air borne and the distance is pathetic. After completing my first basic course, I was invited to play a 9 or maybe 18 holes game which I do not have any memory at all because I was so busy either trying to hit the ball or looking for the ball. My host was really patient with me and he was one of my customer that really encouraged me to take up golf.
After many more hours in the driving range, it was still a frustrating time of trying to hit the ball and looking for the ball in the course, but it was getting a little better because my knowledge of golf was also getting better. Not all clubs manufacturer make their products in the same manner and there are actually clubs for players of different skill level. Guess what I decided to get a new set of clubs that suit me better and at the same time a refresher basic golf swing correction package. Wow!! that instructor really helped me put my swing together and I was really pleased with my own progress. From then on I was really playing golf, not just trying to hit the ball but really playing it and enjoying it. Sometimes still have to look for the ball.

My Scale Models

One of my longest lasting hobbies is scale model collecting. I can still remember what was the first scale model I had, a military Land Rover from Corgi. I was just a kid then and that land rover belongs to my cousin. When we visited them, I just kept on playing with it because I really like it. When it was pushed it made a noise like just like a Land Rover with off road tyres. No it did not have a sound generator but the sound is just natural to it. They gave it to me because they knew I really like it and I really clocked plenty of fun mileage on it. Hmmmm …….. wonder where it is now.

The next piece is a Sky Hawk fighter jet when I was in primary four, off course there were many other stuffs in between which is not worth mentioning like plastic figurines, vehicles and others. The Sky Hawk fighter jet was a self assembly plastic model kit. One of the rich kid in my class brought it to school to show off and it instantly caught my attention. After all the “huu haa” my classmate offered to buy me one if I can come up with the cash. Well after a month or so I managed to save enough from my pocket money without spending a single cent for that whole period. It cost me just below RM5.00 I think and that long to save for it. Later on I found out that a shop in then Newcome Road called CY Chang were selling these models.

Every time whenever I passed by that shop I would spend time admiring at all the models that were on display to lure people like me. I can still remember those state of the art train models by Hornby, they all look so real with a whooping price tag to go with it. Well I guess I can only dream about it because not only because of the price but also the space needed. Anyway it was much later in my life that I was able to realise this hobby after the Sky Hawk.

Most of the models I had - only a few - then were war aircraft including the famous B52 and Mustang. I had a couple of battle ships and an aircraft carrier too. The B52 was really large and when there is a breeze, the propellers would turn. It fell a couple of times from its stand because of strong breeze and I had to repair it a couple of times.

Then came the Japanese Model kits, mostly of automobiles and some are even powered by battery. One of the model that I really spend lots of hours detailing was a Datsun 240Z by Fujimi. It was like the 240Z was THE car at that time and the model is really detail with engine. Then came the motorbikes by Tamiya and I had a real big collection of it but the one I like best is the Honda Super Cup or commonly known as "cup chai".

Most of these plastic scale model kit cannot last long because they are very flimsy and our weather here is not kind to them. As of today only a few of the plastics models that are still with me, most of them needed repair and still in the box when I transported them back to Malacca. Maybe one of these fine day I might just take a look at them.

Not long ago, actually about 10 years ago while I was killing time in the Atria Shopping Centre in Damansara Jaya, a display model shop caught my interest. I was really impressed by the collection of highly detail metal die cast model they had. By the time I left the shop, I was sure I would like to start my own little collection. Yes, yes, yes, I know I can only stare at it, push it around and make some engine noise by myself – V-R-O-O-M-Mmmmm……I was happy with my buy and I guess this is the part of human nature that is not logical only understood by capitalist.

One fine day like 10years or so ago, I decided that the time was right because there was a sale in Metro Sungei Wang Plaza and I got my very first die cast model, a Ferrari 550 Maranello 1/18 scale by Bburago. Slowly and surely one after another started rolling in.

Metal die cast model are much more robust and so far all those that I acquired are still with me almost in the same condition when I got it, never driven on the road before …… hehehe!!! A little dusty though.

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Want to go for a spin? You chose the ride and I’ll push, you make the sound ya!!! …….. Vrooommmmmm ……………..