Marina Bay Swing test

a couple weeks back i finished my round n left my bag on the stand.. after makan i came back .. my bag was missing.. finnaly found it near the buggy area..

n my bag has my name on it.. dunno if someone trying to be funny.. or security is really lacking.. least they cud do is come out with a bag tagging system to ensure people dont take the wrong bags.

i advise people now to put their bags in their car straightaway after the game then head for drinks n makan

TLHENG wrote:

I have no problems there or anywhere else as far as I am concern. I do my part anywhere I play. Rules are set up to be followed and if it is not, then chaos reigns. I guess sometimes must blame oneself if he/she can't adapt to the rules

Yes, rules are to be followed but not blindly even it is impractical or worst irrelevant. One must stand up for his/her rights and speak up if necessary. MGBC must remember, we pays to play and not to be shouted at like a recruit in the army.

MBGC like any commercial entity ,must remember it's survival depends on golfers patronage.

Bro, their rules are similar to all other clubs. Just that they enforced it more stringently because theirs is a public course and it is opened to more beginners than seasoned golfers which follows rules very diligently. Not pointing the fingers at you but some people who thinks that they pay money, they could do as they please. Seen a lot of these kind of golfers around and it really irks me. If one think that it is too expensive or rules are enforced too stringently, my advice is DON'T GO THERE !!!! Simple as that right?? I think the majority of golfers agreed to this.

Titu

Hi

I have play MBGC ever since they have started operation, u know the time when only 9 holes are available, and over these few years, i would say MBGC is doing it's very best to continue to maintain their course to be as new as possible.

Below is some of my experience with MBGC

The good part that i like :
1. for a decent 18 hole course, the price that we are paying, is consider very attractive, especially if you are member and that allows you to book online, saving you time and effort. If you were to book thru fax, additional charges will be impose. I tend to believe this will help to encourage people to sign up as a member
2. Marshall : I have not encouter any shouting or scolding from any marshall. In fact, i encounter mashall come up to me and say thank you when i repair my divots and surrounding divots
3. Nice, clean , air-conned changing room


The parts that i dun like, which i think it can improve :
1. Driving range : always crowded during peak hour
2. Canopy : food is nice but service is slow
3. Golf bag counter is very prone for theft, maybe some form of locking system can be implemented to secure the golf bag

So far, I had only 1 bad encounter incident with MBGC.
I was told that i can book 2 flights online, however after i have complete my online booking for the 1st flight, the system refuse my 2nd flight online booking. I called to MBGC and non is able to help me with 2nd flight online booking. It ended up me sending in my 2nd flight booking thru fax. It piss me off initially and I still hope this can be improve as well.

Snowman

Thread cleaned up from all the racial nonsense.

Pls mind your racial undertones.

There are quite a few caucasians who call this forum their home too thank you.

I had numerous bad experience with MBGC marshall. I have no problem with the course, booking or bag storage (always put in car immediately after any game).

For the last three games I played there with my friends, no matter how fast we play, no flight in front or back, some marshalls came to us to speed up the play. We played golf with reasonable pace, we even did some quick jog to our balls, and to some certain extent- RUN. We're pissed off with the marshalls there. Most of the times we play in OCC nowadays....

played there twice so far....

hmmm for tht kind of price in SG for non-member of whatever club, i think it's still quite reasonable..... but i dun think i will play it often...


as for the marshal, i did not face them yet (following us all ard)

but for the golf bag thingy, pls do not leave it unattended.....

in the past, i used to play as single ball there, meaning MBGC will slot me into any flight of 2 or 3 balls, so i had a chance to play with golfers with difference skill level, some are fast, some are slow.

I guess for these fast player, there are no concern from marshall
As for the slower player, i only encounter marshall watching us at a distance for maybe 2 to 3 holes, and after that, they leave us alone..

I have not play there for the past 3 mths, maybe i should just try there again.

i think the major factor is the no of flights on that day. If it is crowded, then marshall might wan to speed things up abit...this is just my guessing[left]

tronos wrote:

MBGC is a place for all golfers, beginners, hackers, pros, good players with no qualifications, tourist and all...something most handicappers will not appreciate cause they dont need the 'extra' service MBGC provides.


Very good point. We forget that for a mere $10 without a handicap, we get to play a pretty good course, where else in Singapore can you do that? So why complain?

And even with the vigilance of the marshalls, there are still divots the size of bomb craters not filled. And I don't even want to mention the deplorable state of the bunkers, shocking to say the least. Just because you take a dozen shots to get out and are extremely frazzled, is still no reason not to rake the bunkers. No, make that bulldoze, cos that's how bad it is in there. Can you blame the marshalls?

Speaking of which, I find most of them to be friendly, one or two are somewhat of a sourpuss, but never have they shouted at me.

When the IR does open and tourists do come to play, can you imagine what they will think of Singaporean golfers when they see the divots and the bunkers? They'll think our homes are the same!
Question: How many of us here actually fill in our divots and rake the bunkers with diligence? Dare I even ask how many fill in the pitchmarks made on the green?

A friend of mine played in Scotland and repaired his pitchmark on the green. A Scots playng in the same flight reminded him that he should repair any other pitchmark around him too. Same goes for the bunkers and divots. Etiquette though not part of the rules, is taken just as seriously there. Here, we simply don't care!

Thing is, grass takes time to repair itself, and the amount of traffic going through each day is not going to help, so every little bit we do helps the course to heal itself. How many times have we complained about bad course conditions and blamed the club when we ourselves have not done our part? I've seen massive gouges from buggies driven right through soggy ground, when we all know buggy should be on tracks on wet days, yet we are all too lazy or unfit to walk that extra little bit. We'd rather tear up the course with the buggy for the sake of convenience and the enjoyment of our single round of golf.

And if you've played MBGC, haven't you cursed and sworn when ur ball lands in a divot not filled in, or in the bunker in some massive footprint? Someone before left you in that nasty position and golf is play it as it lies. Why would you then put someone else in a similar wretched lie you just ended up in?

Let's turn our attention to another course in Singapore, NSRCC. They have the most number of rounds going every single day of the year, it's practically a world record that it's almost full 365 days a year. Yet look at the course condition, as good as most other courses with much lesser traffic. Most who play there fill in divots and rake bunkers cos they know how a marshall seems to be around every corner, golfers there do their bit. Perhaps it's a still lingering perception, cos in the early days, rumours were that the marshalls were alll retired enciks, and they really scolded like in the army man. Slow scold, never rake bunker scold, never carry sand scold. We have them to thank indirectly for drilling better etiquette into those playing NSRC.

We want to play, we want to enjoy cos we pay good money. We didn't come out here to have some sense of responsibility, why spoil our game?

Many foreigners also plays at MBGC, so how can you assume that all divots are only created by Singapore golfers.

wow... didnt realise there was such a 'heated' discussion about MBGC here..

my opinion: rules & regulations are enforced for a reason, whatever they may originally be. As mentioned earlier in the thread, some of the reasons could be good, ie ensuring the course is not unnecessarily abused.. or else, as some have mentioned, it might just be a means to make profit.. for all u know, it's generally just a combnation of both.. Management probably thought, "we need to at least ensure those who go into the course can hit a decent shot.. and hey, while we're doing tht, why not make some moolah?"

but wat the heck... there's nothing much we can do abt the swing test.. as for the conduct of the marshalls, there's always the feedback form.. if not careful, the forum might end up a punching bag to vent and flame..

Dear TL Heng, I took the time to make more than one point, and it is interesting that all you can see out of that long post is what you highlighted in red.

I'm curious, would you like to answer my question:

How many of us here actually fill in our divots and rake the bunkers with diligence? Dare I even ask how many fill in the pitchmarks made on the green?

Before you make your remark:

Many foreigners also plays at MBGC, so how can you assume that all divots are only created by Singapore golfers.

MBGC is a course in Singapore, our home, by extension then, MBGC is our home course. It does not matter who messes up our home, local friends who visit, or out-of-towners, we will still clean up hour homes. Why should we not do the same for our home course?

I'm afraid pointing the finger at someone else and saying I didn't do it, then walking away doesn't quite cut it for me.

This is a gentleman's game we play.

Folks,

I think the argument have gone side tracked to the point that we are concerned about pitch marks, divots, ang mohs and etc. This is utterly unrelated. It's not focusing on the subject, does the swing test being any value? No it doesn't.

I know in SG, we pride ourselves of the decent course but it came a high price for green fees and to rub it in, it is absurd that you have to pay for a swing test for $10. Do note that there are a whole lot of nice courses in other countries, do they enforced swing test and charge you for the swing test? I think this is ridiculous and utter BS. It's intent is to make money out it and that is all there is.

TS is right about this comment, MBGC adopts the approach that if you don't like it, you can go elsewhere. Yes, then I go elsewhere to play and where I can enjoy playing. Why do you want to live with this type of coerced discriminatory acceptance?

We've been cultivated since young to be law abiding citizens. The government has fused it into our very education.

Ask a kid why not to litter and he'll answer "because will kena fined" and not "its not right to litter".

Its all a God damn conspiracy!!!

hi guys,

actually i just want to ask how is the swing test like.

i am sorry that the topic has turn out this way.

i hope nobody is offended here.

i would like to say sorry to everyone here.

let's make golf a fun game.

i hope if i should join any outing, no one would kill me. haha haha..

When the IR does open and tourists do come to play, can you imagine what they will think of Singaporean golfers when they see the divots and the bunkers? They'll think our homes are the same!


Dear birdman, of all the points you brought up, I do not agree with your above simply because it is a sweeping statement putting all the blames on just Singapore golfers when as I said many foreigners also plays there. Don't you think it is unfair to all singapore golfers who played there including yourself.

How many of us here actually fill in our divots and rake the bunkers with diligence? Dare I even ask how many fill in the pitchmarks made on the green?

On this point, I belief majority of golfers here did that, and yes it's the ideal thing to do. Question is, are we given the time to do so? We are constantly being asked to speed up play by the marshals unlike in other countries where I have never come across golfers being asked to speed up play.




MBGC is a course in Singapore, our home, by extension then, MBGC is our home course. It does not matter who messes up our home, local friends who visit, or out-of-towners, we will still clean up hour homes. Why should we not do the same for our home course?

In the fist place, MBGC should not allow anybody including foreigners to mess up the course.
This is exactly what I pointed out in my original post whereby the marshals were so "deligently" following local golfers to ensure divots are repaired etc. but ignoring what those foreign golfers who are not doing what they are supposed to do. Why the double standards?

Some marshals are more relaxed while others are more stringent. I've seen marshals who take the trouble to inform the golfers (local or otherwise) to repair divots etc but I've also seen marshals who just close an eye (probably because they're just lazy). It's got nothing to do with the golfer but how the rules are implemented by those in power.

If you are unhappy with the way the marshals are implementing the rules, you should speak with the management (I guess this applies to GR too ) It's the best approach to take and I believe would resolve your problem in the most efficient way.

In any event, let's be sensitive of what we say. Like S70B mentioned, GR and Singapore are home to many people of many nationalities.

AND.... head back to the topic at hand. bian1980 - it's not your fault or anyone else. Topics of discussions can sometimes end up like coffeeshop talk. You start talking about ABC but end up discussion XYZ. How ABC -> XYZ is a mystery, but that's part of the fun

haha...yes, let's go back to the topic.

My personal view about the swing test.

Value to golfer : no, not at all
Value to MBGC : yes, absolutely..

reason :

1. $$$..gain, yes, that is for sure, but at the same time, it encourage golfers to obtain PC from the in-house academy

afterall...i also ask myself, what can i do about it ? at most i dnt play in MBGC if i really dnt like it.

hi bian1980, not your fault at al..no worry.
To take the swing test, just approach the start golf academy, pay the money, go the bay, meetup with the tester..and just follow exactly what he want you to do.
If he want you to hit balls with iron, just do it.
if he want to see your driver tee-off, just to it.
basically the tester only want to see your swing, and your capability to hit ball decently..that's all..i guess you will be doing just fine....

have a nice game in MBGC...

snowman

Pheewwww!!!!!

I like MBGC for the golf course itself......I have no problem being told off if I infringe any protocol or whatsoever.......if that is legit....even to the extent I am being told that I am slow and there is no golfers in sight.......honestly.....

The only thing I prefer others to MBGC is the lack of scenery lah.....walau..look left look rite macam walking in CBD....coz i like greenery lah...

If I get the chance to play with any brudder/sista here....do 'F' me if I did not do or execute the right protocol.....as i will reply with a big 'Thanks'...

I think the idea of the test is great. Think of it like driving car on the road. If they let anyone drive without lessons and test, imagine the carnage. The thing they should do is make it valid for 12 months, not 1. The 1 month validity reeks of money making opportunity.

Duval_S wrote:

Pheewwww!!!!!

I like MBGC for the golf course itself......I have no problem being told off if I infringe any protocol or whatsoever.......if that is legit....even to the extent I am being told that I am slow and there is no golfers in sight.......honestly.....

The only thing I prefer others to MBGC is the lack of scenery lah.....walau..look left look rite macam walking in CBD....coz i like greenery lah...

If I get the chance to play with any brudder/sista here....do 'F' me if I did not do or execute the right protocol.....as i will reply with a big 'Thanks'...

just finish a game at MBGC this morning. agree with you that the view there is not nice. plus no stop point to top up water. a bit sian. but overall not bad. cause i did quite well today. haha. driver can go but still die at short game.
donated a lot of ball at hole 13. par 3 .. island green.

bian1980 wrote:

donated a lot of ball at hole 13. par 3 .. island green.

i always donate balls to that island green too.. damn irritating.. hehehe

missmoon wrote:

bian1980 wrote:

donated a lot of ball at hole 13. par 3 .. island green.

i always donate balls to that island green too.. damn irritating.. hehehe

don't know why. but normal for that kind of distance... iron always no problem. but when at that hole.. seems like everything out of normal. sure go in water one.

bian1980 wrote:

missmoon wrote:

bian1980 wrote:

donated a lot of ball at hole 13. par 3 .. island green.

i always donate balls to that island green too.. damn irritating.. hehehe

don't know why. but normal for that kind of distance... iron always no problem. but when at that hole.. seems like everything out of normal. sure go in water one.

It's psychological. Just tell yourself, there is no water.

Of course, easier said than done.

And, yes, I have donated golf balls to the water too

I have donated my fair shares of balls too at that particular Par 3 and I now realised that the distance is quite misgiving. Now I always up 1 club and it solves my problem most of the time. Not to mentioned when mishit.......

Titu

titu, how many balls u lost before u up 1 club?????? its a links course!!!!

slinger wrote:

titu, how many balls u lost before u up 1 club?????? its a links course!!!!

Hi Quick-Draw-Mcgraw, Never count but should be in the guesstimate area of mmmmmm...10-15 ?? I find that only on that particular hole, there is strong headwind on top. If you use normal club and easy swing, I said good luck to all. Of course Slinger is never in this group la. He is the sifu of my sifus.


Titu

HOOORAHHH!!!!!! THIS IS MY BREAK THRU THE 200 BARRIER POST