This place was not so exciting- there were no caddies preening themselves like cats on a wall. All the damn caddies were male! What's with that? Although, I did better my score by about 10 shots. I would hate to think there is a correlation.
This course was called Jagorawi, close to a city called Bogor- just south of Jakarta. The area is filled with courses- kind of like Edmonton or Lethbridge where there is one every 25 km.
The golf is fine- I am taking divots I have never experienced before. The ground is so wet that 'getting under the ball' means about 3 inches under it.
I was assigned a little caddie named Sarki. Cute little fella- kind of like a chubby teddy bear. I originally had him carrying my clubs and would walk the course but I was advised that I would kill him with the hills on the course. I figured "I am paying this guy a good $1.50, he can damn well carry clubs. I've been doing it for nothing all these years." But, I caved.
Sarki and I set off on what turned out to be a beautiful course. I shot low gross for the group. It was gross, too.
The fun thing about golf here is the extras.
1) You see random villagers walking the course. Some are harvesting rice that grows in between holes. Some are swimming in the most disgusting river you have ever seen. Others are carrying firewood and other grasses for home. You will be walking along and this random person just walks across the fairway. I would not be surprised one day to see one herding some goats.
2) Village kids peddling their wares. They sell juice, food and golf balls (that you never buy because they have a counterfeit golf ball industry, here). Realize, though, there are about 20 people on every hole. Some of the kids sit and cheer you on from the tee box. Others wave flags to tell you the ball is out of bounds or if it is safe to hit. I was advised to lay-up on one hole by some random stranger- he was right! I don't think any of these people are paid by course, though. There are security guards on every hole, too. You never feel unsafe.
3) One of the best things is that you never lose a ball. I can duck hook a drive a mile in the jungle and some kids will walk out with my exact ball! Give the kid 20 cents and off you go. You hit one in the water and it's like piranhas feeding.
On the back nine it started to drizzle rain. Sarki went into overdrive. He was sticking my clubs under his shirt to keep the grips dry. Wiping the seat on the cart. Holding my golf glove while I putted. He was a good guy.
Overall, I shot well and Sarki made $15.
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