Bidayuh Golfers Tame Hornbill Golf & Jungle Club

3rd September 2011

Some Bidayuh golfers experienced their first-ever golf on high places yesterday. The wet and drizzling weather offered no discomfort whatsoever as many looked forward to this great event – one of the highlights for 2011 in the World Bidayuh Golf Championship (WBGC) calendar. 

The event was well supported and sponsored by YB Dato Dr. James Dawos Mamit, Deputy Minister Of Tourism after the success of the previous Golf Tournament the ‘YB Dato’ Dr. James Dawos Mamit Golf Invitation 28 May 2011’ at Sarawak Club Golf Resort, UNIMAS. And if you could recall, this was followed by the famous WBGC at the same venue the following day. 

Well, good golf tournament is contagous as we all can see. For the frequent winners, Bidayuh Golf is a windfall. Magit Semong should know what I mean. Also in attendance for this Hornbill Golf & Jungle Club was Datuk Peter Nansian ak Nguse, N.2, Tasik Biru, Assistant Minister for Environment, Sarawak, YB Encik Martin Ben, N.19 Kedup and about fifty-five other hardcore and ‘newbies’ Bidayuh golfers. 

This tournament definitely offers many surprises such as golfers who can master the art of altitude and those who just could not tackle the height. Take for example the SUV driver of my fellow golf who is supposed to be an elite muscle man who drives a WTJ something… a fortunner. His looks is fearless complete with tatooed muscles. But the news of tragedy and incidents of drivers who could not drive up nor down the Borneo Height were simply too much. So his job was? To drive his boss up to the foothill ONLY! 

The golf course takes no prisoner. Either you have it or you don’t and that can be said about the tournament at Hornbill Golf & Jungle Club. With its steep slopes and undulated terrain it sure took Bidayuh Golf up to a new level. One that can be said to be able to separate good golfers and bad ones, boys among the men. I mean there are no golf course built for sissies. 

Every hole has its special character. From a hole layout that can lure you into committing uncharacteristic shot to one that tantalise your soul into sending your expensive brand new ‘titlist’ ball into a watery grave. Committing to your most reliable drive can send up your golf ball into the rainforest which is about a million years old! If you have played hole 6, a par 4 offering a 45 degrees down hill drive you should now what I mean. Even if your good drive has found a fairway, it would be extremely easy to miss the green. But heck that’s could might happen. 

If your ball can find the green, the break will eat you. Take another par 3, about 89 meters with 3-tiered green. Miss your break and your ball can drift along the terrain at a record speed. Oh by the way. On this green a one and half footer is no ‘gimme’. JB left this green devastated! But amid all these dangers, a respectable putter such as Cameron might just do the job. Despite its slow speed on some green, a 30 feet monster-putt could still find its mark. 

For a typical par 5, Hornbill Golf & Jungle Club offers unmatched difficulty level. Even if you have secured a second shot, wait till you execute your third shot to the green from 20-meters fairway with watery graves at every corner. Just leave the par 5 with a bogey is good. Quadruple bogey is not uncommon. Ahhhem. 

In all, the course offered golfers a wide range of challenges to the game. One is tempted to draw conclusion here that the Borneo Height course is a true course for Bidayuh golfers not only it is in the heartland of the Bidayuh zone, but it does provide a true test for those who can confront the challenges. A case I wish to make is this. While some of us who also helped to organise various golf tournaments before will agree that the success of it depend on all arrangements, it would be very tough to be in the organising committee and to get the job done and also to play well at the same time. This is not true and PP can attest to this. While some of us may find playing with golfers who are unfamiliar with the course can be taxing…having to help ‘looking for strayed balls (and there were many of them) PP was pitted into a ‘newbies’ flight and still managed to maintained a level of focus at high altitude and managed to win! How meh? So how now? 

This Hornbill Golf & Jungle Club Golf tournament is a resounding success for all. (some begged to differ I know). For all the Bidayuh Golfers who can participate, sponsors who are generous, people who organise, we are all real winners. 

For some, winning a golf tournament is only a day in the office. For others, they may never will. 

Below are the analysis of the performance of each winner, as unfairly as possible. Who says the world is fair? 

Nett Category Order of Merit (Money List) 

1st Paul Ponar – 68 (RM600). Even though he was pitted amongst players unfamiliar with the course, PP always maintain his focus and just do his thing. He is good at multitasking (organise the game/ make arrangements/ play golf). Winning by 3 strokes is commendable especially at Borneo Height. He is the only golfer I know who uses his practice swing as the real swing! Foreplay is a waste of time he says. Known for a drive that is ‘lulut macam lan*” PP short game is also second to non. Could it be the new driver FTiZ as his new weapon of choice that did the trick? Well done Paula. 

2nd Andrew Peter – 71 (RM500). There are very few footballer that shoots like Rivaldo. So it means to be able to curve (slice lah!) the ball at will require skill and brute strength. If you watch how AP drive at Borneo height, it is not meant for the faint-hearted. First he aim deep into the rainforest and then he ‘wacked’ em cold. The ball will take a wicked turn left, fly over many rainforest animals and birds like a bullet before landing (meant to be) onto the middle of the centre of the fairway. Minutes after that dead branches and falling leaves followed. Oh. By the way, he can also make a monster putt for a par to get to 71 gross. Do not misjudge AP. He is as strong as a polar bear. I’m talking about his silhouette. A silhouette is the image of a person with a fat outline. (RickyPedia) 

3rd Ik Talano – 72 OCB (RM400). He has a steady game and can rip the ball straight. His iron play is fantastic. IT was a junior golfer and is a regular winner. 

4th Ahkim Sarok – 72 (RM300). Never under-estimate a guy with a local knowledge. What do you say to a person who eat and sleep on a golf course? Even though Borneo Golf Course and different than Damai Golf course uses different grain of grass, the person who experience both is the same. A very skillful player with a habit for winning. 

5th Dominic Josip – 73 OCB (RM250). DJ is a veteran in golf so he has mastered the art of playing on different venue his entire life. You do not have to have a beautify swing to be effective. Borneo Golf course sure has a variety of fairway layouts but DJ just master them all. 

6th Ricky Guing Senen – 73 OCB (RM200). I skip comment on this guy. 

7th ACP Clarence Rorote – 73 (RM150). For Bidayuh Golf this is a new kid on the block. But Sir, he is above fifties! His solid iron play carries the day and his drive is a mirror image of AP’s. 

8th YB Martin Ben – 73 (RM100). A steady player with solid all-round game. 

9th Datu Ik Pahon – 75 (RM100). This is another regular winner. There should be nothing wrong with your game if you are a regular winner is there? 

10th Anthony Nogeh – 76 (RM100). Ah. There you are. He is proud to be a winner but there is more to his game than meeting the eyes. Golf is a strange game. While some others master their tools, AN masters the fairway between his ears to win. 

Gross Category Order of Merit (Money List) 

1st Magit Semong – 79 (RM400). For ever-present in the winning circle, Magit Semong is a seasoned winner and in his own words, “Mau Tidak mau Saja mesti menang punya!” If MS name is in the list of any golf tournament, his name is already engraved into the trophy. But please be reminded that he carded a 93 during the Inter-Club played at Sibu this year. Just a minor glitch in his golfing radar. 

2nd Lester Simbas – 82 (RM300). Who could not recognised this burly weighty golfer. WBGC Champion 2010, Lester is accomplished Bidayuh golfer with a pleasant smile. 

3rd Johnny Chai – 85 (RM200). Remember our first WBGC series, 11 Sept 2005? Well, Sasim @Johnny Chai carded a gross score of 81 (nett 71) to be crowned as First WBGC Champion. After 6 years he still got the touch. 

4th Jabing Bujing – 87 (RM150). Jabing is the ‘Peter Pan’ of golf. Ever so young, JB is consistent during tournament on stroke play. His golf is built around solid short game. But wait. He drives the ball well too…and miss one and a half feet putt! Of course he can still afford that. He is capable of shooting a 39 on the front nine. 

5th Albert Tanon – 90 (RM100). Dubbed as one of the longer hitter, AT is one of the top Bidayuh golfers. But like all others, erratic play can rob him of glory. Maybe this time he is giving other chances for other to win. He is a great sport. 

6th Anthony Abang – 95 (RM100). He made the cut alright for gross winner. Now for those whose names are missing, better luck next time. Winning and losing is separated by a fraction and unfortunately losing a tournament is easy. For most of us, it is guaranteed. The game of golf is difficult and not easy to master. Yet there are other who excel well amid tough challenges and some may never make it.

Here is a complete result.
BIDAYUH HIGHLANDGOLF LEADERBOARD 2011 – GROSS
    NAME / HNCP  /  FRONT9 /   BACK9  /  GROSS  /  NETT
1. Magit Semong    7    40    39    79    72
2. Lester Simbas    9    39    43    82    73
3. Andrew Peter    12    41    42    83    71
4. Johnny Chai @ Sasim    9    44    41    85    76
5. Dominic Josip (DSP)    13    43    43    86    73
6. Paul Ponar Sinjeng    18    42    44    86    68
7. Jabing Bujing    13    44    43    87    74
8. Ik Talano Pahon    15    44    43    87    72
9. Albert Tanon    7    43    47    90    83
10. YB Martin Ben    17    45    46    91    74
11. Ahkim Sarok    19    47    44    91    72
12. Ricky Guing Senen    19    48    44    92    73
13. Anthony Abang    18    45    50    95    77
14. Sipol Ambun    13    50    46    96    83
15. Loh Leh Ching    17    50    46    96    79
16. Andrew Nyisun    18    46    50    96    78
17. Datu Ik Pahon Joyik    21    50    46    96    75
18. Patrick Kiyok    19    52    45    97    78
19. Clarence Rorote (ACP)    24    45    52    97    73
20. Robert Elone    14    49    49    98    84
21. James Sinjeng    18    50    48    98    80
22. YB Datuk Peter Nansian    20    51    47    98    78
23. Dabrin Peter Kini    17    45    54    99    82
24. Anthony Nogeh    23    50    49    99    76
25. Ricky Nyowip    15    49    51    100    85
26. YB Dato’ James Dawos    24    51    49    100    76
27. Johnny Peter    14    51    50    101    87
28. William Juah    22    52    49    101    79
29. William Duncan    24    49    52    101    77
30. Dr. Peter Songan    24    50    52    102    78
31. Paul Bond Chamberlin    15    53    50    103    88
32. Jimson Jium    24    52    53    105    81
33. Punjau Sepoi    19    55    51    106    87
34. Joing Mideh    24    52    54    106    82
35. Miro Simuh    24    50    56    106    82
36. Eric Hendry    18    52    56    108    90
37. Dr. Samuel Kiyui    24    52    56    108    84
38. Edwin Limban    24    55    53    108    84
39. Nelson Peter Kini    24    52    56    108    84
40. Mike Magges    18    52    57    109    91
41. Simon Templer    24    57    53    110    86
42. Paul Ritom    24    59    52    111    87
43. Frankie Lisu    20    51    62    113    93
44. Walter Dior    24    62    51    113    89
45. Redit Robert    24    59    54    114    89
46. Niko Paduk    24    55    60    115    91
47. Joseph Jindy    20    59    61    120    100
48. Bronnie Marshall Poris    24    62    63    125    101
49. Richard Wellis    24    65    62    127    103
50. Voon Tara    24    62    66    128    104