AussieBob

Yeh - I hear you. When someone once talked to me about taking up golf, I said 'dont - buy a boat - it's much cheaper'. And you are right about all the khrapp the 'golf industry' tells you about how to play golf and how to hit golf balls and all the new 'better' equipment - it is total and utter rubbish - a scam. I played a little golf here and there - firstly a lot as a teenager with mates - and then on and off for a long time - mainly pro-ams and corporate golf days. Never got lessons - what worked, worked. As a player I could par or birdie any hole, but also shoot 2 or 3 over on any hole (occasionally worse). I was great in an ambrose team (won a few events) - but frustrating when playing a comp to be going well and then 'the wheels fall off' for 2-3 holes. In my late 40s I decided to get some lessons - that completely ruined my swing - was totally lost for about a year. I went back to doing what worked - took a while. After I decided to retire, I worked on my house for a while to fix it up and sell it, then go overseas. Did not play much golf for nearly 2 years - just a few corporate days on invites from mates. Once settled into Chiang Mai I started going to the driving range - great facilities - auto ball feeders etc etc. Started figuring things out using my cricket coaching experience, and soon realised all that khrapp the industry 'taught' was only valid for young men who want to become a Pro - absolutely nothing to do with the reality of the occasional player who does not hit balls all day every day. As you said - I used the camera and gear - so much better than guessing. I have got the basics down now, and I know my swing (and what goes wrong), and through that process I also realised the critical importance of the right equipment. The most important component is not the khrapp they 'market' - it is the golf shafts - get that wrong and everything else is irrelevant. Then it is all about the length and lie angle of the clubs. Then it is the golf ball - and why some blokes use the balls that Tiger or Rory play is beyond comprehension - but that is what sells. Taught the wife how to play during that process - she had never even touched a golf ball in her life, and she hit the first one when in her late 40s. That is a whole other story.

Well said mate - and I hear you. Only 320 yards? 🙂 Yes it has followed society a lot, but it is also more than that. We used to play on a local PGA course - in this town the majority of residents are retirees and the average age of the members was over 50. But we left because we could not stand the 'riff raff' and their terrible behaviour - and cheating. Where I played as a member before (Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra) the members just did not behave that way - but up here it seems to be 'the norm'. We once played with an older lady from Melbourne who was visiting for the first time - she was clearly 'a p[layer' in her younger days. She and her husband were shocked at the behaviour - many timesn. Then on one tee she said the funniest thing I have ever heard on a golf course. I was literally just about to tee off (in the back swing), when a bloke drove straight across the fairway on front of us, stopped at one of our group's balls, and then yelled out very loudly to his mate "Nuh - this aint it Davey" and then drove back - not a word or gesture towards us all just standing there watching. She said in her dead pan classy voice: "Etiquette? These people have no idea what it means, let along know how to spell it". We burst out laughing - took a while before I could hit the ball - 350 yards of course (after the second hit).

Fred and Mary got married, but can't afford a honeymoon, so they go back to Fred's parent's home for their first night together. In the morning, Johnny, Fred's little brother, gets up and has his breakfast. As he is going out of the door to go to school, little Johnny asks his Mom "Are Fred and Mary up yet?" She replies, "No". Johnny says, "I think I know why.” Knowing little Johnny's propensity for lude and crude remarks, his mom replies, "I don't want to hear what you think! Just go to school." Johnny comes home for lunch and asks his mom, "Are Fred and Mary up yet?" She replies, "No." Johnny says, "I think I know why.” His mom replies, "Never mind what you think! Eat your lunch and go back to school." After school, Johnny comes home and asks again, "Are Fred and Mary up yet?" His mom says "No." He says, "I think I know why.” His Mom is a little worried so replies, "OK then, do tell me what you think." Little Johnny says: "Last night Fred saw me and asked if we had any vaseline - but I think I gave him the super glue."

Little Johnny attended a horse auction with his father. He watched as his father moved from horse to horse, running his hands up and down the horse's legs, rump, and chest. After a few minutes, Johnny asked, "Dad, why are you doing that?" His father replied, "Because when I'm buying horses, I have to make sure that they are healthy and in good shape before I buy." Johnny, looking worried, said, "Dad, I think the postman wants to buy Mom."

The teacher asked the class to use the word "fascinate" in a sentence. Molly put up her hand and said, "My family went to my granddad's farm, and we all saw his pet sheep. It was fascinating." The teacher said, "That was good, but I wanted you to use the word 'fascinate,' not 'fascinating'." Sally raised her hand. She said, "My family went to see Rock City and I was fascinated." The teacher said, "Well, that was good Sally, but as I said to Molly I wanted you to use the word fascinate'. Little Johnny raised his hand, but the teacher hesitated because she had been burned by Little Johnny before. She finally decided there was no way he could damage the word "fascinate," so she called on him. Johnny said, "My aunt Carolyn has a sweater with ten buttons, but her tits are so big she can only fasten eight!"

We miss Yayoi a lot - thanks for the reminder.

Rory cops a lot of crowd abuse in USA - brought a lot of that on himself when he was so aggressive to them in his early Ryder Cup matches. But that is no excuse - they should be throwing aholes like that bloke out - it aint the footy. Trash talking to the players should be banned and anyone guilty thrown out and banned. Some people say Tiger did a lot for the game - IMO that is not totally true. When Tiger played he was an absolute ahole and he brought the aggressive American aholes to see the game and support him. 'Get in the hole' 'Mashed Potatoes' and all that khrapp started with him. He certainly has 'grown up' since those events years ago that lead to his divorce, but the footy aggressive crowds are still there in USA and a lot of them dont like Rory. I hate watching the PGA now - except for the Majors, especially the Masters, where the crowds are more under control. That plus the biased American media coverage, and their support of all things American, make me sick. Who the phharkk cares that a US player went to XYZ University, or that Tiger or Phil made a birdie which makes them now only 2 over and 15 shots behind - Yanks. I have been an avid golf watcher on TV for decades - but now I dont watch the PGA in USA. I stick to the European Tour, LPGA, Seniors (go Bernard) and the Majors. And no matter who it is, if it is not a Yank winning, then I am happy. And that is another reason I love the LPGA - the Yanks dont win too many because the courses are all set up for their 'college' game. And of course the Ryder and Solheim Cup - love it when the Yanks lose.

What Dave did is nothing to using the Thai banking system. I was warned many years ago about what happened to you, so I had two bank accounts. We were on holiday down south and the same thing happened - except it gave my card back. Tried another ATM and the card was 'blocked'. Went to the nearest branch and they said the account was 'locked' - but they could not help me - told me I had to go back to Chiang Mai branch !! Online worked, so I transferred money for the holiday over the the other bank account, and withdrew cash from one of their branches as required.

I agree with you - having come so far, you should not throw it all away now. As someone said a long time ago - 'Whenever you find yourself going through Hell - Do Not Stop - Keep Going'. Someone else said you have to go through Hell to really appreciate Heaven. They are right I reckon - when you have done the Thailand Pass and have arrived in Thailand - it will be a bit extra special. Like that hot cup of tea/coffee after a motorbike ride when caught in a freezing downpour 🙂

Bugger - hope you enjoyed the exercise 🙂 I hear there are a lot of small branches closing in Thailand - in the tough times even the rich banks will cut costs. Hopefully, though, when things turn back around, because of the cheap and easy costs of doing it in Thailand, there will be more branches opened back up. Here in Aust due to the GFC there was a lot of small places closed - especially in the smaller towns - the costs and rules and regulations here makes opening a new one extremely cost prohibitive, so most stayed closed. Online banking and all the modern payment methods and ATM options also made the need for branches to open much less than before - except for the older folks who could not/would not change the way they banked. It worries me that in Thailand the banks will try to 'impose' all those online and app payment methods, in a system that is inefficient at best and downright incompetent a lot - with nil consumer rights or a watchdog authority that actually does the job. Like the vast majority of Thais I will not use anything but cash on a day to day basis - I do not trust the Thai banks or their systems as far as a Russian or Chinese hacker could throw them.

The solution is easy - wait until April. If they have not yet realised by then, that many tourists hate all that khrapp and will not travel to Thailand until it is removed, then wait until May. Repeat as necessary. Eventually they will realise and change it. Below is the guy who waited for Thailand leaders to admit they got it wrong and made a huge mistake.

Intelligence not a requirement for the job - and it shows. If they must bet, then bet on something else - but numpties being numpties ..........

Thanks for all that - much appreciated. We used to live in Chiang Mai for some years so I know about the annual extension 'problems' - although these days they seem even more ridiculous - judging on forum discussions. We do intend to live in/near a major City with all the services and amenities and Govt offices - and not too far to the selected golf course we will probably join. But it is just one of those things that annoyed me - paying for a card to be able to withdraw my own money at one of their ATMs. No biggie - that is for sure. But if one bank does do it (no charge for card) then I reckon they will get a lot of customers from other banks - maybe they are all in collusion not to remove the fee - 60,000,000 times 200/300 baht a year is a lot of money - is collusion illegal in Thailand - LOL.