WHAT KEEPS YOU COMING BACK? D

istance challenged that I am, reaching par 5s in two is quite out of the question, which all but eliminates the possibility of an eagle. Except for one momentous occasion.

Orchid Country Club’s famed traffic-light hole, the 4th Hole on the Aranda, was within reach for me one fateful day. A well-connected drive caught the crest downhill to leave me with a diagonal shot over water to a green that canted severely towards the water. Not a shot for the faint hearted, I was young more than wise as I found the top left corner of the green with my second. The downhill putt was fast and it snaked to the right, yet somehow the ball found the bottom of the cup. I was chuffed, my first and only eagle on a par 5.

Sadly for me, Aranda’s 4th now plays longer and requires a different strategy after undergoing renovations. We played all revamped 27 holes, and you can read our review from page 32.

What prompted this recollection of my lone eagle was an exceedingly satisfying birdie recently on another par 5 4th, this time at Sentosa’s Serapong course.

It’s a fearsome hole. A tight double dogleg to the left, the first and third shot requires a full carry to avoid getting wet. The second shot sees water left and trouble right.

This was my Waterloo, just not this time. I found the green in three. The putt though, wasn’t without pressure as a camera lens was pointing at me from the other side of the hole. I made it and fist pumped.

For the first time, I had the pleasure of penning down a birdie instead of a double or triple bogey.