"Have you seen these?" he asked his friends. "They're pictures of our once favorite Golf and Country Club, and the conditions are deplorable."
The others leaned in to look at the pictures. They could see that the fairways, greens, and tee boxes were overrun with weeds. The putting greens were marred by bare spots and encroachment from off-type grasses. The bunkers were waterlogged and contaminated. And the tee boxes were obstructed by branches and overrun with weeds.
"This is terrible," said Haji Johari. "I used to love playing golf there."
"Me too," said Awang Raman. "But I haven't been in years. The conditions have just gotten worse and worse."
The men talked for a while about how the golf course had declined over the years. They talked about the lack of maintenance, the poor management, and the contentious responses from the management to concerns from members.
"It's clear that the management doesn't care about the golf course," said Haji Hamdi. "They're just interested in making money."
"I agree," said Awang Raman. "And it's a shame, because the Golf and Country Club used to be one of the best in the country and even in the region. It was even on par with world class golf courses."
Awang Raman continued, "I remember playing a round there with some friends a few years ago. We were all blown away by the conditions. The course was in perfect condition, and we had a great time. But now, it's a shadow of its former self. The fairways are overgrown with weeds, the greens are patchy and slow, and the bunkers are filled with water. It's a shame to see such a great course fall into such disrepair."
Haji Hamdi added, "I've heard that the management has been threatening legal action against members who have complained about the conditions. That's just intimidation tactics. They're trying to silence anyone who speaks out."
The men finished their coffee and left the cafe. As they walked away, they talked about what could be done to improve the situation. They agreed that it was important to take action, and they vowed to do whatever they could to help.
Disclaimer
The names of the people in this story are fictitious. Any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The story is intended to be a reflection of the many complaints about the state of golf courses in the country. The author does not endorse any of the views expressed in the story, and the story should not be interpreted as a criticism of any particular golf course or its management.
