]]>The weather was wonderful with cloudy sky,light drizzle and the course at its best green with the trees grown taller.The view of the Ponmudi hills in the backdrop was wonderful too.
The only structure of its kind in India and maybe whole of the world this Golf club building -a pagoda like structure is unique.
I was happy to see that the club has also received the best Tourist friendly golf club award in Asia and Pacific.
In fact when I was playing there I had given a suggestion to have special packages for tourists to enjoy the only one of its kind heritage golf club in the world.
I had a good round on sunday making at least 7 or 8 pars.
]]>0-14 winner--
runner-up
15-18
18-24
25-36
Mr.Paciano
Randomly made team of two winners
runners-up
There was a small mishap with one of the golf carts for hole 14 when the golfer driving it tried to drive with one hand while sipping the hot tea with the other and the golf car went in to the left side drainage ditch as he tried to pass the tea cup to the caddy behind.Escaped with very mild cuts & bruises and some pain.
All wished the next tournament would come soon.
]]>Second hole
1.Driver to the right
2-3 low shot went off the fairway to rough on the left
3-a low punch reached the green
4 & 5 putts (5/4)
third hole
1-driver2 went straight-good shot
2.9 into the bunker
3 sw on the fringe
4 putt close
5 putt given (5/4)
fourth hole
1-driver2 sliced to over the trees to right
2-choice to go to side or over the tree and bunker or go low and head for bunker;chose to go over the tree-caddy said take full shot but to gain height took the pitch shot which grazed the top of the tree and fell in to the bunker
3-sw in to the next bunker
4-sw on to the green
5-putt
6-putt (6/3)
fifth hole
1-driver-hooked left hit trees and fell in penalty area
2 in penalty drop area
3-3w-long
4-3w-long but right in to the right greenside bunker
5-sw-just manage to get to the fringe
6-duffed chip just on to the green
7-putt-long close to hole& 8-putt given(but putted)
8/5
sixth hole
1-Driver-good shot right down the middle
2-3 long but went over the fairway into clay area mud dried gravel
3-7i hit the ground and so ball went short of green
4-putter missed the hole to the right and got the slope
5 and 6 putts (6/4)
seventh hole
cross the road back
1-drive- long and straight-really good drive
2-3i-a little long-little too much to right in to the penalty drop area of mud
4-7i duffed in the sand
5-7i went to the left front of green
6-close to hole
7-putt given (7/5)
eighth hole
1-Driver-what a shot-straight,long, right down the middle-appreciation from all
2-9i -short of the sucking water body
3-7i-right to the flag but a little more to the left back on the slope above
4-drained putt a little past the hole,just missed the right line
5-putt for par --Satisfaction and appreciation for the good par from all(5/5 on difficult hole)
ninth hole
1-driver-ob hits the trees to the left,2-penalty
3-driver again into the left trees and OB-4-penalty
5-driver too hard again trees but luckily rolls to the right side of the fairway
6-3w-long shot right of the fairway below a tree-bunker comes in between
7-a 4i shot right up the green and finish with a putt (8/5)
Still not found my game yet--my group says -you will get it back if you are able to play more on the course.You have the game -a very good drive-Play more, Sir!
First hole the 10th.-- My shot went straight at the flag but got the edge of the bunker and went into the sand bunkler.2nd shot came out to the green. A long putt.Almost twenty to twenty five feet.The ball went in. A par.3/3
11th hole-had the honour. Driver shot got a slice, went to the right after falling and little past a tree in the rough.2nd shot sent the ball low and far on the fairway.3rd shot with a pw went straight and again got the edge of the bunker and went in to the right bunker.4th came out fine.Putted.One or two.
12th hole-Drive got the breeze and went right over the wall in to the OB after going straight for quite some distance.
Next shot straight right.
Next shot unluckily went past the white marker-again OB.
Next shot went to the green, got the edge and rolled in to the right bunker.(Due to avoiding the left side water hazard along the left side of the green).
Came out nicely past the hole.
Putted-for an eight(8)
13th hole--Driver2-fell on the green and rolled to the rough on the left. Chip duffed.Grass of rough is tricky.next chip went near to left of hole.Single putt for a bogey 4.
14th hole-drive went over the right trees to the 13th fairway.
The effort to clear the trees and back to the 14th fairway ended below the trees.
Next shot 3wd from under the tree was a long one, but got gobbled up by the thick grass on the fringe of the green.
The sw got topped due to closing the eyes at the time of impact of the club with the ball and ball went over the hole.
Long putt went close to the hole.Putted.6 or 7 on this par 5.
15th hole--Drive was topped so did not go long.
2nd shot went to the right trees.
3rd from under the trees got to near the green.
4th went to the green with a short pitch.
Two putted for a 6.A db.
Moved out to the other side,crossed the road,went past the double decker driving range on to the 16th.
Drive went a little rightish but long.
Second over the tree but went in to the area past the white stakes.
Back to drop area.
Next went high,fell on the trees to the right and fell below the trees near the right wall and in to the sand lining.
The punch with a pw from there encountered a stone under the sand and the ball going straight for the hole did not reach it.
Putts one (or two).Six or seven.
18th hole-- Drive was a perfect drive right down the middle about ten to fifteen yards short of the bunker on the left(last time the drive had got in to the bunker) and got appreciation.
2nd played safe and laid up.
3rd one went high and appeared to be going down in to the water hazard before the green but it landed past the hazard and then rolled up on to the green straight in the direction of the hole and stopped on the green.
4th was the birdie putt which strayed off line a few inches and then I finished a good par putt.5/5
Hole 1.-- Drive exerted a little too much loose power of the right hand and crossed the trees on the right in to the 18th fairway.Longer than the playing partners.If only it had gone as a draw?
2nd shot went far.
3rd still to go over the trees-topped-- below the trees.
4th pucned low to reach the green.
Putt just missed the hole and two putted for a six.
But for the OB holes round was ok.
A little more familiarity with the newly redone course and more play and I should get my game back on track.
Shri Sasidharan has joined as the Member Settlement Commission in Chennai.Along with him played Mr.R.K.Jain,Commissioner Customs Mumbai Zone-II and Mr Stephen Ambrose,Supdt.
The top customs officials who played included Mr.Tarun Govil,Commissioner Airport;Mr.B.K.Singh.JT.CDR CESTAT; Mr.R.K.Jain Commissioner Customs(Appeals) Mumbai Zone-II and Mr.M.C.Thakur,Chief Commissioner,DG,Safeguards,Delhi.
Other well known customs players included Mr.Rigzin,Additional Commissioner,Pune; Mr Kuldip S Sandhu,Supdt. Avnish Kumar ,Stephen Ambrose,Balli Iqbal Singh, Meena,
The golfing was followed by a party which was graced amongst others by Shri Suresh Oberoi,Filmstar,Shri Chaudury,President of the BPGC;Capt.Mann,Captain of BPGC;Capt.Harsh past President and Captain of BPGC;Mr Chitnis,past President and Captain of the club;Shri K.V.Vaidyananthan ex-Chief Commissioner of Customs;Shri Rajan;Shri Mokashi;Brig. ;Capt. Shri Sharma, and (I do not know all the invitees and guests being not more than a few golfing days old at the club(three in Nov.08,two in d
Dec.08 and three in May 09 and a few months old in Mumbai-Bombay).(Will add as and when I remember and find out).
A nice emotional get to gether with speeches by all.
]]>For new persons who are new in Mumbai it will not be easy to get into a fourball.
It may not be possible for the new central service members to get to know people to get in to four balls.
By the time the retirement comes next year in 2010,at this rate, there would hardly be any golf played.(And the worry as to what would happen to golf membership when one retires keeps on nagging?)
Frustrating.
Hopefully things would improve and so would the enjoyment and the golf.
]]>Nine holes in BPGC golf club Chembur Mumbai were opened for play after restructuring and relaying.
There was a totally choked tee off time chart for the day when play started at 12.00
The members of the club are only allowed to play at present.
Only nine holes are allowed per round per day.
Play is allowed only on three days in a week.
Time of play is also changed.
New rules have come in to place.
A number of water bodies have been introduced with more bunkers and it has become difficult for some.
The greens have breaks and contours and even the caddies have not yet got a hang of the same.
]]>Well the BPGC is closed at present.
When will it reopen after relaying of the course is not known.
The Willingdon is crowded and the green fees are Rs.1200/-+.Will one get tee times free?
The US club is crowded and one has to book tee times in advance with minimum three in a group.Will one get any tee time to play if one is single?
The golf ccourse on Palm Beach road,Nerul, near Seawoods is only proposed.
The CIDCO golf course in Kharghar is yet to come up.
The Royal Palms in Goregaon has no memberships open.
The traffic jams,the distances,the time taken,the traffic jam at the starter hut well it is not easy to play golf when you want.
I am finding it almost impossible to play golf in Mumbai.
]]>It is my first day as a Member.
I am very excited.
I have also taken my golf set.
I want to play and I am adjusted with a pair of husband and wife.
I rush to the 17th hole the starting point.
It is a par three.
I get close to the hole.
I chip up and then the greens show their speed as my putt goes racing past.I two putt for a bogey.
Next hole is a par three again and my shot falls before the green and races up the green.I am not sure whether it has gone over. But I see the caddy on the green. It means I am on the green. I putt to the distance of the hole and it stays to the left of the hole.I putt again to make a par.
Next hole is a par four. I have a long drive,little rightish but it has a staight shot to the green.I duff that shot and luckily the ball does not go in to the drain and rolls over the bridge to the other side.I pitch the next shot right near the hole on the left side it goes to the left higher side due to the roll. I get the line for the putt but it too rolls past. I putt again for a bogey.
Next hole is a dogleg right, par five. It has OB to the right with stones,broken rocks and a sewage drain,then a boundary wall and houses.
My first shot with the driver goes leftish in a draw.I plan to go for another club but follow the advice of the caddy to go for the second with the driver.The ball goes low and straight but then hits a stone and bounces right and hits the sewage tank wall and vanishes in the muck. Search is of no avail.A ball is dropped and my next shot is close to the green to the left.I hope to reach close to the hole with my chip.But the grass is too big and the shot falls short.I chip it and the ball rolls past the hole.I two putt for an eight,triple bogeyon the par five. Unfortunate second shot.Could have done better with a better chip and putt.
Next hole is a par four with OB on the right and often the balls go that way.My drive is the best so far as it goes close to the hole for a pitch.My pitch falls short of the green having gone too deep in to the grass.I chip it on and two putt for a bogey.The break of the green is still deceiving me.
The next is again a par three.
My shot goes in to the grass before the bunker to the left of the green.
My chip is disturbed by the caddies helping the practicing people.
When I chip the ball,it lands and then touches the hole and jumps down and rolls a few feet from the hole on the green-a birdie missed.I putt for yet another par.
Next hole is a par four dogleg left.My shot goes long and right, hits the trees and falls down in the thick grass.My next shot is not OK as it goes right and stays near the base of a tree. I have to punch the ball out over a root and then a mound and a greenside grass bunker and up on to a sloping green.The shot digs into the soft earth below the grass and the balls goes up softly landing on the slope of the mound.
Another punch from there falls short of the green.The chip is close to the hole.But two putts make it a triple bogey.
The next hole is a par three again.It has a bunker to the left.
My shot falls straight in line for the flag but short of the green.
The caddy says it is a birdie.I chip it uphill and it goes in for a birdie.
The final ninth hole is a par four with OB running all along the right.My shot is the longest but close to the boundary with trees on the right.I punch the ball low to the middle left of the fairway.The next shot is a pitch which is a good shot right on the middle of the green but rolls up past the hole to the left leaving me with a difficult putt downhill.I take two putts to finish with a bogey.
A birdie and two pars.
Can make it better if I can avoid the OB's and play with little more perfection and focus.
I am looking forward to become member of these clubs and play golf in Mumbai.
Currently the BPGC is having only nine holes open and the other nine which have been relaid are expected to open in December first week.
Of course I did play 18 holes this Sunday, on paying the green fees.
I had a starting par and then a birdie on the sixth with a very long straight drive and then a pitch right in the line of the flag and a twenty plus feet putt in.
]]>I felt I have something in me and may be I could consider this at the age of 57 plus --becoming a better amateur and then may be a pro (I wonder when that will be and at what age)?
Ha! Ha! Ha!
]]>The iron to the green on the par three 4th hole.
The wedge shot which fell where it was meant to fall and ran straight to the hole.
The chip which went and came to a stop at the foot of the flag.
The punches which went where I wanted.
]]>I was hitting much better and longer and straighter when I had come to Nagpur.
Now my shots fall short of my expectation.
I do not feel good in presence of some people.
I do not get to play that much now.
]]>Another rule is supposed to be the one where while playing a round one should not use a second ball or a practice shot after one's shot has not gone the way one wanted it to.
]]>This time I forgot to count the balls in the bag when I handed over the bag to the unknown caddy who picked my bag for the first time.
In an earlier tournament also at GGI I had got an unknown almost newcomer caddy.
When I had used a new Titleist ball he could not locate it even though it had gone over a building in the OB area...
This time I had kept some new balls to be used when I had warmed up but was afraid to use them because of earlier experiences that the new balls invariably tended to be lost sight of by the caddies as they travelled longer and rolled more and got lost while the older ones did not.
After I had finished the round, reached home got busy with other things did not go to play all these days and when I opened the bag today I found four balls missing including new Titleist and Srixon balls.
This is a disturbing trend in India because of the tendency of caddies to remove the balls and then sell them or give them to some one in the club whom they are afraid of.
It was also disturbing to hear the loud calls of "Ball","Ball","Ball" by the children sitting near the club house in the DGC during the recently concluded Masters.
One player of another country showed that he was not happy with these calls for balls to be thrown to the people after a round.
]]>My game was not too bad considering that I am not playing at all.Not practising.On medication for bad cough and cold.suffering from body aches,shoulder pains leg pains,cramps and aging.
I have only been playing in an alternate tournament or so that is all.
That comes to about once or twice a month.
I had many single putts.
I had good shots but they were not going where I wanted them to go.
I was drawing the ball too much which made it roll further than I wanted.
And in some measure the course too helped spoil my score by deflecting my ball from big cracks in the ground.
But what I played was satisfying(not satisfied by the result though because I have the potential to play much better and have a better score) for me because if I could get my drives alright and make the ball go where I wanted it to go then I definitely have it in me to challenge the best in the field.
I got some good straight drives;I got some very good second shots with my three and four woods;I had good shots approaching the green;I had good chip and pitch shots(they needed more finesse to hole them)as many times I had to only make a single putt.
My putting was good but for the seventh hole where the other players caddy standing in front of me suddenly started moving and my eyes moved away from the ball and for the first time in all these years I topped the ball making it go only a foot or so.Where I was hoping to make the single downhill putt I took three putts.
What I felt was the absence of the feel of the course in the present conditions was lacking because of not playing due to medication and ill health.
Secondly my body was not that tuned to the rhythm thus some shots were not synchronised properly.
subhash chandra also went to Mumbai and played a very good game of 90 to get selected(twelve were selected from Western Region) for the all India finals to be held in DDA lado Sarai public golf course in Delhi.
Both these juniors of the department had picked up the game during the last one and a half years but were seen practising with dedication almost every day at the CP club golf driving range in Civil Lines nagpur.
They have earlier played hockey for the customs & central excise commissionerate and are now hooked to golf and also hope to surpass all the golfers in nagpur and the western region and may be also at the national level in the future.
]]>My game was going to pieces(I realised later that on the evening before the triolley man at the airport had banged the line of trolleys in my legs just above the ankles and they had pain and were stiff and not allowing me to hit the shots with proper weight shift).
My normally strong and straight drives with the driver, appreciated by the coach of many a champion in these parts,was lost and going left,or high and I had two OB's on the 18th hole having started from the 14th hole.I did not regain the drive till almost the end of the round.
I watched the game of the group and no one was playing well but Oliver had a somewhat good round of 42 on the first nine and I predicted that Oliver had a good chance if he came around ninety or less.He had a ninety and ended up being one of the runners-up.
Some one said it always happens some one in my group always wins.
_________________________________________________________________
In the MSK Cup I had said the same thing and I was the only one from my group to be on the green in closest to the pin competition on the 11th and ultimately won even though there was a tie with Rawat.
____________________________________________________________________
In the SBI Tiger cup I had said all in the group are winners.
And in fact all four of us(myself; Col Gadekar; Avinash Paul;Nooruddin Malak)were amongst the prizes at the end.
]]>
Baidyanath,Nagpur.All photos by Shri Rakesh K.Jain
]]>I had good drives, fairway shots,straight and long.
On the tenth my second was near the green.Third rolled to the edge of the green with grass wet with sprinkler water,Fourth on the green and two putted for a double b.
Eleventh hole I had a long first and a long second almost parallel to the hole on the green, third on the green and two putted for bogie.
Twelfth hole first was long,second near the green, third on the green and two putted for bogie.
Thirteenth hole first to left of green and second on the green.Two putted.
Second ball straight on the green and putted for a birdie.First time ball stayed on the green close to the hole on this par three thirteenth.
Fourteenth hole the first shot was syraight and the second was close to the green and straight,the third was on the green and two putted for a bogie.
Fifteenth hole was the par three one.
The first shot was close and to the left of green,second shot was near the hole and putted for par.
Sixteenth hole the first was straight,the second was straight and the third fell short,fourth on the green and two putted for bogie.
Seventeenth hole first long, second on edge of green and missed birdie putt and putted for par.
Eighteenth first straight and long,second short of green,third inches from the hole and putted for par.
]]>