SSP Chawrasia – Indian (Open) winner

The new Home of the Indian Open:

The tournament moved from Delhi Golf Club to the Gary Player Course at DLF Golf and Country Club this year. The par 72 Gary Player Course measures 7,373 yards and features vivid landscape including 2 large lakes, huge rocks, large undulating greens and unique bunkers. The course in its entirety is intimidating to say the least and it lived up to the reputation with only 7 players finishing under par after 4 days of play.

The star studded Line-up:

Chawrasia (SSP) was aiming to successfully defend his title and become only the second Indian (after Jyoti Randhawa in 2006-07) to do so. Anirban Lahiri was looking for his second title having won the Indian open in 2015. Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello (World number 25 and Ryder cup star) and Scott Hend (reigning Asian tour leader) were some of the favourite international players to feature in the tournament this year.

Round 1 and 2:

SSP started with a cautious even par round 1 characterised by a typical SSP style of play where he made 9 straight pars on front 9. SSP was at his best in the round 2 (shot a bogey free 67) and ended up with a share of lead at the end of round 2. Lahiri barely managed to make a cut with rounds of +4 and +1. At the end of Round 2, SSP was co-leading the field at -5 with Eddie Pepperbell and Danny Chia. Both the rounds were stopped in between due to the threat of lightning and 66 players returned to finish their round 2 on Day 3. An intimidating course along with the windy weather, turned out to be a nightmare for a lot of golfers (worst score was +31 at the end of round 2).

Round 3:

When the play was stopped early on Day 3 (threat of lightning) SSP was tied for the lead (with Spaniard Carlos Pigem at -6) with 7 holes to play in round 3. On resuming the round on Sunday, SSP made a hat-trick of birdies on 13, 14, 15 and ended up at the top (-9), 2 clear of Carlos. Gavin Green had a fantastic run in round 3 (-7) and ended up 3 strokes behind the leader. Lahiri had a great round 3 and ended up even par at the end of 3 rounds.

Round 4:

While most of the field struggled in the final round, SSP had a typically sedate round and had already extend his lead from 2 to 5 over Carlos at the turn.  Even after making the turn, neither Carlos nor Gavin could really pose SSP any kind of a challenge. SSP on the other hand kept going about his business in his characteristic style. He eventually ended with a round of -1 and ended the tournament with a score of -10, 7 clear of the second placed Gavin green. Lahiri posted a round of -1 and ended the tournament tied for the 5^th place.

Winner – SSP Chawrasia:

Such was his dominance in the tournament that he was the only player in the field to play all 4 rounds at or below par. He was one of the only 2 players (other being Steven Tiley) who completed all 4 rounds without a double-bogey or worse score on any hole. He has been the most dominant player in the Indian Open since it became a part of the Eurpoean tour, having finished as runner up in 2015 and winning the title in 2016 and 2017. SSP also joined Jeev Milkha Singh at the top of the list for most Eurpoean tour titles (4). With this win, he is expected to move inside Top 170 in the world golf rankings (currently ranked 258).

SSP continues to make all of us Indians proud and I wish his all the very best for future tournaments. May this ‘Chiputtsia‘ (as he is known among his friends for his incredible short game) live upto the high standards set by himself and we keep seeing his as a winner in the coming years.

Pictures credit: DLF Golf and Country club (http://www.dlfgolfresort.com/) and Golfdigest (http://www.golfdigest.com/story/defending-champ-makes-it-look-easy-with-repeat-win-at-hero-indian-open)

Jaypee Greens Golf Course

Website: http://jaypeegreensgolf.com/locations

Interesting fact: Spread over 452 acres of land Jaypee Greens Golf Resort, opened in 2001, has India’s first championship golf course designed by the legendary Greg Norman. At 7,347 yards from the championship tee, it is the longest course in the country and one of the longest in Asia.

Jaypee – Greater Noida is by far the best and most challenging golf course I have played on till date. It has some of the best Bermuda greens in the country. Nine huge lakes, 5 small ponds and 88 snow-white bunkers strewn over the course make playing here an incredible and unforgettable experience. It is truly a “golfing heaven” nestled in the mad jungle called NCR. It is located nearly 40 kms away from Connaught place, New Delhi and 20 kms from Noida; easily accessible thanks to the expressway. Any golfer staying in NCR or travelling to any part of NCR must try to play here at least once (I’m sure you will come back to this course if you play here once)

Remember this is a long course, so if you are not comfortable with a very long walk take a golf cart. Also, do carry some good amount of extra balls. I would have lost as many as 5 balls in water while playing here for the first time. Once a ball goes in water here, it’s gone unless the water level has been deliberately reduced for some kind of cleaning activity. Good part about playing here is that the greens are wide and roughs are not really bad to play shots from. So, if you can stay clear of water bodies you should have a good round. The bunkers here are a pleasure to play shots from; at times I would wish for the ball to go into a bunker.

This incredible experience though comes at a steep cost. A round here would set you back by almost 7k over the weekend (including green fee, caddie fee and taxes). However, Jaypee has a lot of tie-ups with major credit card providers and you can play a few rounds for free every month. Go through my earlier blog post https://indiangolfnut.wordpress.com/2017/01/12/how-to-play-more-golf-for-less-money/.

A round here can be very tiring here so do avail some of the amazing services provided by the resort for the benefit of players. You can relax yourself with a steam bath followed by a cold shower. The facilities here are simply outstanding.

Favourite hole: Hole no. 13; this 546 yard, par 5 scares a lot of golfers and I have seen a lot of people avoiding hitting a driver on this hole. Thanks to a long (approx. 250 yard) lake on the right side beginning at the tee-box, there is no room to hit a fade/slice. This is a favourite for a different reason as well. I hit the longest drive of my life on this very hole. On a May afternoon in 2016, with a little tail wind I hit one of my best tee shots and hit the ball a massive 345 yards. That left me with a 4-iron shot on this long par-5. I eventually ended up making a birdie with an easy 2-putt.

Time to visit: Anytime during the year is a good time to play here; however the best months to play golf in NCR are Sep-Mar in my opinion. During the summers, its best to tee-off early in the morning so that you can finish the round by 10.

Naldehra Golf Course

Website: http://www.naldehragolfclub.com

Interesting fact: It was established in 1905 by the then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon, who was so mesmerised by the beauty of Naldehra that he named his third daughter Alexandra Naldehra.

I intend to write short notes about the courses I have played at and it’s fitting that I start with my home golf course. Located at Naldehra, nearly 22 kms away from Shimla and 16 Kms from Kufri; this is one of the oldest and most scenic golf courses in India. Draped in deodar trees at a height of 2200 m, the course offers spectacular views of the Himalyas. It’s a par 66, 18 hole Golf Course, designed over a long sloping glade and is regarded as one of the most challenging in the Country. Playing at Naldehra is indeed a rare experience; one that all golfers must try at least once.

It’s a small yet very challenging course, thanks to the tall trees and the terrain. You will be hitting uphill on one hole and the very next hole you will have to hit even higher to clear a line of tall trees. Without a caddie, you wouldn’t even know where to hit on some of the holes. It gets even more difficult because of thick shrubs and out-of-bound (they are literally out-of-bound) areas in the form of forest and (not too) deep gorge.

Do carry a good number of balls and a lot of stamina to complete the round which shouldn’t take more than 3 hours as the course isn’t crowded more often than not. Whenever you go, make it a point to stay in Naldehra for atleast one night. You can stay in the cottages (3 cottages are dedicated to club members) owned by Himachal Tourism hptdc.in or nearby resorts. Golf course is located within the premises of HPTDC property and hence staying in these cottages is ideal for golfers. Chalets www.chaletsnaldehra.com is an excellent resort situated right next to the course and also owns a revolving restaurant with a beautiful view of the valley.

Favourite hole: Hole no. 12; you have to hit a very high tee shot on this par4 (earlier a par 5) due to a line of tall trees right in front of the tee-box. The shot has to be high and long enough to carry the trees and a gorge. Your second shot then will be slightly uphill leading to a tricky green.

Time to visit: Anytime between April-Oct is a good time to visit Shimla and nearby areas; best time to visit Naldehra Golf course in my opinion is Sep-Oct.  Do remember to call the course at least 30 mins before you intend to play so that they can arrange for a caddie and a cart if possible.

How to play more for less

Most of the people believe that Golf is an expensive hobby. Though I would not deny that it can get a little heavy on the pocket; there are ways and means to keep the expenses down. The cost becomes even more relevant considering that you never know if you would want to continue playing golf beyond a couple of rounds (Though I doubt many people would be able to move away after experiencing it first-hand). Thus for the second post; I thought of penning down a few of hacks which can reduce the cost of playing/learning golf.

1. Coaching: There are a few credit cards, which offer free golf lessons at some selected golf courses across the country. To name a few that I have used over the past; HDFC Regalia (mastercard), Indusind Platinum/Signature/Pinnacle card, RBL Golf card and American Express Platinum. Some of the best courses in India are covered by these cards including Jaypee Greens Greater Noida, ITC Classic Gurgaon, Aamby valley Mumbai, Oxford Pune, CGA chandigarh etc. I would advise you to go for 2-4 such lessons and see if you like the game before deciding to go ahead with regular coaching.
   In case you feel hooked to the game, look for a golf range/course close to your home/office and find a good coach there. Typical cost of a golf lesson would be Rs 400-600 plus golf range charges (approx. Rs. 200 for 100 balls). You can take lessons twice a week and practise on your own a couple of days between the coaching sessions. If you are one of the fortunate ones who are able to avail these free lessons (on credit cards) in your neighbourhood, you can save the complete coaching cost and spend only for using the golf range facilities. Over a period of 2-3 months with 16 sessions and 32 self-practice sessions, you should be good to start playing at a golf course. Total spends of approx. Rs 15K to 20K if using own money for coaching and approx. Rs. 10K in case you are able to avail coaching through credit cards.
   To keep the expenses in check, you can also follow some good tutorials/coaching lessons over the internet and avoid a physical coach.

2. Golf Clubs: Once you have developed some interest in the sport, you will have to consider buying your own golf set. There is no end to how much you can spend on the equipment. For a beginner just trying to gauge self-interest in the game it’s advisable to consider a pre-owned golf kit. Speak to coaches or caddies on the golf course or range and you will find a lot of used kits starting from anywhere near Rs. 5,000. One can find pretty good equipment (complete set) for somewhere around Rs 10,000 to begin with. In case you are travelling to USA/Canada or someone is visiting you from that part of the globe; don’t miss the opportunity to grab the golf clubs for at least 50% of the Indian price. I once bought a Driver for USD 200 (Rs. 12.5K at the prevailing rate at that time) which used to cost upwards of Rs 24K in India. In fact it still retails for over Rs. 20K in India after almost 22 months.

3. Golf balls: This is the most frequent expense in the game as a beginner can lose as many as 5-10 balls per round. Good quality new balls are pretty expensive starting around Rs. 120 per ball and the best of those cost as much as Rs. 400 per ball. However the good news is that, you need not spend that kind of money at the beginning (when you are more likely to lose balls every time you go out to play). You can rather opt for used balls in playable condition that are available for as low as Rs. 20 per ball and you can get pretty good used balls for Rs. 50 per ball. These are available through caddies at every golf course.

4. Green fees: This is again a recurring expense to be paid each time you play golf. Again green fee can be as high as ~Rs 6,500 at some of the best golf courses but you can find cheaper golf courses which charge approx. Rs. 500-600 for a game over the weekend and holidays. Most of the golf courses have 50% discounted rates over the working weekdays. As a beginner, you can find a cheap golf course and go out to play 9-hole games early morning (around 5am in summers) over the weekdays (green fees of ~Rs. 300). A lot of credit cards (ones I mentioned earlier) offer free games limited to 1-5 games every month. Find a course that has these offers and you can play at some of the best courses (green fees upwards of Rs. 3000).

5. Caddie Fees: Caddie is the person who carries your golf bag and also finds the balls that you hit (this is the most important function of a caddie for a beginner). Caddie fee is generally directly proportional to the green fee at the course. Caddies at some of the armed forces owned golf courses are available for as low as Rs. 200 (for 18 hole game) while at the more expensive courses, caddie fee can set you back by Rs. 750.

6. Gloves: Gloves cost anywhere between Rs. 350 to Rs. 1,500 per glove. Find the one that fits you better as the expensive ones generally last longer as well. So the cost per game would be almost similar for most of the gloves. Be on a lookout for various deals going on the online shopping portals. I have twice bought beautiful good quality gloves on paytm for as low as Rs 700 (otherwise available for Rs 1400). And, gloves are a must buy whenever you go overseas as these are mostly available for a bargain outside India especially in America.

7. Clothes and Shoes: Golf courses are very particular about the dress code and you need to follow that or you may be denied entry into the course. Commonly accepted dress code for males is a collared shirt/t-shirt with shorts/pants. Jeans, work-out wear is not acceptable. Women are permitted to wear long trousers, capris, dress shorts, and golf skirts/shorts.
   Golf shoes help stabilize a player’s swing, allow for traction when walking, and provide comfort during a round that can last several hours. Most of these shoes include soft spikes on the soles. Sneakers and running shoes are sometimes allowed on golf courses, but not always. Sandals, street shoes and boots are not permitted on most courses. A beginner need not spend on clothes and shoes ; you can use your existing collared t-shirt, trouser and a comfortable pair of sports shoes.

 

Initiated to Golf

 Disclaimer (I know disclaimer is generally provided at the end but in case you decide to read ahead you will realise this needed to be here):  All my writings over the past 10 years have been completely formal starting from reports in MBA class to corporate emails.  So excuse me in case this blog entry also feels very formal; I am sure it will get better as I start writing more often.

It was way back in 2005, when I first saw somebody playing golf. I had to meet my mentor (a retd. Colonel and a very capable golfer) and he happened to be playing golf at the time that was convenient to me. So he invited me to walk the golf course along with him as he himself had been after my life to pick up the sport (which I thought was meant only for rich and old). True to my stubbornness, I made it a point to hate Golf as Colonel enjoyed his favourite sport.  And I didn’t return to a golf course for next 9 years.

 It was in late 2012; when a compulsory health test (sponsored by the employer to understand the real benefits of banking) threw some numbers in my face which were too hard to ignore. Lady of the house then ensured I went on a strict diet and fitness regime to shed the extra kilos.  Being a foodie, diet was anyway difficult to follow and I got bored of going to gym as well. Still, somehow I managed to get my weight down to a reasonable level and then started my quest to find a sport to keep my weight in check. Since, playing cricket (the only sport I managed to play once in a while) was difficult on a regular basis; it boiled down to Tennis and Golf. Went ahead and chose Golf as facilities were available nearby and a lot of offers on credit cards ensured I could get some training and games free of cost every month (shall cover these in a separate post later).

So, continuous push from Colonel (yes, he still kept pestering me all these years), a golf maniac colleague, pestering wife, good deals on credit cards and deteriorating health ensured that I was initiated into the mad world of golf. It was in March, 2014 that I first hired a coach and started learning golf but a freak knee injury in May ensured I was off the sport for next 2 months. Kept practicing in the range till Nov with some occasional rounds of golf in between. Finally by the end of Dec, 2014; I became a regular weekend golfer.