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I recall writing about this incident once earlier , but in a different context . I am relating this incident again to correlate with our topic on caddies . After winning the inaugural Sher-e-Kashmir Open at the beautiful Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar , Mukesh Kumar had to take a short walk to the scorer ’ s desk to submit his score card . While walking towards the desk , he did something which is embedded in my memory for the respect and honour which the act conveyed . While walking towards the desk , he broke stride , turned to his right , walked upto Rohtas Singh who was lounging against a fence watching the proceedings , touched his feet with reverence , and then walked over to the scorer ’ s desk . While interviewing
him later for the golf show we used to air on a Television Channel , I inquired about that moment to which Mukesh replied “ main ek achaa player to tha , lekin jeetna mujhe Rohtasji ne sikhaya ” ( I was a good player but Rohtasji taught me how to win ).
It took me back to my days as a junior and made me appreciate that it was while competing with players like Manohar Dike , G Mandholkar and Prakash Kubde that I really sharpened up as a player . It was advice that I had received from my father and fortunately I had also realized the value of it myself . I sought games with them and other competitors like them . They hated to lose and frankly could not afford to lose . Every shot mattered . And through their warmth , sharing of valuable insights and the intense competition which this attitude of “ I have to win ” evoked , they made me , and several others , better players . No different from what insights Rohtas had given to Mukesh in a similar manner . One thing these gentlemen had in common was , that they came up from the caddy ranks , a la the great Severiano Ballesteros , and had the same grit and determination , in the presence of which , I and several others
CADDIES
We owe them a Debt of Gratitude
by Digraj Singh
Golf Entrepreneur and consultant . Has coached and also presented on golf . Represented India in Amateur golf . Won the National Games and Sri Lanka National titles .
bene�ted and performed better .
It ’ s a real pity when I see , that without realizing the harm they are doing in the long term , some club committees , in their endeavor to deliver more value to their members , have cut down on the access and freedom which caddies had to play . And as a result have denied their own children and other member ’ s kids the opportunity of playing with such hungry and sporting golfers . Nipping this talent pipeline is also a disservice to the game which goes against the ethos of why the land was given by the Government , in some cases , to promote the sport . With such a mindset , how will the Ballesteroses of the world happen ? How will India produce another Rohtas Singh
As golfers , we owe a debt of gratitude to the caddies for the flavor they bring to our games and their support needs to be extended beyond the caddy fees paid at the end of the round .
or Shamim Khan ?
But good things are also happening . I was delighted to see the BPGC Committee led by Ashish Chemburkar and his Junior Committee members Uday “ Bunny ” Gandok , Parthive Sanghrajka and Kuldeep Sandhu address this anomaly and they have allowed caddies back on the course . I ’ m con�dent it will help BPGC produce top class players once again .
I remember an equally foresighted move when Aakash Ohri and DLF started hosting the �rst caddie ’ s tournament in Delhi . It ’ s no surprise that their caddies understand the game well and are in a position to help the members more . It ’ s also a fact that they have also produced a fair crop of talented players .
Clubs which take care of their caddies are actually doing more for their members in the long run . Caddies who understand golf well are assets for their members and especially when the clubs have foreign tourists visiting , they create a good impression about their home club and our country as well . Good caddies help the juniors with their games and also through the goodwill generated there are fewer cases of misappropriation or theft .
In the recent past , it ’ s been good to see the growing awareness within the clubs about what they need to do to look after their caddies . The Caddy Welfare Trust started in Delhi by some Delhi Golf Club members like Siddharth Shriram , R S Bedi , Gaby Juneja and several others is a great test case of what needs to be done and they are inspiring others across the country .
A few members of BPGC like Ajay Patel , R Ramakrishnan , Dinesh Lal , Stephen Ambrose , Capt A S Mann , Ashish Kacholia and Jayen Shah have put together some personal funds to conduct medical camps and offer other bene�ts to the caddies in Mumbai . Clubs like Noida Golf Club were amongst the earlier few to provide quality waiting rooms and toilets for the caddies . As these examples indicate , there is much that can be done , and needs to be done .
Moves like the one indicated above are thus both necessary and welcomed . There have been instances when caddies have caused some misguided trouble in leading clubs , but frankly , those instances are few and should not cause anyone to lose sight of the bigger picture . While many clubs have started doing their bit themselves or through their members and organizations mentioned above , I hope that through this article , they will be reminded to review and enhance their caddy policies , which should include what could be done for them post their retirement as well . In this manner , everyone bene�ts . And Indian Golf will bene�t .
46 G o l f P l u s MAY 2018