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| A winning everywhere: Former Indian cricket
captain Kapil Dev displaying his driving skills at the Delhi
Golf Club |
In
1976, channel nine-owner Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket carried
a slogan-big boys play at night. In a somewhat forgettable flick,
Tin Cup, Kevin Costner honed Renee Russo's driving skills in a flood-lit
golfing range. But when cricketing ace Kapil Dev took out his driver
to belt the glowing golf ball down the Chinese lantern-lit 1st fairway
of the Delhi Golf Club on April 19, it was a whole new experience.
The Business Today-Hero Global Design Tee in the Dark was not just
any other golf tournament. Played over three days in Delhi, Bangalore
and Mumbai, it brought together the best of the corporate world
in an event that was visually as delightful and exciting as the
challenges of the game itself. Why else would Kapil jokingly ask
if he could take a mulligan before firing his drive down the fairway.
Pankaj Munjal, Managing Director, Hero Associates,
puts it best. ''It is an experience that is not only different but
also combines fun and skill at the same time. Glow Golf is already
firing ambitions and while it may not be the purists delight, it
will surely boost the cause of the game.'' Even as Pankaj was holding
forth Arun Kumar, President, Hughes Software Systems found his glowing
golf ball fly into the famous bushes of Delhi Golf Club. ''The glow
at least ensures I do not lose the ball,'' said a wry Kumar. Played
over a five-hole format the tournament had exciting prizes for the
winners courtesy Sri Lankan Tourism and Sri Lankan Airways. And,
if you missed the prize there was quality Ballantine to lubricate
your gullets after a round of golf in the dark!
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| Teeing away under the lights: Pawan Munjal,
MD, Hero Honda Motors |
DELHI: Kapil's Devils
Hold Forth
He did it at the 1983 World Cup, he does it
at the Business Today-Hero Global Design Tee in the Dark on April
19, at the Delhi Golf Club. Dressed in a Tiger Woodsian dark red
tee shirt set off by black trousers, Kapil Dev led his team comprising
Raj K. Sehgal, Raj Jain, and Rajeev Puri to the strokeplay trophy
with 83 points while the individual honour was bagged by Jayant
Dawar on a count back basis.
Winning is about competition and there was
plenty on show at the magically lit Delhi Golf Club fairways on
that rather balmy summer's evening. Pawan Munjal of Hero Honda Motors,
Ashish Bharatram, Head of Strategic Planning, SRF, Arun Kumar of
Hughes, Manoj Adlakha, VP (Consumer Cards), American Express, were
all there fighting for top honours. And, for all them it was an
experience to remember. ''It's great fun and in fact at times easier.
After all the fairways are so well lined with lights,'' said Ashish
Bhartram as he traded anecdotes of his game with Uday and Navina
Punj of Punj Llyod.
WINNING TEAM: Kapil Dev, Raj K. Sehgal
of Osram India, Raj Jain of Whirlpool India, and Rajeev Puri of
Delhi Golf Club
INDIVIDUAL WINNER: Jayant Dawar, invitee of Hero Global Design
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| Straight into the fairway: Rana Kapoor,
CEO, Rabo India |
MUMBAI: Nanda Leads
The Charge
For its last and final leg, the Business Today-Hero
Global Design's Tee in the Dark moved to the hallowed grounds of
the Willingdon Sports Club, Mumbai on May 3. The golf enthusiasts
responded with gusto and corporate leaders in Indian financial capital
turned out in strength to savour the fun of ''glo-golf''. Overheard
on the course was plenty of banter but the most common refrain was
''hey this is great'' and true to its style the city has given this
format of the game a clear thums up.
Mahindra and Mahindra's executive director
Arun Nanda led his team comprising Pradip Patel, MD, ABC Bearing,
S.S. Duggal, VP, Indian Golf Union, and Mahendra P. Singh, President
& CEO, Rama Corporation, to top honours. Arun Chaddha, nominee
of the Willingdon Sports Club cornered individual glory by walking
away with the best individual score prize.
WINNING TEAM: Pradip Patel of ABS Bearings,
Arun Nanda of Mahindra & Mahindra, S.S. Duggal of Indian Golf
Union, and Mahendra P. Singh of Rama Corp.
INDIVIDUAL WINNER: Arun Chaddha, Willingdon Sports Club nominee
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| That's a winner: Vijay Kirloskar, Chairman,
Kirloskar Industries |
BANGALORE: Kirloskar
Putts Ahead
Vijay Kirloskar, Chairman, Kirloskar Industries,
was the toast of the evening on April 26, at the Karnataka Golf
Association course. It was decidedly cooler than in Delhi the week
before and Kirlosakar and his team, comprising C.R. Jayaram, Alok
Gupta, and Vinod Hyagriv, as they took full advantage of the situation
ran away with the team strokeplay championship with 96 points. Prem
Bhatia won the individual prize yet again.
The Bangalore round was different in the sense
that it was played over six holes. The competition was tough as
leading lights Indian business proved that swinging was a serious
business whether it is in the glare of the sun or in the glow of
a lit golf course at night. Bob Hoekstra, CEO, Philips Software
Centre, K.K. Swamy of Toyota, T.T. Jagannathan, Chairman, TTK Group
and Charu Sharma of Ten Sports were among those trying to fly the
glow ball to the pin.
WINNING TEAM: R. Jayaram of Oracle Software,
Vijay Kirloskar of Kirloskar Group, Alok Gupta of McDowell &
Co., and Vinod Hayagriv of C. Krishna Shetty & Sons
INDIVIDUAL WINNER: Prem Bhatia of Sportsworld Media Group
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