Murali Kartik: Noida’s golf course is wonderful

Murali Kartik, known for bamboozling batsmen with his wily spin a few years ago, has moved to a different playing field now. He has become an avid golfer, and it was golf that brought him to Noida recently. He was invited by the Noida Police as a guest pleayer for the 20th All India Police Golf Tournament held in Greater Noida. The cricketer-turned-golfer spoke to us about his change of sport and why Noida is a frequent destination for him.Talking about shifting from cricket to golf, Kartik – who retired from cricket in 2014 – said that golf allows him to be active even after retirement. He said, “I’ve been playing golf for a while now. I’m a retired man and I don’t play cricket any longer. I really love golf and I’m passionate about it. This is one sport that has given me a new avenue.”This wasn’t Kartiks’s first golf round in Noida. Talking about the course, he said, “I’ve played in Noida before as well. The course here is wonderful. It’s a long driver’s delight, which just means that it allows you to free your arms and hit those booming drives. Anybody who drives long and plays big shots would love it. Also, it’s an open course nestled among these tall buildings which gives it a good contrast in terms of the view. It’s modern, yet traditional.”When asked if he had found time to go around the city, Kartik said, “I live in Gurgaon now, but it’s not like Noida is new to me. I come here every now and then, mostly for golf, but sometimes to meet friends or for shopping. It’s a good place for a day outing.” And while he is busy teeing off on the fairways, Kartik said that cricket is not even on his mind these days. Even the newer attractions, like pink ball cricket, can’t lure him back to the cricketing world. He said, “Honestly, I don’t think about it anymore. Golfing is what I do.”