Post vaccine roll out, golf picking up in Pink City

JAIPUR: Golf is making a big-time return in Pink City with relaxations from both the central and state governments following the effective Covid-19 vaccination drive.
Rajasthan vaccinated 7.97 lakh people, including health workers, out of the total target of 9,42,628. The Rambagh Golf Club witnessed 100 golfers, including 50 from Delhi, participating under various handicap categories in the Jaipur Golf Classic on Saturday.Arjun Kuchal emerged the winner in the 0-14 handicap category with Kamran Shamsi finishing runner-up.
Dr HS Bhasin won the 15-18 class with Manish Kumawat ending second. In 19-20 handicap section, Pawandeep Kohli was adjudged the winner with Rambagh Golf Club captain Dr. Ashok Gupta coming second. Sanjay Singh Shekhawat won the Longest Drive contest, Suresh Singh clinched Nearest to Pin and Hem Singh Khangarot pocketed the Straight Drive title. Businessman Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and husband of Priyanka Gandhi, played golf and was also the chief guest of the occasion.
Talking about how the sport was picking up around the country, 1982 Asian Games gold medallist in golf — Rishi Narain — also the organiser of the Jaipur Golf Classic said: “Ever since people were allowed to play golf, the golf courses have become busier than they ever were. As golf is a sport played in such a large open space, say a minimum 90 to 100 acres, that you can keep your social distance, do some exercises and breathe in fresh air with green grass all around you. So, people feel pretty safe playing golf. With work-from-home module, lesser amount of travel, no overseas holidays, cinema halls being shut, no big parties, people now have more time at leisure which they can invest in playing golf. Globally as well as in India, golf equipment sales have skyrocketed. But top corporates are still conservative about spending on golf as the high net worth individuals have ”
With new strands of Coronavirus wreaking havoc around the world, when does one foresee people travelling for golf? “Six months down the line may be as you have to be A) vaccinated and there needs to be a B) drop in infection rates. Both the Hero Indian Open and the Hero Women’s Indian Open has been scheduled in October this year as the organisers don’t want to postpone it again,” said Narain, the director of Golf Industry Association (GIA).
“It’s good that the domestic pro golf has picked up and the amateur and the junior circuits have started. Corporate golf has also started, of course, not to the previous levels but slowly it's picking up. The participation and enthusiasm is highest than ever as you have less opportunities to play. We had a fabulous response in today’s event. We have a jam packed schedule of corporate events lined up — in two weeks we are in Chandigarh, in a week later in Bengaluru, week after that in Pune, a week later at Delhi Golf Club and next week at DLF GCC in Gurugram,” Narain added.