Golf has helped shape my personality, says Akul Balaji

Television anchor and actor

Akul Balaji

is elated. He recently got to play a round of

golf

at a PGA tournament course for the first time. He was in Malaysia when he was invited by fellow golfers to join them for a game. “I got to play at the champion course at Tournament Player Club, Kuala Lampur. It was a special moment for me because this course has seen the likes of Tiger Woods play there and I got to be on the same field,” says Akul.


A little known fact is that Akul was inspired to take up golf by the late Kannada matinee idol and politician Ambareesh. “I used to be impressed by how coolly Ambareesh sir would carry himself at and after his sessions of golf. I have represented India for nationals in

racquetball

, and I felt I should give golf a shot too. I started learning and fell in love with the game,” says Akul, who has also played in Bengaluru alongside the likes of Kapil Dev, Murali Karthik, Venkatapathy Raju, Shaun Pollock and Mahela Jayawardene.



“I liked the sport so much that I began competing too and now have a few trophies thanks to the game. The best thing about golfing is that it is a game where you compete with yourself mainly. Playing has helped shape my personality too,” he concludes.