It's time to overcome Elitism in Golf!

It is no secret that golf in India is considered an elitist sport. It is an expensive sport to play with equipment being almost prohibitively priced. In addition access to golfing facilities in most cities of India are restricted to only members of ‘Golf Clubs’ though pay and play facilities are available the fees are at times prohibitively high. 

Despite this golf in India has been witness to some incredible stories of transformation. Caddies (people who carry bags for players) have now gone on to become stars on the Indian Professional Golf circuit. Many of these caddies have no formal education and for a few caddying has saved them from getting into the wrong crowd and going down a dark path of self-destruction and abuse.

One such story is of Chikkarangappa of Bangalore. He is the son of a greens keeper at Eagleton in Bangalore and now plays professional golf on the Asian Tour. Another similar story is of Rashid Khan, currently one of India’s top professional golfers; previously he was employed at the Delhi Golf Club as caddie.  

However, recently a very unfortunate incident occurred where Rashid Khan was denied entry to the Delhi Golf Club (a club he’s grown up on) based on his past behavior and the fact that he is not a member of the club.

It is my belief that institutions like the Delhi Golf Club in Delhi, Karnataka Golf Association in Bangalore, Royal Calcutta Golf Club in Kolkatta, have a responsibility to the game and players that goes beyond what would otherwise be termed ‘acceptable’ for a club. These golf clubs are not just golfing clubs, they are pillars for the game in India, where the sport is already so fragile. In India they represent the elite of golf clubs and if these golf clubs do not champion the cause of underprivileged golfers who will?

When Caddy turned professional golfer, C. Munniappa won the Indian Open, the Karnataka Golf Association took the unprecedented step of awarding him honorary membership to the club. The same happened to Chikkarangappa at Eagleton. These individuals and their stories should be regaled for all to see, it is the story of transformation especially in a sport where we have few local superhero’s.  

It is not about the prize, but what counts far more is the example that a gesture like this sets. It signifies that we are ready to rise above petty squabbles and recognize true talent from anywhere it may come from. Unlike other countries, some sports in India are forced to beg for recognition, access even acceptability. When reactions like this are publicized, it makes you wonder how these sports can even develop? Let us celebrate our hero’s aka professionals. Lets give them the credit and respect they deserve. It is these individuals who are going to inspire future generations to take up the sport and they need to be nutured and protected. 

Tiger Mania –Back Again!

Much has already been written about the amazing comeback by Tiger Woods when he claimed his fifth green jacket at Augusta National. After the scandals of 2012 and the numerous surgery’s in the past 2 years, it was getting hard to imagine a day when Tiger would start, contend and win a major title in golf. But on Sunday at the Masters, all that changed; it was a day that will truly be remembered in sporting history.  

Tiger forever changed the sport of golf, a game he has dominated. He pushed the boundaries of physical fitness and raised the bar for manufactures, demanding perfection. And then there was the crowd… Wherever Tiger went they followed and in numbers; thus the phrase Tiger Effect was born. To this day the ‘Tiger Effect’ is used to gague the field of players assembled in a tournament whether they will be a good enough draw for spectators.

Tiger Woods helped create a new breed of young golfers (most whom are now contending on the PGA Tour) who are thriving in this new paradigm. Many of the old war-horses like Ian Poulter, Matt Kuchar and Phil Mickelson have altered their game in order to stay competitive and relevant.

It is safe to assume there is no one else in the game of golf anywhere in the world, who has this kind of effect on the game… is it a coincidence then that in the past 4 years professional golf has seen a decline in viewership especially in non major events. Is it also a coincidence that in the past four years golfing merchandise revenues have also declined at golf courses in the country and abroad and one of the biggest names in professional golfing equipment, Nike has withdrawn its golf club manufacturing line?

The past few years have been difficult for golf. Growth rates have been well below par in the west and in the developing world golf is still finding it difficult to shake off its elitist image. The numerous golf course closures in the US and other parts of the world have not helped either. Golf was looking for a miracle, something to kick-start the growth, something to get people back into the game. Once again, it appears to be Tiger Woods, who seems to have stepped up to the plate.

Consider for instance the aftermath of the Tigers win in Augusta; almost all Tiger Woods memorabilia and apparel was sold out online on Amazon, Taylormade reported an 20% increase in the orders for the same driver and clubs used by Tiger after the win, Bridgestone was sold out of its golf ball played by Tiger Woods. Nike and Acushnet (the holding company that owns the brands of titleist and footjoy) shares rose around 2% and continue to rise on the NASDAQ

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-14/tiger-s-masters-win-a-major-boost-for-the-brands-still-with-him

In the evolution of a sport, there comes a time when spectators need something more – almost magical – to rekindle that sense of wonder that brings us back to the field, to watch and experience it, for instance in football the legends just keep on coming with Ronaldo, Messi, Mo-Salah added to the list, in basket ball you have Steph Curry, Dirk, Lebron James, D-Wade, in American Football you have Tim Tebow, The Manning Brothers and Tom Brady, In tennis you have Roger Fedderer, Djokovic and Nadal who seem to be ageless.

When it comes to golf it needed a fairytale. Something to get the fangirl and boy in everyone excited again. Any sports business needs its fans whether it is to drive ticket sales or merchandise.

Even though has to its credit, some of the oldest and tournaments that are greatly contested, it still needs its larger than life figure, someone who can leave everyone astonished, that brings everyone to the edge of their seat.

What Tiger’s win means to the sport of golf, is far beyond a major title, it is a catalyst for growth. Already, the governing bodies of the sport took a major decision in 2019 to fundamentally alter some of the rules of golf in an effort to modernize the game. This was a forward thinking move to encourage beginners to play and learn the game.

In addition, sports need their icons, either playing or past. Unfortunately such is the game of golf that to really dominate this game requires a different class of mastery; in 2010 people realized that Tiger is human, by 2014 they realized that he might never swing a golf club ever again.

By April 2019 he has achieved the impossible. What makes this more special is the human element of the story.

Tigers roar, I am excited because the sport needed its hero back and to win, what will follow appears to be an exciting period for anyone in the golfing business, so…. What’s your Tiger Effect?

Changing the mindset of Golf

When the game of golf was first played, the courses were carved out of land that was naturally contoured and readily available. In its earliest form it was developed on grass lands in Scotland by local herders tending their livestock. In the centuries that followed, the sport transformed from a game played by common folk to a sport enjoyed by the elite of society, the once open pasture land becoming the private manicured golf courses of kings and nobleman.  In the context of today, the golf courses are managed and owned by committees and associations of which golfers are members of an ‘elite club’.  

The effect of these changes, has altered the nature of the game itself. Pasture land has been replaced by lush green grass carpets, holes are not arbitrarily scattered; they are carefully cut into the grass at ‘precise’ locations, the natural orientation of the land is altered with artificially created contours and gradients enhancing the aesthetics of the course.  Achieving this costs money and requires an immense effort to maintain and is a strain on the natural ecology of the surrounding regions. 

It is not uncommon for golf courses to be designed using grass that is not naturally occurring, nor flora that is native to the region. This results in golf courses not only becoming an artificial micro-environment, but also dependant on fertilizers and other growth stimulants for survival.

In fact on golf courses that are popular, there is a over dependency on these artificial growth stimulants to an extent that the very nature of the soil has changed and the ground is no longer arable for other uses.

It is sad that a sport, which was created to be very much, a part of nature has drifted so far away from its roots… But ALL is NOT Lost.

The aftermath of countless campaigning coupled with the jolt of golf development being banned across China, as spurred golf developers to become much more environmentally conscious.

Perhaps one of the biggest changes is the creation of the AUDOBON Society in America and the special rating given to golf course that follow sustainable methods of development and maintenance. The selection of Chambers Bay as a host sits for the 2015 US Open was another game changer, as these golf courses is recognized as one of the most environmentally sustainable in America.

In the past few years it is encouraging to note that both developers and golf courses designers are becoming more conscious to the local environment. In fact it is now not uncommon to find designers proposing to utilize such environmental zones as an integral part of the golf course. In most courses new ‘environmental buffer zones’ have been created to promote naturally occurring vegetation.

I have always believed that golf is one of the few sports that can truly be a blessing for any region, not just in its beauty, but also in its ability to protect and preserve local ecology; both flora and fauna. It is my belief that golf courses have a responsibility to the entire area it is developed in; not just to the few luck members. 

Modernising the Rules of Golf

2019 promises to be a big year for the sport of golf; not because Tiger Woods is on the comeback trail, but because the Rules of Golf are undergoing a fundamental change. It is an effort by the United States Golfing Association (USGA) and The Royal and Ancient (R&A), the twin Governing Bodies of golf, to modernize the rules; making it easier for beginners to understand and to speed up the pace of play. 

 This is a very bold step for a sport that is steeped in tradition and has hardly ever seen radical changes to the rules. The last major revision of the Rules of Golf was in 1984 when a 4-year cycle was introduced to update the rules of golf as well as the decisions to the rules of golf.

The modernizations to the rules of golf in 2019 continue in this cycle, but for the first time, the principles behind the changes is to make the rules of the game easier to understand and apply during casual rounds of golf.

Some highlights of the changes one can expect in 2019:

1)  The number of rules have reduced significantly from 34 to 24

2)  It is now easier for individuals to drop and replace a ball; a ball can be dropped from as little as 2 inches from the ground!

3)  In a non professional round of golf, if a ball is hit out of bounds or lost, you may drop a ball at the point where it crossed out of bounds or where it is lost rather than playing from the tee box again

You can now drop a ball from knee height not shoulder height

4)  You may now touch and move loose impediments in a bunker 

For a detailed list of the changes to the rules you may visit http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization/major-changes/major-changes.html

The rules of golf are not easy to master, but it is these nuanced rules and high standards that set golf apart from other sports. I believe, unlike the critics, that modernization of the rules was desperately required. Though the Decisions Book to the rules of golf provides some clarity, it is never practical for recreational golfers to carry the Decisions Book to each game. In addition, interpretations became subjective to the expertise of individuals. Not many golf courses have access to certified Rules Officials, leaving interpretations to enthusiastic members who may not even be qualified.

This modernization of the rules comes at the right time, when the sport needs to grow and attract more individuals to learn the game. One of the most common deterrents to people who wish to take up the game of golf, is the extensive rules. It is heartening to note that the governing bodies have taken cognizance of this and responded in a timely fashion and in a manner that keeps the game enjoyable while the spirit of the game remains intact.