Indian Golf Talk

But unfortunately, what was talked about in hushed tones has now been confirmed. The annual, week-long rite of the 'national open' will now have to proceed to DLF in Gurgaon. It is rather unfortunate because the history-rich course at DGC was the first-ever venue for the tournament when it started in 1964. And from then on, the course had played host to it each time Delhi held the event, except in the 2000 and 2001 editions. It was the pretty, but unacceptably remote Classic Golf Resort that played host those two years.

For the DGC, which decks out in its best finery each year with an almost festive ambience for the Asian Tour tournament, this is the second bit of bad news this year. Earlier in the year, in readiness for the Indian Masters, an elaborate reseeding programme had been undertaken. Then came the news that the European Tour tournament was off for the season.

The Arnold Palmer-designed DLF Golf & Country Club did host to the star-studdded Johnnie Walker Classic last year. But even back then, with Jyoti Randhawa in contention, the crowd was considerably thin as the final-round Sunday clashed with Sachin Tendulkar putting on a spectacular show at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

We guess it will be a while before golf is for the fans in India. What count, for now, are the corporate marquees and elaborate setups for the beer-guzzling 36-handicappers who have no idea what to do with their hefty bank balances.

But addicts we are and addicts we will be and when the second Thursday of October comes our way, we will make the pilgrimage to the 46th edition of the Indian Open. After all, we did go to the SAIL Open, didn't we?