FEATURE

THE ONSLAUGHT OF
THE ARMY PLATOON!
By Saurya Singh

ndian sportsmen are doing well the world over and

golfers are no exception to that. Professional golf in India
is going through a purple patch at the moment: the sport
is enjoying center stage popularity along - side popular
games such as tennis, hockey and football.
Till recently golf was regarded as a bourgeois pastime- a
preserve of the wealthy; even today playing the game in
India is an expensive affair (a day of golf can set you back by two
thousand at even the most elemental golf course).The absence
of public courses has not helped either. The Indian Army has
played a pivotal role in promoting as well as making the game
accessible, a role that many are not aware of.

Army golf courses the country over have been the foundries of
Indias finest players to date; Jyoti Randhawa, Anirban Lahiri,
Digvijay Singh, Angad Cheema, Shubhankar Sharma, Amardip
Malik and Vikrant Chopra are some of the noteworthy players
who as the children of Army officers have picked up the game at
far-flung Army courses.
A way of life
Golf is steeped in the Army culture and is an intrinsic part of Army
life; children often accompany their fathers to the greens and in
the process learn to love this majestic game. Making a profession
out of the game was never an aim for most of the famed Army
boys, rather it was something that happened as they got more

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involved in the intricacies of competitive golf I was always keen on

joining the special forces as a youngster but, early success in golf
motivated me to take it up as a career says Vikrant Chopra. A late
starter Amardips story is all the more interesting as he picked up
the game aged sixteen at the Meerut Army Club , he too had his
sights set on the olive green fatigues but, golf had other plans for
him: he won a national Amateur tournament early in his career
and has not looked back since.
Amar, as well as Vikrant have been consistent performers on
the PGTI and have notched up many noteworthy performances.
Vikrant is a multiple winner of the lucrative Louis Phillippe Cup
and Amardip has notched up eight runners up finishes as well as
a victory last year.
Strong foundations
Army golf courses tend to be rugged in nature and the turf is not as
consistent as championship courses, as a result players are forced
to produce accurate iron shots in order to make birdies. Most Army
courses are designed around the existing lay of the land and hence
are lined with natural vegetation and trees. The challenging layout
of most Amy courses ensures that errant shots are punished; no
wonder that most players emerging from here are exceptional ball
strikers.
Jyoti Randhawa is famed for his laser guided iron play; his
sniperesque precision and his swashbuckling style of play have
cemented his place as one of the all-time greats from Asia.
Jyoti might well be the star of the lot but, there have been many
other seasoned professionals who are yet to achieve the same
level of success, but are exceptional talents in their own rights.
Vikrant Chopra is one such player; a sublime striker he has been
a regular feature on the leaderboards in India, and on his day can
be menacing with the irons, often making six to eight birdies in a
round. A balky putter has proved to an impediment for him on the
Asian Tour where ones putting must complement the long game.

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Late Bloomers
They say Golf mimics life, in that it has its own share of surprises,
and rarely does one have a smooth ride to the top.
An Army upbringing equips a person to face adversity and adapt
to uncertainty, from a very young age children of Armymen have
to adapt to a peripatetic life which takes them from one city to
another, seldom spending more than a couple years in one place.
Army officers are mostly posted away in field or forward areas
and their children learn to shoulder responsibilities, as well as
face uncertainties from a young age, this serves them well in their
adult life. Amardip is one such army kid who has grappled with
uncertainty and come out unscathed; middle of last year he was
diagnosed with a career threatening shoulder injury and many
doctors had advised him to give up golf, but he decided to follow
his heart and discarded the advice of the doctors, made a successful
comeback and went on to win the PGTI masters in Noida just six
months after being injured. Amardips resilience is inspirational
and he credits his military upbringing for his success.
Looking Ahead!
The signs for Army brats are ominous, and it would be apt to
mention those who will carry on the legacy; Angad Cheema and
Shubhankar Sharma , two of the brightest young stars in India and
arguably the future of Indian Golf. Angad started his golf in Army
Club Chandimandir whereas Shubhankar plays at the DLF Golf and
Country Club, which incidentally is his sponsor as well.
Like most other alumnis of the Army courses both of them are
excellent iron players ,and it is only a matter of time before one of
them wins on the Asian Tour.
It is heartening to see the sheer number of Army kids who
are able to chase their dreams and do well on the international
arenas. One would hope to see this trend continue, I for one
am very excited at the future prospects of the Army Brigade, pun
intended!