By Colonel Achal Sridharan (Golf Lover)
“Something wicked this way comes” – Macbeth
God has given us life for one innings. Second innings in life comes after retirement! How you play the second innings is different for each human. Retirement is not 60 years in age but is individualistic. Generally, when someone stops working, he is supposed to have begun his second innings. Women never retire. That is why you are not supposed to ask a lady about her age! Test cricket has two innings. Games like football, hockey, volleyball, basketball etc have two halves. Tennis and Badminton have number of sets made up of games. Golf has only one innings of 9 or 18 holes.
Golf is a popular sport among the officers in all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces—Army, Navy, and Air Force. However, the Indian Army is often associated with a higher participation in golf. This is partly because the Army has a larger number of officers and access to numerous golf courses across the country, many of which are located in cantonment areas. Golf is seen as a way to foster camaraderie, discipline, and relaxation among armed forces officers. That said, officers from the Navy and Air Force also actively participate in golf, and the sport is encouraged across all services. There are also demands to open the armed forces Golf Courses to civilians.
My second innings began when I was 46years old and, I shed my army uniform and hung my boots. Because of my family commitments, I had to work after “retirement” and could not go to Golf Course and play a round of golf of 9 or 18 holes. God had destined that I work after retiring from the Indian Army. May be because of that, I never learnt to play Golf. I watch golf on the TV, since this is the only game, where you play with your ball and not touch your opponent’s ball!
Army officers learn to play golf since most of the cantonments or the “peace” stations have golf courses. While I do not have statistics, some of the forward areas have golf courses or at least a green for putting! The responsibility of maintaining the “greens” or “browns” of the golf courses in the cantonment was normally given to one of the battalion or regiments! In my days in the army (1965 to 95) if the commanding officer had to impress the Brigadier (his boss), he could do so by either playing golf and losing to the “Boss” or volunteer to maintain the Golf Course. In 1984, I was posted to a newly raised artillery regiment in Gwalior, after I completed the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) course at Wellington (not New Zealand but Coonnor, Nilgiris!). Wellington Gymkhana Club (WGC) has a fantastic Golf Course of 18 holes, where one could play cricket too. WGC golf course is also used as a helipad! If a chopper is landing or has landed, Golf and cricket came to a halt. During the DSSC course, I played cricket on the Golf Course. I had seen the Indian Cricket team practicing in WGC in 1984, when I did the DSSC course! Incidentally, WGC is the oldest club in India and started functioning in 1837. I am a member of WGC since 1992 when I was posted in the faculty of this prestigious institution. I paid Rs 600/- for life membership for my wife and me! I go to WGC to spend holidays, enjoy the facilities and take a nice walk on the Golf Course. Beautiful. Ironically WGC is also the acronym of World Golf Championship and World Gold Council!
Many times, those of us who played cricket in WGC, could hear some golfer shouting “ball,” and we used to cover our heads with our hands. Golf ball is hard and if it hits you, it can be very painful or even fatal. Many officers from Army, Navy and Airforce who were undergoing the DSSC course, learnt to play golf in WGC since the caddy and green fee were low. Besides, Golf is the only game where you challenge yourself. A Golfer was assessed by his golf handicap! If your handicap is high (24), you are not a good player. If your handicap was in single digit, you were a better Golfer. But lower handicap is also disadvantageous since your opponent(s) get more strokes for completing the 18 holes! A golfer’s handicap is measured and recorded by the Golf Club and the Golfer carries the card when he plays in a different Golf Course.
When I did my DSSC course in 1984, our second daughter was born in Military Hospital, Wellington. DSSC allots an apartment (mostly three bedrooms) to each of the student officer who are married. Bachelors lived in the Officers’ Mess. Every apartment was well furnished and we got a house help living in the servant’s quarters. Most of them had the name Mary. “Meri Mary bahut Achi Hai. Mera Mary bekhar!” These Marys were well trained and not only took care of the apartment but also cooked food. Some of the foreign student officers also employed a Butler (Not the Jeeves from PG Wodehouse novels). We did not have the luxury of parents or in-laws taking care of our child. They came for 10 days’ vacation to the Nilgiris and left for their homes. Our elder daughter was nearly 7 years, and I had to keep her amused as my wife with the help of Mary had to nurse the baby. Many evenings I took our elder daughter to the Golf Course, sat on a culvert and munched a sandwich. We ran and played on the green grass ensuring that we were not on the flightpath of any golf ball. Some of the golf beginners used to hit the ball towards North but it used to fly towards East!
After one such sandwich evening, I went to attend my classes the next day. It was a sand model discussion, where all student officers of that “Division” attended. It was conducted by the Senior Instructor, a Brigadier. He was an avid golfer but not such a good instructor. Perhaps Golf helped him to add more brass on his shoulder? His eyes fell on me and said, “some student officers do not play golf but come to the Golf course and munch sandwiches with their daughters!” My first black mark! And announced publicly, it meant how I can never impress this Brigadier unless I invested in a Golf set and started playing Golf! May be at my young age (29 years then) I resolved not to play golf but munch sandwich on every golf course!
When I was posted in Gwalior after my DSSC course, my Commanding officer asked me to take charge of the Station Golf Course since I had qualified in DSSC course! Running a Golf Course was not in our syllabus. I told my CO that I do not play golf. He said, “that is even better! Maybe you will become a golfer”. I could not argue with my CO and blamed my fate to manage the Golf Course in addition to my work in the Regiment as an officer qualified in Long Gunnery and the Staff College Course! These are career courses where I had to compete to get selected! And, considered a necessity to manage a golf club! The WGC Golf course was green with grass on the fairway and manicured grass on the Greens where you putt the ball into the hole. Gwalior Golf course was brown! No grass at all since Gwalior had extreme climate. We had to create the browns (greens in WGC) by mixing sand with used engine oil. The used engine oil came from the armour regiment and we had to keep the browns as smooth as the Greens.
Treatment of Senior Army Officers in an Army Golf Course
Golf has always been a sport that symbolizes camaraderie, discipline, and relaxation among the officers of the Indian Armed Forces. This is especially true when it comes to senior army officers, who receive a distinct level of respect and formality on the golf course. The arrival of a senior officer, such as a Brigadier or higher, at an army golf course is treated with great reverence. The officer is usually informed in advance about their arrival to ensure that all preparations are perfect. A team of officers, including the course manager and sometimes the commanding officer, would be on hand to greet them.
The experience for senior officers is enhanced by meticulous attention to detail. Nominated and well-trained caddies are assigned to assist the senior officer throughout their game. These caddies are selected for their experience and understanding of the game as well as their knowledge of the officer’s preferences and playing style. The golf course itself is maintained to ensure it is in pristine condition for the senior officer’s visit.
This includes ensuring the fairways are well-manicured and the greens (or browns) are smooth and ready for play. In some cases, the browns (which are greens in other golf courses) are created by mixing sand with used engine oil to achieve a smooth surface, as in the Gwalior Golf Course of which, I was privileged to manage. During the game, the senior officer is often accompanied by other officers who are considered proficient golfers. This not only ensures a competitive game but also reinforces the bond and camaraderie among the officers. Sometimes, the commanding officer and two other officers would join the senior officer, ensuring that the game is both enjoyable and a testament to their mutual respect.
During the game, liveried waiters follow the senior officer with water, Nimbu Paani or some other soft drink preferred by the senior officer. After the game, the officers will collect at the Golf Hut where coffee or tea, snacks or beer etc will be served and conversation may include how well the senior officer played, even if he were a lousy golfer! In Gwalior, before departing the senior officer would thank me for a wonderful round of golf and advise me that I start playing golf!
Golf, often considered a game of integrity and honour, is not immune to the occasional breach of sportsmanship. Cheating in golf, though frowned upon and is against the rules, can occur in various forms. These could be Mulligans, Improving Lies, Pencil Whipping, Foot Wedges, Miscounting strokes, conceding the Putt, moving the ball, using non-conforming equipment, false handicap claims etc. For details of these terms, please go to Chat GBT or Co Pilot!
Golf is also an addiction. I see golfers getting up early, drive to the golf course for the first T-off at say 6 AM. Some, especially those in their second innings play almost all days of the week or twice or thrice! Golf is also a good exercise. One has to cover lot of distance playing 18 holes.
Nowadays one can take a golf cart and do away with the caddie. Caddies are also your coach. He knows the course backwards and many caddies have become international players. Caddies also trade in golf balls, which go missing when you do not know where you hit the ball. Golf courses have vegetation, small pool of water, sand pits etc. and these are also to be navigated by your playing skill. The sand pits are called “bunkers” and there is a way of getting your ball out of the bunker. There are many Golf sticks in the golf bag which are used during the game. I never bothered to learn all these tiny details!
There are plenty of golf jokes – for seniors, of the day, for adults, funny jokes, for men, one liners etc. Golf can be for fun or serious as a professional game. It is one of the costliest games and prize money runs into millions of dollars. You need special golf attires, shoes, caps, golf bag with a number of sticks, golf balls to practice and play, caddy and green fee, club charges etc. Professional golfers make billions in their life time. Parents teach their young children to play golf in the hope that they would become champion professional player one day.
Have you heard of “hole in one?” Every hole in the Golf Course has number of strokes that you can take for putting the golf ball into that hole. For example, Hole no 8 may be three strokes from Hole No 7 and Hole no 9 may be 4 strokes from Hole No 8. It is when on a single stroke from one hole you putt the golf ball into the next hole, it is known as “hole in one” This does not happen regularly but only once in a blue moon! If you get “hole in one”, it is a day to rejoice and the expenses for celebrating that joy or ‘nirvana’ is yours!
I heard two golfers speaking in WGC, “you know that guy got eagle. I looked around and saw no eagle on his shoulder. Then I asked him what is eagle, they explained to me that some of the golf scores are based on birds, and also what the other golf terms for various scores were which I have reproduced below:,
| Term | Meaning | Example (Par 4) |
| Albatross / Double Eagle | 3 strokes under par | Score of 1 on a par 4 |
| Eagle | 2 strokes under par | Score of 2 on a par 4 |
| Birdie | 1 stroke under par | Score of 3 on a par 4 |
| Par | Even with the expected strokes | Score of 4 on a par 4 |
| Bogey | 1 stroke over par | Score of 5 on a par 4 |
| Double Bogey | 2 strokes over par | Score of 6 on a par 4 |
| Triple Bogey | 3 strokes over par | Score of 7 on a par 4 |
| Hole-in-One | Ball goes in the hole on the first shot | Score of 1 (any par) |
I am amazed that at the end of the day golf has two fascinating things about it. One is the handicap, higher the handicap, lousier the player. Second, all the scores are named after birds, eagle, albatross, etc. I do not know the reason for the same but chatgpt can help me. I will do that when I have some time!
If I am born again, I will join the army and you bet, I will be a Golfer! Cheers!
By
Colonel Achal Sridharan
Founder & Managing Director
CovaiCare Retirement Communities