At Chandigarh Golf Club, it''s time to vote again : The Tribune India

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At Chandigarh Golf Club, it''s time to vote again

CHANDIGARH:Chandigarh Golf Club elections are on the anvil again, and it’s time to bid adieu to Birinder Singh Gill and his team.

At Chandigarh Golf Club,  it''s time to vote again

Chandigarh Golf Club president BS Gill (right) and Jesse Grewal. Tribune photo



Shona Manco
Chandigarh, April 22

Chandigarh Golf Club elections are on the anvil again, and it’s time to bid adieu to Birinder Singh Gill and his team. Popularly called Gilly, he has completed a record fifth term, dealing with issues with his infectious laugh and goodwill that goes way beyond club politics. His contagiously positive attitude has held him in good stead during his time at the helm.

Captain BS Mangat has been his aide de camp, dealing with members and staff alike, with maturity and dignity. He took on the task of revamping the club office, a much-needed project that leaves the staff better organised, which in turn will benefit the members and also increase the overall efficiency of operations.

Politics makes strange bedfellows, and club politics, even stranger! No one wants to annoy a "potential vote", and voter-seekers and voters are aware of this fact. Hence, in spite of numerous “yes sirs”, decisions have to be deliberated over with a lot of considerations in mind. The staff have an even tougher task. They are in control for a few months till the new committee firmly strengthens its stance and brings in various changes.

‘Bar and catering’ remains one of the toughest jobs to handle. Sanjit Singh Bala has struggled with glasses — they can get taller but definitely not shorter regardless of the fact that they could be wider and hold the same amount of precious liquid. However, the new bar that he designed in his previous term is a popular watering hole — the 19th hole remains greatly favoured by golfers and non-golfers alike.

Tournaments have been held with great vigour, with medal rounds taking up the weekends. Col AD Singh enticed every weekend golfer to join the fray, accommodating over 400 eager participants. In peak winter months this resulted in long rounds and slow pace of play but all was forgotten during the special celebrations and club nights planned by Dr Kochar and the club staff headed by Aman and Fateh Singh.

Col HS Chahal has put in two years of intensive work to streamline management processes, utilising his vast knowledge and experience. Amarinder Singh Aulakh and Sandy Lehal raised funds and brought in new members, always a tricky job. Future committees need more youngsters like them.

And the most important man on the course, the Captain, Kuldeep Singh Brar, brought a very hands-on approach to maintaining the course, which is currently playing very good fairways and greens. "After the previous course manager passed away suddenly, I started spending a lot of time in the workshop," he says. The result: workshops for the mechanics, refurbishment of existing machines, service and maintenance of working spaces.

All in all, it has been another good year, albeit not without its share of surprises. Sadly, it started with the demise of the course manager, Col. Paramjit Singh, just when he had the course firmly under his wing. Luckily, professional golfer Amritinder Singh stepped in to fill the void. Even though he did not have the experience of maintaining a golf course, it was hoped that years of having played the game on courses meeting international standards would have provided him the knowledge to do the job. A lot of professional golfers abroad who cannot make it fulltime on tour do take over pro shops and give lessons. But this sort of a move is rare, and it’s hoped that it would benefit Chandigarh Golf Club.

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