Golfers praise new-look BPGC

MUMBAI, Dec 16: A few minor changes in the Bombay Presidency Golf Club course is giving a major boost to the confidence of golfers who have...

MUMBAI, Dec 16: A few minor changes in the Bombay Presidency Golf Club course is giving a major boost to the confidence of golfers who have arrived here for the Rs 15-lakh Mahindra Invitational Golf Championship which begins on Thursday, December 18.

Some of the golfers who arrived early for this four-day championship, sponsored by Mahindra and Mahindra, were delighted at the new greens on the 11th and 14th holes. Over the past couple of years, soil erosion had led to a steep gradient on the two greens. As a result, shots reaching the green rolled off it most of the times.

The BPGC decided to lower the two greens this year so as to give a better gradient for the players, and those who practiced at the course on Tuesday, swear it will make a lot of difference.

Story continues below this ad

The best praise came from Rohtas Singh, seven time Classic Masters winner and a man with over 100 professional wins in his 26-year-long career. “All I can say is that the 11th green is playing just too good. It is now looking like a world-class green. Even the 14th is playing okay after being enlarged a bit.”

Players were also glowing in their praise for the fairways. The new cutting machine of the BPGC seems to have done the trick.

Omega APGA Tour regular Amandeep Singh Johl, who arrived on Sunday directly from Hong Kong, said after having a feel of the course: “The grass has been evenly cut and the balls are rolling consistently. The fairways are behaving the best in all my previous visits to Mumbai. Also, the course is looking a lot cleaner than last year.”

The players are confident that scores this year should be lower than what has been witnessed in the past.

Story continues below this ad

Prizes galore: In an effort to make the championship more competitive for the players and exciting for the fans, fabulous incentives have been offered to the players to push themselves to do better.

A perfect drive from the tee will earn the golfer a life-time of driving comfort as Mahindra and Mahindra have offered an air-conditioned Armada for the first hole-in-one of the championship. That would amount to more money than the winner’s cheque of Rs 2.49 lakh in this Rs 15-lakh event.

Apart from the Armada, a new course record during the four rounds will be worth Rs 1 lakh for the player. At present, the record of seven-under stands in the name of Daniel Chopra.

Further, if the player manages to break the 60-barrier on this par-70 course, he gains another whopping Rs 4 lakh in addition to the Rs 1 lakh for establishing a new course record. Also, the best sub-par score of the day will fetch the player Rs 25,000.