Hardit Singh Malik

e monthly Gazette

October 2017 NOIDA GOLF COURSE

WITH COMPLIMENTS FROM STUDIO

PASSION • CREATIVITY • COMMUNICATION

91 964345 0135 91 88266 85211 Editorial

COMMODORE VK THAKUR VSM RETD EDITOR

Indian Golf circuits descended on NGC come Members at NGC, never the ones to be left behind, September, making it an exhilarating start to golfing proudly showcase the ‘Swachh’ NGC course. Kudos to season at NGC, spilling over into October. NGC hosted members for putting in personal efforts to ensure that golf tournaments with aplomb. IGU, PGTI and one Club trash, if any, spotted on the course gets quickly Tournament were hosted at NGC this month. deposited in the Trash Cans. Caddies deserve a special Icing on the cake was a scintillating performance mention for a silent though instrumental part in by Amardeep Malik, a young pro, who took home sustaining clean environment efforts of the course. Our PGTI’s ONGC Masters with an amazing 12 under 248 sincere thanks and compliments to all golfers for their on Saturday 7th October 2017 . Teaming up in the four valuable efforts and contribution in enabling keeping ball with Amardeep, yours truly witnessed some the Course clean. amazing golfing strategy and skill on display. Mark my When early mornings nip in the air is back, words, this amazing young pro has arrived and will be a numbing of earlobes and nose tips can’t be far behind. force to reckon in pro circuits in near future. It gives me The Diwali Cup 2017 is up for grabs again. Practice pleasure to share that a player of his skill and promise range is on wait list jam. To be played over three days acknowledging NGC as the most challenging of on 13th, 14th and 15th October the Cup promises to courses that he had played. provide thorough enjoyment and mark the beginning of Thanks to members’ support to keep the course the celebrations for Diwali festival. The prize clean and lively, the maintenance and last but not the distribution will be conjoined with the Club ‘Diwali Nite’ least, the Greens Committee, NGC has come to on 18th October. occupy a pride of place in the country both for quality NGC has reached a status of state of the art golf of playing infrastructure and cleanliness. course and with the active and continued support of October offers a spurt in activity both in golfing members we are sure to carry it forward in a state and mission cleanliness. Both these in any case are sustained excellence. I am sure we will all continue to synonymous, both are ‘Godliness’ in own respective support the effort. ways. ‘Rastriya Swachhta Diwas’ celebrations I personally, with members of team edit and on coincided with the Birth anniversary of Mahatma behalf of Management Committee, wish all NGC Gandhi on 2nd October 2017, showcasing the members and their families and the entire Staff and achievements of an inspiring and motivational national their families a very Happy Diwali & a prosperous New endeavour. Year.

EDITORIAL TEAM Shri PS Sharda, Brig Suresh Bali (Retd) Shri Amit Dube and Col Tejindar Singh Members can now directly send their contributions in shape of articles (about 400 words), mini’s (50 words) are requested to send in their contributions, articles and write-up at: url to access email id: http://noidagolfcourse.com/webmail user id : [email protected] THE NEW PRESIDENT OF NOIDA GOLF COURSE

SHRI ALOK TANDON, IAS

Shri Alok Tandon has taken over as the new President of our Noida Golf Course. A UP cadre IAS officer of 1986 batch, Shri Alok Tandon , has been appointed as the new Chairman of Noida Authority and in this capacity he assumes the president ship of the Noida Golf Club. Shri Alok Tandon is B-Tech from IIT Kanpur, Gold Medalist and did his AIMA (Management) as an outstanding student. Later, he pursued his Post Graduation from Princeton University in Public Policy and PhD in Economics. Recently, he was Additional Secretary in the Govt. of UP and has also served in Govt. of India in various capacities and in key departments. He served in the Centre as Joint Secretary, Financial Services and Joint Secretary in the Department of Disinvestment (Ministry of Finance). He has also served as Director of Personnel & Public Grievances (Department of Personnel and training) . He was also the Chairman, Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam. In the State of UP he served as Deputy MD in Pickup and was CDO Aligarh As District Magistrate of Allahabad, he was responsible for the setting up of a temporary township on the dry bed of river Ganges in a record time of 4 months to accommodate over one million devotes. Shri Tandon has also served as District Magistrate Varanasi and several other Districts of UP. Shri Tandon is trained IAS in Infrastructure Development , Finance , IT & E-governance and currently he is holding the charge of CEO & Chairman of NOIDA and MD of Noida Metro Rail Corporation. Noida Golf Club welcomes Shri Alok Tandon as the President of the Club & looks forward to his continued direction and guidance to bring about a positive change in up gradation in the quality of services that NGC offers to its members. We, on our part reassure him of our dedication in realizing his vision.

VK Thakur, Commodore VSM (Retd) Editor G fingly - Your s sincerely

Opined Winston Churchill -- All the wars are lost and then, is that view of ourselves we like to dream of-- won in the playfields of Harrow and Eton. as having the perfect classic swing sending the Most of us who are in sports would be in agreement singing ball tearing through the air to land a hole with Churchill , familiar with the triumph of camaraderie -in-one, much to the amazement and applause and in the games courses, courts and in teams over that 'I-wish-I-had-done-that' emotions of the onlookers. palpable formality off the courses or games arenas Our worst maybe the outcome of a thumped shot and which underscores any collaboration or followed by an apologetic 'you know I had a late night agreement. and an inadequate sleep' with a sheepish grin. On a different plane, our best may also be the attainment The strength of soft power may not be tangible but of a good report card in toleration of the commands attention and importance. The opinion of idiosyncrasies of a fellow golfer and the worst maybe Robert Nye that the ability of a country ( read persons ) to allow that to ruin our own peace and game. That , to persuade others to do what they want without force certainly, is also a life's lesson. or coercion guides a valuable role in the ability to carry influence and increasingly become key to strategic A dichotomy that emerges in this sport is the associations; shared understandings and partnerships perpetually dissatisfied golfer who, after a frustrating get forged between historically unconnected parties round, forever feels he could have done better and and individuals with divergent political and social the day was bad but dutifully turns up on a next day systems. Interestingly also, it is the differences in to put himself to the test again and is fresh in the personalities or differing views that interest and attract hope to better himself. Interestingly, the test is and present alternative ways to tackle a situation or self-imposed. He is aware the war is not with the problem. Sameness or uniformity may offer a certain opponent or the weather or the ground or the stability of belongingness in a herd but the differences ball.....it is with the proverbial opponents 'I, myself present challenges and alternatives and progress. This and me' in all their privacy, fought on the private could be true for life situations or even for improving ground of his own mind, with known opponents who one's game of golf. may be voluntarily unforgiving. The more unforgiving, the better the chances of betterment-- a As a golfer I certainly consider golfing a tremendous self-correcting exercise. That in itself should qualify soft power and our NGC as a tremendous venue to golfing as a reformative experience and friendlier exercise our best and the worst - both of which may be societies, militating against the opinion of certain exhilarating or educative as the case may be. Our best,

vote-catching politicians wishing to convert golf-courses prostitute. Wanting to start off a relationship on a into gaushalas. Is it too Utopian to think we could have clean footing he wants to admit his weaknesses to social systems based on the same self-reformative her, " You must know I am a compulsive golfer" She /corrective principles for a more responsible, humane appreciates his frankness and in turn also admits, society. The growing popularity of the game is an "You must also know I am a hooker". He retorts encouraging justification of the point of view argued. dismissively, 'Oh, that's not a problem. We can work around and settle that". Call THAT one track thinking Moreover, does golf give us a sneak peek into the !! functioning of the human mind and provide for some humour at the expense of human nature? Sample this as What better than to be able to laugh at the fallacies an example when a golfer inquires of his mate, “Who is that of human nature and find comrades in fellow ...gentleman in the bunker and the scoundrel on the humans and not make those cause for dissent or green?" Ha Ha. So much for feelings of charitable bitterness? The course is a melting pot of diverse Sportsman's spirit pitted against our actual thoughts. persons, natures, situations, attitudes. Ultimately, our success might rest on something as Sample a bit of sarcasm in the answer to a question put to simple as the realization that for all our diversity, we a priest by a golfer, "You surely know all about God and are all intrinsically alike. heaven. Tell me if there are good golf courses in heaven". Priest, "Yes, Sure! You're scheduled to Tee off there the day Happy Golfing!!!!!! after tomorrow". Nayantara Prasad What of the golf-track minded crazy who falls in love with a GOLFER NGC Opined Winston Churchill -- All the wars are lost and then, is that view of ourselves we like to dream of-- won in the playfields of Harrow and Eton. as having the perfect classic swing sending the Most of us who are in sports would be in agreement singing ball tearing through the air to land a hole with Churchill , familiar with the triumph of camaraderie -in-one, much to the amazement and applause and in the games courses, courts and in teams over that 'I-wish-I-had-done-that' emotions of the onlookers. palpable formality off the courses or games arenas Our worst maybe the outcome of a thumped shot and which underscores any collaboration or followed by an apologetic 'you know I had a late night agreement. and an inadequate sleep' with a sheepish grin. On a different plane, our best may also be the attainment The strength of soft power may not be tangible but of a good report card in toleration of the commands attention and importance. The opinion of idiosyncrasies of a fellow golfer and the worst maybe Robert Nye that the ability of a country ( read persons ) to allow that to ruin our own peace and game. That , to persuade others to do what they want without force certainly, is also a life's lesson. or coercion guides a valuable role in the ability to carry influence and increasingly become key to strategic A dichotomy that emerges in this sport is the associations; shared understandings and partnerships perpetually dissatisfied golfer who, after a frustrating get forged between historically unconnected parties round, forever feels he could have done better and and individuals with divergent political and social the day was bad but dutifully turns up on a next day systems. Interestingly also, it is the differences in to put himself to the test again and is fresh in the personalities or differing views that interest and attract hope to better himself. Interestingly, the test is and present alternative ways to tackle a situation or self-imposed. He is aware the war is not with the problem. Sameness or uniformity may offer a certain opponent or the weather or the ground or the stability of belongingness in a herd but the differences ball.....it is with the proverbial opponents 'I, myself present challenges and alternatives and progress. This and me' in all their privacy, fought on the private could be true for life situations or even for improving ground of his own mind, with known opponents who one's game of golf. may be voluntarily unforgiving. The more unforgiving, the better the chances of betterment-- a As a golfer I certainly consider golfing a tremendous self-correcting exercise. That in itself should qualify soft power and our NGC as a tremendous venue to golfing as a reformative experience and friendlier exercise our best and the worst - both of which may be societies, militating against the opinion of certain exhilarating or educative as the case may be. Our best,

HARDIT SINGH MALIK Writing about golf legends is very difficult as these legends played in an era when golf was a white man’s sport, Membership to golf clubs was restricted, equipment was evolving and the sport itself was costly. (not that it is cheaper now). I get confused when I picked up pen to write about indian golf legends from the WW I up to 1960. From golf administrator like Dr Bharat Ram to players, my first choice fell on HS Malik. I tend to mix up the names of three legends in one family namely HS, IS and Ashok Malik, all great in their own right. Hardit’s younger brother ‘IS Malik’ was initiated into golf by his elder brother HS who presented him a Hardit Singh Malik was the eldest of the three golfers. HS was a versatile personality who picked up golf set and coaxed him to play in France while war was still on in 1918. His initial training was in south golf while was studying at Oxford during the first World War. He improved his golf reading a book by France where he achieved laurels on golf greens which his elder brother missed due to his duties as Harry Vardon and achieved scratch handicap. He joined French Red Cross in 1916 and later, became an administrator. In England he improved his golf and soon could compete in all white tournaments. a fighter pilot in the Royal AF in 1917. He was wounded on one of his missions over the German air In the 20s, In England one could pay green fee and compete while in India one could not play in all space. After the War he earned Golf Blue from Oxford, joined ICS and was posted to India in the mid white clubs.’ IS’ returned to India and won The North India Golf Championship in 1923 at Gulmarg, this 20s. He was awarded CIE and OBE by the king of UK in the 30s. was the second most prestigious tournament in India at that time. Incidentally ‘IS’ won same tourna- He could not enter the RCGC , then an all white club, and had to practice at the dusty Bengal Nagpur ment in 1963, forty years after he had won at Gulmarg. IS Malik became the first Indian to become Railway Club having browns instead of greens. Later he held several positions including Prime Minis- member of RCGC in 1946. ‘ÍS’ became a legend by winning most of the amateur tournaments in India ter of Patiala State (till 1947), High Commissioner to Canada and later Ambassador to France and after the WW II between 1945 and 1957 including all India Amateur in 1950, 55 and 56, at the age of 51 Indian Representative to UN. in independent India. His biggest achievement was he earned respect- years. He was member of the Indian Team that participated in World Team Championship (Eisenhow- ability for budding indian golfers in India and England. He won the prestigious Northern India Golf er Cup) in 1958 at St Andrew’s along with Ashok Malik, RK Pitamber and Billoo Sethi. Two years later Championship thrice in the 20s and 30s of the twentieth century. the same team represented India at the Eisenhower Cup in Merion, USA. Famous Sam Snead writes His autobiography, “A Little Work and A Little Play” was released how he played with ÍS’ and saw him score par round at DGC in the late 40s. after his death in1985. The two legends HS Malik and IS Malik made way for likes of Billoo Sethi, Lakshman Singh, Vikramjit Singh and Ashok Malik to fly the amateur flag at various championships in South and SE Asia in the late 60s and 70s.What Lala Amar Nath and Amar Singh were to Indian Cricket before WW II, Malik brothers were to Indian Golf ! Collated Courtesy: Tejinder Singh Writing about golf legends is very difficult as these legends played in an era when golf was a white man’s sport, Membership to golf clubs was restricted, equipment was evolving and the sport itself was costly. (not that it is cheaper now). I get confused when I picked up pen to write about indian golf legends from the WW I up to 1960. From golf administrator like Dr Bharat Ram to players, my first choice fell on HS Malik. I tend to mix up the names of three legends in one family namely HS, IS and Ashok Malik, all great in their own right. Hardit’s younger brother ‘IS Malik’ was initiated into golf by his elder brother HS who presented him a Hardit Singh Malik was the eldest of the three golfers. HS was a versatile personality who picked up golf set and coaxed him to play in France while war was still on in 1918. His initial training was in south golf while was studying at Oxford during the first World War. He improved his golf reading a book by France where he achieved laurels on golf greens which his elder brother missed due to his duties as Harry Vardon and achieved scratch handicap. He joined French Red Cross in 1916 and later, became an administrator. In England he improved his golf and soon could compete in all white tournaments. a fighter pilot in the Royal AF in 1917. He was wounded on one of his missions over the German air In the 20s, In England one could pay green fee and compete while in India one could not play in all space. After the War he earned Golf Blue from Oxford, joined ICS and was posted to India in the mid white clubs.’ IS’ returned to India and won The North India Golf Championship in 1923 at Gulmarg, this 20s. He was awarded CIE and OBE by the king of UK in the 30s. was the second most prestigious tournament in India at that time. Incidentally ‘IS’ won same tourna- He could not enter the RCGC , then an all white club, and had to practice at the dusty Bengal Nagpur ment in 1963, forty years after he had won at Gulmarg. IS Malik became the first Indian to become Railway Club having browns instead of greens. Later he held several positions including Prime Minis- member of RCGC in 1946. ‘ÍS’ became a legend by winning most of the amateur tournaments in India ter of Patiala State (till 1947), High Commissioner to Canada and later Ambassador to France and after the WW II between 1945 and 1957 including all India Amateur in 1950, 55 and 56, at the age of 51 Indian Representative to UN. in independent India. His biggest achievement was he earned respect- years. He was member of the Indian Team that participated in World Team Championship (Eisenhow- ability for budding indian golfers in India and England. He won the prestigious Northern India Golf er Cup) in 1958 at St Andrew’s along with Ashok Malik, RK Pitamber and Billoo Sethi. Two years later Championship thrice in the 20s and 30s of the twentieth century. the same team represented India at the Eisenhower Cup in Merion, USA. Famous Sam Snead writes His autobiography, “A Little Work and A Little Play” was released how he played with ÍS’ and saw him score par round at DGC in the late 40s. after his death in1985. The two legends HS Malik and IS Malik made way for likes of Billoo Sethi, Lakshman Singh, Vikramjit Singh and Ashok Malik to fly the amateur flag at various championships in South and SE Asia in the late 60s and 70s.What Lala Amar Nath and Amar Singh were to Indian Cricket before WW II, Malik brothers were to Indian Golf ! Collated Courtesy: Tejinder Singh FOUR ESSENTIALS OF PLAYING GOLF

1. Drive : Drive away from the trouble even if it means going to rough but try and remain in the fairway.

2. Iron Play : On Par 3s, pay more attention to yardage, wind and elevation change. Get the information and use it.

3. Chipping : Make it an arm and shoulder movement, take wrist out of the stroke. Fewer moving parts mean fewer mistakes.

4. Putting : The best putters are more concerned about distance than direction. Watch opponent’s ball roll and stop. “Go to school with opponents putt”. GOLF : A HEALING TOUCH

A two year old child was diagnosed Autism’. The parents were devastated. During his growing years, he was introduced to Golf by his parents. Slowly his limited concentration power started narrowing down to golf swing and shots. He liked the sport but had difficulty in concentrating and stop his eyes from wandering towards beautiful peacocks of Delhi Golf Club. In 2013, Ranveer returned from Macau with two gold medals while participating in the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Golf International. IGU took him under its wings and requested Mr Anitya Chand of DLF Golf Club to coach him. In 2015 while playing with his coach, Ranveer hit five pars in first nine holes and consistently drove more than 250 yards off the Tee. I spoke to his coach yesterday, he was proud that Ranveer today if fairly independent, is attending coaching twice a week, practices four days a week and plays a round of golf at DLF Golf Club twice a week, a decent 8 to 9 handicap. He is able to use mobile phone to fix his coaching schedule, call driver after practice and make purchases from pro shop. Yes, he can pay attention to only one thing at a time. The biggest thing that has happened to Ranveer is that he has found a reason to live a happy life, through Golf. All this has become possible due to the unstinted support of his entire family and psy-support of GOLF.

By : Tejinder Singh Member NGC FROM THE DESK OF CHAIRMAN CADDY WELFARE SUB COMMITTEE

Much attention was paid to Caddy Welfare per se in the preceding month. Some of these activities include : 1. A free Eye Check up Camp was organised for the caddies and the staff of NGC by I Care hospital on the 14th of August. 2. A pair of Golf shoes were distributed to all the caddies on the 15th of August. 3. We also have plans to issue the winter kitting up items to the caddies prior winter season. 4. Chhote Lal a caddy of our esteemed Club stood 2nd at the DLF Invitational Caddy Championship on the 10th of October. He won a motorbike and an LED TV for his efforts. 5. Chhote Lal has brought immense pride and credit to Noida Golf Club by his achievement in the Tournament at DLF. We all wish Chhote Lal our heartiest Felicitations on his performance and we wish him continued success in his future endeavors. 6. The Caddy Tournament is being held on Monday 23rd October where we expect a very large number of Caddies to participate. We also plan to make a cash award of Rs. 500/- to each Caddy.

By: Yogen Jethi. Chairman Caddy Welfare Sub Committee. ”Ready G f” A GUIDE TO IMPROVE YOUR GOLFING EXPERIENCE

To assist you in keeping up with the group in front of you, please follow the Ready Golf Rules outlined below. On The Tee 1. The player who is ready should hit. 2. Shorter hitters should hit first. 3. Tee-off as soon as the group ahead is clear. 4. Carry an extra ball in your pocket.

On The Fairway 5. Hit when ready & Safe. Do Not use honour stystem. 6. Take appropriate clubs to your ball and HIT WITHOUT DELAY. 7. Have your group watch where your shot goes. 8. Limit search for lost ball to 3 minutes.

On The Green 9. Place your clubs between green and next tee. 10. Study your putt while others are putting. 11. Continue putting until holed out. 12. If you are playing catch-up, leave the green immediately after holing out and proceed to the next tee. Complete your scorecard after you’re off the green.

On Par 3 Greens 13. Upon reaching the green, if the group in front of you is waiting to hit on the next tee, stand in a safe area and have the group behind your hit.

Short Cuts 14. Mark your score on the way to the next tee. 15. When driving a cart, drop your partner at his ball then continue to yours. Thank y May thou be moved not, golf celebrities often Seen hooking, slicing, throwing up worst golf swings, In contention meltdown, as you like it or not, Be it a legacy for a few privileged, At game, a game of golf, a game for life.

It is the day your mate seeks of doses, Your like of the song “Ring a Ring o’ Roses,” Thouarttoo stiff, loosen none for warm up poses, Till 7th of the 9th, hold your reins, bury all causes. Recall sooth shots from your treasuretote repose.

Let Awe, Aura and Aroma of the Game work its way, Recall to land you back amidst Teeand Green trays of fairways, That be the day you met a lady professional to say, Thy be hot with no friend at game, she took off for Layh.

Yet be not all bright at a game for life Be away on golf extended plight, To cleanse all in firms head to toe in sight, ”To be or not to be on the ball at strike.” At game, a game of golf, a game for life.

Break ninety be it maiden, hole a bunker shot, Chip into putt for birdie, no putt for putt, Where Eagles dare into Putt, Resizing buddy’s birdie to cut

Hole in one, chartered on the Board, Winnowing Wow! Be that shota super stroke, Seeking preferred lie, ball on even path divot though, Hitting trees, rebounding ball onto fairways scroll.

Oh! Fairy land of grass and green, florato fountain, louds of, “BALL, BALL”, Magic Mortals, Meandering in Meditation, Marvel to Mate, at Morning Medal call A fantasy game, called a game of golf, a game for life.

By: Commander Shyam Juneja (Retd.) Member NGC BALLADS AND BALLET CLASSIC SPLENDORS OF GOLF

Tee off at five to putt till eighty five, no bone split, Playing a game, game of golf, a game for life. Looking to join a four ball, finding a friend for life, Bonding all regardless of long spell withered unto exile.

All those who long to live alifeof whole, Cherish ballads of splendors at game of golf, a gamefor life, Stroking in two longest par five, a rare sightof seamless flight

Amidst Crisp dew, mist to fog, whispers of breeze On morning fairways to greens, birdie the first hole World seem so bright, be nospecter of Sunlight.

Age May tame thou shots, yetnone hitherto thither, All is on a straight flight of delight, glide to descend, Toroll over fairways path in a measure of meters to yards trend,

Topping drive to the opponents delight, To still win overhole, reading putting line tooright, Large an apparent hole to putting genius device.

All of four ball little weird and agebattled, None spared from a hip or a knee, typecopyright, Back pulled on a drive, toloss of limb to an eye, Ballon ballet in a close flight strike lie, Yet none be deterred, all at game of life, recounting, Secret of scoring win, “In hole be the third shot, on every hole”.

In a wildswing matednone other than your driver At my top on tee, neither foreplay skills, Nor exhibits at virgin dimplefrills, Butts resting so deep on tee, sliced your drive To the adjacent green, stimulating heart throbs, At following four ball team, Oh Almighty! Save fellow mates birdies and pars in sight. SNIPPETS/SOME FACTS: Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC) is the second oldest Golf Club, outside Scotland, in the world, St Andrew’s Golf Club being the oldest. The Club was commissioned in1829, is 7195 yards long, Par 72 with a rating of 73.6. Mr HS Malik was the first Indian to be given membership of the Club in 1946. The first Indian team that participated in World Amateur Championship (Eisenhower Trophy) in 1958, consisted of AS Malik, IS Malik, RK Pitamber and Billoo Sethi. Legendry Indian Golfer, IS Malik won his first North India Golf Championship at Gulmarg (only such tournament being organised then) in 1923 and last time he won it was exactly 40 years later, in 1963. First Indian to win Indian Amateur title was Mahinder Bal in 1949 at the age of 31 years, 60 years after the Tournament was started. He defeated famous DJ Payton by 8 & 7. Mahinder had played golf as a youngster in Kashmir, his home course being Gulmarg.

By: Tejinder Singh