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Urban Golf in India POYi third prize © Tomasz Lewandowski
© Agency Focus / Blackarchives

Golf can also be played by non-affluent people opines Ravi a Caddie turned Amateur golfer
By C.K.Muralidharan

Golf, the game which getting more popular in India in recent times has been thought by many to be only a rich mans game. This belief has been broken away by the caddies who have taken up to play regular golf in the Indian amateur and Professional circuit and have turned out to be successful.
On these lines, the Urban golfers in Mumbai who live in slums have brought a new dimension to the sport by enjoying and playing the game of golf in their own way with equipment made by themselves which are a golf stick alike, but made out of moulded iron rods. They practice by hitting plastic balls with self made irons and have taken up to playing competitive golf and some of them have gone on to fare well in the amateur level in the country.
One such caddie who has turned into a amateur golfer is Ravi. In order to get a personal view the writer spoke to Ravi, a caddie golfer who is playing in the amateur circuit and got his views on how he took up to this game and what are his ambitions as a golfer: Below is the interview:
1) How did you take up playing golf of all the games?
Ravi: Our family lives in the slums near the golf course in Mumbai. Many young boys in the slums go to the golf course and work as caddies to earn a living. I was initiated and introduced to the game by my neighbor who was a caddie at the golf club. Initially, I found it difficult to get to know the rules of the game and slowly after keenly following the golfers play, I found it very interesting and told myself that I should learn the game. Slowly during my spare time, with the help of my friend who taught me the grip and the swing, I started practicing with the self made iron rods and plastic balls.
2) How was the reaction from your family when you took up to the sport?
Ravi: The initial reaction from my family members was negative as they thought that golf is only played by rich and affluent people. Once I started playing regularly and started to win in the club tournaments conducted for caddies at the golf course, they supported me and encouraged me by not stopping me from practicing the game.
3) How did the club encourage you and where did you get the equipment from?
Ravi: We come from the low income group and are not in a position to buy regular golfing equipments. So, like all other caddie golfers I practiced with self made equipments and developed my skills. Seeing us play well the Caddie master Vipul Daredia encouraged us by giving regular equipments once in a week for all the caddie golfers with the permission of the club committee and we played a round of golf. This is how we developed and improved our game.
4) When did you start playing in tournaments?
Ravi: Over a period of time our game improved and I started playing with a handicap of 22 three years back and now I am playing with a handicap of 12. This happened due to more number of tournament play and I was given the permission to play in the club tournaments.
5) What are your ambitions as a golf player?
Ravi: I would like to play in the National amateur circuit and in the days to come become a professional golfer. I have seen some good Indian golfers in action like Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyothi Randhava and Gaganjeet Bhullar and would like to work hard in the days to come to make it a reality. My favorite player is Tiger Woods and when I get an opportunity at the club, I go and watch some videos of him in action.
6) Many people think that golf is a game only for the rich and normal person cannot afford to play it. Your reaction?
Ravi: Many people think that the game cannot be played by people who are not affluent. But its the negative. We caddies are more involved at the game and even guide the golfers on the conditions prevailing in the greens and the fairways and which iron to use. Many caddie turned golfers have become professional golfers in India like, Ashok Kumar, Mukesh Kumar and Ali Sher and have gone on to win tournaments and are among the top earners in the circuit. So, if we work hard and get the support from the club in which we work, then we can also dream of achieving our goal.
7) Where do you think that you need to improve in your game?
Ravi: Playing more number of tournaments along with regular golfers is a must. I need to improve on my drives. I am good on putting and chipping and presently I play with a handicap of 12 and in the days to come, I hope to qualify and play in the amateur circuit.

Tomasz Gudzowaty, Yours Gallery/Agentur Focus
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