There are few better ways of spending an idyllic afternoon than by swinging a golf club in the middle of pristine Nature. There are fewer things still that can top the satisfaction of giving back to society. With its annual Corporate Golf Challenge — slated for March 20 — Rotary Club of Madras will aim to fulfil on both counts. Now in its third year, the tournament will provide the corporate world with a dual platform.
Boardroom bullies will get to not only display their golfing prowess, but also realise their social responsibility as proceeds from the tournament will be diverted to the cause of the endangered tiger and to CREATE, a Rotarian charitable venture.
High standard
“We have organised this event for the last two years for getting corporates together to contribute to a worthy cause. But, essentially this is a golf event, and it will be conducted keeping the highest standards in mind,” said George Cherian, president, Rotary Club of Madras.
The one-day tournament will be conducted at the Madras Gymkhana Club, Golf Annexe, and performance will be judged on the basis of net scores on a full handicap. While teams will compete for the Jhaver Rolling Trophy, individual prizes too will be on offer. Additionally, at the completion of five years of the tournament, a permanent trophy will be awarded to the team with the best cumulative performance during that period.
“This was conceived to be both a competitive test of golfing skill and a fund raiser for activities supported by the Rotary Club of Madras,” said Ravi Katari, Rotary member and chairman of the organising committee.
Dual role
“Our event is open to all Chennai corporates, and will allow them to showcase their services and products, along with their sporting skill. The funds generated will be routed to charity, and, of course, the game in itself will be a major attraction,” he added.
Participation in the event witnessed an upswing in the last edition. A hundred and twenty golfers were pencilled in for the 2008 edition, 176 graced the fairways in 2009, and more are expected to turn out in 2010. Aside from the business link-ups and social service, the event promises to popularise the sport further.
A helping hand
“As a club we are trying to broad-base the game by taking it to more corporates,” said Ishwar Achanta, member-in-charge for Golf at the Madras Gymkhana Club. “We see this event as a platform to do that. Moreover, we support Rotary in its endeavour to generate funds for a worthy cause, which is why our course has been let out to them at a special rate.” As added incentive, the revelry will include a dance performance by the ‘Tiger troupe' from Orissa, and a short film on the endangered animal directed by Bittu Sahgal, editor, Sanctuary Asia magazine.
The title this year will be sponsored by Nippon Paint, whose representative Payal Chopra said her organisation would benefit dually from increased visibility and the goodwill garnered by associating itself with a laudable cause.
The event will be managed by Golf Solutions.
