Teeing Off With Economic Times
ONE is the preferred sport of CEOs and the the other their preferred daily morning read.
By TNN |
MUMBAI: ONE is the preferred sport of CEOs and the the other their preferred daily morning read. So when ET decided to host a corporate golf event, it was like match made in heaven for India Inc’s CEOs. The Economic Times Leaders Challenge Golf Tournament, a five-city event, kicked off in Mumbai on Saturday in the verdant settings of The Bombay Presidency Golf Club. The star-studded line-up included names like N Vaghul, chairman, ICICI Bank, Narendra Ambwani, MD, Johnson & Johnson, Bharat Patel, chairman, P&G India, Micky Doshi, MD & country Head, Credit Suisse, Sanjeev Bhasin CEO, Rabo Bank to name but a few. Despite the fact that they had been up till the wee hours watching India’s World Cup hopes go up in flames, there was no way they were missing out on this august event. The whole-hearted participation was indicative of the platform, the brand image and, of course, the passion for the game. In some ways, it was the perfect way to shake off India’s exit and get on with life. While they took their golf seriously, the carnival atmosphere and camaraderie was there for all too see. Good-natured ribbing, applauding a good shot, making new friends and off course, golfing partners planning their next golf vacations, all formed part of the event.
With over 70 corporate heads participating in the golf event, played on a 3/4th Staleford format, the proceedings began with Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif inaugrating the event, providing the necessary glamour quotient. Right from the start, the competitive spirit was evident.
“It’s a game where only you are responsible for your own performance. If the ball goes behind the bushes, you can’t blame anyone,” quipped Ambwani of J&J as he, along with his mates, Mahendra Doshi, MD, LKP Securities, SM Trehan, MD, Crompton Greaves and KC Mehra, deputy chairman, Forbes Gokak moved towards the first hole. And the discussion this time was the Indian cricket team’s dismal performance. “Pathetic, they should do away with the star culture in the team. Change the team, get fresh legs,” said Mr Doshi of LKP Securities. With each of them having played golf for many years, it was intense concentration as they neared the first hole. With some recommendations and advice from their respective caddies, the players played their shots. After the first hole, it was time to tally their respective scores. That done, it was time to move to the next hole.
The harsh summer was no dampener as each one of the participants played the full 18 holes. While most of the golfers have been playing the game for years, there were some new converts as well. Vaghul of ICICI Bank was one of them. Having taken up golf about a year and half back, Vaghul admitted the game was addictive. The intiation happened because of his friend, an avid golfer with whom he had spent 10 days at Melbourne. “We visited all the golf courses and he would talk of nothing but golf. Today, even if I want to leave golf, golf won’t leave me,” he said. Commenting on the game, Vagul said that it was catching up in India. “There is direct correlation between economic growth and golf. It happened in China, Japan and now it’s happening in India, explained Vagul. For some like RS Krishnan, VP, ICICI Securities, the event enabled him to make new friends and know about new sectors.
Krishnan, who teamed with Kunal Dasgupta, CEO, SET and Sunil Khanna, MD, Calibre Soft Tech said that conversation with media professionals like Dasgupta made him realise the enormous risks in the media sector. “It also helps you make friends and network with different people,” said Krishnan, who, before taking to golf, was an avid tennis player, but a back injury forced him to take up golf.
The event also saw regular golf partners meet and play together. Harsh Mariwala, MD, Marico Industries, who regularly plays golf every weekend teamed up with his partners Pradeep Shah, MD, Manugraph India, Ashok Patel, MD, GMM Pfaudler Ltd, Manu Mahtani, MD, CastleRock Fisheries. “We take regular management lessons from Mariwala when we play golf,” quipped Patel. He said such is the obsession with the game of golf that one good shot and they will end up talking about it the entire evening and all night.
After a good game of golf, it was time for the corporates to unwind. With a sauna and foot massage available, the players queued up for the massage, talking about the game and exchanging scores. And at the award ceremony, the bonhomie and spirit was evident, as each one cheered the winners. The prizes were given away jointly by Rajan Mudaliar, MD, Color Plus and Bhaskar Das, executive president, The Times Group.
Vijay Chauhan and BP Goel triumphed in the team tallying 66 stableford points to edge out the team of Carl Saldhana and Murad Palib who tallied 64 points. The team of Teji Sabharwal and RS Krishnan finished third. The tournament now moves to Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Chennai, before culminating in a grand finale. This event was brought to you by The Economic Times while the presenting sponsor is Color Plus, and the associate sponsor is Emaar MGF. The Co-sponsors are Mitsubishi Motors, UB Group, Srixon, Art d Inox, Kingfisher Airlines and Black Dog. The event is managed by Tiger Sports Marketing.
With over 70 corporate heads participating in the golf event, played on a 3/4th Staleford format, the proceedings began with Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif inaugrating the event, providing the necessary glamour quotient. Right from the start, the competitive spirit was evident.
“It’s a game where only you are responsible for your own performance. If the ball goes behind the bushes, you can’t blame anyone,” quipped Ambwani of J&J as he, along with his mates, Mahendra Doshi, MD, LKP Securities, SM Trehan, MD, Crompton Greaves and KC Mehra, deputy chairman, Forbes Gokak moved towards the first hole. And the discussion this time was the Indian cricket team’s dismal performance. “Pathetic, they should do away with the star culture in the team. Change the team, get fresh legs,” said Mr Doshi of LKP Securities. With each of them having played golf for many years, it was intense concentration as they neared the first hole. With some recommendations and advice from their respective caddies, the players played their shots. After the first hole, it was time to tally their respective scores. That done, it was time to move to the next hole.
The harsh summer was no dampener as each one of the participants played the full 18 holes. While most of the golfers have been playing the game for years, there were some new converts as well. Vaghul of ICICI Bank was one of them. Having taken up golf about a year and half back, Vaghul admitted the game was addictive. The intiation happened because of his friend, an avid golfer with whom he had spent 10 days at Melbourne. “We visited all the golf courses and he would talk of nothing but golf. Today, even if I want to leave golf, golf won’t leave me,” he said. Commenting on the game, Vagul said that it was catching up in India. “There is direct correlation between economic growth and golf. It happened in China, Japan and now it’s happening in India, explained Vagul. For some like RS Krishnan, VP, ICICI Securities, the event enabled him to make new friends and know about new sectors.
Krishnan, who teamed with Kunal Dasgupta, CEO, SET and Sunil Khanna, MD, Calibre Soft Tech said that conversation with media professionals like Dasgupta made him realise the enormous risks in the media sector. “It also helps you make friends and network with different people,” said Krishnan, who, before taking to golf, was an avid tennis player, but a back injury forced him to take up golf.
The event also saw regular golf partners meet and play together. Harsh Mariwala, MD, Marico Industries, who regularly plays golf every weekend teamed up with his partners Pradeep Shah, MD, Manugraph India, Ashok Patel, MD, GMM Pfaudler Ltd, Manu Mahtani, MD, CastleRock Fisheries. “We take regular management lessons from Mariwala when we play golf,” quipped Patel. He said such is the obsession with the game of golf that one good shot and they will end up talking about it the entire evening and all night.
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After a good game of golf, it was time for the corporates to unwind. With a sauna and foot massage available, the players queued up for the massage, talking about the game and exchanging scores. And at the award ceremony, the bonhomie and spirit was evident, as each one cheered the winners. The prizes were given away jointly by Rajan Mudaliar, MD, Color Plus and Bhaskar Das, executive president, The Times Group.
Vijay Chauhan and BP Goel triumphed in the team tallying 66 stableford points to edge out the team of Carl Saldhana and Murad Palib who tallied 64 points. The team of Teji Sabharwal and RS Krishnan finished third. The tournament now moves to Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Chennai, before culminating in a grand finale. This event was brought to you by The Economic Times while the presenting sponsor is Color Plus, and the associate sponsor is Emaar MGF. The Co-sponsors are Mitsubishi Motors, UB Group, Srixon, Art d Inox, Kingfisher Airlines and Black Dog. The event is managed by Tiger Sports Marketing.
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