Emotion ran high as people gathered at the Chandigarh Golf Association Range on Saturday afternoon paid tributes to Late Dronacharya awardee Desh Prem Azad,who had breathed his last on August 16 earlier this year. DP Azad,India's first cricket Dronacharya and founder president of the Chandigarh Golf Association & CGA Golf Range,was instrumental in setting up one of India's finest ranges. In his memory,the CSR Reddy President Chandigarh Golf Association and CGA Executive Committee paid a memorable tribute by holding an annual golf championship for mediapersons which was christened as the 1st Dronacharya DP Azad annual golf championship. On the occasion,Azads life-sized portrait was installed at the entrance gate of CGA Golf Range. Azad's two sons,Sanjeev Desh Prem Azad and Monish Desh Prem Azad along with their families,attended the function. Speaking on the occasion,CSR Reddy remembered DP Azad and praised his contribution towards the elevation of golf in the region. My association with DP Azad began in the late nineties when I was the SSP of Chandigarh. He was very keen on making and developing a world-class standard golf range. He was the key man in the layout of the CGA Golf Range. DP showed remarkable interest in providing a range to the golfers that included both beginners and seasoned professionals to brush up their skills. Many hindrances came in the way but his only aim was to have the best golf range in the country. I recall he called Kapil Dev one day and told him that he wants his company to install floodlights at the range. It is due to his efforts that we have such a well-equipped greens here. We salute him, said Reddy. DP Azad was elected president of the association in 1997. DP Azad was 75 when he died in Chandigarh. Most people knew Azad as a great cricket coach but he also contributed a lot to the game of golf. Azad was among the ten founding members of the CGA and played a pivotal role in developing CGA ranges as a great training field for golfers. It is also co-incidental that a lot of his cricket students are now golfers. Kapil Dev is amongst them. Results: Longest Drive: 1 Jaswant Singh (All India Radio,Chandigarh),2 Anup Kumar (Punjab Kesari Daily),3 Mukesh (Divya Himachal) Putting: 1 Naveen Garewal (The Tribune),2 Shalini Gupta ( The Indian Express),3 Mukesh (Divya Himachal). Bunker Play: 1 Anup Kumar (Punjab Kesari Daily), Naveen Garewal (The Tribune),3 Sanjay Pahwa (The Voice of Chandigarh) Chipping /Pitching: 1 Shalini Gupta (The Indian Express),2 Donald Bannerji (Daily Post),3 Sanjeev Pangotra (Amar Ujala). Hole in One: Winner: Naveen Garewal (The Tribune).
