Participants promise to return

CALCUTTA, JAN 23; The biggest accolade for the Wills Tolly Cup, that concluded at the Tollygunge Club today, came from KM Mammen. Playing ...

CALCUTTA, JAN 23; The biggest accolade for the Wills Tolly Cup, that concluded at the Tollygunge Club today, came from KM Mammen. Playing a few serious rounds of golf after many years, the gregarious MD of MRF Tyres quipped during the evening party: 8220;I never enjoyed myself as much as I did during the last three days. I seem to have rediscovered the pleasure of playing golf,8221; he said. 8220;I think I will build a golf course in Chennai and play more often!8221; he added with his trademark huge laughter.

Some like Mammen went back from Calcutta with their passion renewed. Some indulged in their favourite past time. Some soaked in the regal atmosphere of Tollygunge Club. One thing was common they went back happy.

On the final day, the business barons and the celebrities played a nine-hole scramble tournament, while the non-golfing members of the club got a taste of the intricacies of the game during a putting competition.

The Scramble was a fun round. National cricket selector Ashok Malhotra and his teamcomprising Eckhardt Walner, Ingrid Walner, Stephen Lindstrom, Arjuna Award winner Sita Rawlley and MR Dev took top honours with an amazing score of net 12-under par. In fact, they pipped the sentimental favourites YC Deveshwar8217;s team of HE Viren Shah, Governor of West Bengal, CR Green, Lt Gen HRS Kalkat, former cricketer Madan Lal and former Miss India Manpreet Brar, by one stroke.

BP Bajoria won the non-golfers event, needing just six putts for the five holes. That beat Alex Andre and RP Goenka8217;s efforts of seven putts by one stroke.

The star of the day was Kevin Compare. The trick shot artiste made golf look the easiest sport in the world. He hit drives off his shoes, off an American football, off a tee almost three feet tall and with clubs ranging from the stiffest of shafts to almost rubber-like flex.

The Tollygunge Club and Wills Sport, the main sponsors, have created something so unique that this year8217;s participants have given a verbal commitment to be back next year.

8212; Tiger SportsMarketing