Kashmir Floods wash off golf efforts

By Champika Nanda Sayal
Secretary General, WGAI who also hails from the state of Jammu and Kashmir

The success of 2013’s IGU National Initiative for Golf in Schools which was executed and subsidised by Women’s Golf Association of India, was a motivating factor to return to Srinagar the bustling capital of the valley.

The voice of a young female student who ran across to me has not stopped echoing in my ears – “Bahut Maaza ah Raha hai Maam”- translated said “we are having a lot of fun Maam’! An assurance to young stone pelters that they too would be included in the coaching camp in the coming days if they would stop pelting stones at the makeshift tent that was our shelter from wavering weather conditions that were being experienced in the first week of September.

Great optimistic thoughts were hovering in my mind on why these young stone pelters could not be taught golf even if they were not in schools. The little boys broke open the tin sheets which was the boundary of the club one afternoon. Suddenly there were 5 to 6 of these little chaps who I shouted at to come to my table and explain themselves. Promptly I made out in the broken local dialect- that they too wanted to learn like the others children. I asked the five of them to write their names on a sheet of paper which they did and gave them each a small tetra packet of juice to drink and asked them to return in a couple of days to start their lessons.

After logistical challenges had been overcome graciously by the club, the 20 day NIGS –WGAI Golf awareness program which started on 23rd of August, was in full swing for the 3rd and 4th grade children from 5 different schools at the renowned Kashmir Golf Club, which is the amongst the oldest clubs in the country and in Jammu & Kashmir.

The 70 exuberant children took each of their 10 day camp with great pride yearning to excel in the short time that they were being attended to by teaching staff of National Golf Academy of India. On Thursday 4th September around 8 30am, I wrote an email to the Hony Secretary of Kashmir Golf Club to have an indoor venue ready to start registrations for the 5th & 6th graders and that the first day would be an indoor class for the young student who had been making a great effort to attend their classes despite the rain.

Within a few minutes I received calls informing me that due to the rising flood waters the schools had been shut down. In less than 15 minutes after an email had gone to Kashmir Golf Club, the words of my forefathers resounded in my head- “September rains in the valley are not welcome! A click on my laptop to read two leading newspapers’ – which clearly spelt that the life line of the valley National Highway one had submerged under flood water the previous evening. The road had been shut for vehicular movement. I envisaged a catastrophe as I was guided by common sense having listened to old stories of my forefathers who were eminent Engineers in the state.

An abrupt decision to postpone the second part of the golf awareness camp and a forced decision to the coaching staff who were from Hyderabad , Mumbai and Delhi to come to the airport immediately turned out to be the most sensible decision.

The worst floods in the history of Jammu& Kashmir came within 36 hours-“To the young children in Jammu & Kashmir-“The best in the world are made from the most adverse conditions that they endure” – this applies to the game of golf as well.

We shall be back soon to ensure that in time -several champions are nurtured amongst you.