Arjun Atwal – learning and legacy

Arjun Atwal acknowledges his opportunities just as he makes an affirmation about his intentions to give back to the game and manage a business centered on golf.

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Arjun Atwal

 

August 21, 2014

Golfing Indian caught up with Arjun Atwal recently to speak with him about his game and life on the tour. The seasoned golfer had some valuable insights about his upbringing, development as a golfer and his vision for the future.

 

“My dad was an avid golfer,” informed Atwal, explaining that he started playing at the age of 14 under the influence of his father and his friends from the Tata group. “I got to know and observe some people with dynamic personalities such as Niharika Bhasin and others,” said Arjun, who emphasized how much he learnt from those formative years.

 

As a golfer who honed his skills from the eastern part of India, Arjun benefited immensely from the popularity of the game in and around Kolkata. Atwal agreed that a vast majority of that generation of golfers, especially the good ones, came through the city of joy.

 

Atwal recounted the names of some of those golfers who owed their development to the fact that Kolkata was the unheralded capital of Indian golf in those times. Golf has since spread its wings in India, with many other good golfers emerging from places such as Delhi, Chandigarh and Bengaluru.

 

Speaking about the role of technology and dangers of diluting the rustic lethargy of this game, Atwal spoke about the contrast in circumstances between now and then. He opined that golf could be in a better spot, if the game and players are able to work hard on the course and then take advantage of the presence of technology.

 

Atwal felt that the absence of technology and the lack of academies, meant that he had to work for longer hours. Today, the young golfers are at an advantage because they can use the technology at their disposal to understand their swing and correct mistakes at an early stage.

 

Atwal went on to elaborate on his plans to take up around golf – perhaps manage an academy and hunt for opportunities for golf course design. The Indian golfer does believe there is plenty he can offer the game in India in the years ahead.

 

Arjun would like to establish a business centred on golf, besides assisting young golfers through an academy even as he pursues golf course design to secure his legacy as one of our country’s foremost golfing professionals.

 

Feature by Anand Datla

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