July 1, 2014. India’s finest golfers are walking fearlessly where even our bravest soldiers crawl with trepidation. It is a brave new chapter in the story of this game, especially in the context of the many geopolitical underpinnings that dominate the conversation about Kashmir.
Around the calm undulating greens that straddle the gentle stream and the silken blue skies, the air must smell of poignancy. Serenaded by the lilting music of a flowing stream and refreshed by the aroma of verdant nature, our golfers will not lack for inspiration.
The PGTI is plunging into Kashmir with gay abandon, scripting a story that could tug at our strings for some time to come. The courses at Pahalgam this week and at Srinagar next week are beautiful enough to appease the Gods, let alone journeymen golfers.
But in embracing the pristine charm of Kashmir, golf is showing the kind of courage that sport or even politics has rarely experienced in recent memory. If the quality of golf in these coming two weeks can emulate this new found conviction, we could be in for a heavenly treat that is long remembered.
With the exception of a few men who are out challenging themselves in Europe and USA, the very best in India will partake in the action at Pahalgam and Srinagar. Much will be expected of Rashid Khan and Jyoti Randhawa as also the Lankan Mithun Perera.
The Lidder Valley Golf Course ebbs and flows through the natural contours of the valley. There will be a premium on fitness and stamina. The altitude will allow the ball some additional zip, but at 7250 feet above sea level, it will also take some getting used to for men more accustomed to the plains.
The snow clad peaks of the Himalayas offer a breathtaking canvas, for an inspired man who can dwell deep inside his soul to paint a picture worthy of the setting. With the course protected by sand, water and precarious edges – it will take controlled drivers, measured wedges and some calculated putting to stand out from the crowd and collect the trophy.
We will have to wait to see who might emerge with a beaming smile on Saturday, but golf in India can start celebrating its poignant journey to Pahalgam, long before the players begin scrubbing the course.
Reporting by Anand Datla
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