Day One of liberation, says Jeev Milkha Singh

It’s been some time since Jeev Milkha Singh arrived at a golf course with bated anticipation. The earlier occasion was the ultimate day of the 2012 Scottish Open when he arrived on the Castle Stuart Golf Links in Inverness 5 pictures behind the lead. The thrill of catching up with Francesco Molinari and going previous in a playoff rivalled the “kid in the candy store” feeling on Wednesday when he left his sprawling Sector eight home in Chandigarh for the Chandigarh Golf Club (CGC).

“Emerging from lockdown and the golf course reopening after two months, it was as if I wanted to make the most of every moment,” stated Singh.

The four-time winner on the European Tour known as it “day One of liberation”.

“Getting back on the course which has made you has to be respected,” stated Singh.

He needed to undergo the protocols that replicate the brand new actuality—he wore a masks, his temperature was checked, and his golf cart was sanitized with bleach—earlier than Singh might enter the membership.

Unlike the Delhi Golf Club, which additionally reopened on Wednesday and has allowed caddies in protecting gear and a severely restricted function, the CGC has barred them until additional discover as fairly just a few of the caddies reside in containment zones. With no males on the bag, Singh and his three taking part in companions arrived at 10.45am and hit the vary 15 minutes later to strike balls after selecting bays that ensured social distancing. Tee-off was at 11.30am with the 4 taking turns to drive the cart, as per the brand new norm, and the remaining reaching the ball’s touchdown space on foot. Reaching out for the rake to smoothen the bunker can be a factor of the previous as a participant now has to manually degree the sand together with his shoe after finishing a bunker shot.

Amid common sanitisation of arms and golf equipment each few holes, Singh and his companions completed 9 holes a bit sooner than the conventional two-and-half hours as tee instances have been saved at a 15-minute hole.

A novelty on the greens had Singh gushing. With gamers forbidden to the touch the flag or put their arms into the cup to extricate the ball, the CGC has put in discs on the flag workers about three ft from the bottom. After ending a putt, all a participant must do is to elevate the disc with the putter to get the ball out.

Two-time European Tour winner Shubhankar Sharma additionally hit the course with taking part in companions Karandeep Kochhar and Rohan Kathuria.

“This is the longest I have been away from golf since I started playing. “I can’t explain the excitement we have for being together at the course after a long time. It was tough to stay away but now that we are back, it will help us get into the groove for tournaments,” stated Sharma. It was extra enjoyment than counting scores, however when Kochhar, a winner on the home tour, beat his fancied rival Sharma, there have been fist pumps adopted by digital excessive fives from the place they stood on the inexperienced.

Maintaining distance on the course was like “walking on egg shells” for Shiv Kapur, who teed off at DGC. “There is a fear of doing anything wrong,” he stated. Playing 9 holes on the Lodhi Course below related guidelines as those at CGC, Kapur felt the social angle, particularly throughout apply, had diminished. “Like it or not, it’s pretty much get on and off the course with people no more sitting around (over food and drinks) chatting before and after a round. There’s a sense of eeriness as if one is playing an altogether new sport.”

From an expert’s perspective, the modifications could turn out to be routine after some time however the function of caddies and taking part in with masks on could need to be reconsidered when aggressive golf resumes.

Singh was tempted to take away the masks, particularly throughout tee-off, because it hampered each his imaginative and prescient and his respiration. Kapur did take the masks off when he needed to play a shot as a result of the elastic bands harm his ears; he saved the masks on between pictures.

“I don’t see masks being put to use in tournaments at least while taking a shot. As for caddies, it will be interesting to see their role as we work as a team,” stated Kapur.

One common on the CGC was lacking. Singh’s father, the legendary sprinter Milkha Singh is 90, and in line with the brand new restrictions, solely gamers under the age of 65 are allowed on the course.

“Because of his age, he is little bit scared to come out in this scenario,” Singh stated. “I was also given instructions to remain safe, sanitize time to time and maintain social distancing, as I have old parents and a young kid at home. We will get used to playing in this scenario, with restrictions.”