Tee Time

It’s an incurable epidemic that’s sweeping across corporate India. Susan George gets swinging on the green to find out just why businesspersons are hooked on golf

While the rest of the world is swaddled in warm beds and blissful reverie, Loyola Rodrigo, partner at a printing press in Chennai, fumbles in the dark for the car keys. It’s 5 am on a Monday morning and he’s all set to keep the appointment with his golf buddies. Revving up the engine of his Santro, he heads to the Cosmopolitan Club for a couple of hours of traversing the green, armed with 13 golf clubs.

Golf, in all its glory, has captured corporate India, its die-hard devotees boldly countering inclement weather and ridiculously early alarm bells - all for the love of the sport. Born on the coast of eastern Scotland, “gowf”, as it was known there, was so popular that an Act of Parliament was passed to prevent the playing of the game on Sundays and thus preserve the skills of archery. Today, the popularity of the game has cut across global boundaries. Gone are the days when “birdie” meant a feathered friend and “green” simply referred to a colour. Spawning everything from branded T-shirts and designer golf clubs to a slew of golf jokes, amateur golf is intrinsic to corporate culture, particularly among top-level executives.

So, why is the game getting so darn popular? Mohan Cherian, an avid amateur golfer and businessman, puts it down to the adrenaline factor. Says Cherian, “World over, in amateur golf, there’s always a little wager. It’s not simply played for the fun of the game. The competitive spirit is addictive. The satisfaction from one good shot is unbeatable. At the same time, it’s a very individual game - you are playing against yourself and bringing up your own standard.” Nawabzada Omer Bin Jung, managing director, Prestige Leisure Resorts Pvt Ltd, Bangalore, has another take on the popularity of the game - the period of calm that it infuses in an otherwise jam-packed lifestyle. “I took up golf because the game is difficult to master and it gives one a lot of time to think, to introspect. More than being a stress buster, golf and fishing are two activities which enable one to think and calculate,” says Jung. Whatever the reason, one thing’s for certain - India is in the grip of the amateuris golfitis syndrome.

Take the Eagleton Golf Village, for instance. Just half an hour’s drive along the Bangalore-Mysore highway, and you chance upon 168 undulating acres - an 18 hole, 72 par US PGA standard golf course spread. Corporate executives have been flocking to Eagleton for its one-of-a-kind facilities, teeing off while talking business. According to Jung, “More and more corporates are sponsoring big golfing events and today the game has become a serious vocation. It is an elite sport and helps in anchoring business. Which other sport gives you time of about four hours to share thoughts and even click deals, when you are involved in the same activity? Golfing helps in developing PR.”

Business To The Tee

Golfers around the world subscribe to the view that the game engenders a sense of corporate camaraderie. In fact, 90 per cent of Fortune 500 company CEOs tee off, even in the face of mounting work pressures. The stimulating green expanse offers a refreshing alternative to the pressure-cooker boardrooms lined with eyeballing executives.

There is, however, a certain unwritten formula for blending business with golf - that of maintaining a nominal level of formality while still keeping things casual. Unlike a stated policy for boardroom decorum, the rules on the fairway remain unstructured. Says Nitin Gupta, an HRD consultant, “When playing with either business associates or clients, an individual would certainly be conscious of what he says and that does take away from the destressing element of golf. But then, corporate golf is, in a way, a different ball game,” Gupta, however, warns against pushing the envelope. “Sometimes, you get these overly keen executives trying to seal business deals in golf cards.” He advises the laid-back approach instead. “Just get to know them. It’s a lot easier getting through to them later on, once the ice is broken, especially with a game of golf,” suggests Gupta.

However, many maintain that the game is not about aggressive corporate maneuvering. “You definitely meet a lot of likeminded people and sometimes, after the game, we sit together, have a drink and catch up,” says Cherian. He also believes that the game creates a sense of discipline and responsibility, “You have to trust the people you’re competing with. That develops a sense of sincerity and honesty.”

Corporate golf tournaments, perhaps an extension of this burgeoning culture, have also taken root in the working world. Rajneeta Kevalramani is the vice president, western region, for Tiger Sports, which apart from organising a variety of sports events, is responsible for PGA’s 26 annual Indian golf events. Today, 60 per cent of Tiger Sports golf events are corporate. “Back in 1995, we staged three corporate golf events. Today, the count has risen to 60 across India with five in Mumbai alone. Sponsors of these events include Citibank, ABN Amro, Lacoste and Amex. Golf is an established aspect of corporate culture. Some of our participants include Harsh Mariwala, CMD, Marico Industries, Romesh Sobti, Country Representative and Executive VP, ABN Amro and Gunit Chaddha, CEO, Deutsche Bank. The fact is, those four hours spent on the green are as crucial for building relationships as is any work environment. Corporates relate to golf in a way that is distinct from the layman’s take.” Turns out, golf may also be the latest value addition to one’s CV, with many potential employees flocking to the sport to enhance their job prospects. “No doubt, a job interviewee who knows how to play the game has the edge over his competition that doesn’t. This ability is fast becoming a corporate requirement, particularly in financial circles. More so, many corporations are discovering that golf is a great way to evaluate a prospective employee,” she contends.

From eager rookies to suave CEOs, golf has undoubtedly caught the fancy of the corporate world. With the ever-increasing number of amateur golfers in the country, negotiating the climb up the corporate ladder means one carries a well-worn golf club in tow.

(With inputs from Bhisham Mansukhani in Mumbai and Jyoti Koul in New Delhi)