16TH GOLF TOURNAMENT & FELLOWSHIP A SWINGING SUCCESS!
Rotary history was created on January 12th, 2008, when 17 Rotarians teed off at the United Services Club for the First Golf Tournament of the Rotary Club of Bombay initiated by Rtn. Moy Biswas. Since then this tournament has been held every year and its ever-growing popularity has led to a roaster of no less than 32 competitors.
On February 1st, 2025, the Sixteenth Golf Tournament for the Trophy instituted by the Biswas family in 2008 was held again at the Willingdon Sports Club.
The trophy has been fondly rechristened as the Rotary Club of Bombay Mrudula Biswas Golf Trophy from 2023 onwards in honour and loving memory of Rtn. Moy’s wife Mrudula. We can still feel her warmth and love around us.
President Satyan Israni officially began the tournament with a ceremonial tee-off at 8.45 am. Then began the serious business of participants of ages ranging from 16 to 83 years, who played in the following groups:
• Rotarians Pradeep Chinai, Dinesh Lal, Pashupati Advani, and Gautam Doshi;
• Rotarians Sanjay Desai, Anand Shah, Madhup Vaghani and Rajan Dalal;
• Brinda Shah, Padma Lal, Darshika Ajoomal (Daughter of Bipin Kapadia), Thea Ajoomal (Grand Daughter of Bipin Kapadia);
• Rtn. Anil Goyel, Sohel Lalvani (Son of Ajit Lalvani) and Darious Irani;
• Rotarians Dilip Dalal, Rtn. Vivek Himatsingka, Aziz Munna Javeri and Dev Thukral;
• Aditya Shah, Pragya Saboo (Daughter-in-law of Nirav Shah), Rtn. Ali Merchant, President Satyan Israni and Rtn. Moy Biswas.
While the camaraderie among players was excellent, their competitive spirit was high, with all the golfers playing to the best of their abilities. The eagles, birdies and pars (as well as some unwanted bogeys) kept coming. Fortunately, the weather was excellent, with a cool winter morning to lighten the golfers’ exertion.
Although the game was highly competitive, it was played in a spirit of friendliness which was facilitated by the meticulous planning and faultless execution of the indefatigable Moy Biswas.
Exciting and electrifying as the tournament was, the fellowship that followed at the Cabbage patch was equally engaging and exhilarating, with the presence of a record number of past presidents namely Rajnikant Reshamwala, Sandip Agarwalla, Ajay Kanoria, Nandan Damani, Paul George, Nowroze Vazifdar, Nirav Shah, Vijay Jatia, Shernaz Vakil and Vineet Bhatnagar.
After a group photograph with a very large number of Rotarians and family members present for this event, the presentation ceremony began with Moy treating everyone to quips with his trademark sense of humour surrounded by the display boards depicting the history of all the golf tournaments.
Moy narrated the history of this tournament and acknowledged the names of the Rotarians who have helped in making this tournament a success year after year.
He thanked Pradeep Chinai for facilitating the arrangements at the WSC as well as hosting the breakfast for the participants. Bimal Mehta for the display boards.
Arvind Agarwal for the carry bags. President Satyan Israni for the golf balls for the participants. Fali Mehta for presenting an exclusive present for the Sponsor of the fellowship.
Moy profusely thanked Pashupati Advani for sponsoring all the trophies for this tournament and also Madhup Vaghani, for his generous contributions and sparing no efforts for making the fellowship most enjoyable. He also mentioned that Madhup has sponsored this fellowship earlier and this is his sixth time.
Moy mentioned the uniqueness of this year’s fellowship was in two ways, one being the Club’s President’s participation in this tournament for the first time and secondly a daughter and granddaughter of a Rtn. Bipin Kapadia participating this tournament for the first time.
In appreciation for the non-participating ladies who have been present year after year for motivating and encouraging the participants, a lucky draw was organised and Jamshyd Vazifdar eventually declared none other than the First Lady Sohel Lalvani (Son of Ajit Lalvani) was awarded for the longest drive in hole no 01 and Sanjay Desai for nearest to the pin in hole no 06.
Finally, it was the time to declare the runner-up and the winner. The runner-up prize was presented to Dinesh Lal. (winner in 2015 and runner-up in 2012).
Thea Ajoomal (Grand Daughter of Bipin Kapadia) on her sweet sixteenth year, was crowned the winner of the Rotary Club of Bombay Sixteenth Golf Fellowship.
Loud applause greeted the announcement and all those present congratulated the champions as President Satyan Israni and Moy Biswas presented the winner’s trophy. Navina Israni as the “Lucky Lady”