A Swinging Success
Rotary history was created on January 12, 2008 when 17 members teed off at the United Services Club for the First Annual 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 roster of 32 competitors.
On January 18, 2020, the Thirteenth Annual Golf Tournament for the Trophy instituted by the Biswas family in 2008 was held once again at the Willingdon Sports Club.
President Preeti Mehta officially began the tournament with a ceremonial tee-off at 8.30 am. Then began the serious business of participants from ages 17 to 75 years, teeing off, in the following groups:
Pradeep Chinai, Anand Shah, Dinesh Lal and Rajan Dalal; Brinda Shah, Padma Lal and Amishi Doshi; Madhup Vaghani, Mihir Doshi, Kush Shah and Abhiram Sheth; Subrata Mitra, Pashupati Advani and Mohit Jain; Sanjay Desai, Aziz Javeri and Darious Irani; Aditya Shah, Gautam Doshi and Aryaman Himatsingka; Arvind Jolly, Anil Goyel and Vitek Goyel; Satyan Israni, Suresh Goklaney and 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 meticulous planning and faultless execution by Moy.
Exciting and electrifying as the tournament was, the fellowship that followed at the Cabbage patch was equally engaging and exhilarating, with the presence of many past presidents namely Nalin Parikh, Rajnikant Reshamwala, Arvind Jolly, Sandip Agarwalla, Ashish Vaid, Nirav Shah, Mukesh Batra and Vijay Jatia and several stalwart Rotarians and family members.
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.
On behalf of the Sports Committee, Moy presented President Preeti Mehta with a token of appreciation for her motivation and encouragement.
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 Naresh Jain, Arvind Agarwal, Bimal and Fali Mehta for their generous contributions. He also thanked Pradeep Chinai for facilitating the arrangements at the WSC as well as hosting the breakfast for the participants, Dev Thukral for his support in designing the trophies, Satyan Israni and Jamshyd Vazifdar for social media and bulletin and Mehernosh Dotivala for photography.
Moy profusely thanked Madhup Vaghani for his generous contribution and invigorating efforts in hosting this enjoyable fellowship for the last four years and this being the fifth year and also sponsoring special prizes for the runner-up and winner. Moy then handed the stage over to Rtn. Puneet Chhatwal to present certain special awards.
A lucky draw was organised to show appreciation for the non-participating ladies, present year after year, to motivate and encourage participants. Rtn. Puneet Chhatwal eventually declared Nilofer Currawalla as the “Lucky Lady”, awarded Aryaman Himatsingka for the longest drive in hole no 01and Padma Lal for nearest to the pin in hole no 06.
Finally, it was time to declare the runner-up and the winner. The runner-up prize was presented to Anil Goyel and Abhiram Sheth was crowned the winner of the Thirteenth Rotary Club of Bombay Annual Golf Tournament. This is the first time Abhiram has bagged this trophy. Loud applause greeted the announcement and all those present congratulated the champion as President Preeti and Moy presented the winner’s trophy. Finally, PP Sandip Agarwalla and Pradeep Chinai came on stage and complimented Moy for introducing and nurturing this event.
