Remembering Arvind Jolly

Remembering Arvind Jolly

The Fifteenth Golf tournament of the Rotary Club of Bombay was held on Saturday, February 3rd, 2024, at the Willingdon Sports Club, in the memory of Trustee, Past President and above all a fellow golfer, Arvind Jolly.

History was created 16 years back, on January 12th, 2008, when 17 Rotarians 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 this to a flagship event in the Rotary calendar.

In the year 2010, the Biswas family instituted a golf trophy specially designed by Moy Biswas and made in Singapore, which is a rotating trophy awarded to the winner of this annual tournament.
The trophy has been fondly rechristened by our Rotary club last year onwards as the Rotary Club of Bombay Mrudula Biswas Golf Trophy in the honour and loving memory of Rtn. Moy’s wife Mrudula.
President Manoj Patodia officially began the tournament with a ceremonial tee-off at 8.30 am. Then began the serious business of teeing off by the participants from various age groups as follows:
Pradeep Chinai, Ajay Kanoria and Pashupati Advani; Kush Shah, Rishi Dalal, Sanjay Desai and Darius Soonawalla; Brinda Shah, Padma Lal, Madhup Vaghani and Anand Shah; Aziz Javeri, Dilip Dalal, Bimal Mehta and Mohit Jain; Ashwin Jolly, Sohel Lalvani and Gautam Doshi; Anil Goyel, Dev Thukral, Hira Sehgal and Rahul Singh; Vivek Himatsingka, Ali Merchant Satyan Israni and Ashok Minawala
The camaraderie among players was excellent, their competitive spirit was high and all the golfers played to the best of their abilities. The eagles, birdies and pars (as well as some unwanted bogeys) kept coming. Unfortunately, the weather was very warm which was a challenge for all participants.

Rtn. Moy’s planning was meticulous and execution impeccable. The fellowship which was hosted by Jolly family this year was equally engaging and exhilarating, with the presence of several stalwart Rotarians, family and friends of Jolly family. The best what was appreciated most that Ashwin Jolly coming all the way from London to participate in this tournament. While PP Ajay Kanoria was a participant of the tournament, a record number of Past Presidents were at the Cabbage Patch namely PP Arun Sanghi, PP Dr. Rumi Jehangir, PP Nandan Damani. PP Nowroze Vazifdar, PP Nirav Shah, PP Kalpana Munshi and IPP Vineet Bhatnagar.

The presentation then began with Rtn. Moy’s depicting the history of all the golf tournaments. Everybody appreciated Moy’s efforts to create display boards for the same, with signatures of everyone who attends this event.

Rtn. Moy request President Manoj and Rtn. Ptn. Rashmi Jolly to address all the participants and attendees. Rashmi spoke of Arvind’s sincere commitments and contribution towards Rotary Club of Bombay.

The awards ceremony began by thanking Jolly family for sponsoring the fellowship and Rtn. Moy for organising this tournament year after year.
Rtn. Moy profusely thanked Rtn. Pradeep Chinai for hosting the breakfast for the participants, PP Fali Mehta for facilitating the arrangements at the Willingdon Sports Club, PN Bimal Mehta for presentation materials, Rtn. Mohit from Jain family and Rtn. Arvind from Agarwal family for their generous contributions year after year for this tournament, Rtn. Pashupati Advani for sponsoring of golf gloves and PE Satyan Israni for golf balls.

In appreciation of the non-participating ladies who have been present year after year for motivating and encouraging the participants, a lucky draw was organised and Rtn. Ptn. Malti Jain eventually declared Rashmi Jolly as the “Lucky Lady”.

The first longest drive in hole no 01 (240 yards) was awarded to Rtn. Rishi (Handicap – 12) and second (200 yards) to PN Bimal (Handicap – 24). The nearest to the pin in hole no 06 (25 feet) was awarded to Kush Shah (Handicap – 14).

The runner-up prize was bagged by Rtn. Mohit Jain and the trophy was presented by President Manoj.
Finally, Ashwin Jolly was crowned the winner of the Fifteenth Golf Tournament, the trophy was presented by his mother Rashmi.

At the end of the day, the presence of 115 people including the Rotarians and friends with all the personal efforts of Rtn. Moy and hospitality of the Jolly family made the whole event a memorable one.