FINAL SHOT
Kapil Dev The Indian cricket legend, who was in Hong Kong last month to compete at the Asia-Pacific Seniors Amateur Championship at Discovery Bay, talks to Alex Jenkins about taking up golf, his favouite course and the rise of the game in his homeland. When did you first pick up a club? I first started playing golf in December 1994. I remember this because I stopped playing cricket the month before. A friend of mine got me over to Delhi Golf Club. I was amazed. Golf is a game where you compete against yourself. You dream of improving every hole. What’s been your lowest round? I played six-under at the Army Golf Club in Delhi. I play most of my golf at Delhi Golf Club. I’ve had four rounds of four-under there. What’s been your most memorable moment on a golf course? Probably when I made my first hole-in-one. I didn’t even know what a hole-in-one was, really. It was the first year I played and it just happened. Holed out from 185 yards on the fifth at Delhi Golf Club. I’ve had three holes-in-one since.
Daniel Wong
Do you recall which club you used? Kapil Dev was well in I was playing with Honma golf clubs but I don’t the hunt at the Asiaremember the number. If I was so intelligent I Pacific Seniors Amateur wouldn’t have left school when I did [laughs]. Championship last month I was never a good student, which is why I went but faded to a final-round 80 at Discovery Bay to finish in to play sports. 13th spot. “The greens were a little too fast to what we – Do you have a favourite golf course? Your favourite golf course is the one you’re the Indian team – are used playing well on! But no. Delhi Golf Club is to,” he said. 90
HK GOLFER・DEC 2014
"I was never a good student, which is why I went to play sports.” still very interesting for me, even though I play there day in and day out. It’s a great course, very testing and it never seems to play the same twice. What did you make of Discovery Bay? I enjoyed it. I think the greens were a little too fast compared to what we – the Indian team – are used to. But it’s a nice layout. Who would accompany you in your dream fourball? Me, myself, my wife and my God! But if you want famous people then it’d be Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa. Can golf ever enjoy the popularity of cricket in India? Golf has grown a lot in the past 15 years in India. You can’t really compare it with cricket but golf is certainly becoming a lot more prominent these days, especially around Delhi. The courses are packed on the weekends. With the success of players like Jeev Milkha Singh, Anirban Lahiri, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Shi v Kapur golf is getting a lot more attention and a lot more people are willing to give it a go. HKGOLFER.COM