Golf is new cricket in India: Nikhil Chopra

It is a proven fact that sports and corporate go hand in hand. If Indian sports have done well in the recent past it has have huge backing from corporate houses. Golf in India is also seem to be moving in that direction where corporate houses are either participating or they are backing different tournaments.

Former cricketer Nikhil Chopra looked quiet optimistic when TSI web team interacted with him on the sidelines of BMW Golf Cup International 2012.

“Golf has fantastic future in India. It has become better and stronger as a sport in the last couple of years. Earlier I use to see familiar faces whenever I visited in any amateur golf tournament but now things are changing. Many new faces are seen now and that is a good sign for any sport,” said Nikhil Chopra.

“For me Golf is new cricket for India in which players of all age groups are seen in different golf courses. Prize money has got increased. For any sport corporate support is required and this game is getting that help. Even U-10 and U-12 categories players do get ranking in golf. That is the best thing to happen for this sport,” he added.

BMW Golf Cup International 2012, being played at Jaypee Greens Golf Resorts, is one such occasion where big corporate amateur golfers do try their luck. Sunday is the last day and then the tourney will move to Gurgaon and then to Chandigarh and Hyderabad.

In India it will be organised in nine cities and Delhi, Jaypee Greens Golf Resorts, is the sixth destination. The national final will be held in mid 2012 in Gurgaon.

BMW Golf Cup International started as the BMW Invitation Tournament in UK. But now it has developed into a global series with 1,000 qualifying tournaments being organised in up to 50 countries in which 100,000 players participate. The best players from each nation qualify for the BMW Golf Cup International World Final.

This golf series was primarily designed as an amateur golf tournament which can work as a perfect platform to interact customers, prospective buyers and opinion leaders. It is an exclusive,
invitation-only event.

Dr. Andreas Schaaf, President, BMW Group India said, “It is with great pride that we introduce BMW Golf Cup International 2012 in India. BMW Golf Cup International has established itself as a leading amateur tournament in the country and seen tremendous success since it started in 2008.”

The BMW Golf Cup International 2012 has three categories, A (for handicaps up to 12 years of age), B (for handicaps 13 – 28) and ladies category (for handicaps up to 28). The winners, runners-up and second runners-up of the individual handicap categories qualify for the national final.

The winners in each of the three handicap categories of the national final will qualify to take part in the world final of BMW Golf Cup International 2012.

“Golf is progressing in India by leaps and bounds. I could see almost 50 percent increase in amateur players participation in the last one year alone. It has huge scope in India. If revenue is pumped into this game, certainly it will rise and this thing is happening in Indian golf now,” said Shekhar Agrawal, Senior Vice President-Enterprise Business.

There is no prize money in this tournament but there is a very tempting “Hole-in-one” offer and whoever wins will get a three nights/four days leisure trip to Munich, Germany.