Chandigarh Golf League: Teams raise concerns over rule change

Deepankar Sharda

Chandigarh, July 5

Even before its start, the city’s much-awaited event, Chandigarh Golf League (CGL), teams have opposed the alleged change in the rules. Eleven teams, out of a total of 20, which participated in the last edition, have filed objections.

The 3rd edition of the CGL is scheduled to be held in September. The 11 teams submitted their suggestions against the change of rules and demanded a meeting to resolve the matter. A meeting was held yesterday.

The teams claimed that the organising committee had assured them of working on their grievances. According to sources, instead of allowing players from three handicap categories, the organisers are planning to allow only two (0-9 and 9-16) in an event (capping to the number of players in the third handicap category).

“We didn’t receive their points of concern till today. After the meeting, they expressed their concerns and we will thoroughly look into these before taking a final call. The CGL committee will work on it and the outcome will be soon conveyed to the teams. Nothing has been finalised to date,” said a member of the organising committee.

One of the team owners said: “We have submitted our grievances. The rules of any tournament can’t be changed every year. The tournament is conducted with the help of stakeholders, and ironically, they are not even involved in the decision-making process. This event is for the members of the club and the majority of them represent 16 and above handicap.”

He added, “Also, many office-bearers of the club are directly associated with the teams as owners/co-owners/players, which is a direct benefit for them. They get first-hand information and manage to take good golfers in their teams.”

There are 13 per cent members registered under 0 to 9 (handicap) category, 39 per cent in the 10 to 16 category and 48 per cent in the 17 and above category, he added.

One of the committee members said the 3rd league was a new edition and the conditions were discussed before the formal document was handed over to 20 teams at a meeting held on June 23.

“The handicap buckets are very generous and only three players each in 0-9 , 10-18 is the criteria and teams are free to nominate four in the core group and eight 8 from the auction as long as one lady and one above 75 age player is in the final squad,” he explained.

He added, “No one can force a team to play but asking for the club to take onus when players have withdrawn from their teams is not possible. We are doing this for our members and composition of teams is the prerogative of the owner, who we respect as one of the most important stakeholders. There’s no conflict of interest, as we (CGL committee) are independent. There’s enough time to organise one’s team.”