Course to match big names

Rave reviews soon poured in, but it was difficult to fathom as to how a venue, opening its gates to a pro event after close to three years and an almost two-year shutdown due to labour unrest, could offer such a beauty, reports Robin Bose.

The afternoon sun had caused a lull to descend on the Classic Golf Resort. If anything could match the sun's growing intensity, it was the influx of pros, eager to get a feel of the lush-green designer course.

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Rave reviews soon poured in, but it was difficult to fathom as to how a venue, opening its gates to a pro event after close to three years and an almost two-year shutdown due to labour unrest, could offer such a beauty.

The toil had clearly borne fruit as from also-rans to top-of-the-line performers joined hands in singing paeans. “The greens are in perfect shape, the winning score will be really low,” a journeyman said excitedly before a bunch of beaming club officials.

The hardened Gaurav Ghei too echoed the same sentiment. Making his way to the 1st tee after knocking balls on the picturesque practice range, he said, “I hear the course is in great shape.”

Contending with a heavily strapped right wrist, caused by tendonitis, rustiness led Ghei to term his form as “iffy” but the veteran was categorical that the $300,000 SAIL Open would have an Indian name written on it.