United’s Golfing Plans Take Off

No, it isn’t an All Fools Day joke. United Airlines is very serious when it says that it’s revving up for take-off (for the second time in India) on Sunday. As Michael J. Purchon, United’s General Manager (India), put it: “We are very excited about the first flight which will take off on that day. And, of course, we’re working very hard to make it a success.” But it isn’t only the inaugural flight that is keeping the GM busy. “We are also planning an official launch party at the DLF Golf & Country Club on March 30, which will include performances by Shiamak Davar, Sivamani and a dance troupe from New York,” he told us at the awards ceremony of the United Airlines Millennium Cup at Delhi Golf Club. The event, incidentally, was the first in a series of golf tournaments the airline plans to sponser. “I am an avid golf player and the airline will be sponsoring other golf tournaments,” said Purchon. Which is great news for Delhiites waiting to tee off.

The Millennium Cup was organised to celebrate the club’s 51st anniversary. Explained Col. S. K. Sharma (Retd), Secretary, Delhi Golf Club: “Although the anniversary fell on February 24, we didn’t celebrate it then because of the earthquake in Gujarat. So, we synchronised the celebrations with the re-launch of United Airlines.”

The tournament didn’t feature big cash prizes, but the participants were more than happy to get the golf balls that were given away as prizes. We caught up with the pretty pro, Sruti Khanna, who won a prize for the longest drive on the Tenth Tee. Rated among the country’s top women players, Sruti said: “I enjoyed playing because it wasn’t about competition, but about having fun.”We also spotted the city’s top cop, Ajay Raj Sharma, who said he played the game “occasionally”. With his efforts to improve the city’s law and order situation yielding results, we’re sure he will be left with more time to enjoy his game and play at tournaments like this.

By — SHIKHA MISHRA