Club News
During the lockdown in 2020, we reported several instances where juniors and other golfers and clubs did commendable work supporting caddies who lost their incomes for months at a stretch. Similarly during this lockdown again, we are pleased to report a story of 13 year old Delhi girl Netra Suri raising over Rs 2.8 lacs for caddy relief at the Delhi Golf Club.
Here are the words of Netra, a 9 handicap golfer and student at Step by Step school in New Delhi: “ I really wanted to get back to playing golf. It struck me then that the caddies who make us play would be sitting in their homes without earnings. Caddies being a group ,working on daily wages, I wondered if I could do anything to help them. I brought it up with my parents, who discussed it with a friend, a member of Delhi Golf Club. He connected my parents to Caddies Welfare Trust, who got the ball rolling. Having been advised a target of collection at 2.5 lacs, we engaged with Milaap.org to initiate a fundraiser, “My Caddy, My Buddy”. After achieving the goal of 2.5 lacs we raised the target to 3 lacs. Eventually we raised Rs. 2.86 lacs and the whole amount was transferred to CWT.
Caddies in attendance at DGC
CWT then organised the rations for 350 associated caddies. The rations were distributed in a function that was beautifully organised by CWT. I was really happy seeing the expressions of happiness on the caddies faces during the function. It was a humbling experience for me. They were grateful for the little I could do. I would like to thank everyone who helped me in this initiative and gave me this opportunity to be of some help to the caddies. I wish I could do more and will endeavor to do so in the future.”
India Golf Weekly is all praise for such efforts and we look forward to hearing from our readers of more instances of clubs and members fund raising for caddies.
In July 2020, we ourselves staged “Champions for a Cause” featuring Kapil Dev, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Shubhankar Sharma and Murali Kartik at Delhi Golf Club which raised Rs 50 lacs for Covid Relief provided by renowned charity “Magic Bus”.