The RPGL was started in 2016
The Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC) is abuzz with excitement as the Club Golf League season kicks into high gear with the commencement of the annual Royal Premier Golf League (RPGL) on January 5.
Established in 2016, the RPGL stands out as one of the most extensive single-venue amateur club tournaments anywhere. Applauded for its innovative approach in engaging golf enthusiasts, the Royal Calcutta Golf Club was the original club league which has seen at least another 10 clubs follow the trend with their own golf leagues across the nation.
This year, the RPGL features twenty teams, of 20 players each. The tournament spans a 12-week period, with teams divided into two groups of ten. In the league round robin phase, each team competes against the other nine teams in its group. The top four teams from each group will then progress to the quarter-finals.
Emulating a franchise model, teams are owned either by companies or groups of individuals. Team owners select 10 players of their choice, and then pick the additional 10 players in an auction to complete their team. Each team is allotted a notional budget of Rs 6,00,000, which they must judiciously utilize to “buy” their players in the auction.
The RPGL is played every Friday and Saturday, with five matches taking place each day. Each match requires the participation of 12 players from the competing teams, with two players from each team actively engaged in each match.
As the Royal Calcutta Golf Club transforms into the epicenter of competitive golfing fervor, the RPGL promises an enthralling spectacle for golf enthusiasts over the coming weeks.
Photo – The Telegraph / Saumya Dey