XVI Pilikula Golf Club Challenge Cup Annual Golf Tournament -A Golfing Experience of a Lifetime!
Mangaluru: One of the biggest event of Pilikula Golf Club (PGC). is the Pilikula Challenge Cup Annual Golf Tournament, which is held every year during the second week of December- and this year the XVI Annual Golf Tournament was held on Saturday, 17 Dec. and Sunday, 18 Dec. at PGC. This Golf Challenge captures all the drama and unpredictability of a great golf event. Every year this global tournament involves club golfers from PGC, and also golfers from in and around Mangaluru and Karnataka State. What begins at a local golf club can be the start of the golfing experience of a lifetime.
This major Annual Golf Tournament gives golfers the chance to participate in competitive but friendly and professionally-run event, and also get the golfing experience of a lifetime. As a sport, golf knows no boundaries – its participants come together to speak the universal language of golf. What better way to do this than in the XVI Pilikula Golf Challenge?! This year’s Golf Tournament attracted quite a few participants, 35 from PGC, and around 45 participants from Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Mysuru, Belgaum, Hubbali, Cochin and Bengaluru.
From the very first tee, you are greeted by emerald green grass and greenery that are immaculately groomed providing the best Coastal Mangaluru golf experience. Winding through a colorful, sub-tropical foliage, the tranquil surroundings allow you to swing the club with a smooth tempo and enjoy a relaxing round of golf that is challenging, yet a pleasure to play in every way. Once again you wonder: “How do I finish in as few strokes as possible but make it last all day?” And that was the experience many golfers felt during the two-day golf tournament, and they loved every bit of it.
After a two-day hectic tournament on a treacherous sunny weekend, it was finally the prize distribution ceremony held on Sunday 18 December, which was graced by family members, relatives and friends of PGC. The dignitaries on the dais for the prize distribution ceremony were- Deputy Commissioner of DK, Dr KG Jagadeesha, also the President of PGC; Denzil F Fernandes- Secretary; Naveen Shetty- Treasurer; Nelson JV Pais; and Eugene Rent- Executive member, who also compered the programme. K R Rajashekhar was felicitated by the managing committee of PGC in recognition of his contribution and immense support to PGC and to the game of Golf as a whole- he was given a standing ovation while he was being honored.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Jagadeesha said, “It’s the participation that matters most than winning. If you didn’t win this time, don’t lose hopes – you have many more chances in the future – and make the best use of the golfing opportunities when they come your way. Those who like golfing, it is a sport that requires concentration and precision, and it’s enjoyed by professional athletes and amateurs, both of whom compete throughout the year for titles and prizes. Many people consider golf an easy game to learn, but not everyone is actually good at golf. The basics of golf include hitting a ball with a club, trying hard to hit the ball directly into the hole on the green. If you haven’t tried playing golf, make up your mind, and you’ll love it once you get attached to it. I feel proud of myself for learning how to play golf, and I enjoy every bit of the game”. Prizes were distributed to the winners in various categories by DC.
The winners in the tournament are : Fun Golf Putting for Ladies- Rashmi Pinto (winner); and Daphne D’souza (Runner-Up); Fun Golf Putting-Children- Charuvi (winner), and Rajavardhan ( R-U); Longest drive- Aaron Mendonca; Closet to the Pin- ML Sachin; Straightest drive- Vishal Hegde; PGC Super Senior Citizens Trophy (75 +)- KC Naik (Winner), and Winston D’souza (R U); PGC Senior Citizens Trophy (65 +)- GRP Capt Murthy (Winner), and Eugene Rent (R U); Young Upcoming Golfer- Ken Pinto; PGC Ladies Trophy- Aishwarya Raj (Winner), and Vasundhara Shetty (R U).
Pilikula Challenge Trophy Stableford 19-26 Handicap- Kavin Shetty (Winner), and Subin Zacharia (R U); Pilikula Challenge Trophy Net Stroke Play 19-26 Handicap- Col. Amarnath (Winner), and Jason Salins (R U); Pilikula Challenge Trophy Stableford 0-18 H’cap- Vishal Hegde (Winner), and Dr Sandeep Rai (R U); Pilikula Challenge Trophy Net stroke Play 0-18 H’cap- Gilani Mohammed (Winner), and Col Kutty (R U); TVS Sundaram Motors Trophy Open Best Gross- Aaron Mendonca (Winner), and Praveen M (R U); PGC Golfer of the Year- Silver Bowl- Dr Sandeep Rai. Fellowship and sumptuous lunch made everyone happy- and they all went back home with cherished memories of this prestigious Annual Golf Tournament of PGC!
Pilikula Golf Club situated at Moodushedde about 12 kilometers from Mangaluru, is the first golf club in this picturesque City and Coastal Karnataka. This sprawling course is spread across 60 acres of land, and the 18 Hole Golf course is a facility that allows Members and Tourists to tee off amidst the undulating greens. The golf course has been designed making the best use of natural terrain and topography, which incorporates narrow and challenging fairways. The Tournaments are conducted annually with the participation of the golfers from the state in particular & also the golfers from the neighbouring states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The idea of the present course was conceived by M S Gowdar, District Forest Officer and Dr E V Ramana Reddy, Deputy Commissioner in the year 1998. The PGC which was originally a part of Pilikula Nisargadhama became an independent entity and was registered on the 11th of October 2001, with A.K.Monappa, Deputy Commissioner as President, Eugene Rent as Captain, T. Subbayya Shetty as Secretary and B.B.Shetty as Treasurer. Currently (2016), Dr Jagadeesha, the DC of DK is the president, Nelson Pais is the Captain, Denzil Fernandes as Secretary, and Naveen Shetty as Treasurer.
PGC is a golfer’s paradise! Beautiful property that is well maintained, with lush green lawns and the sounds of birds chirping away greet you. The place looks great, and well recommended for golf lovers. Well maintained and its huge, plus the greenery is amazing. Golf is played on a course, and the green area of the course is known as the fairway. The typical course consists of 18 holes, although golfers can play a 9-hole course through twice to play a full game of 18 holes. Golfers begin a play by standing at the teeing green and aiming the ball towards the putting green, the area where the flagstick and hole are located. The length from the teeing green to the hole varies depending on the course, and it may or may not be seen from the teeing the green. Most courses have holes that are seen from the teeing green, but some angle left or right making the invisible from the teeing green.
Anyone who enjoys a nice walk and doesn’t mind learning a few rules can begin to play golf. While many professional golfers have contributed to the growing popularity of golf, amateur players still bring a passion for the game that excites fans and players alike. To know more about Golf, please contact PGC (824 2263957. Mobile: +91 720 480 1217; 9845406839) Mail: pilikulagolf@gmail.com. and they will get you in touch with one of their panel coaches for an in-depth info session!