Golf and Submarines

It was a lazy weekday at INS Valsura at Jamnagar in Jan 1997. I was operating as the SUTO (Senior Under Trainee Officer) in the rank of a Lt.The bunch under my Command included 03 Coursemates from the Basic Engg Course and 28 Sub-Lts from the Naval Engg Course.

Our Course's inception into Service was unique and at each stage we were put under various guinea pig experimentation. This had a large attrition and 02 of my Coursemates had opted to be categories.Though during Navy Balls and Social evenings,they would be the most agile "Homo Sapiens"!!!But during morning parade,X-Country and PT Musters ,these gentelemen would be invariably breaking their cots. The other Operational Coursemate,an ex-Hunter/Delta guy,had all the qualities of a Dagger and Head Hunter.Nothing could move him-not even Mohammad! So,the onus was mine to move this bunch of Guinea Commandoes to the "Right Place at the Right Time". Incidentally,I was newly married and stayed in Married Accm which was a Km and a half away from the Mess. Each morning my life used to kick off at 0500 and ended at about 1400 Hrs. The ever dependable Hamara Bajaj was my constant companion as I shuttled between Home,Mess,Parade ground and Class Rooms.

    
Golf was not on Officer's agenda in 1996.Very few Officers had Golf Sets and a freshly arrived ex-DSSC Officer Cdr Harphool Singh had commissioned a Croquet Court in Valsura.We were quite enamored by the game as we watched a few Staff Offrs and Ladies try their hands on the game. However,the warm blooded mammals as we are,we used to find solace in Squash,Badminton and organised games with sailors.Golf was a wonder game and we would read about names like Nick Faldo,Steve Ballesteros etc..It was a game from Mars till then.

    
On that lazy day,I was told to muster the entire Course in Auditorium by 1130 hrs.I achieved the task and made a report to the Course Offr. A few minutes later,the CO,a Commodore, walked in with a letter in his hand. He stated that the letter was from the Chief of Personnel (COP) and a very few young technical offrs were joining the Submarines.There was an acute shortage and it was our batch which had to contribute to overcome the shortage.The Guineas were zapped and no one was willing to join Subs!

   
The CO exhorted and then shifted his gaze at me and the Dagger Hunter (My buddy) sitting next to me.Dagger Hunter was doing a calculation on a page placed on his thigh. The CO said,"Come on Boys,I need names". My next transfer was known to me and I was heading to a Russian Kashin Class Destroyer at Vizag inspite of having been trained for a Western Ship.This was again a Guinea situation. I looked at Dagger Hunter,made a quick calculation that a Submarine is also Russian and so is a Kashin Destroyer.Also,I would get to wear a Dolphin Badge on my Uniform.

    
In the next moment,my hand was up.The Dagger Hunter (DH) was taken aback.The CO was by now smiling.The DH also raised his hand and in a symphonic movement,12 more hands rose.14 of us had volunteered to be Submariners. The relieved CO walked away and I was told to meet him in his Office. Inside his chamber,the CO called up the COP and broke the grand news. Alongwith the news, he opened up his library and gifted me an autobiography of Jack Welch,the legendary and longest serving CEO of General Electric Company.

     
I read the biography during Sub Medicals at Mumbai. The book spoke a lot about Golf and how Golf made Jack what he was.In the end ,Jack stated that he had 3 wives and it was courtsey the family time lost on work and Golf.He stated that he had left Golf to retain his third wife!!.Jack became my Guru and I decided never to play Golf.

Soon enough,in Jun 1997,I landed in the Submarine School at Vizag with my ever dependable Bajaj , becoming dependable Wife and a topsy turvy but cute 9 month old son.Jack Welch's parting lines were firmly embedded in my mind and Golf drifted away into oblivion.

       
By early 2000,the bug called Y2K bit the Services and also walked in Golf.The IVth Pay Commission had arrived and the salaries were on a rise. I started observing some Sunday early morning movements as a few Golfers would rev up their newly procured Marutis and Hyundais at 4 AM to reach the Vizag Golf Course almost 20 Km away from NOFRA. I was not amused as I knew that it led to virtual widowhood for the Ladies and a Widowers status for the Golfer (courtsey Jack Welch). I even landed up with a smart CO who tried his level best to coax me into the Game but I did not budge.He would regularly task me with Golf Queries and I would generate data to solve his Slice,Chip,Fade and Putt issues.But Golf on Course-No Sir,I have a family and Squash is my game for sweating.

     
The stint on Russian Subs had by now introduced me to a new variant of alcohol called "Chisti" or Crude Vodka. The Russian specialists and the Indo-Ruskis taught me ways to enjoy the Vodka and also "Chisti". Still,Golf did not feature in my life.

     
I reached Mumbai and used to go for a walk to US Club where Golf was the religion.I used to see the C-in-C,Vice Admiral Sangram Singh Byce/Fox/32 tee off at US Club. The Fox Spirit was soaring but Golf was a taboo.

    
Eventually,one fine noon at Staff College,a Golf Pro came for a Golf Camp.I pushed myself out of my bed and gave up the siesta to join the Camp. The Club moved but the balls never went anywhere.The game is absurd and tricky I thought. I and a IAF Senior got together and decided to play the game. But alas,a 6th String Hockey player,as I was,I gave a whack to my 1960 vintage Driver and tore a back muscle. Jack appeared in my dream that night and told me,"Go on Son,do not give up." I was back on the Course with a spray to calm my back and continued to hit the balls everywhere in the park.

     
Came a posting to Delhi and the desk was tight. As luck would have it,I got a house (after a 24 months wait) bang in front of Army Golf Course. A Chinese set was bought from Moreh and I was on the Range.A year later,I was hitting the balls at my free will and ventured into the Course. The first Tee Off is divine and pumps up the body and the mind.

   
Jack and his lesson is still firmly ingrained in my mind.I play 9 Holes at a quick pace and am back home within 2.5 Hours. No one minds my foray as long as they find me chirpy and active. Submarines gave my life a new dimension and Golf has added on to my happiness levels.The walk in the Park is good,the thump of Driver is exciting and a Par is all that we look for and anything over a Par is a source of Joy as the hole is either won or lost. Golf is good so long as it is a passion and not an addiction. Submarines demand both-Passion and addiction.