Tournament Administrators should be very careful and take meticulous care in framing conditions of competition. Care less and casual listing of condition of competition in the flagship All India Amateur Tournament in Kolkatta created an avoidable controversy. The conditions were drafted by the tournament director Mr.Krishna Prasad, who does not know the basics of Rules of Golf and muddles through one mistake after another.He does not understand that the definition of Rules includes conditions of competition.He should have consulted a rules official before finalizing the conditions.
The All India Amateur is the final closing event for the season and carries maximum weight for rankings. It is two round stroke play,qualifying match play event.One of the conditions prohibited practice between rounds as per Rule 7-2.The condition did not specify that the prohibition was limited to the 2 round of stroke play. Reena Singh and I were the official referees for the event. The tournament director insisted that practice putting will be allowed for match play.I referred to decision 33-1/1 which prohibited alterations in conditions after start of competition. The definition of competition, in the present context, included the 2 rounds of stroke play qualifying and match play. My view was supported by Mr. Eashwar Achanta,who is the icon of all Indian referees. Mr. Achanta is the only Indian to have officiated as a referee in the British Open. In spite of his directive, the tournament director Mr. Krishna Prasad foolishly pasted a revised conditions of competition, permitting practice putting between holes, for match play. He instructed the referees to follow his diktat and he cannot go by the books, all the time. This raised a strong question of ethics for referees. After some thinking, I firmly told Mr. Prasad that his alteration is illegal and fails the test of application of Rules of Golf. Reena and I will not apply the revised permission for practice between holes. We will enforce the penalties applicable under R 7-2, if we observe any breach or if any claim is made.Mr. Prasad lost his temper, shouted that that he will remove me forthwith as a referee. I kept my composure and cool, since I do do not report to Mr. Prasad and function independently under IGU. Mr. Achanta and Mr. Luthra, the then chairman of championship committee of IGU and present president of IGU have to intervene and restore the original conditions of competition, prohibiting practice between holes. Mr.Prasad once again looked sheepish.Mr. Pawan Kumar in 1sr round of match play and Mr. Shoel in the finals incurred the penalties under R 7-2.Mr. Shoel of Bangladesh was the eventual winner on the 38th hole.
This incident highlights the role of a tournament director. I am in the panel of referees for PGTI, the Indian pro golf tour.I work under the direction of Mr. Sampathchari.I strongly feel that he is the ideal role model for a good tournament director. He is a dedicated and hard worker, puts in 12 hours of work, has a strong and practical knowledge of rules, is on the field most of the time. His pin positions are balanced, course set up and markings excellent. It is not a surprise that his operations executives and referees respond in kind and a fine team work could be seen in all PGTI events. Mr. Prasad, most of the times comes one hour late, makes a courtesy round of the course, does not dirty his hand with field supervision or course check ups. He has got the cheek to play golf when the tournaments are going on. All the IGU council members were taken back when the quarter final and finals were on, the tournament director was playing a high stake betting 4 ball.I have raised strong objections to the extension of contract for Mr. Prasad as a tournament director.
