'A HOLE IN ONE'

“A HOLE IN ONE”

By

J.L. Gupta

Is golf just another four-letter word? Certainly not! It is a fas­cinating game. A perfect diver­sion from the days' drudgery. It is a busy person's escape from the dull routine. A good work-out without any weariness. Golf is played in healthy, open and pleasant surround­ings. In the company of good friends. You `swing' the club at a stationary ball. It gives a rare delight at one moment, despair at the next. It is fun. Also frus­tration. And Lord be thanked for His mercies. But for my thick skin, I could have been the first man with a hole in the head. Let me tell the tale. Though it is much older than the recent episode involving my head, yet it can be inflicted.

It was a slightly misty, but a pleasant winter morning. We had teed off before the sun had really risen. Despite the chill, everyone was hitting the ball well. Long, straight and hard drives. Invariably, everyone reached the green with the second shot. And then, the hole lay eerily between the two 'putts’. After the first two holes, the sun greeted us warmly with its crimson red and or­ange radiation. It promised to be a bright day. We really looked forward to a good round of golf.

But, the joy was short-lived. Suddenly, there were shouts of "ball, ball". One of the foursome immediately behind us had hit a, bad shot. The ball had taken off in the wrong direction. Via a tree, it found its way to my head like a guided missile. Straight on' the spot.

I had got it smack on the back of my head. In the occipital area to be precise. Though the tree branch had taken the main impact and the Cap had provided some additional protection, the ball did give me a good blow. My friend Baljeet, a policeman by profession, was visibly upset. As was his wont, he was quick to speak the un­speakable ones. Thankfully, in English.

Within minutes, we were at the doctor's clinic. After a pre­liminary examination, I was asked to go for an X-Ray and a CT scan. I was feeling normal. Yet, the doctor was not willing to take any chance. There could be an internal brain injury. So, he could not take any chance. Not in my case. Somewhere in­side, the concern felt good.

The radiologist took the plain X-ray pic­tures from different angles, probably to see if there was any crack in the crani­um. Then followed the Computerised Tomographic scan. Layer by layer pictures of the brain, to see if there was any haem­orrhage, clot or ac­tive lesion. Finally, after about an hour, which actu­ally seemed much longer, I was permitted to go home with a promise that the report shall be ready by tomorrow.

Back home, each minute seemed to last much longer. I sat wondering as to what would the doctor find. What if he sees a clot? Or suggests a surgery? There was no apparent cause, but all the same I was curious. Others in the house were under still greater stress. But, everyone put on a brave face. Even a smile. A very reassuring attitude.

The wait for the radiologist’s report was the longest that the family had ever experienced. Finally, the new day dawned. We reached the clinic. The doctor looked relaxed. At least, so I thought. It seemed like a good omen. He gave us the report. In a nutshell, it said NAD, (nothing abnormal detected). What a relief!

My wife uttered a silent prayer and drove me straight to the temple to thank the Lord personally. She  even gave some money to the poor. Next moment, we were going back home.

Now that she had regained her nerve she seemed reasonably relaxed. With a mischievous smile, she said, “Even the golf ball could do no damage. Some advantage of being thick headed.” What a shot! A ‘hole in one’?

SCOTLAND AND THE SCOTS

Why do I remember Scotland more than most of the other places that I have been to? Is it because it has  the bagpipers with the most colourful kilts in the world? Could it be for the reason that it produces the best whisky in the world? Or is it because it has the most famous golf course  – the St. Andrews Old Course? Or is there really a reason beyond all these?   

       

A section of the Princes Street as seen from the Calton Hill, Edinburgh

It is true that a visit to Scotland shall always be memorable. For a wide variety of reasons like the Scottish Highlands; the Lakes; the landscape and even the liquor. But if I have to give only one reason and the most important one, I shall say – “The SCOTS.” They are exceptionally hard working, friendly, generous, humorous and warm people. They work hard, pamper the visitors and make everyone feel totally at home. May I share an incident?

A couple of years back, I had gone to Scotland in a group.  Travelled from London to the Scottish capital – Edinburgh by train. Got down at Weverley train station. On enquiry, I learnt that the hotel- Apex in the Princes Street, was just 5 minutes’ walk. We reached the hotel. The gentleman at the reception informed us that “the rooms shall be ready in 15 minutes. In the meantime, please make yourselves comfortable in the lounge and have a drink of your choice. All on the house.” A very generous offer. Without anyone asking for it. One of us even availed of the offer and had a small drink. The rooms were  ready soon and we had occupied. Good and airy. Later, in the evening, there was a call from the reception. ‘What time do you need your cabs in the morning?’ And 2 decent cabs with the Drivers who were immaculately dressed had dropped us at the place from where we had to join the others for the tour of Scottish Highlands. On return to Edinburgh after a few days, we were given, a free up-grade of the rooms by the hotel. All this – the drink, the cabs and the upgrade was in lieu of the slight delay in making the rooms available. I have never experienced anything similar anywhere. Not even in my own country where it is believed that the guest is a God. Such kind acts of generosity, hospitality and human warmth are extremely rare in today’s materialistic world and are not easy to forget. I wish, even we imbibe the qualities of head and heart which the Scots exhibit everyday in routine.  

St. Andrews - the home of Golf

Still more, the recent referendum regarding continuance as a part of the Commonwealth is symbolic of the peoples' ability to accommodate, adapt and adjust with others. The Scots have really respected old bonds with the English and rejected the man-made borders

The Bagpiper in his colorful Kilt

If  one has any pretensions of being interested in Golf, the visit to Scotland shall not be complete without paying obeisance at the St. Andrews Links Golf Course. The “Old Course at St Andrews is considered by many to be the "home of golf" because the sport was first played on the Links at St Andrews in the early 1400s. Golf was becoming increasingly popular in Scotland until in 1457, when James II of Scotland banned golf because he felt that young men were playing too much golf instead of practicing their archery. The ban was upheld by the following kings of Scotland until 1502, when King James IV became a golfer himself and removed the ban.” Initially, women were not admitted as Members. However after more than 200 years, women were admitted.

The famous Swilcan bridge

As per the census conducted in 1909, the Scots were the tallest race in Europe. But due to the World War I, the average height of the men in Scotland fell by 9 inches in 1930.

Scotland had lost a large number of soldiers, a significant part of its able bodied young population in World War I Yet, it has bounced back. (Photos by the author)