A participant at The Telegraph Cup Golf 2011

When 90 teams and 360 golfers come together on one freeway, it is called The Telegraph Cup Golf. Presented by EMTA and in association with Ballantine’s, the four-day tournament this year tees off on Tuesday at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club.

One of the major corporate traditions, the mercantile sport was started way back in 1906 on the Royal turf and continues to be a rage even today. “There are a number of other sports — cricket, football — but golf is the oldest and most cherished. Always played in the middle of the monsoon, many may wonder why? The reason is simple. This is the season when no other events happen, and it is quite quiet up on the plantations. So we get lots of golfers from upstate, and also from the various oil industries,” said Brandon de Souza, the tournament director.

But doesn’t the slush on the greens cause the game to stop? “Not unless there is lightning. That’s the rule. So as the saying goes, ‘work is for people who don’t play golf’, almost each and every company in the eastern region would be participating. And I can bet that the golfers would gladly be given the day off to play and win back the Cup,” added Brandon.

With the option for golfers to team up with different companies in order to win the Challenge Cup that goes on alongside The Telegraph Cup, over the last eight years, the participation has had a different edge. The last day, July 27, would see the golfers bring to a close their four-day-long camaraderie over drinks and prizes at The Oberoi Grand.

Sreyoshi Dey