• 7 DGPs, 24 ADGPs, 12 IGPs, 13 IGPs and 3 SSPs among 92 participants

• The participants include two women officers – 1 each from Punjab & CRPF

NewZNew (Chandigarh) : The 3-day 19^th All India Police Golf tournament, which tees off at the 18-hole Ranjitgarh Golf Club in Punjab Police Academy (PPA), Phillaur, on September 16, will witness 9 directors general of police (DGPs), 24 additional directors general of police (ADGPs), 13 inspectors general of police (IGPs), 21 deputy inspectors general of police (DIGs), 1 assistant inspector general of Police (AIG) and 8 senior superintendents of police (SSPs) among 92 participants vying for honours. Punjab cadre IPS officer Gurpreet Kaur Deo and CRPF deputy Commandant Tara Yadav will be the only two woman officer in the competition.

As expected the maximum participation (7) is from the host state, followed by 6 each from neighbouring Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, BSF, CRPF and NSG, 5 each from CISF, ITBP and Rajasthan, 4 each from IB, Madhya Pradesh, SSB and West Bengal. Other states and police organizations participating are Assam, Assam Rifles, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, New Delhi, New Delhi (Ministry of Home Affairs – MHA) and Telengana.

Mr. S.K. Sharma, IPS, DGP (Punjab Home Guards, HRD & Community Policing)-cum-Director PPA, Phillaur, told mediapersons that the first day of the tournament is reserved for practice sessions. The remaining two days will witness a stroke play competition over 18 holes, restricted to gazetted officers only. Each state or police organization can field 2 teams, each consisting of 2 players. For the purpose of the tournament, and deciding the team championship, gross score of both the participants of each team shall be taken into consideration.

In addition to the 2 teams, each state, union territory or central police organization is allowed to field 2 additional participants who will be participating for individual prizes. Each participating unit can field a maximum of 6 players. Women players can be included over and above this limit.

The golfers during the tournament must hole out each hole failing which the golfer will be disqualified. Maximum permissible golf handicap will be 18 i.e. if any golfer has a handicap of over 18 and intends to participate his handicap will be treated as 18. In case an organization is unable to field a team of 2 golfers they can field individual golfers, who will be eligible for individual prizes only not the team event.

Mr Sharma said the last two years, Punjab Police has been dominating the tournament. In 2014, the All India tournament was held in Bengaluru (Karnataka) where Border Security Force (BSF) emerged winner in the gross series and National Security Guards were runners up. However in Net series Punjab Police team comprising of Mr. B. Chandrashekhar & Mr. R. S. Khatra were the winners.

In 2013, in Srinagar (J&K) Punjab Police team comprising Mr. S. K. Sharma & Sh. Rupinder Singh had finished the winners in Gross series.

Apart from three prizes – winner, 1^st runner up and 2^nd runner up – each in the gross and net score in both the team and individual events, there will be special prizes like ‘straightest drive’ and ‘nearest to pin’ on both competitive days of the tournament. There will also be special prizes for lady participants and lady guests.

On the first day of the tournament on Sept 16, the practice round will start at 12.30 p.m. which will be followed by the golf rules clinic at 6.30 p.m. After the reception and registration of the participants from 6.30 a.m. onwards on Sept 17, Mr. S.S. Channy, IAS (retd) Chief Information Commissioner, Punjab, will formally inaugurate the tournament at 7.15 a.m. Thereafter, participants will tee off from two different holes and they are expected to complete the course by about 3 p.m. On Sept 18, the tee off for the final round will start at 7.15 a.m. Prize giving ceremony is expected to be held at 3 p.m.

Sequence of Events