The opening day of the Captain vs President’s Cup 2025 at Tollygunge Club came to a thrilling close, with President’s Palmer Pioneers finishing as the leading team. Led by the standout performances of Arnab Basu, Deep Banerjee, and Dinesh Trivedi, the President’s side secured top spot after today’s Stableford format.

Close behind were the Captain’s Woods Warriors, who claimed second place thanks to strong rounds from Rohan Karnani, Dipak Barma, and Deepak Tandon. These two teams will face off in tomorrow’s grand final for the prestigious Captain vs President’s Cup.

Meanwhile, the Vice Captain’s Nicklaus Knights (3rd) and the Vice President’s Snead Strikers (4th) will battle it out for the Challenge Cup in the match play format.

Voices from the Anchors & Leaders

Anant Bajoria (Vice Captain’s Anchor)

Q: What’s your strategy to balance players of different ages and skill levels?
The message to the team is very simple. We are here to win, but more importantly, our strategy has been that we must enjoy each other’s company and have fun on the course. You will see with our pairings that we have mixed players nicely so that everyone gets to bond and have fun on the course. Our strategy is to keep the energy high and the spirits even higher.

Q: What kind of preparation have your players done during the week?
Most of our players have been pretty relaxed during the week. A few have put in a practice round, while a few have hit the range. A member from our team played his practice round and headed straight to the bar to drown his sorrows. We are all looking forward to the weekend.

Eshaan Phadnis (Vice President’s Anchor)

Q: What’s the vibe like in your team’s WhatsApp group—serious strategies or fun banter?
Well, we are fortunate to have the best of both; there are wonderful gents like Vikram and Siddharth who keep us all entertained and the mood light, and then we also have the ones who come up with the pep talks! It’s got us excited and raring to go!

Q: Any rising stars in your team that you’re particularly excited about?
I feel everyone in the team has the potential to shine on a given day. I wouldn’t like to name anyone, but we will definitely see some standout performances.

Mayukh Ray (President’s Anchor)

Q: How did you motivate and bring your team together for this tournament?
My fellow members were looking forward to playing this unique format. Emotions were running high as we were representing the President’s team. Our motto was to have fun and play our best. We brought the team together by trying to reach out to each one of them. My teammate Akash was the main flag bearer. Being my most expensive bet, it was money well spent.

Q: As an anchor, what excites you most—leading from the front or guiding others?
I was an aspiring professional golfer graduating from college. It’s always an honour to lead from the front. I spent time trying to motivate the team by explaining the format and guiding them mentally.

Hitesh Gurtu (Vice Captain)

Q: Looking ahead, do you see this tournament becoming an annual tradition?
Without a doubt. The energy, camaraderie, and sheer passion we’ve seen from over 150 golfers is proof that this event has all the makings of a legacy. It’s more than just a tournament—it’s a celebration of sportsmanship, teamwork, and community. I’d love to see it grow into a much-anticipated annual tradition.

Q: What has been your personal highlight while preparing for this event?
For me, it’s been the incredible spirit of collaboration—watching teams come together, adjusting schedules, handling last-minute changes, and still keeping the mood upbeat. The way everyone pitched in to make this event seamless has been truly inspiring. That, and seeing the excitement build day by day—it’s been electric.

Q: What message would you like to give to the participants before they tee off for the match play?
Play with heart, play with pride. Whether you’re chasing birdies or just soaking in the moment, remember—it’s not just about the scorecard, it’s about the experience. Respect the game, support your teammates, and enjoy every swing. Let’s make it a day to remember.

Q: One word that best describes your team’s spirit going into the tournament:
“Unshakable.” Focused, united, and ready to rise to the occasion—no matter what the course throws at us.

Devesh Daga (Captain’s Anchor)

Q: How important is camaraderie versus competition in an event like this?
It’s TOLLY!! It has to be camaraderie! In an event like this, where we are felicitating the President & the Golf Captain for their outstanding effort and welcoming the Vice President & Vice Captain, bonhomie and fellowship take precedence. Competition is just an excuse to ensure 150-odd golfers play a sport that is a passion for most. Meeting new people, old & young, and acquaintances becoming friends for life—it could not get better. Ask the 4 torch bearers of this event! And it’s big-time competition.

Q: How do you plan to keep team spirit high if matches get tight?
Make less noise (coming of the storm before the calmness), keep calm, and ensure your team is calm. A captain is as good as their team. Have faith in your team, ensure that you have full confidence and motivate them by talking to them (not much). The captain has picked a team knowing that they will come good. Just give them a couple of doses (each player is different, and the captain knows their secrets to boost them) and they shall come good. In the end, the loudest noise should come from the Captain once the team comes through!

Shubhojit Nag (Tournament Committee Member)

Q: Can you share how the format (Stableford + Match Play) helps balance fun and competition?
Stableford keeps it relaxed—it rewards good holes without punishing too harshly for the bad ones—while Match Play brings that edge of head-to-head rivalry. Together, it’s competitive but still fun for everyone.

Q: How does this event help in building camaraderie within the Tolly golfing community?
Because it’s team-focused, you cheer each other on, and end up connecting with golfers you may not usually play with. The format naturally creates bonds. It’s these shared moments—on and off the course—that build the strong sense of camaraderie that makes the Tolly golfing community tighter.

Akash Tantia (Tournament Committee Member)

Q: How complex was the preparation of the draw?
The preparation of the draw for this tournament was indeed a lot of fun. A lot of thought went into it, as in golf, players prefer to play with their own buddies more often than not. Players also have their own time preferences. The draw was made keeping these things in mind as far as possible. We were ably supported by the Protouch Team, our own Golf Department, and a special mention goes to Mr. Deep Banerjee for helping us out in every way possible.

Q: Throw some light on the logistics for golf carts, given the fact that there is a huge demand and limited availability.
We had allocated 20 golf carts to the 4 teams, with 5 carts allocated to each team. Carts were preferably allotted to senior members given the tough monsoon conditions. However, if available, they were also allocated to other golfers who put in a request, wherever possible.

Q: How did you balance your role as an organiser and also a key player of your team?
My role as an organizer has always been made easy by our supremely dedicated Golf Committee. Special mention goes out to our Captain Gugu bhai, our Vice Captain Hitesh bhai and our very own Shubho, who have tirelessly worked to make this tournament a huge success. Within our own team, I had the able support of Mr. Mayukh Ray our Anchor, Mr. Deep Banerjee—the mastermind behind everything—and our President and Team Principal Mr. P.S. Burman.

Closing Remarks

Golf Captain H.S. Bindra added, “A special mention goes to the Tollygunge Club administration for their wholehearted support, to Protouch for their assistance with the tournament, and to our tournament committee and team anchors for their tireless efforts in making this event possible on such a grand scale.”

He also extended heartfelt gratitude to the sponsors—BTL EPC Ltd., Centuryply, and Jayshree Tea—for their invaluable support.

As the dust settles on a spirited opening day, anticipation builds for tomorrow’s match play finals. With pride, camaraderie, and competition all on the line, Day 2 promises to deliver unforgettable moments at Tollygunge Club.