Pune, Aug 23 (IANS) Olympian Udayan Mane, two-time IGPL-leg champion Aman Raj, Aadil Bedi and Tushar Pannu conducted a clinic for junior golfers and club members to kick-start a Caddie Welfare Golf Championship 2026 at The Poona Club Golf Course on Sunday,

The clinic was organised by ATRI Mumbai Garudas GC, currently the No. 1 ranked team in the IGPL League. The clinic served as the curtain-raiser to a championship built around giving back to the caddies who carry the game.

The session was led by two-time IGPL champion Aman Raj and Olympian Udayan Mane, joined by Asian Tour professional Aadil Bedi and breakout talent Tushar Pannu. The four professionals worked with junior golfers and club members on technique, course management and the fundamentals of tournament play, while team owners Rishabh Kishore and Smruti Kishore interacted with young players and their families.

The clinic was followed by a press conference unveiling the Caddie Welfare Golf Championship 2026, with all four professionals available to the media alongside team owners Rishabh Kishore and Smruti Kishore, who spoke about the purpose behind the initiative.

The main event took place on Sunday, with 200 golfers competing in a team scramble format featuring three amateurs and one professional per team, completed by a single handicapper or caddy pro. Every player teed off in support of the caddies who work the course.

Explaining the team’s commitment, Rishabh Kishore, Co-Owner, ATRI Mumbai Garudas GC, said, "Our caddies carry more than our bags; they carry the game itself, often without recognition. Partnering with The Poona Club is our way of putting belief into action, with all four of our players on the ground. Together with our partners, our goal is to build this into a sustainable annual platform where the golfing community can give back to those who give so much to the game."

Placing the initiative within the league’s wider ambitions, Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO, IGPL, added, "Initiatives like the Caddie Welfare Golf Championship reflect exactly what we want the IGPL ecosystem to stand for: professional golf that lifts the entire community around it. Having ATRI Mumbai Garudas GC front this cause alongside The Poona Club sends a strong message about the values our league represents."

The Caddie Welfare Golf Championship 2026 aims to empower local caddies through professional coaching and a 200-player scramble tournament, while establishing an annual platform that honours their crucial role in the sport.

--IANS

bsk/