Kolkata, 23-11-2021

ICC RCGC Open Golf Championship Powered by Urbana returns for its second edition

The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) along with the Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC) and the TATA Steel Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) will be staging the second edition of the ICC RCGC Open Golf Championship Powered by Urbana; Prize purse of Rs. 40 lakhs; Field to feature defending champion Mithun Perera along with other leading professionals Manu Gandas, Yuvraj Singh Sandhu, Om Prakash Chouhan, Akshay Sharma, Shamim Khan, Mukesh Kumar

The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) along with the Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC) and the TATA Steel Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) will be staging the second edition of the ICC RCGC Open Golf Championship Powered by Urbana at the historic RCGC in Kolkata from November 24 – 28, 2021. The tournament offers a prize purse worth Rs. 40 lakh and witnesses the return of the TATA Steel PGTI to the revered RCGC after two years.

The tournament features some of the top Indian professionals such as leading players in the PGTI Order of Merit Manu Gandas, Yuvraj Singh Sandhu,Om PrakashChouhan, Akshay Sharma, Amardeep Malik, M Dharma and Kshitij Naveed Kaul, as well as the experiencedShamim Khan and Mukesh Kumar, to name a few. The international challenge will be led by Sri LankansMithun Perera (defending champion), Anura Rohana, N Thangaraja and K Prabagaran, the Bangladeshis Md Zamal Hossain Mollah, Badal Hossain, Md Sayum, Md Dulal Hossain and Md Akbar Hossain. The local challenge will be led by Kolkata-based professionals such as former PGTI Order of Merit champion Shankar Das, former Indian Open champion Feroz Ali Mollah and other leading players such as Sunit Chowrasia, Divyanshu Bajaj and Mohammad Sanju.

In its role as a catalyst for economic growth, ICC is always looking for opportunities to create opportunities where business relationships can be forged. Historically golf is most associated with business because the nature of the game allows for networking with fellow business people one is playing with. ICC is very happy to organize and spearhead this golf tournament which is in its second edition. The first edition which was held before the pandemic was very successful and we are confident that this experience also will be equally fruitful.

Royal Calcutta Golf Club is the second oldest golf club outside the British Isles. Golf in India is synonymous with Royal Calcutta Golf Club. ICC – RCGC Open Golf Championshipis back in town after a hiatus of one year due to the pandemic. RCGC welcomes all Pro golfers coming from across the country and the neighbouring countries. RCGC as the host club is also fielding a team of Pros and Amateurs. The course has been maintained at a very high level in spite of a very wet and prolonged monsoon. We are sure all players will enjoy the challenge of playing at RCGC course.

Mr. Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO, PGTI, said, “We thank the ICC and RCGC for their continued support tothe event even in such tough times. The support of sponsors such as the ICC has played a major role in getting the tour back on track after the forced break due to the pandemic earlier this year. We look forwardto this event growing into one of the biggest attractions in Kolkata, one of India’s leading golfing centres,in the future.We’re excited about returning to the RCGC, one of the top championship venues in the country, after a gap of two years.”

The world-renowned Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC), affectionately known as the ‘Royal’, is steeped in history, as it is the oldest golf club outside of the British Isles, having been established in 1829. It is widely regarded as the founder of the game in the country and has staged some of the most prestigious tournaments on Indian soil, including the Indian Open and the All India Amateur Championship. The 7014-yard course favours long hitters and inaccurate shots are punished severely. The large number of water hazards makes this course a real challenge to master.

Picture Caption:

L - R: Mr. Prashant Jalan, Executive Committee Member, ICC, Mr. Uttam Singh Mundy CEO, PGTI, Mr. Pradeep Sureka, President Elect, ICC, Mr Rohan Ghosh. Captain, RCGC, Mr. Indrajit Bhalotia, Golf Convenor. RCGC and Col. D Singhal, CEO, RCGC, at the press meet for ICC RCGC Open Golf Championship - second edition