Life's lessons on a golf course

It’s rare to find someone who is not even 40 and has been playing golf for close to two decades. Sanjay Sharma, director, Swarovski Elements, however is an exception. Sharma was introduced to the game by his father when he was 10. He recalls, “My father was an avid golfer and thanks to him I picked up the game quite early in my life” None of his friends were into golf and he was the odd one out. He has played almost every sport “apart from the ones on the horseback” but it was golf which he found the most intriguing. Initially, it was an exercise to spend time with his father who used to be quite busy and “golf was a way to spend time with him.” Much to his surprise, he took to golf quite naturally.

 

Sharma believes that golf is one sport which helps you not only physically but also mentally. “You aren’t only playing against an opponent but also against yourself.” The desire to improve with each shot is something which makes you mentally tough. He says, “On the golf course, you can never give up. Unlike other sports, you can’t rely on the opponent to finish a round of golf learnt on the golf course not to give up.” That is something he has learnt on the golf course. “Be it a game of golf or in your personal life, there will be ups and downs and you just have to fight it out and do better.”

Sharma, who has a golfing handicap of four, started playing the sport at an amateur level. Despite professional commitments and the sport not being too financially rewarding in those days, he pursued it as a passion.

He has played golf at many courses over the world. But he finds the Delhi Golf Course one of the best. “It is an old-fashioned course where a bad shot penalises you the most.” And he has a lot of childhood memories with the course. The Royal Swings in Srinagar is another favourite of his. Among the courses abroad, he enjoyed playing a lot at the Black Mountain golf course in Thailand . It’s quite a challenging course, he says. He finds time to play golf twice a month. “It’s more than a hobby for me,” says the 37-year-old.

Sanjay Sharma 
Director, Swarovski Elements