The Chandigarh Golf Club (CGC) will host an auction for the upcoming 5th edition of the Chandigarh Golf League (CGL) on May 31. The day will not only witness auctioning of golfers to various teams, but will also mark the official entry of three new teams, adding 48 players to this year’s CGL edition.
Some major changes, including reduction in the number of players in a team from 18 to 16, improving the handicap for better opportunities and mandatory inclusion one senior lady and one golfer above 75 years in the core of each team, will be seen this time. Last week, The Tribune had reported the management’s decision of adding three teams to this year’s CGL.
The names of the new teams will be revealed after the auction, as the committee has decided to keep Rs 15 lakh as the base price for one team. The bid is expected to get higher amount.
“The new teams will be revealed at the auction to be held at 6 pm on May 31 on the club premises, where the new teams will be revealed. This accounts to participation of nearly 400 golfers, and also increase in the prize pool, which will be announced after the auction,” said Dr Atul Sachdeva, coordinator, CGL.
“We want to level the playing field for everybody and have recommended some changes, so that the event becomes equitable. The single handicap has been reduced to five (three core and two from auction), the number of players down to 16 in each team from existing 18, the core team will have 10 players and auction will be held for six players with teams having a mandatory presence of one lady golfer and one golfer above 75 years in the core group. These are some major changes, which have been approved,” added Sachdeva.
“The change in the rules has been made to make the game more exciting. This year, the CGL will be bigger with the addition of three teams, which will allow participation of more members,” said Dr GS Kochhar, last year’s CGL organising committee member.
The CGL is an 18-hole matchplay event, and 12 teams qualify for the knock-outs. The four teams receive a direct entry into the quarterfinals. However, this year, one more stage will be added to the knock-out stage.
With the addition of three teams, 48 more members will be picked this year, making the competition between 24 teams consisting of nearly 400 golfers in action. In the last edition, after one team pulled out of the competition, an open auction was held to decide on the 21st team. The highest bidder (representing a real estate developer) paid more than Rs 71 lakh, including GST, to confirm their participation in the league. This time, the auction amount is expected to go higher, as it involves three new teams.
In the last edition, the teams were divided into two three groups. Group A comprised Chandigarh Gladiators, Golf Masters, Green Gators, Hunting Hawks, Moksha Royals, Soaring Eagles; Group B had Captain’s 18, Empire, GB legends, Golf Ninjas, Punjab Aces, Seven Iron, Swinging Samurai and Group C comprised Canam Raptors, Fairway Comets, Partee Panthers, Pirates of the Greens, Signature Chiefs, Tee Birds, The Mulligans. After the auction, the groups will be revised.
Mulligans had defeated Punjab Aces in a keenly contested final to clinch the CGL-2025 trophy, while the Captain’s 18 finished third after beating Sultans of Swing 5-2 in the bronze medal play-off.
