You won the Club Championship at Kurmitola Golf Club this year. Could you give us more details into the tournament?
Basically my experience helped me a lot. Even though I didn’t do too well in the other events, the experience here got me through. The early stages were not that challenging, but from the quarterfinal stage, it got a bit difficult. In the final, I beat my friend, Mohammad Rafi, who is the current player of the year.
So how did golf start for you?
It all started with my father. I used to go with him to the golf course in 2005-06 when he was posted in Chattogram. By 2007, I started playing competitive golf and by 2008, I got into the junior national team.
So the transition was pretty quick?
Well, it was. Around that time I was selected by the BGF and KGC to play in World Junior Golf Championship in Thailand because of my good form. And that worked as a big motivation for me. So you’ve been playing for a decade and a half. You’re a pretty experienced golfer now. Indeed, I started early which is what you need to do well in golf. The earlier you start the better it is for getting into the groove and getting your body synced with the game.
Tasvir Hasan Majumder,
the current club
champion of Kurmitola
Golf Club, shares his
experience of meeting
Tiger Woods and talks
about his experiences
as an amateur golfer
for a decade and a
half, during a chat with
TheGolfHouse.
You said your father took you to golf, but you must have had some mentor too, right?
I was fortunate to be part of an R&A course here in 2007-08, but for a mentor, I must mention two names: Professional golfer Shakhawat Hossain Sohel and my caddie, Awlad Hossain Rana, who is also a professional. Since your father was posted to many cantonments, didn’t you face trouble coping with new people and new courses?
I always love challenges. For example, when my dad was posted in Ghatail, I used to come to Savar. People said it would be tough for me. It indeed was tough in the beginning, but once I mastered it, I won seven consecutive events there. And I was always hooked into the atmosphere of the golf courses and made many friends there. So adopting was not a big challenge for me.
Were you into other sports too?
Mostly basketball and golf. I was in my school basketball team.
So how long did you represent the junior national team?
From 2008 to 2012. During this time, I played in Junior World Golf Championship in Thailand four times, played in Team World Golf Championship, played in the Asia Pacific World Golf Championship in India, and of course, the Junior British Open in Manchester.
The last one must have been a special experience for you?
It was. It’s difficult to express in words, different from anything else. There were so many spectators that it felt like a top-level professional event. And then the weather and the atmosphere. It was cold and rainy plus windy and then I had to be my own caddy. In fact, we were trained on the weather and on carrying kits before we went there.
Since you are doing a job now, is turning professional on your agenda?
To be honest, I don’t have any plans like that yet. My family has always been supportive on golf but I also want to establish myself in my career. When I will feel I have nothing more left to achieve as an amateur, I may turn pro. RT Porosh, in this regard, is my role model. He has played in all sorts of amateur events and won everything as an amateur. He became a pro only sven he hit a constant level of performance to sustain as a pro. Since I have
a full-time job, I only play on weekends and it’s not easy to turn a pro when you can’t commit completely. But I have this desire that I want to play at least one event as a pro, no matter when it comes, once I’ve achieved all as an amateur.
What is your plan for the next season?
I have three target. 1. If I can, I want to repeat my club championship. 2. I will try to compete for the player of the year. 3. If I can play in the Asian Tour event that will be held here. Last time the Player of the Year and the Club Champion were selected for the Asian Tour. So If I get the chance, it will be a dream come true for me. You must have had many special or fond memories related with golf. If you say fond memories, it would be the friendships I have forged on golf courses. We helped out each other and lot and still stay in touch. Now if you ask about the most memorable experience, that is undoubtedly being in the Junior British Open and meeting Tiger Woods.
Did you have the opportunity to talk to him?
We were given access to the British Open Pro event after our tour tournament. Some of us were introduced to Woods when he was leaving the practice range. He asked me where I was from and asked me how big golf is in Bangladesh. He said he was looking forward to seeing more players from the country. Seeing an idol like Tiger Woods from close and getting to talk to him was a big inspiration for me.
