Joy Chakravarty, a former Media Manager of the Indian PGA Tour and a Senior Golf Content Specialist, is a seasoned professional and humble man. And he is on a mission to spread the joy of golf.
‘If you’re caught on a golf course during a storm and are afraid of lightning, hold up a 1-iron. Not even God can hit a 1-iron.’ – Lee Buck Trevino.
I am no Rudyard Kipling, but, If there’s ever anything that best depicts the mundane silence that’s offered in golf, then what best but the aforementioned lines suit? Be it ‘tis personnel dressed up as officers in charge (of the tee and the birdie), armored themselves with crochets offering warmth and affection from the ever swinging wind, or the plainest trees that sometimes dance in tandem to the patient moving of the caddies … golf has everything.
Joy Chakravarty (photo, Sportslounge)
Scaffolding through many a fairway, bunker, and putt, I caught up recently with Joy Chakravarty. You can follow Joy on Twitter @TheJoyofGolf
Ravi: Firstly, thank you for giving your valuable time to The Sports Column. Let’s begin by having you tell us about your background and what brought you into Golf.
Joy Chakravarty: I was a good student growing up in absolutely interior regions of India, moving from one small coal mine town to another as dad was a mining engineer. I could have become what every Indian parent wanted – a doctor or an engineer. But even as my interests shifted from one career to another, the drama and emotions of sports always held their appeal for me.
I did my MBA in Marketing from Nagpur University and got a good break in the corporate world. But four weeks into that career, I realized it wasn’t for me. I had already started writing on various youth-related topics in college for local newspapers, which I wanted to pursue. So, I resigned, moved back to Nagpur, and joined the newspaper as a reporter at exactly one-third the salary. The money wasn’t much, but there was no beating the sheer exhilaration I’d feel seeing my byline in the newspaper or somebody complimenting me on a good story.
I worked with The Indian Express in Mumbai as a sports reporter when I started covering golf and immediately fell in love with the sport. My sports editors Mr. V Krishnaswamy and H Natarajan, were very supportive and encouraging, which made it easier to get more stories. That led to the newly-formed Indian PGA Tour to approach me and become their Media Manager. I have been smitten by the sport ever since!
Ravi: It is not so regular and common for us Indians to grow professionally in golf at any level. Who were the biggest inspirations for your career? What has been your key to success in journalism?
Courtesy Golfing Indian
Joy Chakravarty: I am the kind of person who wants to know the ins and outs of anything that I am involved with. I like asking a lot of questions. Once I started covering golf, I found that most golfers were amazing human beings. They gave me all the time I needed and patiently answered all of my questions. That was a huge change from covering cricket, where Ranji Trophy-level players think of themselves as prima donnas–even to this day.
My biggest inspiration was that I’d see how much blood, sweat, and tears that golfers put into their game and the ‘apathy’ the media had for the sport–only because they were not well-versed with the intricacies of the game or aware of players’ backstories. So I wanted to make these inspirational stories known to everyone.
Ravi: The golf scoreboard, to us Indians and a few across, remains like a paradox intertwined. In layman terms, can you make us understand how scoring is done in golf?
Joy Chakravarty: Golf is a sport where you are faced with a golf course, which usually has 18 holes. Each hole comprises the tee area, from where you hit the first shot to a flag inside a cup to where you finish the hole. Depending on the length of the hole, they are par-3, par-4, or par-5 holes. You are expected to take no more than three shots on shorter holes and, on longer holes, no more than five shots. The total of one round of 18 holes is usually 72. The objective is to finish the round in as few shots as possible. Whenever a player takes one shot less than the par, he makes a birdie. If he takes one shot more, it is a bogey.
Ravi: What are some common myths about women in golf you wish to bust? How did things change for you from the day you began covering the sport to date?
Joy Chakravarty: There are so many myths!. The most common one is that women’s golf is not interesting to watch. But, come on! The only thing these ladies lack is the driving distance compared to men. But, even that is changing with young girls like Maria Fassi and Bianca Pagdanganan regularly hitting it over 300 yards. Otherwise, they probably have more finesse around the greens, and I believe many women enjoy their rounds more than their male counterparts.
I was at the Els Club Dubai a few days ago, and I saw one of the young amateurs hitting balls. I went back to the club almost six-seven hours later, and there she was…still practicing. That is the kind of work ethic many of these young girls have. I am sure this dedication will only get more intense as they become professionals.
Ravi: Celebrities agree to an interview to promote their most recent work. How do you balance the work questions with the personal questions?
Courtesy Facebook
Joy Chakravarty: Even though I’m not too fond of staged interviews, the truth is that it has become a norm and many journalists feel they would not get access to the athlete if not for such occasions. If it is a PR-managed interview, I will clarify that while I am willing to plug the sponsor in some way, there will be more golf-related questions than product-related questions.
Ravi: How do you delve into those personal questions that they might not want to answer?
Joy Chakravarty: It all comes down to building relationships and trust. Most Indian golfers, including several international golfers, don’t mind talking to me on most issues because they know I am not after sensational stories. But, of course, it helps that they all know me as a serious sports journalist. So if I have to do special stories, I’d somehow find a way to speak to the player.
Ravi: What are some common myths about the journalism profession?
Joy Chakravarty: That we have the best job in the world! And I say so because it’s not a myth; it’s a reality! How else can you explain a young boy growing in coal mine towns of Bastar area getting to do something that has always been his interest, and then visiting magical places like Melbourne Cricket Ground for the ICC Cricket World Cup and the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club?
Ravi: What is your favorite course on tour?
Joy Chakravarty: My favorite golf course on the Tour–and I guess most golf fans would also name the same–is Augusta National Golf Club, the home of the Masters. I have been lucky enough to cover it (the first major championship of the year) multiple times. But every year I return, I feel like a kid in the candy shop. The whole place is as magical as Hogwarts! I love the tournament’s sense of history and tradition. In addition, the golf course itself is strategically designed and blessed by nature.
Ravi: How does one select a caddie for a tournament? Can you talk to us about the thought process of it?
Courtesy Karnataka Golf Association
Joy Chakravarty: I think the most important thing that players consider when choosing caddies is the ability to talk to each other and have implicit trust and faith in each other. Of course, it helps when caddies are good golfers and can offer advice. Still, players look for someone who can motivate them intelligently and knowledgeably– challenging their decision at times–and backing their judgment once the decision is made on the golf course.
Ravi: Do you participate in any other sport, recreation, or fitness activities?
Joy Chakravarty: I used to be a national-level cricket player in my school/college days, but I no longer play cricket or any other sport, to be honest. Even golf has been limited after I suffered a case of ‘frozen shoulders’ in both shoulders. It is a lot better now, and I hope to play golf a lot more once the weather cools down in Dubai. I try and walk my 10,000 steps, but that is again curtailed a bit by the summer. My favorite pastime activity is solving Sudoku, Killer Sudoku, and other numbers games.
Ravi: Last but surely not least, we are pleased about your success so far. What plans do you have for times ahead? And what plans do you have for nurturing young talent?
Joy Chakravarty: I do my best to encourage other writers, especially youngsters, especially if they try to write on golf. I have never shied away from giving out the knowledge that I have acquired. I love teaching young people, so I also host creative writing classes that I started during the pandemic. It is something I greatly enjoy!
Heart touching conversation