September 2013, New Delhi, India: The Royal Thai Embassy, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thai Airways International, Caddies Welfare Trust (CWT) and Delhi Golf Club came together to organize a Golf Tournament on 7th September 2013 in New Delhi, in order to raise fund for the welfare and benefits of Caddies in India.

The golf tournament was held in the morning at the Delhi Golf Club, followed by a Gala Dinner and an Award Presentation ceremony in the evening. The event aimed to bring together at least 400 golfers.

Golf is fast becoming one of the most popular sports globally with an appeal that stretches from the wide-eyed adolescent to the ageing retiree. Recognising this new phenomenon India too has joined the fray, with golf courses mushrooming all over the country to accommodate the growing tribe of golfers. As golfers are well aware, the caddy is an integral part of a round of golf and for many golfers an indispensible ally.

However, except for a very few private golf courses, the caddy is essentially a daily wage earner, who only gets paid when he gets a round to caddy and has no income when the course is closed, when it rains heavily or he falls sick. It is a well known fact that the caddies in general are having great difficulties sustaining themselves and their families.

In August 2011, some concerned golfers got together, to form the Caddies Welfare Trust (CWT), with the aim of trying to address this issue and help caddies, pan-India, in whatever way we can. Steered by its Chairman, Siddharth Shriram, whose passion and commitment to the game is unprecedented, the CWT has undertaken, with the funds generated through donation and sponsorship, several activities that are beginning to impact these most necessary, yet needy individuals. 

With Life Insurance as a pre-requisite to be eligible for assistance the CWT has provided Health Insurance policies to over one hundred Caddies and their families and, funds permitting, hope to cover all five hundred currently registered at the Delhi Golf Club, in its first phase, targetting other golf clubs in phase two.

Eye and Dental Camps have been most successully conducted at the Delhi Golf Club with spectacles, surgeries and other treatments being provided. General Health Camps, in conjunction with Max Foundation are in the offing with efforts underway to provide the maximum amount of free medicines to caddies during these Health Camps.

Monetary assistance is being provided to caddies who fall sick and are unable to attend to their duties. 

Sweaters were distributed to caddies in golf clubs in Delhi, Chandigarh & Calcutta in 2012/13 winter & the same is being planned for the winter later this year 

The CWT has the ultimate target of reaching a Corpus Fund of Rs 5 crores, after which they expect to be more or less fully funded with the interest from the Corpus allowing them to run the Trust activities.

To help achieve the Corpus the inaugural CWT CHARITY MEMBERS GOLF TOURNAMENT was held on Saturday, 7th September, 2013 at the Delhi Golf Club, which is the first Club to come on board to assist the Trusts’ endeavour to raise funds. 

The event was conducted in two parts a) The CWT Charity Golf Tournament and b) The CWT Gala Charity Evening to which all members were eligible attend, along with sponsors, donors and other well-wishers. Several leading corporates and organisations had come forward including the chief sponsors Thai Airways and Tourism Authority of Thailand, the DLF Foundation, Honda Power Products, USHA, Genpact, AVL, India Bulls, Sudhir Gensets, Livpure, the Ghei Family, Taylormade, Coca-Cola, Pernod and others.

The Ceremonial Tee off for the event was by HE Pisan Manawapat, The Ambassador of the Royal Embassy of Thailand, at 7.30 am on Saturday, 7th September. His Excellency also agreed to be the Chief Guest at the CWT Charity Gala Dinner the same evening.

TAT has been promoting Thailand as a Golf Paradise and has appointed India’s ace golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar to be their Brand Ambassador for Golf tourism. Thai Airways International has been promoting the airline as a “Golf Friendly Airline” by waiving off fee related to Golf Bag on all Thai Airways/THAI Smile routes originating from India to Thailand in selected classes till 31st October 2013.