Written by-  AKSH GUPTA

 

 

He’s India’s most consistent golfer. He’s ranked among the best in Asia. He’s played on the biggest tours across continents.

And yet — for the past six years, Rashid Khan hasn’t been allowed to walk through the gates of the very golf club where his journey began: Delhi Golf Club (DGC).

 

But here’s the thing — he’s not alone.

 

Alongside him stands a quiet brigade of professional golfers who, like him, rose from the caddie sheds, earned their place in India’s golf elite, and were banned together in 2019.

Welcome to the quiet civil war in Indian golf — one that’s no longer so quiet.

 

The Ban That Echoed Across Fairways

 

 

In 2019, DGC imposed a blanket ban on Rashid Khan and a group of caddie-turned-golfers, citing alleged indiscipline. Reports mentioned a scuffle with club staff and a confrontation over access. But was this really about rules — or was it about class?

 

Because while the headlines talked about “behavior,” what insiders whispered was harder to ignore: “They’re not from our kind of background.”

 

Let that sink in.

 

These were players who rose from humble beginnings, picked up clubs as caddies, and went on to represent India — and yet, they were denied the right to return to the same course that shaped their journey.

Among them are names like Shamim Khan, Honey Baisoya, and Kapil Kumar, all professionals with impressive resumes — all banned. All still waiting.

 

A Comeback, A Protest, and a Possible U-Turn

 

Fast forward to 2025. Rashid Khan is still grinding. Still winning. Still uninvited at DGC.
But now, the pressure is mounting.

 

 

The current General Committee of DGC is reportedly open to lifting the ban — allowing the players to return during non-member hours. But not everyone is on board. Former officials are protesting. Some elite members are opposing the move, fearing it will “set a precedent.”

 

Meanwhile, Rashid and his fellow banned pros are preparing for a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding not privilege — just a right to practice on public land meant for promoting golf.

 

The Bigger Picture: Golf’s Gatekeeping Problem

 

Let’s not sugarcoat this. This isn’t just about Rashid Khan. This is about whether Indian golf wants to grow — or guard its gates.

 

Because here’s a hard truth:
You can’t grow a sport when you’re locking out its best stories.

 

These aren’t just talented players — they’re the face of Indian golf’s grassroots success, players who didn’t come from wealth, but rose through sweat, skill, and self-belief.

And yet, here we are — six years of silence, now finally breaking into a public reckoning.

 

The Verdict Is Coming — And So Is the Conversation

 

This week, DGC’s General Committee is expected to take a call. The golfing community is watching. So is the media. And so are hundreds of young caddies across India — kids with talent, watching this unfold and wondering:

 

If I make it, will I still be shut out?

 

One thing is clear: This is more than a club dispute. It’s a test of Indian golf’s values.
A test of whether we uplift our heroes, or only honor those who fit a certain mold.

 

 

Rashid Khan may have been banned from a club — but he was never banned from greatness.
And now, he’s swinging back — not just for himself, but for every professional golfer still standing outside that gate.