Shadow Hunter claim the inaugural OB Legacy Trophy as golfers celebrate a season of competition, friendship and community support.
Old friendships, memories of departed companions and a pair of closely contested finishes shaped the conclusion of the inaugural Old Buddies Golf season at Kurmitola Golf Club on October 16.
The grand final and closing gala brought golfers and their families together to celebrate a competition that had kept 16 teams engaged over several months. GolfHouse supported the season’s grand final, joining an occasion that combined sporting achievement with recognition of the people who have contributed to Bangladesh’s golfing community.
Team Shadow Hunter claimed the OB Legacy Trophy, finishing one stroke ahead of The Master Slicers. The Plate competition was equally close: Bunker Busters returned a net score of 151 to edge Par-Tee Animals by a single shot.
While the results settled the season’s rivalries, the closing celebrations offered space for reflection. Tributes to former companions, recollections of rounds played in difficult weather and affectionate accounts of the season’s lighter moments gave the evening its nostalgic character.
In his welcome address, organiser Brig Gen Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah retd. remembered four departed members of the fraternity: Abdus Samad Ranju, Major Nurul Afsar, Air Commodore Murad and Brig Gen Gayasuddin Chaudhary, BB. Their contributions and companionship, he recalled, remained part of the community’s shared history.
The idea behind Old Buddies Golf had itself taken years to develop. Sanaullah traced its origins to a desire to bring together golfers who had played, promoted and served the game in different capacities.
That ambition gathered momentum during a conversation with Farid Uddin Khan, affectionately known as Rumi Bhai, in April. Khan offered to sponsor an inaugural gathering, helping turn a longstanding idea into a regular competition.
Sixteen teams entered the first season, divided into four groups. Five monthly rounds from May to September established the standings, with four teams progressing to contest the OB Legacy Trophy and the remaining 12 competing for the Plate.
Both are perpetual trophies, intended to preserve the competition’s history as they pass from one season’s winners to the next.
The welcome address recalled the experiences that had already begun to give the tournament its identity: summer heat, heavy rain, late-night kacchi gatherings and captains trying to assemble their strongest teams. Lively WhatsApp exchanges and prolonged discussions over rules ensured that the competition continued to occupy its participants between rounds.
“We may compete fiercely on the course, but our friendship extends far beyond it,” Sanaullah said.
Individual awards recognised performances in the final and across the season. Brig Gen A H Miah received the Consistent Player of the Season award with a gross aggregate of 288, followed by Lt Col Shahid Mostafa with 313.
Maj Gen Ashik took the seasonal Impact Player award with a net aggregate of 258, while Shaila Ahsan received the second award in that category with 266. Lt Col Kh Abdul Wahed was recognised as the Impeccable Senior Buddy, and Shahinsha Rizvi received the Impeccable Veteran Buddy honour.
For the final round, Saad Rahim Chowdhury earned the Steady Player award with a gross score of 38, while Brig Gen Md Sanaul Haque received the Impact Player award with a net score of 32.
The fraternity also recognised contributions beyond competitive results. Lt Gen Khan Firoz Ahmed received the October OB Trendsetter Award for his work in golf development, while Asif Ibrahim received the OB Fraternity Award for his service to the golfing community.
Support for caddies, ball boys and their families formed another significant part of the programme. Alongside recognition of long-serving support staff was an appeal to assist the family of the late Army Golf Club caddie Tofail.
The programme also included education grants totalling Tk 72,000 for four children of Kurmitola’s support staff through The Optimist initiative, associated with Maj Gen Abdus Salam Chowdhury.
GolfHouse’s support for the grand final complemented the occasion’s emphasis on participation and fellowship. Cultural performances, dinner and a lucky draw rounded off a season whose memories were also to be preserved in a yearbook and digital album.
For the inaugural champions, the trophies provided a lasting record of success. For the wider Old Buddies fraternity, the season had begun a shared history—one shaped by competition, companionship and the wish to keep returning to the course together.
