Musawath Shams Zahedee, Member of the Board of Directors at Radiant Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and a passionate golfer, reflects on his two-decade-long journey with the game. From his early days as a student discovering golf to winning club championships and shaping his leadership philosophy, he shares honest insights, memorable experiences, and his thoughts on the future of golf in Bangladesh.
Do you remember your very first round of golf, why it was, and how you felt?
Golf entered my life long before I became an entrepreneur. I started playing in 2002 when I was just a student. From that moment, golf became a part of my life and has stayed with me ever since. My very first round of golf was probably 22-23 years ago. It was at the Kurmitola Golf Club. How it was-it’s very difficult to remember, but what I can recollect is losing quite a few balls in the water. So that’s something I’ll remember and that’s something I’ll remember not to repeat. So that’s how it is.
What initially attracted you to the game, the challenge, the lifestyle, or the community?
To the young professionals, I would say, Don’t give up. I’ve noticed that when the going gets tough, many lose their motivation and drive. It’s important to keep pushing through. Whether today or tomorrow, a breakthrough will come.
The challenge, the lifestyle, or the community. Among those, if I have to prioritize, I would probably say the challenge because it also goes hand in hand with frustration and aggression as well. So definitely when anybody starts golf, it’s not easy, it’s quite tricky, quite difficult, but that also triggers you to try to give your best, to master the sport the best you can.
How would you describe the way golf has evolved in Bangladesh since you first started playing?
Golf has come a long way since I first got involved in 2002. Looking back to that time and comparing it to today, the sport has seen significant growth, particularly in the realm of professional golf. The progress has been remarkable, and the golfing landscape in Bangladesh is shaping up nicely. If this momentum continues, I believe the future of golf here holds great promise, leading to further development and opportunities in the sport.
Most people say golf reflects one’s personality and values. How has the game shaped your leadership style or business philosophy?
In short, golf has really taught me about resilience. It requires patience and the ability to bounce back from tough shots, always striving to make the best of every situation. This has definitely strengthened my resilience.
What parallels do you draw between running a successful business and playing a good round of golf?
I’d say it all comes down to planning. Both in business and on the golf course, having a solid game plan is crucial. Just as in golf, where each hole and shot requires a thoughtful strategy to achieve a great round, a thorough plan is key in business, too.
How has golf helped you build or reinforce your discipline and mental focus?
Tremendously. Because in golf, as any golfer will say, when you hit a bad shot, almost immediately, you want to leave the golf course and go home. But you have to fight through, you have to persevere, and you have to bring out the best. So, that also goes very much hand in hand with business and in life. So, in good times, in bad times, you have to have that deep vision to pull it off and pull it through.
This game has made such a deep imprint on me that for a few weeks or so, if I don’t play golf, I start to feel that everything is kind of getting hazy. So, in that way, golf gives me clarity.
What’s your approach to handling frustration or failure in the course and in business?
Approach to handling frustration and failure. Well, there is a saying that is bad time won’t stay longer. So, that quote motivates me quite a lot as well. That, okay, maybe you are having a bad few holes, it’s not going to be forever. The sun will eventually shine. So, on that note, that helps me quite a bit to go through the bad times in golf.
Over the years, you must have played on many courses. Which one has led to the strongest impression on you and why?
If I have to pick one course, I will probably pick the Dubai Creek Golf and Country Club. Because I really like the scenic view of the course. It’s an ocean side course and it’s very, picturesque.
Could you share one unforgettable golfing memory? Perhaps around a shot or a tournament memory that still inspires you?
What inspires me are the club championship wins and the player of the year wins. Because these two are two of the biggest titles you can win in a season. So, that really inspires me to keep going and strive for more. And, a fond memory has to be my only hole-in-one. I have played golf for 23 years, but there is only one hole-in-one in my life. So, I am still trying to add more. But, yeah, that was a very special moment.
Who are the people you have most enjoyed playing with? Any mentors or companions who have influenced you?
I would definitely have to say my friends. With whom from my junior days, I started playing golf. Unfortunately, many of them are scattered all over the world now. So, I miss those days. So, definitely the friends who helped me continue and pick up the game more and more.
You have been a mentor to TheGolfHouse Magazine. What inspired you?
When TheGolfHouse first started, I remember it was like anything else. It had a very small footprint. And, when I first got introduced to TheGolfHouse, the whole magazine, the whole activities they do with golf, I liked the overall concept. They are taking a very positive and proactive approach to golf. And, they are representing golf to Bangladesh and to the world, for that matter. In a very different and unique way, which I felt is going to have a very valuable impact. So, that attracted me quite a bit to be involved and to support TheGolfHouse to the best of my ability.
How do you view TheGolfHouse’s contribution to the growth of golf in Bangladesh over the past decade?
TheGolfHouse has made a lot of contributions to the growth of golf with their PR activities, with their tournaments. So, golf has gained a lot of exposure. And, we have seen a very large number of positive responses to golf as well.
Looking back, what changes in the golf community have you witnessed since TheGolfHouse began its journey into the public eye?
I would say the number of tournaments has increased. The style of the tournaments has increased. Also, the different concepts of tournaments and the game. And, also, the activities outside the regular tournaments. Here, TheGolfHouse has a very strong initiation in that. So, I would say that ten years ago, it was not like that. So, TheGolfHouse has inspired a new culture of golf and how to enjoy golf.
As TheGolfHouse celebrates its 10th anniversary, what message would you like to share with its readers, partners, and the next generation of golfers?
The main message I would like to say is that it is quite hard to believe that ten years have passed since TheGolfHouse started, it literally feels like yesterday. And, ten years have passed very quickly. But this is not the end. This is only the beginning. And, I wish TheGolfHouse the very best. And, Inshallah, TheGolfHouse will continue to thrive next 100 years.
What do you think the future of golf in Bangladesh looks like, especially in terms of youth participation and development?
Well, that is very tricky to say. Because, in the future, it is very difficult to predict the future under any circumstances. But, the way I see it recently, at least I can see that a lot of young golfers are coming into the game. So, that is always a very good sign. We always inspire, and we always try to attract young golfers. So, if there is such a continuation, then it has a very bright future in terms of development and involvement of golfers. So, it has a very bright future.
If you could tell one thing about how golf is perceived or played in our country, what would it be?
There is a misconception that golf is a very expensive sport. But in Bangladesh, that is not the case. So, there are a lot of people who think that golf is not attracted to golf clubs. So, that thinking has to change. Also, a lot of people think that golf is a very boring game. For five hours, you are in the field, you are hitting a ball. You are trying to put a ball in the hole. It is not as happening or dynamic as football or cricket. So, to them, I would say, just play one round of golf with your friends. Just like me, you will be stuck with it forever. And, you will never come back to the golf course again. So, either way, your misconception will go away.
If I have to pick one course, I will probably pick the Dubai Creek Golf and Country Club. Because I really like the scenic view of the course. It’s an ocean-side course and it’s very, picturesque.
What advice would you give to the young professionals who are discovering golf as both a sport and a lifestyle?
To the young professionals, I would say, Don’t give up. I’ve noticed that when the going gets tough, many lose their motivation and drive. It’s important to keep pushing through. Whether today or tomorrow, a breakthrough will come.
How do you personally balance the demands of business and the serenity of golf?
Not as much as I like to. Because it is very difficult to make time for golf. But, just for the love of the game, I end up making up time for the game. And, it is a dynamic balance, because I don’t have any fixed schedule. I play golf whenever and wherever I can.
What does the game of golf mean to you today, after all these years on and off the course?
Simply, it is something that I cannot live without. This game has made such a deep imprint on me that for a few weeks or so, if I don’t play golf, I start to feel that everything is kind of getting hazy. So, in that way, golf gives me clarity.
What would you like to share with the readers and partners of TheGolfHouse for its 10th anniversary?
To the partners, I would say, thank you and congratulations for supporting TheGolfHouse. And, to the readers, I would say that read the magazine more. It has some wonderful insights. It has the latest insights about golf. Hopefully, any page will inspire you to pick up the game and get more involved with it.
