How a franchise co-owned by GTM Group and Harbhajan Singh won India’s first IPL-style golf league at Aamby Valley
Introduction
In February 2013, Indian golf tried something it had never done before. Taking inspiration from the Indian Premier League in cricket, organisers staged the Golf Premier League (GPL), a franchise-based, floodlit and televised tournament with a total purse of US$400,000. Eight city and state-themed teams, each built through a player auction, competed over four days at Aamby Valley. When the last putts dropped on Sunday, 10 February 2013, the Uttarakhand Lions, led by former Open champion Darren Clarke, had won the title by a single stroke.
For GTM Group, one of Delhi-NCR’s established real estate developers, the win was more than a sporting result. GTM was a co-owner of the Uttarakhand Lions, and the title remains a proud chapter in the group’s story of backing talent, teamwork and excellence beyond real estate.
The Golf Premier League at a Glance
| Tournament | Golf Premier League (GPL), inaugural edition |
| Dates | 7 to 10 February 2013 |
| Venue | Aamby Valley golf course, Maharashtra (reported by news agencies as near Pune) |
| Total prize money | US$400,000 |
| Winner’s cheque | US$200,000 |
| Teams | Eight franchises |
| Format | Team stroke play, three rounds of 14 holes each, played in daylight and under floodlights |
| Broadcast | Televised |
| Winners | Uttarakhand Lions |
| Winning score | 34-under 406, one stroke clear of the next teams |
Why the League Was Created
Cricket’s IPL had shown that a short, loud, team-based format could pull in new audiences, and it inspired similar Twenty20 ventures in countries such as Australia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The GPL’s organisers wanted to do the same for golf. Instead of the traditional four rounds of 18 holes, they cut each round to 14 holes and added night golf, with the aim of making the sport quicker and more watchable. One organiser summed up the idea as short, sharp and snappy.
Players were not simply invited. They were bought at an auction held in Mumbai in January 2013, in which franchises bid for a pool of 32 international golfers. This borrowed directly from the IPL model and gave every team a financial stake in its line-up.
The Venue: Aamby Valley
The event was played at Aamby Valley, a large township and resort property in the Sahyadri range of the Western Ghats, owned by the Sahara Group. The golf course there was designed by English architect David Hemstock and is part of a resort estate of roughly 5,000 acres. The setting, with its scenic hills and well-kept fairways, offered a distinctive backdrop for the first floodlit professional team golf event of its kind in the country.
The Eight Franchises
Eight teams took part in the inaugural league:
- Uttarakhand Lions
- Punjab Lancers
- Delhi Darts
- Shubhkamna (Uttar Pradesh) Eagles
- Maharashtra 59’ers
- Tamil Nadu Pullees
- Gujarat Underdawgs
- Colombo 6’s (Colombo Sixes), the only overseas franchise, promoted by Sri Lanka’s cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene
Team make-up was described slightly differently across sources. One account says each franchise had one international golfer, one Indian golfer, one player from an Asian tour and one from the Indian tour. Another describes two international-level players, an Asian Tour star and an up-and-coming Indian. In either case, every team fielded four players.
Uttarakhand Lions: Team and Ownership
The Lions were co-owned by Indian Test spinner Harbhajan Singh together with partners that included GTM Group. The team’s four players were:
| Player | Country | Role in the team |
| Darren Clarke | Northern Ireland | International marquee player and team leader; bought at auction for US$55,000 |
| Chapchai Nirat | Thailand | Asian Tour professional |
| Mukesh Kumar | India | Indian professional |
| Shankar Das | India | Indian professional |
Clarke, a former Open champion and Ryder Cup player from Northern Ireland, admitted before the event that he had been sceptical when first told about the league. By the end he was celebrating its first title, and he described the tournament as fun and a good demonstration of how exciting golf can be.
The Final Day
The Lions finished the three 14-hole rounds at 34-under 406 and won by one stroke. Punjab Lancers and Delhi Darts shared second place, a shot behind. The finish was described as dramatic, and the Lions had to rally to take the trophy, which is why headlines at the time spoke of a team that came from behind. The winning franchise took home the US$250,000 cheque.
Among the other notable results, Shubhkamna Eagles, featuring former US Open champion Michael Campbell, placed fourth at 32-under 408. Campbell had fetched the highest price at the auction, US$61,000. The Maharashtra 59’ers, with two-time major champion Angel Cabrera, were fifth at 23-under 417, ahead of the Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Colombo teams. Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant turned out for Punjab Lancers.
| Position | Team | Score |
| 1 | Uttarakhand Lions | 34-under 406 |
| T2 | Punjab Lancers and Delhi Darts | One stroke behind the winners |
| 4 | Shubhkamna Eagles (Michael Campbell) | 32-under 408 |
| 5 | Maharashtra 59’ers (Angel Cabrera) | 23-under 417 |
| 6 to 8 | Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Colombo franchises | Behind the Maharashtra team |
GTM Group and the Lions Connection
GTM Group has more than 22+ years of excellence in residential and commercial real estate, including hotels, a multiplex and PPP projects, and operates under the leadership of Mr. Tushar Kumar. Its registered and corporate office is at Corporate Park, DMRC Building, Sector 21, Dwarka, New Delhi.
The company’s association with the Uttarakhand Lions reflected its stated belief in sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership and the pursuit of excellence. Uttarakhand is also a state where GTM has a presence through its projects, so backing a team carrying the state’s name fits naturally with its regional identity. The group continues to treat the 2013 victory as a milestone in its long-standing support for initiatives that encourage talent and determination.
Legacy of the Golf Premier League
The 2013 GPL is remembered as the first attempt in India to bring the franchise model to golf. It tested short-format golf, night play, auctions and city-based identities, ideas that later returned in other forms. A newer Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), a separate organisation, has since been set up as a professional league in India and has run invitational events, with Yuvraj Singh named as its co-founder and brand ambassador. It should not be confused with the 2013 Golf Premier League described in this article.
For Uttarakhand Lions, GTM Group and Harbhajan Singh, the inaugural title will always carry a special distinction: they were the first champions.
Key Takeaways
- The Golf Premier League was held at Aamby Valley from 7 to 10 February 2013 and was inspired by cricket’s IPL.
- Eight franchises competed for a US$400,000 purse over three 14-hole stroke play rounds, partly under floodlights.
- Uttarakhand Lions, co-owned by Harbhajan Singh and GTM Group, won at 34-under 406 by one stroke.
- Darren Clarke led the team, with Chapchai Nirat, Mukesh Kumar and Shankar Das.
- The winners received a US$200,000 cheque, as reported by AFP.
Sources Used
- GTM Group: Uttarakhand Lions, Golf Premier League 2013 gallery page (gtm.co.in)
- Wikipedia: Golf Premier League
- AFP report on the final, carried by Sport24 (10 February 2013)
- AFP preview of the league, carried by Daily FT (9 February 2013)
- EIGCA: Golf Premier League launched at Aamby Valley Golf Club, India
- Business Today: article on Aamby Valley Golf Club
