India, Jan. 21 -- They say old habits die hard. But whoever coined that phrase clearly hadn't discovered golf. Golf doesn't just "die hard", it thrives, multiplies, and then politely handcuffs you to the nearest bunker.

At 67, after a fulfilling career as an orthopaedic surgeon-a life spent hammering nails, tightening screws, and fixing bones-I imagined retirement would be a slow fade into dignified serenity. Instead, I stumbled onto the greens, discovering the curious game that Mark Twain so wickedly dubbed "a good walk spoiled".

Nine years into this freedom, I've realised that golf is less a hobby and more a life sentence. Orthopaedics once provided me with an operating theatre, shots of adrenaline, and the joy of mending limbs. Golf ...