Dubai: Tributes have been paid to popular local golfer Ashok Bakshi, aged 75, who died of a suspected heart attack on the sidelines of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic pro-am at Emirates Golf Club on Wednesday.
Bakshi, who served as Emirates Golf Club captain for a year in 2002, had been warming up on the driving range ahead of the afternoon pro-am — where he was due to represent Team Gulf News Three alongside European Tour professional Romain Wattel — when he collapsed.
The Indian national was immediately attended to by the European Tour’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Roger Hawkes, as well as paramedics, before he was airlifted to Rashid Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The afternoon pro-am was cancelled and the course was closed as a mark of respect.
Mohammad Juma Bu Amim, Vice-Chairman and CEO of event organisers golf in DUBAi, remembered Bakshi for his vibrant personality.
“We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our dear friend,” said Bu Amim. “He was a fun loving, generous and caring person, who always wore a smile on his face and had a positive attitude towards life.
“He died doing something he loved. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time. May God rest his soul in peace.”
Duleep George, Executive Director of Strategy and Marketing at Gulf News, had known Bakshi for 42 years and said: “One always remembers how jovial he was. He was a treasure-house of jokes and always ready to help out. He was great company on the course.”
Rajeev Khanna, Group Advertisement Manager, Gulf News, added: “He just brought a lot of positive energy to anything he did. I will always remember him being my partner when I won my first ever golf trophy many years ago at the Jebel Ali Golf Club & Resort.
“Ashok was the ideal golf partner — he would give you valuable tips and help you lift your game with his cheerfulness. He was just an unbelievable person, who I will miss very much.”
Adrian Flaherty, former general manager of golf in DUBAi and now managing director of FBA Sports, described Bakshi as a true gentleman.
“I knew him for 17 years, I actually taught him the game, I was his golf teacher,” said Flaherty. “He was a very dear friend and a true gentleman, both on and off the course.”
golf in DUBAi described Bakshi as a “hugely popular figure throughout the golfing community in Dubai” in a statement announcing his death and notifying the public of their decision to close the course.
Bakshi was the former vice president of business development at Jumbo Electronics Dubai for 15 years between 1981 and 1996, and had been a partner at Aztec Trading LLC from 1998 until his death.
He graduated from St Xavier’s College in Mumbai in 1963 as a bachelor of commerce and went on to work as a sales executive for an aluminium manufacturing firm until 1969, before working as an assistant manager at Eid Parry, Murugappa Group, until 1971. He then represented Cadbury India Limited as a regional manager for North India for a decade until 1981, when he moved to the UAE.
He is survived by his wife Shashi, son Manish, daughter Meghna and four grandchildren.
