lucknow for years at the break of every iridescent dawn these women watched their better halves surreptitiously disappear in search for greener pastures some nagged while others sulked furiously at the truckloads of mud that found their way into spiffy living rooms everyday worse they watched helplessly as golfing shoes left telltale clumps on their pristine carpets neighbours sympathised and sniggered as they christened them golf widows however in the sleepy city of nawabs the first wives club has hit back with a vengeance invading what has always been considered mans turf for the husbands morning teeoffs will never be the same again as their sweet old ladies refuse to serve them piping hot tea or wait endlessly for them in solitude at the breakfast table watching breakfast turns cold the greens of the lucknow golf club no longer wear a drab look of old grey heads smartly turned out women in flamboyant clothes are now adding fashionable style and a new vibrancy to the game ask 42yearold sangeeta thapar an avid golfer who has been playing golf for the past seven years when i started playing it was more a case of if you cant beat them join them today i feel like an invincible pro especially after winning a golf tournament initially my husband bhushan who had been living on the greens for the last 30 years was rather condescending and also skeptical of my golfing prowess it was almost as if he hoped that this was just a storm in a tea cup and would soon pass she laughed however he soon realised that i was dead serious about the game and he started encouraging me i do believe that though he is loath to admit it he is secretly quite proud of me she added the latest entrant to join the club is a grandmomoftwo mridula singh a tabla player she finds kitty parties and the staple diet of saasbahu serials a big yawn this is female bonding at its best and i can proudly say that my inspiration is my golfing buddy madhu ghungesh who inspired me to take up the game my stance may be a bit offcentre and grip a little wobbly but i am addicted golf is a lovely relaxing sport and also a great way to share gossip i finally discovered why our husbands are forever heading out for the course she added madhu herself has been playing for four years you can play golf at any age even if you are playing alone you can try and raise the standard by beating your previous score which is why it is such an exhilarating experience to play golf she said for 63yearold ramanee shivdasani who has rediscovered her love for golf after 25 years the best part is even if you cant play well you neednt feel dejected just relax and enjoy yourselfthese girls just wanna have fun and whether the men like it or not theyve stormed this male bastion