Qualified Caddy: Flying High, Flying Low

Until recently it was the land of sand, honey and money to which the corporate whiz-kids made a beeline, to shake the moolah tree. Today, with recession and downsizing, even the sheikhs are issuing pink slips. The affected ones don't know what's hitting them or when. Not too long ago, they were the toast of the organisation fat salaries, multi-garage deluxe homes on the waterfront, fancy wheels, south of France holidays.Now with the party over, they realise that their specialisation has few takers, prices have crashed, and they're debt-ridden to the gills. The other day at the golf course, we had the misfortune of meeting one such high-flyer, a middle-aged Indian-American who came crashing to earth in quick time. At the start, with due apology and courtesy to all, he excused himself to whisper into his hand-held gizmo. As practice swings swished, we could hear him. He was issuing work instructions to a PA abroad, and then to overseas associates. As the game progressed, so did the Blackberry buzz. Realising the importance of his business, we had excused him for the cellphone usage. After all it was a friendly outing and he was a visiting golfer. At the 13th par-3, the 17-handicapper drove the ball into the water. Clearly, he was distracted. The vibrating device had delivered the coup de grace. ''Sorry about that'', he apologised, ''I've been axed.''
Later, at the 19th hole, the heart-wrenching story quickly unfolded. It was enough to make brave men cry. The week before he was the toast of Wall Street. Two days before he flew an inaugural A380 super jumbo where a sweet young thing in crimson head-wear and white veil fussed over him with endless Dom Perignons and canapes, after he had a luxurious shower at 45,000 feet above the ground. ''Today, that's history. I am redundant. It hurts too that the message came by SMS!'' ''What do i do next?'' he repeated the question over chilled lager. ''I am a financial man securities and all that. I know little else. I know of pink-slipped guys who are exploring entirely new avenues of income selling fish tanks. Another, a colleague in hedge funds, is delivering pizza for $7.29 an hour. I don't know where i'll land up.'' Some time later, brightening up, he said, ''Listen up people. I've played at Pebble Beach and Torrey Pines. I am passionate about golf. Anyone want a caddy?''