Sports

Dear Sir,
As the Captain of the RCGC, I am herewith forwarding a reply to the Article that appeared in your esteemed newspaper on 25th June 06 under the caption “Ridgeways to be floodlit”. I hope you will accord the RCGC the same prominence you gave the writer of the Article who is a member of RCGC.

The reply text is as follows:

Ridgeways to be floodlit? – A reply

I refer to the above captioned article that appeared in the Sunday Times on 25th of June 06. I could gather that the newspaper is being continuously used as a launching pad to air a member’s grievances to the nation thus bringing the RCGC, a private members club into disrepute. This is not a forum to give comfort to a disgruntled member. However, I take this opportunity rather reluctantly to clarify issues brought up by the writer, a past President of the Royal Colombo Golf Club not so long ago, so as to allay his fears.

First, of all, it is incorrect to call a suggestion for flood lighting a grandiose plan as it is something that has not been imposed upon the members. Flood lighting of a golf course requires tremendous expertise not available in Sri Lanka and simply to assess the viability of a project, both capital and running costs should be obtained and evaluated against the expected increase in net direct and in-direct income so as to ascertain the pay back period.

This is what I have been instrumental in initiating for the members to look at as a future remedy taking into consideration certain constraints that we are bound to experience due to circumstances beyond our control. To facilitate a decision as to how, when and whether to proceed and to what extent or over what time span, depends on figures available and not purely on articulate journalism. One should not place the cart before the horse. Priorities are conceived with a view to satisfy the future and not the past. Decisions are made by a majority vote at a general meeting in terms of the RCGC constitution. There are always a few by virtue of their position in society, who believe that they are god’s gift to institutions or associations. This is quite normal in Sri Lanka.

On the issue of the property on the left of the 15th fairway, the previous Captain seems to be the punching bag in most of these features, Only to address this issue, the previous Captain felt that the property in question should be developed soon once approval is obtained from Government authorities, I am sure every one is aware of the time it takes to obtain planning approval. The plans have been put in to the necessary authorities seeking permission including right of way so as to make use of the land. Hence the contention that one has to learn to live with promises that turn false is misdirected.

Finally, I would be most obliged if the writer being a member could bring up future concerns at a general meeting of the members who collectively own the un-expired assets of RCGC, rather than in front of a nation where 99.99% of the population does not have the faintest idea as to what we are talking about.