Ceylonese golf history – Priceless!
1930 was the first time a Ceylonese, Fred de Saram was included in the Burdett team. His son F.C (Derek) de Saram became the second Ceylonese when he played 7 years later. International Golf for the Stanley Challenge Cup in 1929 saw John. R. de Silva, W.D. Fernando. E. Reimers, T. Sathasivam, L.J.M. Pieris, Dr. F.L. de Fonseka, F. de Saram, B.E. Weerasinghe and Timothy de Silva being the ‘Ceylonese’ representation. In 1931 the depression affected Ceylon and the membership largely British, dropped rapidly.
The Caddy Championship was introduced and V. Simon Perera (Bertie) a legendary Golfer in his day won the Caddy Championship in 1928. In 1936 two more stalwarts of the Havelock Golf Club Dr. W.A. Fernando and Dr. F.L de Fonseka were elected members.1937, F.C de Saram became a member, and between playing cricket for Ceylon and taking part successfully in Tennis Championships won the Presidents cup, the Club Championships and the South West monsoon meet and duly earned a place in the Burdett Team. The 1941 Ceylon Team for the Stanley Challenge Cup (International Golf) comprised L.JM. Peiris (Captain), F.C. de Saram, L.A. Weerasinghe, A.S. Ephraums, S.Muthukumaraswami, A.E. Ephraums, M. Sathasivam, P.N. Bartholemeusz, O.Weerasinghe and the 17 year old rising star W. Pin. Fernando who won the Havelock Golf Club Championship that year and never looked back since, winning the Ceylon title 10 times, RCGC Championship 19 times, NEGC 7 times, HGC title 11times, Ceylon open twice, all India twice for a grand total of 52 Championships.
Gradually since Independence in 1948, the Ceylonese took a prominent part in the activities of the Havelock Golf Club and The Victoria Golf Club and the original members of both Clubs were drawn from separate groups who rarely met each other socially or met the group, joined to form the membership of the Colombo Golf Club. The members may or may not have foreseen that in the space of half a century the doors of the ‘Royal’ would be thrown open to them, but none of them could have imagined that each Club, in its town, would end its history at these doors. The end of ‘Havelock’ and ‘Victoria’ Golf Club saw the growth of RCGC and the nurturing of the Ceylon Golf Union now known as the SLGU.
It was in the 1950s and the early 1960s that the activitiesof the RCGC reached its peak. During this time, there was a considerable increase in interest in Golf among the Ceylonese and the Havelocks played a major part in fostering the game. A number of Ceylonese who later proved to be stalwarts in the field started their Golf at this time.
Many who joined at this time through to the late 1960s were Noel de Costa, S.A. Dissanayake, Dr. Lance Fernando, Alavi Macan Markar, Sam Kadrigamar, C.P.G (Chrisso) Abeyewardene, Prof. H.V.J. (Bundy) Fernando, S.E. (Sohli) Captain, Dr. Gamani Corea, Dr. D.B (Dougie) Flamer Caldera, Ryle de Soysa, L.C. (Lal) Gooneratne, Norman Gunawardene, C.I. Gunasekera, R.L. Illankoon , George Gomes, Percy Perera, Richard Fernando, S.M. (Michael) Fonseka, Maithri Samarasinghe, Neli Chanmugan, K.B. and Pesi Rustomjee, A.M.R.(Malin) Abayarathana, P.I. (Ian) Peiris, Ben Abeyewardene, Dhammika Fernando, Nihal Corea, Dr. I.A. Ismail, Dr. Rusi Billimoria, Abid Moosajee and Nizar Ahmed. The early 70s saw the emergence to the top of the Golfing Tree, Doc. C. Thurairajah a legend without a doubt.
With the introduction of the new Club constitution in 1954 Ladies became members in their own right. The first lady Captain was Audrey Ephraums who won the first Havelocks Ladies Club Championship and came into the finals of the RCGC Ladies Championship not long after. Three future Ceylon Ladies Champions Pan Fernando, Lilamani Weerarathne and Mira Muthukumaraswami started their Golf at Havelocks and another member Jean Fernando alter won.
The Ladies Club Championship at the ‘Royal’ CGC. Other Ceylon ladies who began their Golf at Havelocks, and later joined the RCGC and won competitions were the ‘evergreen’ Rohini de Mel, Nedra de Saram, Pauline Koch and Yaso Punchihewa. Among other keen members were Joan Collette, Rowen de Costa, Pat Weinman, Hila Muthukumaraswami and Betty de Saram. Later on prominent lady members who joined during the 1960s and early 70s were Mistyca Flamer Caldera, Anne Captain, Gun Peiris, Yvonne Abhayaratne, Oosha Chanmugam, Menik Thurairajah, Swen Selvaratnam, Radha Sunderampillai among others.
The nostalgia of the ‘Old’ Country Club atmosphere, easy going, leisurely lifestyle has now given way and decayed into a ‘new’ look, up-beat, monster era!
Follow @timesonlinelk
Related Posts:
Ceylonese golf history – Priceless! Golfing laws take shape(Contd. from last week) The bounds of the Golf Links as now shown on the plan were adopted and certain bye-laws ...
Sri Lanka Golf Championship Second Oldest in the WorldThe 125th Amateur Golf Championship of Sri Lanka, second only to the British Amateur Golf Championship will get underway at ...
Ceylonese golf history – Priceless!The AGM held in January 1900 was fully reported in the Times. The correspondent reporting that: The General Meeting of ...
The century old tee-off – RCGCThe Royal Colombo Golf Club. - Pic by Amila Gamage
Zen Dharmaratne youngest to win RCGC championshipThe Royal Colombo Golf Club Championship is the significant signature Tournament which crowns the Club Champion for the year. First ...