Golf is not a rich man’s sport anymore – Mithun Perera
Two professional golfers representing Sri Lanka, Mithun Perera and K. Prabhagaran are of the view that more tournaments similar to Sri Lanka Open, which gives amateurs the opportunity to compete alongside professionals, would help the sport prosper in the island nation. Perera and Prabhagaran, amateur golfers turned professional from contrasting backgrounds, have gone all the way to reach the Asian Professional Tour (APT) but their dream is to see more follow their path.
K. Prabhagaran
They expressed these views while competing in the Sri Lanka Open 2014 which took place at the Royal Colombo Golf Club from January 27 to 30.
“What we lack are tournaments. The enthusiasm among players new and seasoned is there. More sponsors need to come forward because without the financial assistance conducting tournaments would be just a dream. You can see the interest among the amateur players taking part at the Sri Lanka Open because this is their only opportunity to compete alongside professionals. More tournaments would help them develop more and reach the top level. There is a PGTI tournament being conducted since 2011 which gives the amateurs more exposure. But more competitions will help them big time,” stated Perera, who is a full status ATP player for the past three seasons.
Sri Lanka currently has four professionals – Perera, Prabhagaran, Anura Rohana and N. Thangarajah – representing the country in the Indian Professional Tour and the ATP. Two more – Vijitha Bandara and Lalith Kumara – makes the list six from this season. If Sri Lanka is to keep the number of professionals growing both Perera and Prabhagaran believe that at least four tournaments annually, including the concluded Sri Lanka Open would help the cause in a big way.
“Our golf courses are of best quality but what we lack is tournaments, which needs to be held at least three to four times a year, including the Sri Lanka Open. I’m happy with the current development as an individual. But I would like to see the game blossom and to see more youngsters take up the game. The enthusiasm among youngsters playing in the Sri Lanka Open is
Mithun Perera
overwhelming,” says Prabhagaran, now a professional with a rags-to-riches tale and the 2013 winner of Sri Lanka Open.
Prabhagaran, who dropped himself from school at Grade 9 for golf, detailed the difference between an amateur and a professional, a gap that would need to be groomed among youngsters engaged in golf in Sri Lanka. His way to the top, just as Anura Rohana, N. Thangarajah and the two newcomers to the professional circuit, Vijitha Bandara and Lalith Kumara are similar. Prabhagaran thinks that giving the young blood a bit of touch with top professionals can make the drills conducted by Sri Lanka Golf Union (SLGU), who are doing a silent yet effective development drive, much easier.
“There’s a lot of difference between playing at amateur and professional level. It’s all about handling pressure at top level and maintaining your tempo. Day after day you look at developing your playing abilities to reach the next level. That hunger is less at amateur level. Now I’m 34 and I think there’s time and room to improve. I practice a lot, hours daily while building up the mental aspect of the game. It’s not easy but it’s not hard, even without a coach. But if you put things in order for the youngster, we can expect more professionals coming out in time to come,” Prabhagaran, the one-time ball boy of the well known Nuwara Eliya Golf Club and now its caddy master, stated.
In contrast Perera, who is the son of well renowned golfer Nandasena Perera, has had a much easier journey, his father being a tower of strength in is progress. But being one of six professionals in golf from the tiny island, Perera fits into the cog perfectly while enjoying a healthy and understanding relationship with the remaining five. He dismissed the fact and rumours of class difference where members of top golf clubs aren’t impressed by one-time ball boys and caddies becoming professionals.
“You cannot call golf a rich man’s sport in Sri Lanka anymore. If you see top players, most of them have come from poor families. Most of them were caddies or ball boys. You cannot say there’s no talent among the well-to-dos as well. It’s just that they give up the sport after reaching a certain age on other commitments. There are better players who could have become top level professionals but have opted not to do so. But they still continue to support those who have reached top level in many ways. There’s no clash between the two classes as many say. But I assume this trend is beginning to change now,” Perera stressed while detailing the programmes professionals are engaged in. “We work closely with the amateurs. We like to help them. We engage in development programmes conducted by SLGU, who supports us professionals immensely. Also we see a lot of keenness among youngsters from schools. The SLGU is engaged in development programmes for youngsters. These are unseen or unheard of by many but they play a silent yet big role in developing the sport throughout the country. You cannot say there’s no following for golf in Sri Lanka. The crowd is growing and more quality tournaments will only help this drive grow. What lacks in addition to tournaments is a proper system. Once this is in place I think golf could become a popular sport,” he asserted.
Pix by Amila Gamage