Sports

Sports

The tale of CTC and RCGC
I picked the mental records some people have and put them together with my very own to relate the long history of the association of the Ceylon Tobacco Company with the Royal Colombo Golf Club. It starts with W.H. Smallwood who was a brilliant golfer followed by a short blank period which then settled on Geoffrey Fox. He was an Associate member who was immediately called to the bar he talked golf but never did he swing a club though he usually had a swingtime at the 19th serviced by O.K. Albert.

E.S. Corrin followed but little is known of his golfing talent so he reminded a social member with occasional visits to the bar. M.S.V. Lawson was a good golfer and so was his wife Bly. They were regulars who participated in every possible competition with occasional success. John Burditt a colourful personality soon followed. He swung his clubs for exercise and did long sessions of elbow bending for a different exercise. He married attractive Loretta Ohlmus and proceeded to the UK and after his demise Loretta returned home where she remains as fresh as you get them.

Stanley Wanigasekera was the first Sri Lankan to adorn the main chair. If my memory serves me right he was an Associate member and if so he surely must have adorned the bar counter. He had a massive sense of humour. The hefty man John Marsh was a sailor of repute and at the Royal Colombo he was an inactive member. Then came the real “Hulk” Dick Hartley. A stunning striker of the ball he impressed in most competitive events and at the 19th he was a pleasure to meet and greet.

Roger Sleeman came, recorded his presence, hit a few ponds, moved earth and returned to another territory after a brief stay in the country. Julian Manning followed and hit the scene impressively. A good golfer and a joyful personality his stint at the Royal Colombo must have been quite rewarding to him. Then came a special personality David Bishop. He stood tall and stalked the course impressively. Played regular golf with success and was in the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club winning team that trounced Royal Colombo in the Burdett Trophy in 1991. A regular visitor to Sri Lanka he was here a few weeks ago absorbing Royal Colombo, Victoria & N’Eliya.

An authority on wines he has just purchased a small compact vineyard in France. Dick Howe from the Cameroons followed. He hit a helluva long ball and enjoyed the approach to the greens. His brief stay was studded with memorable encounters at the 19th – all most rewarding. Godfried Thoma was another interesting Associate member who occasionally made quick visits to the 19th hole. Fred Coomb played social golf and used the Club for entertaining. Paul Hiltermann and his family became regulars. His wife and children learning their golf at the Ridgeways and presently we have Andrew O’Reagan and as I write he is being greeted by President Shiran de Soysa after being introduced for membership by Jayampathy Bandaranayake.

Ceylon Tobacco the most prosperoious Corporate Company in the country had all their Chief Executives members of the Royal Colombo. Their lavish Sponsorships and Promotions enveloped every game in the country with special emphasis on cricket but never ever did they dip their hands in their pockets for any worthwhile sponsorship of Golf.

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