Sports

My observations on “floodlighting the Ridgeways”, in this column in the 25th June issue of The Sunday Times, appear to have got under the skin of the Club Captain of the RCGC.

In the RCGC Captain’s response in the “Letters to the Sports Editor” of the Sunday Times, he appears unable to see the wood for the trees – a tragic shortcoming if one claims to be a golfer.

In life it is often difficult to bring wisdom to bear on those who choose to spurn it. However, let me give it a try.

First, as a sports journalist, it is well within my remit to discuss sports issues in my column. In this particular column the focus is golf and it is designed by the publisher to cater to the interests of the golfing community. I certainly was not addressing “the whole nation”. The print and electronic media have diverse constituencies and the endeavour is, in varying degrees, to cater to these constituencies however disparate they may appear to be. It is in this context that my column dwelt on developments at the RCGC.

When a sports journalist comments on cricket, rugby, football, athletics, badminton, elephant polo, swimming or whatever, he or she is not addressing a “whole nation.” Such articles are aimed at special interest groups. That such a journalist happens to be a member of a particular sports association is beside the point.

My column factually reported comments that were read and not spoken by the Club Captain etching out his grandiose vision to light up the course. I applauded that vision without fear, but cautioned that other similar, well-intentioned initiatives have remained unfulfilled. The plan of the previous Captain to build a driving range and swimming pool left of the 15th fairway in a sort of pre-emptive strike against encroachers, was equally laudable but remains on the backburner.

The current Club Captain’s exhortation that I should raise issues concerning the RCGC in the cozy privacy of the membership is not something I will accept. My own experience tells me that this is an exercise in futility. When as a member I did raise important issues on three separate occasions – twice with the previous Captain and once with the present Captain – I did not have the courtesy of an acknowledgment, leave alone a reply. Be that as it may, I shall continue to write on golf for the good of this sport in general in Sri Lanka and the Royal Colombo in particular.

Two other points deserve comment
Point number one is the current Captain’s view that “priorities are conceived with a view to satisfy the future and not the past.” This is a lot of piffle. Any organisation must remember its past to underpin the present and plan for the future.

Point number two is the Captain’s observation that “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.” This wonderful piece of wisdom obviously derives from his personal value system. I trust the Captain is firm in his belief that he is god’s gift to the RCGC. I would like to pass on to the Captain a simpler piece of wisdom. People who live in glass houses should be careful when they take their clothes off.