Sports -First lady of golf

It was a quiet afternoon and I was at the Royal Colombo Golf Club witnessing a very important tournament in the year’s golf calendar – the Pin Fernando trophy. Pinsiri Fernando, better known as Pin was one of the best golfers in Asia in his hey day.

Incidentally the two Ps – Pin and his wife Pam, were an integral part of the golfing fraternity in Sri Lanka. While Pin was spreading the story of Lankan golf on the fairways in the Asian circuit, along with Pam they both bestowed their loving compassion to help the less affluent caddies in a bid to alleviate their misfortunes.

Pin, was the first overseas player to win the All-India open golf championship in 1979.

Watching the tournament held in memory of her late husband on this day was his wife Pam seated all alone gazing at the fairways.

Mithun Perera son of the former legendary caddie Nandasena Perera who turned amateur, won the trophy on the 19th with a three shot birdie. I approached the wife of the late legend and she agreed to meet me at her home, at Alexandra Place.

Q: Young nuts drop prematurely.
A: Yes. I will be completing my 80th birthday in October, 2006. It’s going to be a Grand Ma’s party for the grand children great grand children and for the children.

Q: What’s your most unforgettable moment in life?
(She scribbled down a few notes for my perusal)
A: It was in 1941. During the second World War. She remembers the Air raid by the Japanese on Colombo harbour. One of the Japanese Zeroes crashed close to S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia.

Q: What were you doing there?
A: My mother was a matron of the Winchester Dormitory at STC. Pandemonium reigned. The plane was burning and in shambles. My Uncle Reggie picked the stump of a body and gave a Christian burial. She laughed.
Then our entire family got into our car and drove to our estate at Gasnawa. On the way the panic – stricken women were yelling trying to stop our car to accommodate their children.

My grandmother was a good family friend of late Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake. He gave us a pass to go to the United Kingdom – Ceylon House. I worked there and was fortunate to go to the House of Commons along with Lady Corea to listen to the Second Reading of the Independence Bill. The Planters were asking us, whether we could manage the tea estates. We did manage well with the assistance of the private sector firms. The expatriates (Planters) contributed three things -- the English language, tea and sports -- Cricket, rugby and golf. Today Sri Lanka has gained international recognition – thanks to the seeds sown by them.

Q: How did you putt a birdie to win over Pin?
A: He was in England. I was working in the Ceylon House. There we met each other, fell in love and got married in the famous Caxton Hall, a leading Registrar’s office in London. He taught me golf. I was the first woman golfer from Sri Lanka to play in the fairways in the Royal Ancient Golf Club, in Scotland.

I was also fortunate to watch the Olympics in 1948 at the Wembley Stadium. I watched that epoch – making run made by legendary Duncan White, in the 400M hurdles. Sri Lanka’s first Olympic medal winner.

Q: You hail from sporting stock.
A: Yes. Uncle FC, Koo de Saram (tennis, cricket and golf) Tara Bolling (nee de Saram) swimmer, her son Julian, international swimmer, Oosha de Saram (tennis and golf) married Niel Chanmugam (cricket and golf). My son Priya (golf and cricket). Savantha and Charya de Saram (rugby). Finally my great grandson Jared Martynstyn at the age of five, is trying to play golf.

Q: The privileged society must assist them.
A: Yes. The Women’s section of the RCGC with the likes of Gun. Peiris, Manik Thurairaja Flamer Caldera, etc. got their act-together. They did much to uplift the image of the one-time ball pickers to reach the top. Today the RCGC gates are open to all. The likes of Nandasena Perera (his son Mithun), Rohana, Chandradasa to name a few. It was my late husband Pin who nursed me at grassroots level. But at the RCGC. Mr. Greenway an Englishman, put me on course.

I’ve won many trophies. Those efforts are all forgotten now. But my parents have taught me one thing that is always to be humble in any walk of life. My children are adhering to it.

Pam still looks radiant and has a heart full of love. In 1993 she represented Sri Lanka against Thailand. It was staged in Gensing highlands. She slipped and fell and was badly hurt and suffered a slipped disc. She returned home for treatment and in 1993 retired from competitive golf.