By AH Scott Lyngdoh
About two decades ago, Mr. Evans, the Australian High Commissioner to India while on a tour to the North-East enjoyed a round of golf with the writer and a few friends. Every now and again, his eyes caught the sight of broken glass and strewn litter at many places, while marvelling at the beautiful scenery. His remarks etched against the background of a glorious morning sky were spoken thus, ‘you the people of Shillong who are sitting on a gold mine are unable to appreciate this precious gift bestowed by nature.’ Granted that unlike other important golf courses, this one is open to the public, the limitations to raise the stakes are understandable.
The course, one of the oldest in the country was the well maintained preserve of the British Raj for the exclusive benefit of senior civil servants and tea planters, locals treading carefully lest a disturbance occurs to the manicured greens and fairways. Nearby was another beauty spot, the verdant race course aided by a sparkling Wah Umkhrah enriched by an international standard first ground chosen as the practicing venue for the Indian Soccer Olympic team. The writer in his last school year watched with delight every practice session during December 1947 prior to India’s captain, Dr. T. Ao and his team embarking for the 1948 London Olympics. Such a distinction was bestowed on Shillong due to the spectacularly scenic beauty, favourable weather conditions akin to London, and the excellent state of the first ground, smooth and velvety as fine as a billiard table. Alas, the squalor and filth of today flanking the Wah Umkhrah is another story to be told.
Returning to the main topic, the golf course, except for some help from the Govt., has had to stand on its own unlike other major courses which are supported by wealthy Corporations and sponsorships. It has had its ups and downs since Independence, encouragement coming from various quarters including Governor Vishnu Sahay who would be on the course almost every afternoon. Col. Obel Laloo was a tower of strength keeping marauders at bay. Periodically, tournaments were held involving golfers of repute from various parts of the country. It was as if golfing was on the right track, but then came the hordes of enthusiasts enjoying with impunity football and cricket, while vehicles and bikes invaded the course causing damage to the fairways and greens – a free for all which the management could not control. Thieves carting away valuable pine from fallen trees were never caught.
The champion emerges in the person of Lt. Gen. Bhupender Singh, DG Assam Riffles providing men and machinery, personally supervising the planting of trees and setting up flower gardens. The uninitiated cried foul, as if the men in uniform had taken control, causing the writer as Member-in-charge golf to issue a clarification that the Assam Riffles are investing in goodwill spending crores in making all round improvement to the course without asking for anything in return. Valuable initiative and support is also derived from a core group of non tribal members born and brought up in Shillong.
The way the city is developing, every open space is gradually being taken over for building construction, and with so much traffic, walking is a very unpleasant experience. Let’s keep the golf course, the one remaining lung, healthy and life giving. Here are a few plus points for the would be golfer, or for those who walk the course for leisure, the streams of children crisscrossing to and from school, office and church goers.
• A walk of about 5 miles over 18 holes is excellent heart and lung exercise which burns up hundreds of calories and releases your bad cholesterol.
• You’ll be out in the fresh air in attractive scenery with a breeze in your face and clean air in your lungs.
• It’s a retreat from the dull cares of life, which miraculously fall away the moment you drive off from the first tee.
• You can start playing the game at any age and with the luck of good health, can carry on playing it for life.
More than a decade ago, a Japanese company wanted full use of the course for a couple of months, offering generous assistance to upgrade infrastructure and for general improvements. The Japanese calculation – it was cheaper to charter a flight all the way to Shillong, compared to the exorbitantly high playing fees at home, besides the negligible chances of gaining a berth given large numbers on the waiting list. Another lost opportunity as the Japanese good offer was not taken up.
Several settlements have come up around the course which should be regarded as the main support base. There have been occasional interactions with the Dorbar Shnong which unfortunately were not followed up properly. The dwindling number of youngsters from the support base could be increased if golf kits are provided at subsidised rates, training and entrance fee without charge. The elite clubs in India with well maintained greens and fairways provide facilities for family members also. It is time to think and act big as would raise the Shillong golf course to such heights that as a tourist destination year round, the local economy benefits through job creation and promotion of the services sector. Mawlynnong, the pride of Meghalaya is a two and a half hours drive from Shillong, the last portion a bumpy ride, yet a daily stream of hundreds of tourists flock to the site just to marvel at the cleanliness, the beautiful flower gardens, neatly arranged homes and the taste of local cuisine. A local initiative has created wonders, so why can’t we do the same?
The Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012-2017) has no specific provisions for promoting golf either in the tourism or sports sector. At least there is a small para on golf tourism which says, ‘Meghalaya prides itself in having one of the oldest natural 18- hole golf courses in the world. With some improvements in the surroundings and attitude of the people, it has a potential of attracting golfers from all over the world because the game could be played practically all the year round.’ The fault lies not with the Govt. Depts., but with the golf managing committees earlier and now, for failing to draw up both short and long term developmental plans, giving undue importance to organising tournaments, adopting the preferred lie (picking up the ball from a rough surface and placing it on a favourable position on the fairway). This unusual practice is permissible on the Shillong course because of the rough and crippling conditions of the fairways. So forget for the time being any hopes of getting onto the world golfing map.
The wall around the course has been breached, drainage is poor, litter abounds but thanks to the uniformed lady guards, cricket and soccer are contained. Ample sources of funding are available from the NEC and DONER besides the State Govt. for both short and long term improvements. The Shillong club as the parent body is under siege to protect its property. It must share its mandate with people of good will who want to preserve the course for posterity. Mr. Evans, we’ll find that goldmine someday.
(The author is Chairperson, Shillong Golfers Association)