SHILLONG, March 13: Visitors to the picturesque Shillong Golf Course, the third oldest golf course in India and the first 18-hole course in Asia, may soon have to purchase tickets to enter the place, which at present is strewn with people flocking to the venue for leisure, especially during weekends, thereby leaving this landscape of vast green covered in litter.
A ticket system is on cards to control the footfall of people and prevent littering in and around the iconic golf course.
Under constant onslaught of uncountable feet trampling on the golf course and brazen littering, authorities have now started fencing the area.
The fencing work has begun with some stretches already being covered.
Caught unawares and in curiosity, The Shillong Times caught up with the contractor, Marr Lanong, who is also a member of the Shillong Club.
Lanong said that the golf course has been opened for free for a long time and people are allowed to enter the lawn as they wish.
Generally, people visit the place for a walk, play, sit, and have a good time with family and friends, however with time, the number of visitors has shot up which has made it increasingly difficult to ensure maintenance of the golf course, Lanong said.
Along with it, piling up of garbage as well as littering has resulted in turning this scenic into an eyesore for many.
Despite several appeal to visitors to maintain cleanliness and discipline, there has been no change in the people’s approach.
It has become very difficult to maintain the course and the club has been spending a lot lately for its maintenance; this has prompted the authorities to erect fences, Lanong, who is a member of the club, said.
He, however, clarified that the move would not be intended to prevent the public from entering the golf course but an attempt to usher in a system that regulates the flow of people.
With the introduction of such a system, the authorities will receive immense help in maintaining the course while more people can be employed to ensure that proper care of the venue for the sake of the game of golf, feels Lanong.
Elaborating on the problems faced at present, Lanong said that football among other sports is played on the golf course, which should not be the case.
A bit of collective effort from the public would help in preserving the iconic golf course, he added.
Casting aspersions on the people for not paying heed to the countless appeals, he informed the ST that fencing is to safeguard the course.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader, a golfer and also a member of the Shillong Club, AL Hek, said that he is unaware about a ticket system being proposed.
He, however, stated that the fence is to protect the golf course.
Hek, who has experienced playing in other golf courses in the country as well as abroad, said that he has not come across a course where people haphazardly run around except in Shillong.
“It is a private property, and meant to play golf only and there is a need to protect it”, he emphasised.
“It is open and so many anti-social activities are taking place there, even dead bodies were being dumped in the playing ground, therefore fencing is important”, he said.