Sport - Golf   

These links need Central Govt. support

By D. Ravi Shankar

BANGALORE June 23. Can the Centre breathe some oxygen into some of the suffocating Golf Clubs in the State? If what the office-bearers of the Chikmagalur and Coorg golf course say, it certainly has the provisions to resuscitate these clubs if the files move fast enough.

On May 6 this year, two of Karnataka's Members of Parliament had their queries during question hour answered but beyond that the government machinery continues to crawl along.

The questions were tabled by Mr Srikanta Datta Narasimha Wodeyar addressed to the Minister for Tourism Jagmohan and Mr Vijay Mallya sought an answer from Minister of State For Sports Vikram Verma.

The background to these queries in Parliament is that the Karnataka State Government had submitted a proposal to provide financial assistance to three golf courses. Upgradation of the Chikmagalur course, development of the Coorg links (Bittangala) and development of the course at Thannirbhavi seashore in Dakshina Kannada District was sought under the Golf Tourism Promotion Scheme.

However, Mr. Jagmohan told Mr Wodeyar that the State government had not forwarded any proposal. Mr Mallya's query to the Minister of State For Sports met with the same reply.

State officials however assert that the proposal had indeed been sent and a second copy of the same would be forwarded again.

Mr A.B Sudarshan, President of the Chikmagalur Golf Course, said that the Centre earlier had a scheme wherein a grant of Rs.20 lakh was available for upgradation of a golf course. However as the policy had lapsed and the Centre instead has a fund from which grants are made for large revenue generating projects. In this scheme the Centre may provide 25 per cent of the investment by private entrepreneurs and the Chikmagalur Golf Club had sought assistance under this scheme.

"Chikmagalur has an ideal location for the promotion of tourism in the State," Mr Sudarshan said.

"The highest peak in Karnataka, Moleyangiri is just 45 minutes away from the Chikmagalur Golf Course. The picturesque Bababudangiri hill range forms the back-drop. Added attraction is the Belur/Halebid heritage site, a 45-minute drive from the golf course. The Bhadra Game Sanctuary where a tiger conservation project is on in full swing, is also close to the golf course.

The Chikmagalur Golf Course plans to build eight cottages to promote tourism. This would become an ideal base for a number of travellers and golfers from all parts of the country, said Mr Sudarshan.

Incidentally, Chikmagalur is also on the motor rallying Map and ABC Trading Company has signed a deal to stage the Coffee Rally there for the next decade. Hopes of staging an Asia Pacific Rally could materialise only if Chikmagalur is able to provide better facilities for the international participants. At the moment only the Taj Chikmagalur is the only hotel that conforms to high standards. It has a limited number of rooms and is certainly not geared to put up a large contingent of any sport — whether it is golf or motor sport.

Mr. K.K Aiyappa. President of the Coorg Links Golf Course said, "Our Club had made a request to the centre for funds for upgradation in 1993-1994. We were given to understand that the Centre had stopped giving funds for upgradation in 1996. We therefore made a fresh application through the State government for subsidy under the available golf tourism scheme. My son has on his regular trips to Delhi been following up but the progress is not very encouraging.

`The Kodagu district too has untapped tourism potential. However unless the Centre is sympathetic to our cause and realises that there is scope for developing golf tourism our clubs will continue to suffer from lack of funds and development will always move along at a snail's pace," he added.

Both the Golf Courses are located at the Coffee growing belts in the State. At one time when there was a boom in coffee prices, estate owners and coffee traders were flush with funds and would have readily paid any price to become members of the courses. But the situation is different today and though some members who are golfing addicts still use these courses it certainly is not sufficient for generating funds for development. While golf is one of the fastest growing games in the country as well as internationally, courses in the smaller towns have to depend on other sources for maintenance as well as upgradation. The centre's support thus becomes a great necessity for the progress of these courses.

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