Golf the real loser in Rashid Khan-DGC battle

By Rahul Banerji

The ongoing altercation between professional golfer Rashid Khan and the Delhi Golf Club is a replay of an age old story, of the struggle between authority and those that challenge it.

On a smaller scale, it is also a reflection of the growing tussle between available resources in terms of golf courses, and an ever-increasing demand where the game has broad appeal.

Two years ago, the DGC landed itself in hot water over attempting to deny entry to a woman wearing a jensem, a traditional Khasi dress from Meghalaya. The person concerned was the governess of a UAE-based Indian doctor who took the matter to the courts, and the club was later forced to apologise.

Back to the present. There is once again a serious issue at stake. A young professional sportsperson is being denied the right to ply his trade at an establishment set up on government land that is mandated to provide its facilities as per a set formula.

Issue escalated

The issue has escalated rapidly and two days ago, Rashid was taken to the Tughlak Road police station with nine other golfers and kept there to record statements for an unwarranted period of time.

This, after they were the ones to call police on being denied entry to the DGC premises in the first place. The golfer has also taken to social media where he has received broad support from current players and former golfers as well. A range of government authorities have also been flagged on the issue.

“Arrested for calling the police to help us but we only got arrested at 3pm 25/05/2019 this what happens when you try to take help from our law it goes against you only # Olympic will be dream for me now,,” Rashid tweeted on Saturday..

A day later, he added, “No win is easy and without practice even more difficult. I was in police station from 1500 to 1.30 hours, just because I was willing to pay green fees and practice at Delhi golf club. Don’t know who to blame? My voice is getting muted and others who are the elite are taking the benefits.”

Long history

But there is a longer history to the matter. As far back as 2012, the DGC curtailed time on the course for professional players and juniors. Four years later, it asked club professionals to practice only on a restricted number of days. Court notices on subsequent developments have been ignored, the player claims.

Last year, more curbs were laid down for the professionals. The urban development ministry in 2017 asked the DGC to reserve 10 per cent of on membership category for players, but there is no clarity on whether and how this has been followed.

The ministry had also laid down guidelines for the selection of such players (see letter).

Rashid, who currently leads the Professional Golf Tour of India order of merit standings has also said his chances of qualifying for the Olympics had been affected.

“I have a great chance to make the Indian team for the Olympics,” he said. “I am ranked behind only Shubhankar (Sharma), Gaganjeet (Bhullar), Anirban (Lahiri) and Chikka (S. Chikkarangappa) and the gap is not very much. A couple of good results in India and on the Asian tour will fetch me enough points to catch up.

“I am in good form. I have won two times since March, including two weeks ago in Chandigarh. They were strong events. I was 10th in the Hero Indian Open, an event which is sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours. I was the top Indian with Chikka and ahead of Shubhankar and even Anirban.”

Under fire

Be that as it may, the DGC is clearly under the pump here. However, club president Maj. R.S. Bedi has denied singling out Rashid Khan and a particular group for any action. He also told The Quint that attempts to negotiate with the golfers had been fruitless.

“Not only have they refused to come for talks or to negotiate, they have been making all sorts of anti-club statements,” he added.

Rashid told The Bridge website, “The land of the DGC was given by the government to promote golf as a sport. However, the club is only allowing members to play in the course.

“There are around 5,000 members, ranging to the age of 65 who play it for their recreation and burning calories. Golf is now an Olympic sport, and it is only professionals like us who can take India to new horizons of world golf.”

Also read: Come-from-behind win for Rashid Khan at Chandigarh GC