“Sri Lanka to be the Best Golfing Centre of Excellence in ASIA by 2020” – Ana Punchihewa I love to climb mountains – I want to face a challenge and conquer it!” I recall winning the Cricket World Cup where no one imagined or believed Sri Lanka could pull-
At the Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Golf Union held on 31st March 2012, Ana Punchihewa of Cricket World Cup fame was elected as its President. The Member Clubs of the SLGU namely the Royal Colombo Golf Club, Nuwara-eliya Golf Club and Victoria Golf and Country Resort represented by the Past President’s and Captains and the Past Office Bearers of the SLGU in attendance, unanimously elected Ana to succeed Tony Witham as SLGU President for 2012/2013. Lal Dias RCGC Captain in 2010/2011 was elected Vice President. Dilhan Abhayaratne a single figure golfer in his younger days was elected Secretary while Vice captain of NEGC Glenn Mathew was elected Treasurer. The Council Members appointed were, representing RCGC, Captain Priath Fernando, Vice Captain Nimal Piyaratne, Ken De Alwis, Micheal Magala Perera, representing NEGC Captain Vernon Tissera, Maj. Gen. Srinath Rajapakse, Nihal Keppitipola, representing Victoria Golf Ranil Peiris, Niloo Jayathilake, by invitation AVM Kapila Jayampathy and G.C. Prasanna Ranasinghe.
In an animated and inspirational ‘Acceptance Speech’ the New Golf Chief Ana Punchihewa highlighted and described his vision for Sri Lanka Golf to be the best Golfing Centre of Excellence in Asia by 2020 -
The immediate reaction and question was – what do you mean by ‘Golfing Centre of Excellence’?
A well composed Ana Punchihewa promptly replied “we cannot compete with the big Countries of Asia like Japan, Korea, China, India, Malaysia and Thailand in terms of ‘Quantity’ such as Golf Courses, Golfing facilities (Driving ranges, Public Courses, Academies, Physical Training Centers, etc. , the Golfing Package) but I am after Quality – EXCELLENCE”.
With a glee in his eye and the Focus of a Lion after his prey, Ana Continued “My Goals for EXCELLENCE and definition for Sri Lanka Golf - is to establish and achieve the following 1. To have 10 International Standard
Golf Courses by 2020. 2. To have 5000 Golfers in Sri Lanka by 2020. (Today we have a maximum of 500!) 3. To make Sri Lanka the ‘PREFERRED’ Golfing destination in ASIA (The Quality Package with the Country’s rich heritage of Culture, beauty, beaches, climate and people) 4. To have the best Golfing Academies which will attract Golfing Students from Japan, Korea, China during their Winter months to come to Sri Lanka to improve their Golfing skills and to learn English. 5. To produce ‘TOP GOLFERS IN ASIA’ to be World beaters! (Amateur and Professional) 6. To have The Sri Lanka open Cosanctioned in the ‘European Tour’ which qualifies Players for the Order of Merit/tour Rankings/ratings - before 2020 7. To have the Sri Lanka Open affiliated to the ‘Asian Tour’ as a Calendar Event (Professional Circuit) by 2020 A commanding reply from the incoming President.
The next Question was “To achieve all of the above – what is the Strategy? Briefly! The crisp response was “To Raise awareness of Golf among the Sri Lanka population, introduce Golf at School level and attract Professionals and Corporate Executives and others in their mid 20’s to 30’s to take up the Game”. President Ana went on to explain that we are lucky that the Popular Channel TEN Sports in India started “TEN GOLF” from 01st April which is a 24 hour Golfing Channel. He said “we need to persuade Dialog to include TEN GOLF as a Channel”.
President Ana was also very impressed with the newly formed Affili-
Cup win!
ate Golf Clubs and facilities in ‘China Bay’ Trincomalee where the Sri Lanka Air Force, 9 Hole Golf Course is up and running and will soon be a 18 hole Golf Course. The Game is being introduced at the other bases too. The Sri Lanka Navy too is on the way with another 9 Hole Golf Course.
The in-sight, vision and focus of the ‘Man’ on Golf, was very evident and the obvious reflection to the past was irresistible.
The next question came in the form of – “given the success you have enjoyed in Management as a ‘Corporate Head’ in your professional career and the ‘World-cup Cricket’ success you had in 1996 as President of Sri Lanka Cricket, what is it that makes you want to achieve success in Golf at this time in your life?”
“I love to climb mountains – I want to face a challenge and conquer it!” I recall winning the Cricket World Cup where no one imagined or believed Sri Lanka could pull-it-off - But I was lucky I guess - I walked in to Cricket as President quite by accident but the foundation was laid, the walls were half built, I was able to ‘Lay the Roof ’ and complete the structure with the World-cup win!
Golf has always being my Passion. This mountain is far more difficult to climb and conquer because the Foundation is partly cracked, with no walls and no roof in-sight! But I believe that with a firm focus and resolve and the committee and clubs working ogether, we can hold our heads high and be recognized as ‘Sri Lanka Golf ’ like ‘Sri Lanka Cricket’ made many heads roll when we won the World Cup in 1996. It is a fact that after the 1996 World Cup Victory, Sri Lanka earned a ‘sporty’ and famous reputation even at the time of internal strife. Cricket is popular in 30-40 associate countries, whereas Golf is played in over 170 countries in the world. Imagine the image building ‘Sri Lanka Golf Center of EXCELLENCE in Asia’ would bring. Sri Lankans could proudly hold their heads high and stamp our ‘Golf Print’ on the world map.
The future of Golf and world fame to enjoy, is safely placed in the hands of a proven Internationally acclaimed Pilot Ana Punchihewa who can be relied upon to fly and land the Sri Lanka Golf Craft of EXCELLENCE successfully by 2020!