Govt wants say in running Delhi Golf Club

New Delhi: The prestigious Delhi Golf Club (DGC) may lose its exclusive tag if the sports ministry has its way. Arguing that the sprawling 180-acre institution, located in the heart of the capital, should be more than the preserve of a private club, the sports ministry has said the facility is a public asset and should be made available to the Sports Authority of India to train young golfers.
Sports secretary Rajiv Yadav has written to urban development secretary Rajiv Gauba that the club was given land at a nominal annual value of Rs 5 lakh for promotion of golf.“Unfortunately, DGC is run more as a private club and uses this land for the benefits of its members,” the letter said. “It becomes imperative that the facility serves as a public asset for promotion of golf in true sense of the term. Golf is one of the disciplines included in the Olympics.”
The move could also be linked to the ministry’s desire to gain representation in the exclusive club. “In order to meet these objectives (of promoting golf), it is desirable that the sports department of the sports and youth affairs ministry and SAI are duly represented in the management committee of the DGC. To start with, atleast 30-40% of its capacity should be utilised for the purpose of training and nurturing young talents and holding as many amateur competitions as possible,” said the letter.
Spread over a lush campus on Zakir Hussain Marg, DGC’s members include influential bureaucrats, senior armed forces personnel and political leaders and the waiting period for membership is over 30 years. Given its pedigreed airs, the club can be expected to try and protect its turf if the sports ministry has its way with the urban development ministry.
The sports secretary has said that SAI has been set up by the government for promotion of sports as also the Indian Golf Union (IGU) which is recognised as the national sports federation for promotion of the sport. “Hence, SAI and IGU should be allowed to use the golfing facility of DGC for training of young talented golfers who can represent the country at major international competitions and earn laurels and also for organising competitions and tournaments.” the sports ministry has said.