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by Richard Dwight

For sometime now the thinking has been to develop the district of Nuwara Eliya to be a garden city, which would with time become a resort for leisure, relaxation and sport - Not only beneficial for the locals but also with thrust to boost the tourist industry.

A district that just does not come alive with enthusiasm, only during the April season. But at feasible, opportune periods of the year to be attractive enough, to draw tourists.

With this uppermost in mind, Grand Hotel-SriLankan Airlines appear to step out in the right direction, to hold their third annual Golf Classic Tournament from the 29th to the 31st August 2003 at the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club (NEGC), with the entertainment confined to the Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya (GHNE).

This annual Grand Hotel-SriLankan Airlines Golf Classic Tournament, held during the past two years proved to be a success and, this current tournament in the salubrious climes of N' Eliya with all the fun and gaiety, is bound to as well conclude on a successful note. It is being organised by the GHNE and the NEGC and sponsored by SriLankan Airlines with assistance from Dialog GSM, Commercial Bank 'Carlsberg' and yet others.

These details were gathered from the Managing Director of N' Eliya Hotel Companies, Gerrard Ondaatjie, when he addressed the media at a conference held at the Galle Face Hotel. It is expected that around 200 amateur golfers will participate in the events carried out on a 'stableford competition format', open to all amateurs with a valid USGA or LGU handicap. The tournament will be worked off in two separate divisions viz; 'A' and 'B' with participants having the option of entering either division. The handicaps operative for the 'A' division for Ladies will be 0-24 and for men 0-16 whilst in the 'B' division it will be 25-45 for ladies and 17-28 for men.

The winners in the Men's division will receive return air tickets to London, whilst winners in the women's division will receive return air tickets to Singapore - all tickets made available by SriLankan Airlines.

In addition, a stableford competition will also be held for Junior boys and girls aged 17 years and younger with handicaps of 15-28, while novices aged 16 years and younger, will be able to compete in a 6-hole stroke play format, with attractive prizes being awarded for putting, chipping, the longest drive and shortest time on the 1st hole.

Additional prizes are up for grabs for the longest drive and closest to the pin for men, women and juniors. This information was gathered from Ondaatjie, and the President of the NEGC, N. U. G. de Silva along with the General Manager of GHNE, Harin de Costa. The Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Dr. P. Ramanujam said that the country now is not solely depending on the sun, sandy beaches and the sea to bring in tourists, but is continuing to draw them through sports like cricket, windsurfing and even golf.

Golf he felt was up-market tourism, which must entice high market tourists to come, with golf looking for high spending clients, Ramanujam concluded.

The salient feature of this tournament will, as in the past, whilst being as competitive to the discerning golfer, also provide a fun filled weekend for the family with competitions, daily prizes, food music and dancing. Indeed the "tee-off" to wonderful days of fabulous fun 'N' feasting for all.

For tournament registration contact the RCGC phone - 2695431, NEGC phone - 052 22835 or the VGC phone - 08 375570. For room reservations call Tangerine Tours - 422518/9, 422663.

The Chairman of the Tourist Board Paddy Withana, by his presence at the conference, lent patronage to this happy mix of golf with entertainment, which promotes fellowship and a spirit of camraderie.

His view was that tourism and sport was complementary to each other, with the focus on golf in the District, by which the N' Eliya Golf Club, the Hill Club and the Grand Hotel could be kept active.

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