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| Monday, 15 November 2004 |
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Life & times in sport: Champion Golfer Nandasena Perera a colourful personality by Premasara Epasinghe Golf is one of the highest paid sports disciplines in the world today. For some its a recreation as it's a very expensive game, most of the sportsmen and sportswomen who participate in this game are from the "Elite Classes". To carry their bag and baggage there are "Ball Boys" or "Caddies". It is more, a game for the higher-ups. One of the "Ball Boys", who started playing golf with a home made golf stick of "Wellattha" wood, later became a National Golf Champion of Sri Lanka and later champion golfer in many International Golf Circuit Meets. Unassuming Nandasena Perera, shone as a bright star many years back as a leading golfer in Sri Lanka, among the galaxy of stars in this sports discipline. His second home is the Royal Colombo Golf Club. Golf was introduced to Ceylon in 1879, when handful of Englishmen working and living here, started playing the game in the Galle Face Green. Later Havelock Golf Course and the Colombo Golf Club was inaugurated. In a short dispatch received by the then Colombo Golf Club, His Majesty granted the privilege of using the prefix "Royal" on 7th June 1928 to Colombo Golf Club. The ruling monarch was King George V, the grandfather of Queen Elizabeth. Governor Ridgeway, in July 1896, officially transferred Sir Charles Henry De Soysa, the wealthy philantrophist's Model Farm, to Colombo Golf Club. The opening took place on 9, December 1886. What was an Englishman's game soon changed with lot of locals, particularly those in the Commercial World, taking up to it. Nandasena Perera's father, Michael Perera was a caddy at the Golf Club, His mother's name K. G. Podihamine. Nandasena lived with his grandmother, who was living close to RCGC. His climb to the top is not at all a bed of roses. He struggled hard but, never gave up. He went through the mill. From a "Ball Boy", he became a "Caddie." He worked for 5 years as a "Ball Boy" and fifteen years as a "Caddie." He is really indebted to the past and present RCGC members. They really helped him. Nandasena served as a "Caddie" for 15 years for George Hamilton, an American who worked at the Petroleum Corporation Oil Refinery, Sapugaskanda. He donated his golf it to Nandasena, which was worth more than Rs. 100,000 at that time. Nandasena started his career as a child of 12, at the backyard of Royal Colombo Golf Club. He is Kalutantirige Nandasena Perera, the humble colourful personality, who thinks Golf as a way of life. Nandasena had a humble beginning. When he was a child, he lived with his Grandmother. They were living close to the RCGC course. As a young boy of 14, he was paid 50 cents, and another 25 cents if he picked a ball from the water-logged area. He watched them play carefully, and used to imitate them after they leave. Born on 29th July 1955, Nandasena represented RCGC and Nuwara Eliya Golf Club. As an amateur, in 1988, he won the Malaysian Open Amateur at Royal Selangor, Singapore Amateur, Sri Lankan Open Amateur at Nuwara Eliya. Pakistan Open Amateur at Islamabad in 1990, Sri Lanka Open Amateur at RCGC and was a Silver Medallist at the XIth Asian Games in Bejing. The two wins he scored against Timur Hassen in Pakistan, and Lakshman Singh Gold Medallist in India in 1989, is considered by him, as very memorable. As a Professional some of his noteworthy achievements were, 3rd in Malaysian Open, 2nd in Rothmans Masters and Singapore PGA and the winner of Sabah Masters. "I beat the Golf Medallist Lakshman Singh, and annexed the title. Out of 18 Bunkers, I scored under extremely trying conditions as there was sand. When I won the All Indian Championship, I was named as SANDY PERERA", stated Nandasena Perera. Golf is an exercise for the mind and body, combined. You may perhaps think, it is only a wild swing and a long walk for many hours. But, it is not so. That is why, some of the leading VVIP's business tycoons, top executives. Expatriate, Diplomats, Engineers, Accountants, Doctors and Lawyers take upto this game. His greatest asset is the house and property he possess. Late President R. Premadasa, a keen sports promoter, donated him a ten perch block of land and with the financial assistance and help rendered by the members of the Royal Colombo Golf Club, he was able to own his own house at the Lake Drive, close proximity to the Club. In 1994, he was honoured with the "Desabandu" Title. Nandasena showed his prowess as a Professional Golfer in Japan. He played so well the Japanese donated a Musuno Golf set to him. Unfortunately, his Golf stint in Japan was short lived as he was indisposed due to water in the knee cap. Due to this ailment he missed the European Tour which was a very big disappointment to him. His wife is R. A. Karuna Ranjani. They have two daughters and a son. M. Chamika Perera, his son is an up and coming golfer, and recently won a championship organised by the Royal Colombo Golf Club. His eldest daughter, Nalika Udayangani Perera is in Russia studying Medicine. Iroshini Perera is the other daughter. She is 9 years old. Nandasena Perera is presently employed at the RCGC as its Head-Coach. |
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