NEGC Club Championship tee off on October 26

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

Nuwara Eliya Golf Club (NEGC) will conduct their annual Club Championship 2012, considered as the apex event of the little England’s golf club from October 26 to 28 at the spectacular NEGC golf course with the main sponsorship of Etisalat. This was revealed during a press conference held at the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) recently.

Being one of the pioneering golf clubs in the country, NEGC boast of a 123 years proud history and the Club Championship was inaugurated in 1933. The championship is strictly confined for the NEGC members and nearly 100 men and 20 women golfers are taking part this year.

The three-day competition will be worked off in stroke play format and apart from the main championship awards will be presented for the category winners as well where men’s golfers will see vying in three divisions, A, B and C while the women’s golfers will play in two divisions, A and B in accordance to their relevant handicap category. The category winners will be selected on net scores.

Masters’ event for 55 above and seniors’ competition for 65 above will also be teed off, allowing all walks of NEGC members to take part in the top most annual event of the club.

Etisalat, a long term supporter of Sri Lankan golf tied up with NEGC for the first time and will sponsor this prestigious championship for three years while being the official sponsors for NEGC for 2012.

Speaking at the agreement signing, Etisalat Sri Lanka Director Dumindra Ratnayake said, Etisalat is always committed to develop Sri Lankan sports and true sportsmanship. ‘We have particularly focused on golf as country withholds remarkable talents with committed men and women golfers,’ he stated. Ratnayake further added that Etisalat’s relationship with golf has grown beyond just sponsorships and that the company has become an integral part of Sri Lankan golf and its development.

Etisalat is the only private organization to join hands with four main golf clubs in the country namely RCGC, NEGL, Victoria Golf Club and Eagles’ Golf Links and has introduced Etisalat Elite Club to distinguish their special customers with the very first Etisalat Golf Classic in 2010.

Etisalat will extend its quarterly draw of the Elite Club to the NEGC by hosting the draw during NEGC Club Championship on October 27.

NEGC Vice President Stefan De Run thanked Etisalat for their generous sponsorship and said that the NEGC inherits most climatically friendly conditions for the sport and this partnership will grow stronger in years to come while being a win-win deal for both Etisalat and NEGC.

Ladies’ captain of NEGC Usha de Silva said that this partnership with Etisalat is a step forward in right direction and definitely lift the standard of golf in NEGC.

‘With the support and professionalism brought in by Etisalat not only to NEGC but also to Sri Lanka’s golfing fraternity, we will be able to conduct bigger and better tournaments to popularize the sport locally and internationally, Usha explained.

NEGC Captain Maj. Gen. Srinath Rajapakse, Etisalat Chief Commercial Officer Robert Lee and large number of media personnel participated at the press briefing.