Delhi Golf Club open to lifting caddie-pro ban?

Faces resistance from ex-officials, members
NEW DELHI: Is there a thaw in sight in the long-running stalemate between the Delhi Golf Club (DGC) and the Capital’s caddie-professionals? There are signs of a potential resolution with the club’s highest decision-making authority, the General Committee (GC) of DGC, seemingly amenable to lift the suspension that has prevented two-time Asian Tour champion Rashid Khan and several leading Delhi caddie-pros from practising at the course.
It is understood that the GC has scheduled a detailed meeting this week to discuss the issue in depth before the golfers proceed with their demonstration at Jantar Mantar, pending DCP office’s permission.
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As it stands, however, pushback from the DGC’s previous leadership and certain club members continues to obstruct the current GC’s efforts to remove these suspensions, which have remained in force since Jan 2019. The current GC has authority to overturn the suspension imposed by the previous dispensation, but it seeks unanimity among its members for a smooth resolution.
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The present GC of DGC includes club president Raj Khosla, captain Vikram Seth, lady captain Harimala Bawa, secretary Lt Col Rohit Singh (retd), treasurer Amit Luthra, twelve GC members and three govt nominees. The club has a total membership of 5,500, of whom about 700 play golf regularly.
These developments follow TOI’s report (Saturday, May 3), where Rashid and other Delhi golfers announced a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar, as they sought the right to practice at the DGC. The protesting golfers contend that the club stands on a govt land and exists for the ‘promotion’ of golf as a sport and therefore believe that they should not be excluded from the premises for practice.
Sources confirmed the matter was taken up at a GC meeting last week, where several members agreed that the suspension should be lifted, while stipulating explicit conditions for the golfers. This occurred subsequent to a written request to the DGC by one of the golfers affected by the ban, seeking permission to enter the club.
The GC considered this request during their meeting, with some members inclined to allow the golfer and other involved caddie-pros to practice during ‘non-members’ hours.
“The GC maintained that the golfers had been adequately punished for their indiscretion and the suspension should be lifted. The golfers cannot be prohibited from practising at the club indefinitely. They have already endured six years of suspension. The present GC believes it is within its remit to overturn the previous GC’s resolution. Regarding the individual who applied for playing rights, it was generally agreed he should be granted practice access,” a source at DGC stated.
However, during Saturday’s ‘open house’ discussion with members at the club, certain previous office-bearers and a faction of members voiced strong resistance to rescinding the suspension and cautioned the GC that such a step would trigger protests from their side.