first pro of Royal Colombo Golf Club

Zen Dharmaratne the  first pro of Royal Colombo Golf Club
For over 130 years  Royal Colombo Golf Club  was the cradle  for Sri Lankan golfers to play , practice and advance their game of golf .But All top golfer from Sri Lanka came from the periphery of the club. 
Of the gentlemen members @RCGC Zen was the first to elevate to professional stage at the age of 22. Accompanied  with  degree in IT, Balancing academics(brain) and sports (brawn)to better human faculties. After all it is the mind that get the ball to target Body is only an obedient servant to the commands coming from the mind..
 Sri lanka can now boast an environment that is conducive to produce classy golfers. In the run up to being a professional golfer  Zen made some historical performances  during the year 2012 golf at Royal Colombo golf club winning Squadron cup and the aggregate gold medal with massive margin in scores. He won the Club championship in both club Nuwra Eliya and Colombo. His performance in Indian professional golf event  held  in Colombo winning the tile best amateur , made his father to re direct the son from collecting trophies to collecting the real thing in Golf -.Professional golf- So abandoning Zen to battle with tigers and lions in Golf. As a first step, attempt was made to qualify in Malaysian Professional golf circuit that has more than seven Asian development tour events and wide gates to Major events like the five Asian  and European tour events with one PGA  event. Top golfer like of Tiger Rory, Vijey,  take part in these events. Prize money of all adds to more than  20 million US dollars for 2013, Excluding the major event the prize money of PGM tour only will be US 1.4 million for 2013. First step was indeed a hit on target.
Malaysia and the Asean nations though started the game later than Sri Lanka has advance to world standards when in comes to facilities in Golf, being able to host world class events with  ease. Asia is booming in golf .Missions hills in China leads with prize money exceeding most major events in rest of the world,. From Asia we have seen top golfers coming  likes  Arjun Atwal Jeev,Vije Singhe, K J Choi , Ishikawa,and more
When in comes to golf Sri lanka cannot forget Nandasena Perera As a top amateur while  Mithun Perea, Prbagaran ,Anura Rohana, Who rose from the periphery of RCGC membership and from ranks of caddies to be professionals. Zen is the first Gentleman- Member to acquire the tile of professional golf in its History of near 130 years.
From the ladies section of Royal Colombo golf club It was Thiru Fernando who first made the professional golf circuit .the daughter of the historically best amateur golfer of  Royal Colombo golf club. 
Asia is dominating the world  in ladies golf. Koreans account for more than half the  pack among the top 20.They do not boast  big physical size of the Northern hemisphere golfers yet they make up for it with sheer skills. World number one a Korean NA Yoon Cheon is tiny and very Asian in manners. The former number one Tsani is quiet similar in stature.  Then Why not Sri Lankan ladies??
While Asia is booming in Golf Sri lanka is not getting  an ounce of Benefit from the Golfing  wave ?? Do we have the basic facilities to host ,even at second level international event in golf.  Answer is NO As the only course In Colombo lacks so many basics needed  for an international event.  Asian tour officials descried to Damaru response to an ADT event from Sri Lanka was not very positive While Bangladesh has now two ADT events. 
Victoria in Kandy is better equipped for second level event but lack other supportive facilities like nearby Five star accommodation for player official  and the golfing fans  from all  corner of the world. With 365 days of sunshine promoting golf as  destination is indeed lucrative as the visitors are high end spenders The events generate world wide audience.  Asian tour Official have made several attempts to get an event held in Colombo but failed. Bangladesh is hosting such events India is way ahead hosting some major events.
Zen while on the run for the run for the crown of professional golf has inspired many youngsters in Colombo. For in stance Saschin de silva , SafFar, Pushpa Kumar likes  have potential to follow .
Wake up Sri Lanka .If the cricketers can do golfer too can . Sports authorities need to provide better facilities, like a public golf course.
Damaru media

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