India's ace golfer not allowed in Delhi Golf Club; threatens to quit

By Team MyNationFirst Published May 27, 2019, 6:20 PM IST
Highlights

Rashid Khan has said that if DGC will not allow him, he is ready to quit his Olympic dream. According to the golfer, he went to practice on Sunday and even after paying the fee, the administration didn't allow him to practice

New Delhi: After being subjected to rude behaviour from the Delhi Golf club (DGC), Indian golfer Rashid Khan has said he will give up his Olympics dream and quit the sport if he is not allowed to practice at the Delhi Golf Club. Interestingly, when he showed the club management an order of the apex court enabling anyone to play golf, the management behaved rudely. Sadly, instead of working on his complaint, Delhi police on his PCR call took him to the police station but haven't taken action against the DGC. 

According to the golfer, he went to the DGC for practice on Sunday and even after paying the fee, the administration didn't allow him to practice.  

The two-time Asian champion, who is currently ranked No. 1 on the PGTI Players' Championship, along with seven professional and two amateur golfers was taken to the Tughlaq Road police station after they complained that the DGC staff were not allowing them to enter the premises for practice despite paying the stipulated fee.

The tussle between Rashid and the DGC goes back a long time over the latter's refusal to allow him to practice at the iconic 18-hole course. He said the DGC has gone against a Supreme Court ruling that will enable them to use the course for practice.

"No win is easy, and without practice even more difficult. I was in the police station from 3 pm till 6:30 pm just because I was willing to pay a green fee and practice at the Delhi Golf Club. Don't know who to blame," the golfer said. "Wanted to pay the green fees and practice at DGC but they refused, showed them a Supreme court judgement where it is written that anyone can come and practice, for that I called the police to clear this, but they took me only, wasn't ready to listen," the golfer said. 

Rashid Khan has also said that if DGC will not allow him, he is ready to quit his Olympic dream. According to the golfer, in 2012, the DGC stopped allowing caddie-turned-players from practising at the course, one of India's most iconic clubs, which is located at the heart of Lutyens' Delhi. So far, no response has been given by DGC; the story will be updated once the management will react.

Rudeness – routine affair for DGC

In 2017 an older woman from Meghalaya alleged that she was asked to leave the Delhi Golf Club as she was wearing a traditional Khasi dress. "They told me, 'Leave the dining hall, maids are not allowed.' They were very rude. I felt ashamed and angry. I was wearing the traditional Khasi dress — Jainsem — and they told me this dress was not allowed," the woman, Tailin Lyngdoh had said. Later, management claimed that it was an unfortunate incident.

(With inputs from agencies)

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