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Harnessing this huge industry and the potential Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and others have managed to shore up their golf infrastructure to woo Japanese as well as other lovers of the game and have reaped considerable benefits.
Sri Lanka though late to join the pack has great potential to benefit from this boom in golf tourism. Experts believe though Sri Lanka has only eight courses, the fact that the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) being Asia’s second oldest with 135 year history and the one at Nuwara Eliya being the third oldest in Asia with 125-year history, the country could have achieved lot more and could do more in golf tourism.
Given the overall long term potential and the improved profile of Sri Lanka following the dawn of peace, the Government and the golfing community have sets sights to become Asia’s centre of excellence for the game by 2020. Ambitious it may sound but a few key initiatives have taken root or being drawn up.
Early this week Sri Lanka saw perhaps the biggest boost for golf tourism when RCGC struck a historic deal with Japan’s famous Taiheiyo Club for a reciprocal membership program. The initiative was spearheaded by NWS Holdings Ltd., which is owned by Japan’s Takashi Igarashi who is too a golf enthusiast.
Under the partnership the Taiheiyo Club members will be permitted to play on the RCGC course free of charge. In turn, RCGC members will enjoy the same benefit in Tokyo and moreover, the Japanese club will promote high profile players to visit Colombo.
Taiheiyo Club, founded in 1971, is a leader in Japan’s golfing world with a membership of over 17,000 and boasting 17 PGA standard courses across the country. The flagship course is “Gotemba” overlooking Japan’s famous Heritage site Mt. Fuji. Most of its courses are located nearby Tokyo Metropolitan area while three are nearby Osaka area.
It has hosted the popular Taiheiyo Masters for the past 37 years as well as the World Cup of 2002 which saw iconic Tiger Woods playing for the US team. Now owned by Japan’s gaming and entertainment company Maruham Corporation, Taiheiyo also has reciprocal arrangements with Hong Kong Clearwater Bay and Macau Golf Club.
Golf as a vehicle to boost tourism
“Golf is a unique vehicle to promote Sri Lanka’s tourism,” remark came not from a Sri Lankan but the Taiheiyo’s President and CEO Shun Han. “Royal Colombo Golf Club is a cornerstone of the long tradition of golf in Asia. It is a sanctuary in Colombo. There are few golf clubs anywhere in Japan which can speak of such a proud history,” Han said during the ceremony to mark the tie up with RCGC on Tuesday.
He said that he has learnt that tourists come to Sri Lanka to enjoy mountains, beach and tea plus golfing.
Given Sri Lanka’s exciting appeal for Japanese golfers Taiheiyo decided to forge ahead with the partnership with RCGC.
Han emphasized that given the rich heritage and experience spanning over 100 years, Taiheiyo Club can learn from RCGC’s experience and advice.
He also expressed confidence that members of his Club will be keen to travel to Sri Lanka to play golf once the arrangement with RCGC is popularised in Japan.
The entry of Taiheiyo team in to Colombo was accompanied by a five member Japanese TV media crew who will beam golf in Sri Lanka to Japanese audiences.
The partnership between RCGC and Taiheiyo also comes hot on the heels of Japanese Premier Abe Shinzo’s historic visit to Sri Lanka in September which reinvigorated the strong bilateral ties enjoyed between the two.
Taiheiyo Club’s Coor-dinator Haru Tsunezumi, who has worked with PGA as well as coached top Japanese golfers including an Asian Champ, said that culture or heritage and golf goes together. “When I visited Sri Lanka first I learn that the country has eight World Heritage sites but only two world class golf courses. But when I see the beauty of Sri Lanka, I think the country should have several more golf courses so that lovers of the game will holiday and enjoy golf,” he added.
Landmark tie up for improved RCGC
For RCGC, the tie-up with the Japanese Club is a landmark too.
“This historic occasion between our countries build friendship and closer binding whilst promoting business as golf being the focal point,” emphasised RCGC Captain Michael Magala. “Royal Colombo Golf Club is happy that we had played a part by creating history in promoting Sri Lanka through golf to the golfing community of Japan,” he added.
He invited Taiheiyo Club members to benefit from the rich history and traditions of RCGC, which has a multinational membership of 2,300 and has produced world class golfers who have also taken part in Japanese open golf tournaments.
The Royal Colombo Golf Club this week opened the much awaited refurbished greens according to USGA specifications. The Club has invested around Rs. 17 million for this initiative.
“This makes the RCGC 18 greens up to USGA standard,” the Club’s Captain Michael Magala said, adding that the reciprocal arrangement with Taiheiyo was perfect timing. To commemorate the partnership the two Clubs kicked off a friendly tournament on Wednesday and Magala said this will be an annual event going forward.
Future plans
The Japanese team was told that Sri Lanka presently has four 18 hole golf courses and four 9 hole golf courses and RCGC Captain Magala said plans are underway to build 4 more 18 hole golf courses in the South – two in Hambantota and one each in Tangalle and Bentota. “In the future international golfers can play in many parts of Sri Lanka. I have no doubt that Sri Lanka will be the Japanese next golfing destination added with warm Sri Lankan hospitality,” he added.
Sri Lanka Golf Union Secretary Ana Punchihewa too described the tie up as historic and it will help in the efforts to make Sri Lanka the next golfing centre of excellence in Asia by 2020.
He said that golf tourism is a $ 2 billion industry globally growing at 10% per annum. “With this partnership as well as some of the development and marketing measures planned Sri Lanka is poised to take off to the next level in golf tourism,” Punchihewa added.
The Union estimates Sri Lanka has earned over Rs. 60 million in golf tourism by way of green fees, accommodation etc. “We think the figure could be much more if actual spend can be assessed from different stakeholders in the industry,” he added.
It was said that the Government’s plan is to have around 20 world class golf courses by 2020. Punchihewa said at present initial projects were handled by Chinese and popularity of Sri Lanka will encourage investors from rest of the world. More direct flights from golf savvy Asian countries such as Japan, China and Korea will help boost golf tourism.
Key role by NWS Holdings Chief
Takashi Igarashi
Both RCGC and the Golf Union thanked the visionary and the brainchild of the tie-up – Takashi Igarashi of NWS Holdings.
“The reciprocal membership arrangement wouldn’t be a reality if not for the vision and efforts of Mr. Takashi,” they said.
“There is a huge opportunity to promote golf tourism in Sri Lanka, with its beauty and comfortable weather and lifestyle. I have long fostered a desire to bring wealthy Japanese tourists to Sri Lanka to enjoy this country and golf,” Takashi said. The partnership between Taiheiyo Club and RCGC will provide a huge boost to the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, drawing affluent, high-spending Japanese visitors to the country. He also said strong ties between Sri Lanka and Japan via this partnership can be extended to golf as well.
The support to boost golf tourism is yet another development initiative by Igarashi, who together with NWS Holdings has to date channelled approximately Rs. 40 billion (over $ 300 million) to Sri Lanka from Japan into various sectors. Recently NWS Holdings introduced Sagawa Group of Japan to acquire 51% of Expo Lanka Holdings PLC for a total value of Rs. 11.2 billion. Takashi further states that his target is to bring in a sum of at least $ 500 million by the end of 2015.
