Zen Dharmaratne first pro of Royal Colombo Golf Club

Damaru media: For over 130 years Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) was the cradle for Sri Lankan golfers to play, practice and advance their game of golf. But all top golfers from Sri Lanka, came from the periphery of the club.

Of the gentlemen members at RCGC, Zen was the first to elevate to the professional stage at the age of 22. He is accompanied with a degree in IT, balancing academics (brain) and sports (brawn) to better human faculties.

After all it is the mind that targets the ball while the 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 RCGC winning a Squadron cup and the aggregate gold medal with massive margin in scores.

He won the club championship in both clubs Nuwara Eliya and Colombo. His performance the Indian professional golf event held in Colombo, where he won the tile best amateur, made his father to re-direct his son from collecting trophies to collecting the real thing in golf professional.

He abandoned Zen to battle with the tigers and lions in golf. As the 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 golfers like Tiger Rory, and Vijey also take part in these events.

The total prize money add to more than US$ 20 million for 2013, excluding the major event the prize money of PGM tour only will be US 1.4 million for 2013.

The 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 it comes to facilities in golf, being able to host world class events with an ease.  Asia is booming in golf, Mission 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 Perera, 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 RCGC.  

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?  The answer would be ‘no’, as the only course in Colombo lacks so many basics needed for an international event.

Asian tour officials described 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, while 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 instance Saschin de Silva, Saffar, Pushpa Kumar likes have potential to follow.

Wake up Sri Lanka, if the cricketers can do it then golfers can too. Sports authorities need to provide better facilities, like a public golf course.