Opening of Srinagar’s Royal Springs Golf Course evokes criticism

Srinagar, June 10 (IANS) The high-profile Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC) here has been thrown open to the member golfers who are returning to this golf course like the duck taking to water.Situated on the banks of the Dal Lake and overlooked by the Zabarwan mountains, the golf course is rated among one of the best in the country.Among the first to return to the course, which was thrown open on Sunday, was former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who is a keen golfer.There has been criticism of the decision to open the golf course in Srinagar which was recently classified as a red zone district.Those opposing the opening of the golf course argue that given the number of members likely to return to the course, it would be difficult to maintain social distancing and other required precautions mandatory for a red zone district.Those managing the golf course have dispelled these fears though.”We are allowing only four-ball matches in which just four golfers go out to the course assisted by two caddies. There is a minimum 20-minute gap between the matches so that at no point of time more than four players remain on the course.”All golfers are advised to maintain social distancing while they are playing. After the members return to the lodge, they have to sit on chairs kept away from each other and this distance is also maintained by those waiting for their turn to move out to the course,” said an RSGC official.While all other sporting activities, including play grounds, gymnasia, workout and fitness clubs etc. are closed in Srinagar, the opening of the Royal Springs Golf Course, which is the favourite sporting haunt of the privileged and influential members of the local society, is liable to raise eye-brows.Many critics of the decision to open the golf course hold that the influential members have mounted pressure on the authorities to throw open the course and the same has been done overlooking the mandatory guidelines issued with regard to opening of sporting activities in Srinagar.–IANSsq/arm