I am sure Vijay can help us also but he would do it if there is a proper committee in place-Mira Singh

The Nadi Airport Golf Club was one of Fiji’s most challenging courses and boasted some of the best ocean and island views found in Fiji.

It was where Fiji’s international golf icon and former Masters champion Vijay Singh, along with his father, Mohan and brothers, Mira and Vijay who also turned professional first learnt how to play.

The 5882 yards, par 70 (34 front nine & 36 back nine) course, built in 1958, produced some of Fiji’s best amateurs also and should have been nicknamed the “Runway Way Club” as it runs adjacent to Nadi International Airport.

Sadly, today, the course is overgrown with grass, horses use some of its greens for grazing and the clubhouse looks more like a rundown shack.

Such is the dilapidated state of the club that past winners and officials would surely be shaking their heads in disbelief.

Presently there is no committee as the last annual general meeting was held some four to five years ago.

Mira Singh is one who is worried of the club’s present state.“The golf club has been there for years and I was a member since my childhood,”Mira said.

The golfing family all laid their hands on the club champion’s trophy at some stage.

“The issue is that through the years we have had committee members and business people saying they were going to do this and do that but nothing happened.

“The club has been on the decline and now it has come to a stage that it may close.“I haven’t been a member of the club in the last four years as I disagree with the way things are being run.

“When you go and see the place you will be in tears. I went there last Sunday and it was pathetic, especially the long grass.”

However, Singh said this was not the time to point fingers as there needs to be a meeting of golf enthusiasts and past officials to elect a new committee to revive the club.

“There has not been an AGM for the last three years and we do not know who’s running the golf course.”

Singh said the tourism industry needed to invest some money into the golf course as it was in a prime location.

“There are so many hotels near town and once the golf course was brought back into shape I am sure the tourists would like to come and play.

“Nadi Airport Golf Club has a status and that is it has produced one of the greatest golfers in the world and that is Vijay.

“The last tournament was the Nadi Open in August last year.”

He said even the water to the clubhouse has now been disconnected.

“I am sure Vijay can help us also but he would do it if there is a proper committee in place,” Mira said.

The course has played host to prominent people like the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara,Sir Michael Somare, former president Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.

Munesh Prasad, a businessman of Nadi, said he and fellow businessman Pranit Chand were presently trying to revive the club.

He said he had spent a lot of his own money trying to get everything in order.

“I just got back from Japan where I spent over $12,000 for the purchase of 12 golf carts, a mower for the greens and one for the fairway.

“I also spent $6,000 for the repairs of the tractor for the fairway while the one for the rough has still to be repaired.”

Prasad agreed there has not been an AGM for the past four years.

“We will play an ambrose event at the Denarau Golf and Racquet Club on May 20 to raise funds for the club.”

Former club president Mark Hinton said the club was in a dilapidated state and was far cry from as recently as 2010 when the club had over 300 members.

“I left in 2011. At present I don’t know how things are being run.”

Hinton said things needed to be put in order for people to support the club and that meant a proper AGM and committee in place.

At present, no AGM has been planned.Unless something is done soon a once popular and famous golf club may soon be no more

Edited by Osea Bola

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