In the second and last part of a detailed interview with 'The News on Sunday', renowned golfer and golf official, Asad I.A Khan, talks about the issues ailing the sport.

TNS: How and why did you choose to join SGA?

AIAK: SGA was headquartered at KGC and due to my passionate involvement with competitive golf, I became its Secretary and continued in that position for 8 years. Later, I became its Vice President for 4 years and onto becoming President for two terms - another 8 years. A long innings by all means - very satisfying, but frustrating as well. One significant step that I take full credit for, was to install a civilian as the President of Sindh Golf Association. Earlier, it was always the President of the Karachi Golf Club who happened to be the Comkar, Pakistan Navy. Traditionally, that was a 'given' however, there was no such provision in our Constitution nor in others spelling out that the President has to be a Corps Commander, Comkar or a serving General even though these are elected positions. Elections take place after every 4 years, the way it is conducted, we all understand and accept. My late father-in-law Maj. Gen. Saad Tarique, who also served as the President of PGF 1975-77, always used to say 'you will get, what you accept'. So there it is, and that's how it is, likely to be.

TNS: What do you think were the hits and misses during your 25 years with SGA?

AIAK: Oh! there are so many hits and misses. There was so much that I could do, but couldn't, simply because these honourary positions are just not 'cut out' to deliver. The 12 years or so that I worked as Secretary and Vice President were smooth and easy going - we were keen to make a difference, and with the support of the then Presidents, it was a harmonious body of like-minded individuals, representing their Clubs.

I will talk about the 'hits' first. I think the best thing that we ever did was to become financially sound. The Capitation Fee which all Members of the Clubs pay to PGF and SGA was totally insufficient to do anything worthwhile. So, we proposed a Tournament Levy, starting from Rs50 per month in 2001, which incidentally is only Rs200 even now. Nevertheless, it is still enough to have achieved many milestones in golf and facilitating the Association to play an active role in promoting golf, and supporting the golfing needs of Professionals and Caddies as well. Today, each Member pays Rs300 to PGF and Rs400 to SGA (Rs200 as Capitation & Rs200 as Tournament Levy). It is a small amount of Rs700 per month which every member of a Golf Club pays as contribution to the Federation and Association. We have in Karachi the largest number of golfers in Pakistan, over 3600 Capitation paying Members as against all of Pakistan, there are only 3793 Capitation paying Members! This is impossible to believe, there is obliviously a massive misdeclaration by the Clubs who are charging the Members but denying PGF of its legitimate dues. Really, no one can accept this as a true reflection of the country's membership. Would you believe, all of Punjab which has 25 golf courses is paying for only 2669 Members, whereas just Karachi alone which has 7 golf courses, pays for more than 3600 Members. Is this fair to accept? should PGF not take strict action against this glaring misdeclaration by the Clubs.

The money SGA collects, which is around Rs15 million annually, is spent, on tournaments, the major chunk of Rs4 million being spent on holding the Sindh Open Golf Championship. We organise the Sindh Amateur, the President SGA Cup, the Jinnah Development Tour, select teams for 'Inter-Association Team Championship, organise Inter-Club Team Championship, support Professionals and Caddies on a need basis, reward players for their success and much more. In doing all this, SGA has been recognised in the golfing circles as the most organised, efficient and pro-active Golf Association, together with the reputation of being most supportive, generous and benevolent towards the under privileged class of golfers.

SGA established its Office with a full time Manager and two Assistants, who carry out the day to day administrative duties - The Executive Committee like all others, is working in an 'honourary' capacity. This takes a toll on the Members and therefore few of them actually contribute by way of time, and are unable to actively participate in organisational matters, which now practically require 'Event Management' companies to look after. I am of the firm opinion that in today's world such responsibilities should not be placed on honourary shoulders - its expecting too much, of their time and energy.

The game today demands professional handling and qualified management.

Now for the 'misses'. As Secretary and Vice President, I had no issues at all, we had a very supportive President in Mr. Aslam R. Khan then, with him, the Secretariat was very effective, as we were primarily concerned with the holding of Championships and promoting the players, moreover, there was never a doubt about our sincerity nor in the efforts and decisions that we were taking. As the Association grew in its reputation as a credible organisation, clubs became more interested in their representation, rather than actually contributing with their time. As long as there were like-minded people, there was no issue, this unfortunately started to change and clubs stood divided at times. Ironically, some Members of the Executive Committee took greater interest in raising issues, rather than taking on responsibilities, becoming more procedural in every matter, which slowed down SGA's initiatives, and hampered the proactive approach it was taking.

This last tenure of mine, nonetheless, was indeed successful in terms of what all we achieved and carried on with, regardless of the occasional friction between the office bearers. Despite some opposition, we moved along and fulfilled our responsibilities albeit with subdued enthusiasm. Constitutional matters have also surfaced, which need to be amicably resolved, the Elections to the position of Office Bearers was hotly contested for the first time. Therefore, there is an urgent need to review the SGA Constitution and make necessary amendments to it, as well as strengthen certain

stipulations and conditions, so that elections are held fairly and the outcome is not dictated by Clubs who practically make no contribution to the Association. More importantly, Clubs desirous of playing an active part in the SGA, must fulfill the laid down conditions - which are necessary to make them eligible as voting members. Mere representation on the Association by virtue of being a golf club entitles them to a Seat, not a voting right. For obtaining the right to Vote, such Clubs should have at least 50 Capitation paying Members. This clause in the SGA Constitution saved the SGA election from being hijacked by 9-hole golf courses.

I am indeed very happy to have passed on the baton to an outstanding senior golfer Khurram Khan who has represented Pakistan internationally and has the legacy of his father Mr. Azim Khan to carry forward. Mr. Azim Khan served as President of the Pakistan Golf Union, which is now PGF - he also served as our Vice President in SGA.

Also bringing Mr. Ashraf Khan Ghori back as Treasurer is a good gesture, as Mr. Ghori endeared himself to the majority of golfers in discharging his duties. Another great addition to SGA is Mr. Azhar Hameed as the new Vice President. Azhar is a retired senior civil servant and a recognized sportsman. The Secretary remains the same, and is expected to devote more time to SGA and let the duty of 'Referee' be taken up by others who are also duly qualified.

Khalid Hussain is Editor Sports of The News

khalidhraj@gmail.com