Civilians to lose playing privileges on Army golf courses

The letters specifies that “No membership be granted to civilians including playing privileges”. As of now the various Army golf courses extend playing privileges to civilians on payment of a sum of money as also on reciprocal basis to members of other golf clubs which are located in a city.

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It has also been clarified in the letter that only defence services personnel including ex-servicemen from Army, Navy and Air Force and their families will be permitted to play on Army Golf Courses. Those civilian officials who are paid salaries out of defence estimates will also be allowed to utilise the playing facilities by paying subscription.

The letter reiterates the earlier instructions that no sponsored tournaments should be conducted on Army golf courses, no commercial activities should be permitted there and nominal fee and subscription should be charged for upkeep and maintenance of the golf courses.

The Army golf courses came under the scrutiny of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of parliament in 2013 when passed adverse comments on utilisation of defence lands for playing golf. Observing that golf could not be considered as a military activity, the committee noted with surprise that in 2004, the Chief of Army Staff declared golf as a sports activity and not a recreational activity alone and directed that golf courses would be named as Army Environmental Park and Training Area.

“The Committee are shocked to find that defence authorities had been offering membership of the Golf courses to civilians on payment basis so much so that in places like Delhi even foreign diplomats were being given membership and revenue generated from the civilian membership was not being credited to government account. The Committee deplore the gross misuse of golf courses and recommend that the entire of the golf courses be revisited comprehensively, and appropriate remedial action taken to ensure that the recreational facilities needed for the armed forces are not misused/abused in any manner,” the PAC report had stated.

Subsequently a PIL was also filed in the Supreme Court by an NGO, Common Cause, asking for an investigation into improper use of defence lands in which golf courses had also been included. The Ministry of Defence had filed an affidavit earlier this year in court stating that the recommendations of PAC on defence lands had been accepted and that formulation of a new policy was underway.