Ravindran played a major role at SCC, formerly known as the Sarawak Club Golf Resort.
KUCHING: Ravindran Varnagopal is leaving the Samarahan Country Club (SCC) after two and a half years of service despite a year still left in his original contract with the club.
When asked on the reason for his move, the SCC chief executive officer’s quick response was: “SCC is in good shape and it’s time for a hand-over and to move on.”
“As mentioned a year ago, I will hand over the reins to a local person when the time is right,” he affirmed.
Back in 2013, Ravindran was employed by The Sarawak Club, which owns the Sarawak Golf Club Resort, to look after golf operations. For one and a half years, Ravindran worked with two committees to put together administrative matters for the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which came into effect on July 1 last year.
Under the MOA, The Sarawak Club handed over the management of the golf resort to SCC for the next 54 years under certain terms and conditions. During the period before the hand over, many matters had to be put in place and the most important was the golf course.
For the effort, SCC was nominated by MGA-Par Golf Magazine as the top three most improved golf courses in the country for 2013 along with Templer Park and Sungai Long.
Under SCC, Ravindran was appointed as its first chief executive officer, which was also a first in the golf industry in Sarawak.
Ravindran regarded the past one year as a very tiring year, putting into effect the new club constitution, by-law, recruitment of new staff, setting up of new departments, IT, accounting, promotions, recruitments of new members and introducing new tournaments and managing corporate events.
“All that have paid off and now SCC is in a better position with 110 new members and the golfing members has increased from 300 to 500,” he said.
Under the new management, facilities improvements have been made, such as purchases of new machineries and upgrading of clubhouse facilities.
Recripocal arrangements with 19 clubs around the country were also signed and, to date, two clubs have played at SCC.
“When I arrived here, most of the facilities were under-utilised or running in a deficit. Now all facilities are well managed, used and recording a surplus or self-supporting,” said Ravindran.
Last year, SCC was nominated for the award of Best Overall Golfing Experience and another award by Malaysian Golf Association for the NHS Compliance Award.
“With these three awards nominations, I strongly believe that the mission is completed.”
Asked about his future plans, Ravindran said his immediate focus was the UK/Scotland trip where he will be at the Open at St Andrews to pay homage to House of Golf and thereafter watch the world’s top golfers in action.
“I have received a special invitation from the R & A Ltd and am looking forward to the trip.”
“The trip is made possible by my family (wife Elma, son Pravin and daughter Thania) to commemorate the special day when I joined the golfing world on July 13, 1985. Coincidently, my arrival into the Mecca of golf was on July 13.”
“Thereafter I am willing to assist any club that requires my expertise to upgrade its facilities, course conditions and management,” he added.