Carl D’Silva moved to Australia from Kenya nearly three years ago. As someone who had played competitive sport for years, one of the significant aspects of his resettlement here, was obviously to find a golfing group he could play with. Luckily for him, he didn’t have to look far.
A Goan by background, he became a member of the Sydney-based Goan Overseas Association (GOA). The association has a proactive golf club.
At the Golf Annual Day Luncheon held in late January, Carl took home the Golfer of the Year trophy for the second year in a row. Not only did he successfully defend his Gross Championship title, he also achieved the rare feat of winning the Nett Championship Title as well in the same season.
“I love playing with the GOA group,” Carl told Indian Link. “It’s a small but close-knit group of about 16-18 people, and we play at different venues. The competition itself is well-organised, and plenty of fun”.
“Carl was certainly the hero of the 2011 season,” Alwyn Henriques, captain of the GOA-NSW Golf Club said.
Seven new golfers participated in the League last year, he added, including young and budding Goan golf talent Patrick Ferris and Lina D’Silva who became the first lady to play in the history of the Golf League.
At the luncheon held at Mother India Restaurant in Middle Dural, other winners of the 2011 Golf season were also felicitated. These included Dr George Dias, Cajetan Miranda, John Fernandes, Patrick Ferris, Lina D’Silva and Alwyn Henriques.
Special guests Dr Yadu Singh and Subbarao Varigonda of the CIA gave away the prizes.
At the event, GOA President Tony Colaco praised the golf wing for its activities. The GOA-NSW Golf Club, which has been operating for 24 years now, is well known to all Goan associations worldwide, he said.
Sports Director Roy Do Rosario said, “Amongst the various sports initiatives at GOA , the golf wing has consistently maintained its traditions and organized the Golf League every year”.
Alwyn Henriques noted that GOA is the only Indian association in Australia to run a Golf League for its members. He also drew the connection of Goans with golf as they moved out of Goa to Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australia, and how that was instrumental in starting the Golf League in Sydney in 1987 by founding members of the GOA Golf Club. Alwyn thanked three of the founding members present, Tony Vaz, Dr George Dias and Reg Mathais, and the other founding members for their initiative.
“GOA Golf Club will continue to serve as a platform to focus on bonding the Goan golfing community, creating an awareness for this grand sport, organizing golfing events that engage families and encouraging new members from the Goan community to join the Golf League,” he added.
Yadu Singh and Subbarao expressed support for a Golf Day for all golfers in the wider Indian community, committing to progress the initiative with the GOA Golf Club.
Another highlight from the day was Sandra Antao’s golf photo album going back to the 1990 Golf Annual Day.
Carl D’Silva was installed as 2012 Captain by Mr Do Rosario and Outgoing Captain Alwyn Henriques.
GOA, a not-for-profit organisation based in Sydney is one of the oldest community associations in Australia , created in 1977 by migrant Goans with an aim of fostering social bonding amongst members of the Goan community. As GOA celebrates it 35th anniversary this year, the association is proud to have grown from about 20 members since inception, to 400-plus members to date.
Will we see more of Carl D’Silva on the golfing greens – perhaps in even larger tournaments? We certainly hope so!
