Royal Willingdon Sports Club

The Willingdon Sports Club is a sports club situated in South Mumbai.[1] It is one of the most prestigious clubs in India and its members are the creme-de-la-creme of Mumbai Society. It is one of the oldest and most well known clubs in India. Membership has been closed for the past 30 years and only the children of current members can attain membership. Corporate membership is granted but only for 10 years and only if the company is worth more than Rs. 20 crores. Kumar Mangalam Birla recently became a corporate member. It is the most sought after club in Mumbai and most of its members are old money. Most of the members are Parsis. It has an old world charm. It was one of the first clubs to admit indigenous Indians prior to Partition.[2]

History

It was founded in 1918 by Lord Willingdon, the then Governor of Bombay.[2] Willingdon was refused permission to take an Indian Maharaja with him to the Bombay Gymkhana, Byculla Club and Royal Bombay Yacht Club[1] which then allowed only Europeans and hence decided to start a club that both Indians and Europeans could go to.[3]

Permanent membership is closed except for members sons[1][2][4] though temporary corporate memberships are open (mostly taken by expatriates). In the 1980s membership was temporarily opened but then later closed due to overwhelming demand. In 2007, membership was opened to members daughters as well, much to the consternation of some members, though a majority of Balloting and Disciplinary Committee members saw it fit to admit them as "younger people spend more money."[1] Membership applications for "ordinary members" (members sons), corporate members and "services" (civil servants and armed forces) are decided by the Balloting and Disciplinary Committee. Mid-Day wrote that the WSC has an unspoken rule that does not allow film actors and racing professionals, including jockeys, trainers and their spouses to be individuals as "actors might create a nuisance, with their followers lingering around, and ruin the ambience and peace at the club...What is important is not the profession but the applicant's background. If the jockey is a syce's son who cannot speak seven words of English, he may be rejected."[2] However, Akshay Khanna and his brother Rahul are members as of 2010 onwards.

In the 21st century, there was controversy and infighting over the destruction of the badminton courts and club election process.

Amenities

The club has an 18 hole golf course (the only public one in the city (the other being the military-only club), top 10 biggest cities in the world), six tennis courts, squash and badminton courts, health club and a swimming pool. Non-sports amenities include a formal dining room, a semi-formal dining room, a bar, a garden cafe (where children under 21 are allowed), swimming pool cafe, a bakery, a members' provision and separate beer and wine shop and a plant nursery.[5]

Events

A banquet was held there in 1954 to celebrate the first Filmfare awards ceremony. The event was attended by actor Gregory Peck.[6] One of the award winners, Bimal Roy was not allowed entry into the club for the party as he was dressed in a dhoti.[7]

Controversies

M.F. Husain, modern painter who was asked to leave the premises because he was barefoot (while club rules stipulate that proper attire and footwear must be worn (with "rubber chappals and bedroom slippers" specifically prohibited).[8] Even shorts are not allowed in the main clubhouse (except Garden Café) after 19:00. Further during dry days the club serves alcohol but only indoors; the sole exception being for election dry days. Pesi Shroff, Indian jockey and horse trainer, was controversially rejected.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Mumbai Multiplex: Welcome to the club". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Willingdon slams door on Pesi Shroff". Mid Day. 11 April 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  3. ↑ Humble, Richard (1983). Fraser of North Cape. Routledge. p. 96. ISBN 0-7100-9555-4.
  4. ↑ "New clubs on the block". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  5. ↑ Streat, Raymond, Marguerite Dupree (1987). Lancashire and Whitehall. Manchester University Press ND. p. 260. ISBN 0-7190-2390-4.
  6. ↑ "Things that u dont know about Filmfare Awards". sify.com. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  7. ↑ "50 years of dreams, disappointments". Times of India. 25 February 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  8. ↑ "Mumbai's love-hate relationship with M F Husain". The Times of India. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2012.