Dibrugarh: The historic Moran Polo Club Golf Course adjoining the Thowra airstrip in Dibrugarh district is facing an existential threat as the management of Thowra Tea Estate has started converting the heritage sporting facility into a tea plantation.The tea estate management has already started digging and ploughing the golf field for planting tea saplings, prompting the Golf Captain of Moran Polo Club Sachin Singh Rathore to hand over an urgent appeal to Dibrugarh district commissioner Bikram Kairi on Monday, seeking immediate intervention to halt further destruction.The Moran Golf Course, located inside the Thowra Tea Estate, is officially recognised by the department of tourism, govt of Assam. The site holds significant heritage and sporting value while also carrying historic aviation importance, as the Thowra airstrip was used for landing and take-off of light aircraft during the 1950s. Archival photographs and historical records confirm the dual use of the area as both a golf course and an airstrip.Rathore stated that following a destruction in 2021 due to digging activities, the club invested nearly two years of sustained effort and resources to revive the facility.“Despite severe land constraints, the area was redesigned into a functional golf course, restoring training opportunities for local youth and reviving a historic sporting institution,” Rathore said.He warned that the wider Moran region would lose its only grassroots golf training ground if this course ceases to exist. Beyond its historical importance, the course plays a vital role in youth development, particularly for children from tea garden communities who have limited access to sporting facilities.Siddarth Chaliha, secretary of the Upper Assam Golf Association (UAGA), highlighted the broader developmental impact of the facility.“The association regularly organises caddie tournaments, identifies talented youth, and provides pathways for coaching and participation in Indian Golf Union events, offering young players an opportunity to pursue professional careers. Several former caddies from the region have gone on to become coaches and course managers,” Chaliha said.The Moran Golf Course Association has urged the tea estate management to reconsider its decision, considering the heritage value and developmental importance of the facility.Club members, along with local youth and residents, have expressed serious concern that any further ploughing or alteration of the land would undo years of restoration work and permanently end opportunities for aspiring young golfers.“Years of hard work and dedication have gone into reviving this facility. To see it being destroyed for commercial purposes is heartbreaking for everyone involved, especially the young caddies who see this as their gateway to a better future,” said a club member.The community has urged the district administration to protect the site as a heritage sporting facility and an important centre for youth development, ensuring preservation of this unique piece of Assam’s sporting and aviation history for future generations.
