As city tries to find its feet, elite clubs struggle to stay above water

CHENNAI: The recent floods have laid almost everything in the city low, including institutions frequented by the elite.
Those like Madras Boat Club, Cosmopolitan Golf Club and Madras Club, on the banks of the Adyar River, suffered massive losses.
The 149-year-old Madras Boat Club, which was preparing for its 150th year celebrations, is now a garbage vat.The floods of 1978 and 1986 left the club relatively unscathed, but this time, water reached the first floor, destroying the bar, restaurant, AC machines and sprawling lawns.
More than seven boats were lost, many smashed to smithereens and it will be some time before the rowers can take to the water..
“It’ll take some time to get back to normal shape. It’s caused a huge financial loss (approximately Rs 1.6 crore) and we are waiting for the insurance company to visit the place before it gives the final estimation,” president Shakuntala Chanda told TOI.
Cosmopolitan Golf Club, which boasts of one of the country’s finest golf courses and is headquarters of the Tamil Nadu Golf Federation (TNGF), is yet to recover. “Of 90 acres, 80 acres were under water. The whole course has been battered. Most of the greens have been damaged and the entire course is covered with garbage. Many of our members have lost their private buggies. It’s closed now and will remain closed for some more time,” said a TNGF official.
Suresh G, golf captain at the Madras Gymkhana Golf Club in Guindy, said the club had been closed for the past month as the grounds were slushy. “We will not be able to open for another month at the very least,” he said, adding that the losses are around 10 lakh-15 lakh.
He said many avid golfers had left the city for greener pastures. “Our expat golfers, especially from the Korean community, who used to use the greens often, have also left.”
Meanwhile, the exclusive Madras Club, also on the banks of the Adyar, seems to be getting back on its feet after days of gloom. Until a week ago, both entrances were more or less blocked — one by police barricades and the other by water.
“It is with anguish that we witnessed destruction to life and property in the havoc caused by the recent unprecedented heavy rain and floods,” said an announcement from the club. “The committee, in a meeting this week, decided it would not be proper to hold any celebration at this time of crisis,” said a club member.