The Royal Willingdon Sports Club is a private sports club in South Mumbai.[1] The club was founded in 1918 by Lord Willingdon, at that time Governor of Bombay.[2] Amenities include an 18-hole golf course, 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, bar, garden cafe, bakery, members' provision and separate beer and wine shop, a swimming pool cafe and a plant nursery.
Due to overwhelming demand membership has been closed since 1985 and only the children of current members, on a selective basis, can become members.
Almost all members belong to wealthy, old money families. The club is very selective in granting membership to current members' children and the applicant’s family background takes top priority along with their profession.[3] The crème de la crème of Bombay society considers Willingdon the most prestigious club in the nation.[4]
The Club was one of the first to admit indigenous Indians before Partition.[2]
Willingdon, along with the Breach Candy Club and Bombay Gymkhana, makes up the “Top Three” (a name coined for the top three private clubs of the city of Mumbai).[citation needed]
The Royal Willingdon Sports Club (WSC) 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.[5]
Permanent membership is closed except for members' children[1][2][6] though temporary corporate memberships are open but 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. Indian newspaper 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 from 2010 onwards.
In the 21st century[when?], there was controversy and infighting over the destruction of the badminton courts and the club election process.[citation needed] After the original bar was burned in a fire, the former bakery was turned into the "Pub" that functions as a mini-nightclub on weekends and "Bar Nite" once a month. The former bar is a formal, outside-catered restaurant called the "Golf View Bar" right next to the library on the upper level.
Amenities
The club has an 18-hole golf course (the only private one within the city, the other being the military-only club and another in the suburbs), six tennis courts, squash and badminton courts, a health club and a swimming pool. Non-sports amenities include a formal dining room, a semiformal dining room, a bar, a garden café (where children under 21 are allowed), a swimming pool café, a bakery, a plant nursery[7] a members' provision and separate beer and wine shop are available to members at rates cheaper than outside stores as the club is not-for-profit and a mini-grocery store. There is also a pavilion and a patio, as well as facilities to cater for the hosting of members' parties.[citation needed]
Events
A banquet was held at the WSC in 1954 to celebrate the first Filmfare awards ceremony. The event was attended by actor Gregory Peck.[8] One of the award winners, Bimal Roy was not allowed entry into the club for the party as he was dressed in a dhoti.[9]
^ abcd "Mumbai Multiplex: Welcome to the club". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
^ abcde"Willingdon slams door on Pesi Shroff". Mid-Day. 11 April 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
^"Royal Willingdon Sports Club, Mumbai, India Tourist Information". www.touristlink.com. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
^"Bollywood Members of Mumbai's Willingdon Club | Lifestyle". iDiva. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
^Humble, Richard (1983). Fraser of North Cape. Routledge. p. 96. ISBN0-7100-9555-4.
^. Daily News and Analysis. Archived from the original on 5 December 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
^Streat, Raymond, Marguerite Dupree (1987). . Manchester University Press ND. p. 260. ISBN0-7190-2390-4. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020.
^ "Things that u dont know about Filmfare Awards". Sify. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
^. The Times of India. 25 February 2005. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
March 11, 2023
royal, willingdon, sports, club, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this,. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Royal Willingdon Sports Club news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article contains content that is written like an advertisement Please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view October 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message The Royal Willingdon Sports Club is a private sports club in South Mumbai 1 The club was founded in 1918 by Lord Willingdon at that time Governor of Bombay 2 Amenities include an 18 hole golf course 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 bar garden cafe bakery members provision and separate beer and wine shop a swimming pool cafe and a plant nursery Willingdon Sports ClubSportGolfCategoryPrivate Sports ClubAbbreviationWSCFounded1918 British India Lord Willingdon Governor of Bombay HeadquartersTardeoLocationSouth MumbaiOfficial websitewww wbr willingdonclub wbr comDue to overwhelming demand membership has been closed since 1985 and only the children of current members on a selective basis can become members Almost all members belong to wealthy old money families The club is very selective in granting membership to current members children and the applicant s family background takes top priority along with their profession 3 The creme de la creme of Bombay society considers Willingdon the most prestigious club in the nation 4 The Club was one of the first to admit indigenous Indians before Partition 2 Willingdon along with the Breach Candy Club and Bombay Gymkhana makes up the Top Three a name coined for the top three private clubs of the city of Mumbai citation needed Contents 1 History 2 Amenities 3 Events 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory EditThe Royal Willingdon Sports Club WSC 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 5 Permanent membership is closed except for members children 1 2 6 though temporary corporate memberships are open but 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 Indian newspaper 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 from 2010 onwards In the 21st century when there was controversy and infighting over the destruction of the badminton courts and the club election process citation needed After the original bar was burned in a fire the former bakery was turned into the Pub that functions as a mini nightclub on weekends and Bar Nite once a month The former bar is a formal outside catered restaurant called the Golf View Bar right next to the library on the upper level Amenities EditThe club has an 18 hole golf course the only private one within the city the other being the military only club and another in the suburbs six tennis courts squash and badminton courts a health club and a swimming pool Non sports amenities include a formal dining room a semiformal dining room a bar a garden cafe where children under 21 are allowed a swimming pool cafe a bakery a plant nursery 7 a members provision and separate beer and wine shop are available to members at rates cheaper than outside stores as the club is not for profit and a mini grocery store There is also a pavilion and a patio as well as facilities to cater for the hosting of members parties citation needed Events EditA banquet was held at the WSC in 1954 to celebrate the first Filmfare awards ceremony The event was attended by actor Gregory Peck 8 One of the award winners Bimal Roy was not allowed entry into the club for the party as he was dressed in a dhoti 9 See also EditList of India s gentlemen s clubsReferences Edit a b c d Mumbai Multiplex Welcome to the club Hindustan Times Retrieved 17 June 2009 a b c d e Willingdon slams door on Pesi Shroff Mid Day 11 April 2010 Retrieved 27 March 2011 Royal Willingdon Sports Club Mumbai India Tourist Information www touristlink com Retrieved 22 June 2022 Bollywood Members of Mumbai s Willingdon Club Lifestyle iDiva 7 July 2011 Retrieved 22 June 2022 Humble Richard 1983 Fraser of North Cape Routledge p 96 ISBN 0 7100 9555 4 New clubs on the block Daily News and Analysis Archived from the original on 5 December 2009 Retrieved 17 June 2009 Streat Raymond Marguerite Dupree 1987 Lancashire and Whitehall Manchester University Press ND p 260 ISBN 0 7190 2390 4 Archived from the original on 11 November 2020 Things that u dont know about Filmfare Awards Sify Archived from the original on 2 February 2013 Retrieved 17 June 2009 50 years of dreams disappointments The Times of India 25 February 2005 Archived from the original on 19 December 2011 Retrieved 12 April 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Royal Willingdon Sports Club amp oldid 1141358362, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
