From the FGA: This one’s for Rafi

The Filipino Golf Association organized a masalama tournament in honor of V.T. Mohammed Rafi, an Indian who has forged a friendship with Filipinos so close it makes you wonder he might be a Filipino in his past life.
The event held Friday last week could have been just another one of those farewells except that the circumstances surrounding the departure of Rafi from the Kingdom after 29 years as golf professional struck a chord with the golf community in Riyadh.
When the news spread that Rafi, who plays, eats and breathes golf, was forced to resign from his job at RGC and, worse, is returning back to India without his ESB (end of service benefit) his comrades-in-golf, led by the FGA, rose up in support.
Despite the short notice the Rafi farewell tournament at InterContinental Golf Club was well attended by FGA card-bearing members, associate members and friends of the FGA. In all there were 44 players.
Everyone had fun out on the course despite the scorching sun and the first five winners in the Stableford format competition were Joe Vallado (37 points), Farooq (34), Mar Vera Cruz (34), Julian Bennett (33) and Mark Campbell (32).
In an outpouring of love and support for Rafi the tournament raised SR13,600 as financial assistance.
Also, FGA President Howard Laurente presented Rafi with a certificate of appreciation for his contribution in the promotion of golf in Saudi Arabia and made him honorary member of the association.
Fighting back tears, Rafi had been overwhelmed by the gesture not only of the Filipinos but golfers of other nationalities as well. He thanked the FGA for taking the lead in staging a masalama for him, saying it really made him feel “he is one of them.”
” I would like to convey my sincerest gratitude to all the people who have organized, honored and graced the farewell tournament held for me last Friday (May 18, 2012) at InterContinental Golf Club. I thank you all for the warmth and genuine friendship that had filled the atmosphere all throughout.
Friends who were there, friends who remembered and everyone else in-between; thank you very much for your support. You have made my stay here in the Kingdom very fulfilling and memorable. On behalf of my family, again, Thank you very much!!! I shall never forget!!!,” said Rafi in his e-mail message to all three days after the event.
Rafi participated in three PAL Interclub tournaments in the Philippines and his association with Filipinos dates back to 1987 when golf then was playing on a sand course very early in the morning to avoid the heat of the sun.
Rafi remembers that during the first Country Match at RGC desert course the Filipino team, led by the trio of businessman Danny Relucio, Master Orly Dizon and Nor Maglalang, couldn’t even complete a 10-man team. The group has since grown and is now one of the largest golf communities in Riyadh.
“Of course I will miss RGC, but I am proud to leave this place. I have done some small part for the golf community, teach thousands of players in my entire career in the Kingdom,” Rafi said.