Golfers bid farewell to diplomats

Over thirty foreign diplomats residing in Dar es Salaam have bid farewell to South Korean and Indonesian ambassadors, Young Hoon Kim and Yudhistiranto Sungadi, respectively after playing a round of golf at the Gymkhana Club yesterday.

In a bizarre twist of events, the outgoing Korean ambassador underlined his presence and displayed his prowess that his a golfer to reckon with when he triumphed in the event to chalk 37 stable ford points.

Kim who stayed in the country for three years beat Chinese ambassador by a point in the tournament that also invited spouses of the diplomats.

Women golfers who excelled during the event includes winner Mama Berna Koekkoek who returned superb 33 points to push Aubrey Swee and Tonia Kandiero to the first and second runners-up respectively.

The golf captain of Dar es Salaam-based diplomats Sadrudin Shariff said the departure if the duo will be highly missed by the rest of the diplomatic corps.

The Korean ambassador said he used to enjoy playing golf at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club and he would miss the entire members.

He also said the location of the club is highly impressive as it is within proximity of the State House and city centre, yet easily accessible.

He noted that throughout his playing golf at the club he never made a birdie at the dog-leg par four 18th.

He noted that par fives second and third has been easy for him as well as par four fourth where he notched birdies almost at will.
The eight handicapper Korean said he would miss the friendly atmosphere of DGC members whom he said he would love to live with them forever.

The Indonesian outgoing ambassador also shared the same sentiments with the Korean one.

Sungadi worked for three and half years and his embassy was responsible to build a starters hut before he arrived in Dar es Salaam.

The United States ambassador Alphonso Lenhurt said he enjoyed a good cooperation with the outgoing diplomatic duo for Korea and Indonesia altogether.

Lehurt said he is bound to miss the duo but in life there are always some limitations.

He said so far he enjoys super cooperation with all the diplomats working in Tanzania and he enjoys playing golf on recreational basis.

Shariff, who represents Bangladesh Consulate in Tanzania, wished the best of luck all the outgoing diplomats and urged the present ones to enhance cooperation.