Maldives

Even the oldest and most picturesque of India’s golf courses cannot quite match the great charm of the Delhi Golf Club (DGC). Set against the distinct backdrop of Delhi’s atmospheric Lodhi dynasty era monuments and dancing peacocks, the DGC is a glorious blend of history, forest, birdlife, and all this right in the heart of the city.The Club is home to the famed 18-hole Lodhi Golf Course, which plays host to the Asian PGA Tour. Soon after Delhi became the Capital in 1928, eminent British architect Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens decided to shift the course from its old location to its present address, and there it has stayed to this day as the finest golfing address in the country. The DGC’s central location makes it one of the busiest courses in the world. With its impeccably manicured fairways and fast greens, its reputation as a great championship course is well deserved. The DGC’s beautiful trees and famously dense bushes line the tight fairways on either side – lying in wait to gobble up errant drives! The shorter 9-hole Peacock Golf Course here came into being when the course was redesigned by Peter Thomson in 1976-77. When you play golf at the DGC, you know you are in for the experience of a lifetime. Here lie the relics and ruins of a mighty 15th century medieval dynasty for you to tee off on a trail of history.Over 300 species of bird delight ‘birdies’ of a different kind with rare glimpses. Wooded green vistas make for a serene, secluded, and relaxed ambience. Not too far away are Delhi's other heritage spots – the Lodhi Gardens, Humayun's Tomb, and India Gate.

With its rolling greens, and enchanting vistas of lakes and the Western Ghats mountain ranges, theCIAL Golf & Country Club (CGCC) in Kochi is a world class facility created for tourists, weekend getaways, and business travellers. Developed as a major part of the Kochi Airport Project, the championship 18-hole course playing 7400 yards promises to deliver a wonderful golfing experience to beginners, regulars, and champions alike. Created on 130 acres, the CGCC is an eco-friendly all-weather golf course that is comparable to the best with Bermuda tee dwarf on the greens and Bermuda 419 on the tees and fairways. The first course in the country to offer an Island green – called General's creek – on the 18th Hole, it makes for a challenging round of golf. The links design and the presence of heavy water hurdles are also key to testing the skills of all levels of golfers.CGCC offers a whole array of facilities to golfers and sports lovers. Apart from a well-stocked Pro Shop, the CGCC also has two outdoor facilities, Croquet and Lawn Bowling; as well as a swimming pool.

Set in historic Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan’s heroic and fearlesswarrior kings, the beautifulRambaghgolf coursewas createdin 1944, and is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf courses in India. The Rambagh Golf Club (RGC) is a part of the luxurious Rambagh Palace Hotel, once the home of Jaipur’s ruling kingSawai Man Singh 2. The golf course was created by an Englishman who was especially hired for the job by Man Singh. Built on the loamy desert sands of the city, the challenging 18-hole par 70 championship course lies against the rocky backdrop of theAravalli Hills that flank Jaipur. The lush fairways afford spectacular views of the surrounding Nahargarh Fort, MotiDungri Fort, Birla Planetarium, and of course the Rambagh Palace – truly giving meaning to Jaipur’s heritage city status. Steeped in centuries of history, culture, and royal tradition, colourfulJaipur entices with majestic forts,resplendent palaces, atmospheric old city bazaars, delicious foods, and its very own annual Jaipur Literature Festival that hosts authors, scholars, and lovers of literature from all over the world. With its newly carved clubhouse and appealing look,the Rambagh course is drawing local and national golfers more than ever before. The toughest hole this course has to offer is the par-4, third hole. Sloping from right to left, with an OB fence bordering the left side of the fairway and a treacherous bunker positioned at 250 yards from the tee on the right, this hole is a sheer test of accuracy. Playing host regularly to the IGU Tour Tournaments, the course is a must-experience for tourists visiting Jaipur.

The Pahalgam Golf Club simply ought to be on your list of courses to play on in India. Designed byRanjit Nanda and built in 2011, the hill-station course bewitches with a layout that allows for spectacular views all around. Pahalgamis a scenic town, surrounded by towering, conifer-covered mountains with serene snow-capped peaks. The rich forests are home to rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.It is amidst this splendid natural beauty that the course is set, in a bowl-shaped expanse. At an altitude of 7,250 plus feet, the ball will travel a good eight per cent further but that does not make thecourse any less challenging. The 18-hole par 71 course is long (7000 yards), has changes in elevation that make for a dramatic game, has water in play on six holes, with bunkers of all sizes and shapes, and has a reasonable number of hazards and OB areas making it a course that tests skills, strategy, and patience. The greens are fast and true with bent grass. Experience the old-world charm of Pahalgam town, enjoy horse-rides or even go trekking, sledding, rafting, or trout fishingif you are an adventure enthusiast.

The Royal Calcutta Golf Clubis indeed the ‘Home of Indian Golf’. Better known as the RCGC, this magnificent facility, set in the heart of the ‘City of Joy’, holds the distinction of being the second oldest Golf Club in the world, and the oldest outside of the British Isles. Incidentally, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews is the oldest. Established in 1829, the RCGC was designed by none other than the legendary five-time British Open winner, Peter Thomson. The RCGC has hosted innumerable golf events since, including several editions of the prestigious Indian Open. In addition to the fact that golf in India teed off on this course, the RCGC has given India some of the best exponents of professional golf. The legendary Ali family, including 1998 Indian Open winner Feroz Ali, Rezwan Ali, Rafiq Ali and Chini Ali, hails from this facility. World-renowned golfers such as Walter Hagen, Pamela Barton, Peter Thompson, Payne Stewart, Charles Schwartzel, and Louis Oosthuizen, not to mention our own Arjun Atwal, JeevMilkha Singh, AnirbanLahiri, Jyoti Randhawa, and Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia, have pitted their skills against the challenging golf course. The par-72 Course, measuring to 7,101 yards of the Championship Tees, was constructed over paddy fields. This makes it relatively undulating and the innumerable trees and bushes lining its fairways, leave little or no scope for error. However, the greatest challenge posed by the course comes in the form of both natural and man-made water bodies that lie waiting to catch even a marginally misguided shot. Add to this the fact that the par-4s on the facility are long and tricky and the greens large and undulating; playing it safe can drastically affect one’s scoring. The par-4 seventh is by way of being the hardest hole at the RCGC. The golfer, after executing an accurate tee shot, is expected to target an elevated green over a menacing water-body. Adding to the challenge is a deep bunker bordering the green. A pin positioned at the top of the green makes it a serious test of accuracy and temperament. In addition to golf, the RCGC boasts a state-of-the-art gym, a 25-metre swimming pool, billiards tables, and tennis courts. Last but not least, the facility hosts a 340-yard floodlit driving range with 17 bays and a newly designed 18-hole putting green spread over 1000 square metres.

The Bombay Presidency Golf Club, better known as the BPGC, was founded in 1927 under the name ‘The New Club Ltd.’. The Club was established on reclaimed land belonging to the Port Trust. The course was redesigned by Nelson & Haworth in 2009. Considering the paucity of land in Mumbai, the BPGC’s golf course is a compact stretch – a par-70 facility measuring to 6148 yards from the Championship Tees. To site an example, the longest hole on this course is the par-5 fourth, measuring to 508-yards. The hole is, incidentally, also the toughest on the course, ranked as it is, No 1 on the Stroke Index. With the ‘Boomerang’ shaped fairway curving to the right from the tee, it is essential, on this hole, to successfully execute a 260-yard tee shot bang in the middle of the fairway to steer clear of the daunting water-body on the right that stretches from over a 100 yards right up till the bend of the fairway. Two large trees and a sprawling bunker wait to catch an inaccurate second shot. The sensible golfer will lay it up and attempt to reach the green in three. A more adventurous one will use his wood to hopefully find the heart of the green which slopes severely from back and right to front. All in all, this hole tests one’s golfing skills to the hilt. After an invigorating round, you can enjoy the fare at the highlight of the BPGC – its Restaurant plusBar to access which though, there is a strict dress code to be adhered to.

The Aamby Valley Golf Resort redefines the very concept of ‘golf resorts’ in India. Set amidst the beautiful Sahyadri hills and a massive expanse of water in the form of a lake, the facility transports you to analtogetherdifferent world. The Resort boasts a number of Chalets and Spanish Cottages. Established by the Sahara Group, the Aamby Valley Golf Resort is spread across 256 acres of land within which lies nestled a par 72 18-hole 7087-yard golf course. The facility was designed by David Hemstock, a British Golf Architect and a senior member of the EIGCA. The unique feature of the course here is that it was the very first golf course in India to be entirely flood-lit. Another remarkable feature is that it was designed taking into consideration the lie of the land, wherein very little was disturbed to create this golfing facility. It was almost as if nature intended for a golf course to dot the landscape. Most important, the Aamby Valley course was voted the ‘World’s Best International Golf Course’ among seven participating continents and 88 countries, at the ‘International Property Awards’, London. Those taken by the exquisite beauty of the surroundings of the Aamby Valley Golf Resort course receive a wake-up call once they set out to test the Championship facility. The course plays long but errant shots off the tee can cost one dearly. A lot of thought has been put into positioning bunkers and water-bodies on specific fairways, which call for a certain level of course management skills. However, one feature of the Aamby Valley Golf Resort course – one that tempts golfersto experience it time and again – is the nirvana-like experience the closing hole, the par-4 18th, offers the golfer. Facing the West as it does, the hole has a surprise in store – a spectacular view of the setting sun right above the majestic Koragad Fort greets golfers who take to the course in the second half of the day. A fitting end indeed to a fabulous golfing experience. The icing on the cake for the golfer though, is the rejuvenating Swedish and Kerala Ayurvedic massages that promise to relieve them of any strain from the challenges posed by the daunting golf course For the serious golfer, the Aamby Valley Golf Resort offers a state-of-the-art, British PGA Certified Golf Academy. The Academy houses, in addition to 24 practice bays, three air-conditioned Teaching Bays equipped with the latest GASP (Golf Analysis System for Professionals) Teaching Software.

The Oxford Golf Course is a monster 7364-yard facility that promises to test your golfing skills to the hilt. Built on 136 acres of property, this Phil Ryan designed 18-hole course is shaped like a horse-shoe. Not only is this course flanked by theSahyadri Hills on three sides but also the undulation translates itself into an 88-metre height difference between the lowest and highest points on the golf course. Renting a golf cart is therefore recommended for those who don’t want to add a physical challenge to the one already posed by the course. The undulation also translates itself into the greens, which call for a well-toned short game to conquer. The par-5 fourth hole is the Signature Hole of the facility. It stands out chiefly because it requires the tee shot to be played from a height of 30 metres onto a narrow fairway that blends into the green hills flanking it. Accuracy is as important as distance on this 563-yard hole. A fair sprinkling of strategically placed bunkers and water-bodies add to the challenge posed by the course. The Golf Cub also plays host to the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, which harbours a 42-bay floodlit driving range in addition to a six-hole golf practice course. The lessons offered in the Academy are state-of-the-art, including some of the best technical aid available to modern golfers. The fact that all golf carts on the course are equipped with GPS facility explains it all. The Oxford Golf & Country Club won the Asia’s ‘Best Maintained Course in Asia-Pacific’ second runner-up award in 2012 as well as the ‘Best Course in India’ runner-up award in 2012. The expansive Golf Resort lies on the outskirts of Pune city and is linked by the bypass highway, and can be conveniently reached from Mumbai and Pune.

Located at a distance of merely 40 km from Ahmedabad, the KensvilleGolf & Country Club is a place worth experiencing. Combining the beauty of Gujarat and the wealth of its rich culture, the beautiful club invites golfers and travellers from around the globe. With world class accommodation and luxury services, Kensville is well equipped with everything that avid golfers look out for. The 18-hole, par 72course brings back the joy of golfingwith its simple yet perfectly designed landscape. Suitable for golfers ranging from amateurs to handicappers, it certainly is a must visit place for someone exploring Gujarat and nearby locales. Sanctioned as the certified place for the European PGA Tournament Venue, Kensville has added to its popularity by signing onJeevMilkha Singh as its brand ambassador. You can explore remnants of a lost civilization at Lothal, explore flavours of fresh snacks at local shops and shop for traditional kantha embroidered clothes at local shops. Bird watchers could spare time to explore Nalsarovar bird Sanctuary and devotional folks could joined their hands to worship deities in the sacred TarnetarMela.

The Boulder Hills Golf and Country Club, an Emaar- MGF Property, is a unique facility if only because it is laid out on a terrain strewn with massive boulders, as the name suggests. It speaks volumes for Peter Harding’s skills as a golf course designer for having structured a 7228 yard 18-hole golf facility in the midst of 235-acres of these towering stones; and with Arizona imported grass providing a uniquely special turn for the golfer to compete on. 10 of the 18 holes have elevated tees and the par-3s are designed in such a way that players see all of the holes in front of them. The large expanse of greens maximises pin positions and add visual appeal. Truly wow-class. Truly inspiring. For the keen observer of the sport of golf, the fact is that the five most difficult holes on this course (Stroke Index 1 – 5) are all par-4s. A par-4 is neither too long nor too short in the common man’s parlance. What the Stroke-Index does reveal is the fact that it is not distance that is the need of the hour on the facility. It is course planning and an astute mind that can help you steer clear of those menacing boulders that dot the course, and the well-positioned bunkers and water bodies that are designed to catch the errant golf shot. The Boulder Hills Golf & Country Club is a world-class leisure and residential community spread out over 510.42 approximate acres. It has been envisioned as a complete, self-contained township spread around an 18-hole championship golf course where every hole is designed to the most demanding international standards.

The Bangalore Golf Club, located in the heart of the ‘Garden City’, was established in 1876. The land on which the BGCwas established, was previously used by an army regiment as a rifle range and training area. Back then the BGC was famous chiefly for its contest with the Madras Gymkhana Club, which commenced just two years after the former was instituted. This event was one of the oldest inter-club annual matches on the planet. World-renowned Golf Course Designer Phil Ryan redesigned the BGC in 2002 with the highlight of the new course being that it used recycled effluent water to irrigate its trees, fairways, and greens. The redesigning was done without felling a single tree! The BGC is a par-70 course, measuring to 6,118 – yards off the championship tees. The par-5 fifth hole of this course is known to be the toughest among the 18 holes. This 553-yard monster calls for a unique blend of golfing skills. With unforgiving narrow tree-lined fairways (not to mention the ever -present Out-of-Bounds Fence) calling for precision off the tee and with distance an equally important requisite; very few manage to quell the challenge posed by this hole. The greens at the BGC are laid out with Bermuda Grass which adds to their speed; and putting, as a result, is unforgiving on this facility. Bengaluru being the laid back city it is, the BGC has a lot to offer on the leisure front, outside of golf, with a state-of-the-art SPA, Billiards Room, and of course a fantastic Dining Area. The draught beer at the BGC is a connoisseur’s delight.

Maharaja NalvadiKrishnarajaWadiyar chose the foothills of the beautiful Chamundi Hills as the locale for the race and golf courses. The picturesque JWGC is located on 110 acres of land belonging to the Mysuru Race Club. Establishedin 1906, the JWGC has been elegantly designed and developed by Pacific Coast Design, Australia. The heritage golf club offers glorious views of the Chamundi Hills. 2000 was the year of pride for JWGC when one of its golfers won the National Amateur Golf Championship. The same year, it threw open its doors to members. From a handful of golf enthusiasts in 1985, the JWGC now has a loyal membership of 160 regular golfers from the city alone.Plus the850 members and visiting golfers from around the world. With proper rules and regulations regarding dress code for both men and women, the golf club is reasonably priced. Having said that, visitors could expect not only a great golfing experience but also some interesting leisure activities.