Golf in India

You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel.

One of India’s great historical `gateway’ cities, Kolkata thrived during the British Raj and became a leading centre for commerce and a port for East bound trading vessels.

This morning head to the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, fondly referred to as the Royal. Founded in 1829, the Royal claims to be the oldest golf club outside the British Isles, the oldest being the Royal & Ancient of St. Andrews in Scotland.  Steeped in history, the Royal is considered on of the finest golf courses in Asia. Dotted with famous ponds, the 72 par course is both inviting and challenging. The Royal has been the shared venue of the All India Championship since 1958 and has played host to some of golf’s all time greats – both Indians and Internationals.

This morning you will be taken to another historic club in Kolkata to play – the Tollgunge Club.

The Tollygunge Club, an oasis of green in the heart of Kolkata, is one of the premier country clubs of India. With a club house that’s more than 200 years old, the club is abundant in history and pride. Founded in 1895 as a meeting place and refuge for British merchants and bankers, the extensive grounds were once a plantation for indigo.

Today the club boast sports facilities for tennis, equestrian, swimming and golf.  The 18-hole, Par 70 course covers 100 acres, and is fairly easy to tackle but for the large number of water hazards. The fairways are lush, green and wide, and the greens well maintained and easy to read. The grounds are abundant with tress, flowers and bird species.

Later in the afternoon explore Kolkata’s colonial past – visit the area around Dalhousie Square (now renamed BBD Bagh after three Indian freedom fighters), the charming heart of this city. Ringed by colonial British buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, this square was the centre for British administrative and commercial control over India. We will showcase for you the most important buildings in the area. You will trace the fortunes of the British Empire through these buildings, hear stories of the people who commissioned them, and get an insight into the history and politics that linger behind these buildings.

This morning you will be taken to Kolkata airport for a domestic flight to Bangalore. On arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Bangalore is a pleasant city – known for its extensive gardens and tree-lined streets that help give it the title of the `Garden City.’ Stately buildings, lively bazaars and gracious people also add to its old world charm.  It has one of the best year-round climates due to its location at 1000 metres above sea level.  Bangalore is also a major scientific and research centre. Its growing software industry gives it the reputation of being the Silicon Valley of India.

This morning you will be taken to the Karnataka Golf Association. Established in 1973, it is a Championship Golf Course of International Standard, designed by renowned golfer and British Open winner Peter Thomson. The KGA is a Par 72 course, spread over 124 acres of lush green land dotted with water bodies – designed to make golf both challenging and enjoyable.

It is one of the few golf courses in India where you can watch the proceedings on the 1st and the 10th tee, as well as the 9th and 18th greens, from the magnificent clubhouse – an aspect considered to be classic in golf course designing. The undulating mounds in the middle of the fairways end in some of the country’s largest greens. While reaching the greens here may be easier than other courses, the greens have double borrows in most of the cases, and a player has to nail the pin with his approach shot for good scores.

In the afternoon,  a half-day city tour will show you Bangalore’s key sights including Tipu Sultan’s Palace, the Botanical Gardens and a drive past Vidhan Soudha.

Today you will make your way to Ooty by vehicle, a drive of about 7 hours or 300 kilometres.

The beautiful hill station of Ooty was established by the British Raj in the early part of the 19th century. Set in the Nilgiri mountain ranges, or the Blue Mountains – so called because of the blue haze that envelopes them. Today, part of the Raj still lingers in Ooty with its gardens, old churches and picturesque lake. A welcome respite from the heat of the plains, Ooty is abundant in scenic beauty and a relaxed ambience.

Play golf today at what is surely one of world’s most scenic courses, the Ooty Golf Course.

Situated at over 7000 feet above sea level in the beautiful Nilgiris Hills, the Ooty Golf Course is over 100 years old and initially comprised just 9-holes. Today the course extends over 193 acres and comprises of 18 holes. A beautiful, yet challenging course to play, the greens are surrounded by thick forests throughout and feature several blind tees, long greens, slopes and uphill drives. Those challenges are secondary to the views of nearby mountains from some tees and the green surroundings.

Ooty’s scenic beauty and relaxed atmosphere make it an ideal place to stay another day.

Today you will have another chance to play at the beautiful Ooty Golf Course. Non-golfers may experience one of the region’s best attractions – the Ooty toy train, or Nilgiris Mountain Railway.

This morning you will drive to Coimbatore airport – approximately 3 hours away – for your flight to Delhi. On arrival you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Delhi’s appeal lies both in its old and new parts – each have their charms and glories – and the meeting of the two at the same time and space.  Built by Mughal Emperor Shahjehan in the 17th century, Old Delhi still retains its medieval character to a great extent and almost indubitably reminds one of the crowded old towns of the Middle East. New Delhi is like any other modern city with tall buildings and massive shopping complexes.

Play golf today at the Delhi Golf Club, one of India’s premier golf clubs located in the heart of New Delhi.

The Delhi Golf Club, a municipal course in the early 1930s became a corporate entity 1950. The course comprises of the championship 18 hole Lodhi Course, part of the Asian PGA Tour, and the shorter 9 hole Peacock Course. The latter came into being when the course was re-designed by Peter Thomson in 1976-77. The golf course is littered with beautiful medieval monuments and some really old trees which are not easily found in the city anymore.

In the afternoon, discovery some of the sights of Old Delhi.  You will be taken to visit the medieval Jama Mosque followed by a walking tour of traditional businesses of Old Delhi – exploring centuries old arts and crafts with businessmen belonging to the 6th or 7th generation of the men who first started them.

Play golf today at the Qutab Golf Course, India’s first public golf course. Designed and developed by the Delhi Development Authority, the Qutab Golf Course started with 9-holes in 2000, before being extended into an 18-hole course two years later. There is a 250 yard, state of art driving range at the golf course.

In the afternoon, you will be taken to explore New Delhi. Visit Humayun’s Tomb, another magnificent Mughal building built in 1565-66 and set in a square enclosed garden, Qutab Minar,  the city’s famous landmark, and drive past Lutyen’s Delhi – including India Gate, the Rashtrapati Bhawan (President’s House) and Parliament House.

This morning you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight home.