Golf in India

Golf in India - India is both beautiful and diverse with sights and tastes quite unlike anywhere else. Although not celebrated for its golf, Rob Smith still finds a mouthwatering selection.

The fantastic hotel and course at ITC Grand Bharat, near Delhi

India is both beautiful and diverse with sights and tastes quite unlike anywhere else. Although not celebrated for its golf, Rob Smith still finds a mouthwatering selection.

Golf In India

On my only previous trip to India a quarter of a century ago, I managed to sneak in a final-morning round at Delhi Golf Club which hosted this year’s Indian Open. Despite this, I had never really thought of this vast, exotic land as a likely candidate for a golfing trip, but I was delighted to accept an invitation from ITC Hotels to go and see the new and growing appeal for golfers.

The luxurious ITC Grand Bharat is adjacent to the 27-hole Classic Golf Course

The luxurious ITC Grand Bharat is adjacent to the 27-hole Classic Golf Course

My first port of call was the genuinely amazing ITC Grand Bharat a little outside Delhi at the foot of the Aravalli hills. The palatial architecture is inspired by 5,000 years of Indian history, and everything about it radiates taste and style. The food was sensational, whether dining in the sumptuous India Room or out in the Apas Promenade beside the pool.

The Ridge 9 at Classic Golf & Country Club

The Ridge 9 at Classic Golf & Country Club

Adjacent to the hotel is the Classic Golf & Country Club which was the first Jack Nicklaus signature design in the country back in 1998. There are three loops of nine, with the main two - Ridge and Valley - close to the airy clubhouse.

The Canyon 9 at Classic Golf & Country Club

The Canyon 9 at Classic Golf & Country Club

I actually preferred the Canyon nine which was so much fun that I played it a second time. More dramatic than its neighbours, the redstone of the nearby hills is more visible.

The fifth hole at Royal Calcutta - a superb city-centre course

The fifth hole at Royal Calcutta - a superb city-centre course

From here I took a 2-hour flight over to Calcutta. Not far from the airport is the superb ITC Sonar, an eco-friendly hotel that is perfectly situated for golf and all that the city has to offer. The next morning I headed over to play Royal Calcutta which is the oldest golf club in the world outside the UK and a real oasis which scores highly in terms of design, challenge, beauty and atmosphere.

The challenging seventh hole at Royal Calcutta

The challenging seventh hole at Royal Calcutta

Later, I thoroughly enjoyed a city tour and after a peaceful night I flew back over to New Delhi and the final hotel of my tour, the very smart and colourful ITC Maurya. It’s not often you stay in the same hotel as the President of the United States, but his was one of many photos of the rich-and-famous that I saw in a behind-the-scenes tour.

The Bukhara restaurant turned out to be a gastronomic highpoint with mouth-watering and superbly presented dishes most of which I had never seen before.

Golden Greens near Delhi - a Martin Hawtree design

Golden Greens near Delhi - a Martin Hawtree design

One of our generation’s most highly regarded architects is Martin Hawtree, designer of Trump International Golf Links, Scotland, and he is responsible for the inland links at Golden Greens. Its main defence is strategic bunkering and some jungle-like undergrowth on several holes which calls for straight driving. Although they are not long, I particularly liked the par 3s at 4 and 13, and there are some very good doglegs such as the 2nd, 3rd and the long 11th.

Be sure to visit some of India's amazing history such as Humayun's Tomb

Be sure to visit some of India's amazing history such as Humayun's Tomb

Although my flying visit only allowed me enough time to play in two locations, there are pockets of fine golf throughout the nation and ITC Hotels make for the perfect host. I am already very much looking forward to going back for more.

Rob Smith
Contributing Editor

Rob Smith has been playing golf for 45 years and been a contributing editor for Golf Monthly since 2012. He specialises in course reviews and travel, and has played more than 1,200 courses in almost 50 countries. In 2022, he played all 21 courses in East Lothian in 13 days. Last year, his tally was 81, 32 of them for the first time. One of Rob's primary roles is helping to prepare the Top 100 and Next 100 Courses of the UK&I, of which he has played all but seven and a half... i.e. not the new 9 at Carne! Of those missing, some are already booked for 2024. He is a member of Tandridge in Surrey where his handicap hovers around 16. You can contact him at r.smith896@btinternet.com.