INDIA

Golf in India: Royal Legacies and Himalayan Fairways

Golf in India boasts one of Asia's oldest golfing traditions, dating back to 1829 when the Royal Calcutta Golf Club was established by British colonials, earning its "Royal" prefix in 1911 and becoming the first golf club outside the British Isles.

The colonial era left an enduring legacy with military-style courses like Delhi Golf Club's Lodhi Course, built in 1931 on Mughal-era ruins where peacocks roam freely between ancient tombs.

Post-independence growth saw Indian-designed courses emerge, blending traditional links with tropical adaptations, particularly in hill stations like Shillong Golf Course (the country's highest at 1,965 meters) where clouds drift across fairways.

Key regions include the Himalayan belt featuring spectacular mountain courses like Naldehra Golf Club (designed by Lord Curzon in 1905 around a deodar forest); the Delhi-Jaipur corridor with heritage clubs like Rambagh Golf Club's palace-adjacent course; and southern beachfront developments such as Kensville Golf Academy near Ahmedabad with its Australian Sandbelt-inspired bunkering.

Signature courses include the DLF Golf & Country Club's Gary Player-designed Championship Course near Delhi, featuring dramatic waste bunkers and hosting the European Tour's Indian Open; Karnataka Golf Association's tree-lined course in Bengaluru where monkeys outnumber players; and the new Tollygunge Golf Club in Kolkata with its innovative water-recycling system.

Player development thrives through programs like the Hero Indian Golf Academy producing stars like Anirban Lahiri (PGA Tour regular) and Aditi Ashok (India's first LPGA Tour winner), while junior initiatives like the National Golf Academy's "Khelo India" scheme identify rural talent.

Golf tourism peaks October-March, with luxury packages combining rounds at Jaypee Greens' Greg Norman-designed course with Taj Mahal visits, or Himalayan golf safaris at Udaipur's Trident course overlooking Lake Pichola.

Sustainability efforts include Pune's Oxford Golf Resort using treated sewage water and Delhi Golf Club's peacock conservation program, while new projects like the Mumbai Golf Coast development aim for GEO certification.

Future ambitions include bidding for the 2030 Asian Games golf events and constructing South Asia's first true links course in Gujarat.

Strict dress codes persist at colonial-era clubs (collared shirts mandatory), while newer resorts adopt relaxed policies reflecting India's evolving golf culture where royals, CEOs and caddie-turned-pros like Chikkarangappa share fairways..