Golf New Delhi India

Golf with Gurus in New Delhi, India

– by Dave Finn

As published in the June 2024 issue of Golf Central Magazine

From the moment I arrived, I knew that the sights, sounds and senses were psyched to experience one of the most exotic destinations in the world.

Okay, granted, New Delhi may not be foremost on golfers’ minds but for me, playing my favourite sport in India was an awesome opportunity to combine two of my favourite passions – travel and golf.

When you travel this far, though, you simply must take in the numerous historical sites of Old Delhi including the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, the Lotus Temple and the diplomatic enclave that includes Parliament House, India Gate and the President’s Estate.

President’s Estate in New Delhi

“With a thousand years of history, it is a city of contrasts that combines a unique ambience of ancient and the modern,” my host Bharat Bedi of Eastern Sojourns so eloquently stated. It was a theme that resonated with me for the rest of my brief stay.

Did you know that India has a long history with the game. In 1829, Royal Calcutta was the first club opened outside of Great Britain – a full 44 years before the game reached the shores of North America. Now there are 430 golf courses.  I got to stay and play at three of the nearby resorts.

Jaypee Greens – an Oasis in the city

Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort is surrounded by 450 acres of lush green space, villas, townhouses, and towering condominiums, it felt like I was in an “oasis in the city.”

The Greg Norman Signature course, built in 2000, holds the title of India’s first ever 18-hole golf course.  Norman’s team transformed a flat, featureless piece of property into a gently rolling terrain with 14 man-made ponds and 88 bunkers.

ITC Grand Bharat is light years away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This luxury retreat is built on 3000 acres of secluded property and possibly the most opulent resort you will find anywhere in India.

Their Classic Golf Resort is the first Jack Nicklaus signature course ever built in South Asia. The 27-hole layout offers three distinct nines. I found The Ridge to have gentle rolling fairways with substantial bunkering. The Valley has plenty of water, and The Canyon Course serves up craggy views of the picturesque Aravali foothills.

DLF Golf & Country Club

DLF Golf & Country Club has two championship 18-hole layouts. The original parkland-style Arnold Palmer Course has consistently been ranked as one of the best courses in India. It also features nine holes where you can play night golf under the lights. However, in 2015, the Gary Player Course opened and may have taken Arnie off his pedestal. His team excavated the rock quarries and brought in indigenous dholpur stone to form unique stone pillars that define the dramatic deep-faced bunkers.

Golf in India has certainly come a long way! Bharat summed it up the best.  “The Indian heritage and cultural experience, modern India, now coupled with a choice of golfing destinations make for an irresistible travel package.”

So, take the road less traveled, follow your passion and seek out the unknown. I guarantee you’ll come back with memories that will last a lifetime.

To read the entire article on-line check out pages 38-39 in the June issue of Golf Central Magazine