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Gems in India by Digraj Singh
Golf Entrepreneur and consultant . Has coached and also presented on golf . Represented India in Amateur golf . Won the National Games and Sri Lanka National titles . uring a recent visit to Goa to set up a golf event at the Lalit Goa and Spa Resort , I was pleasantly surprised to see the Col Bagga designed 9 hole course there . I wasn ’ t sure what to expect and had somehow perceived it to be a very short course , but what I saw was very interesting and inspiring enough to commit to doing an event there . And it took my mind to some other such hidden gems in India that I ’ ve had the pleasure of playing . I thought I should write about them to tell the readers that we have several such unique layouts which can really lead to unique gol�ng experiences . I recall a similar sense of being pleasantly surprised when I �rst visited the Naldhera Golf Course in Shimla . This unique 9 holes course , played twice , over beautiful trees and greens cradled on slopes requires creativity and imagination to play and enjoy . Open through the year and measuring approximately 4000 yds , it requires some creative thinking on how to use the slopes and I quite enjoyed my round there . Quite similar to the Rajbhawan Golf Course in Nainital . Located within the Raj Bhawan , the course is a delightful experience of natural beauty and innovatively designed holes . I remember playing it with the mist rolling through it one early morning . With the sun playing hide and seek through the mist and the fairways and greens seen just brie�y through gaps in the mist , the experience was quite ethereal and memorable . My memories of the rounds played at the Ooty Gymkhana while competing in the South India Amateur each year as a kid are equally memorable . Nestled in the Nilgiri Range about 90 Kms
The 6th green at the Lalit Goa Golf Greens , next to the spot where the Talpone River meets the Sea
from Coimbatore , the par 72 course with fenced greens is unique . This was the �rst time that I saw greens fenced to keep grazing animals away from the putting surface and also experienced putts seemingly turn uphill . I learnt that the ball will turn as per the main slope of the hill even though the green may have a different slope . I remember a mind boggling �rst round till I came to terms with it . The uniqueness is enhanced by the several holes which are played with practically blind tee shots to beautiful valleys . I also have one of my best memories because of the hospitality and camaraderie that one experiences there from all South Indian golfers . A prize distribution which led to a sing song session in the bar with a �re burning in the corner and �nally ending with breakfast being ordered there is a memory for a lifetime . Another unique experience was playing the Guindy Golf Course in Chennai . Laid out within a race track , the Gymkhana Golf Course , as it is called , is fairly �at and the wind really comes into play quite a bit . Alignment here also takes some getting used to because while standing on the tee , it ’ s dif�cult to pick up spots to aim at because what one sees is a �at unbroken expanse . In fact during one tournament , the fairways has some long stem weeds and while standing on the tee , one couldn ’ t differentiate between the rough and the fairways . All adding to the experience of playing a very different
The 7th hole alongside the sea
course which has improved in terms of greens over the years . And the famous South Indian hospitality is always available . All these courses may not be as well conditioned as some of the new International quality courses that have come up in India recently , but they have a unique �avor of their own . They require creative shots onto the greens and actual using of slopes to bounce the ball off appropriately . The greens require a careful reading and taking into account elements that one may not be doing on the regular course . In all , they enhance your creative understanding of the sport and require shots with imagination , making the sport really good fun and enjoyable . And when this is backed with stunning visuals , the experience can be memorable . Coming back to the Lalit course in Goa , it has a few memorable holes . The 6th a par four which plays to a green just besides a spot where the sea meets the Talpone river . A fascinating sight . And both the 7th and the 8th , fairly long holes , 8th is a long 565 yards par 5 , play along the sea with sights of the waves rolling onto a lovely beach . And while I did not get the opportunity to play due to an injured ankle , I look forward to coming here and playing soon . We are quite fortunate that India has such gems and some are unknown . This is my endeavor to mention a few that I have personally seen and recommend that you should make them part of your “ must play ” list one day .
G o l f P l u s JULY 2018 53