Golfing Marvels of Northern India

Top 20 Golf Courses of India 2017 We create new regional listings then expand and re-rank our national chart for India We start this new release with a public apology: due to a complete oversight, we didn’t re-rank our Indian listings two years ago when we should have so this is only the third revision of the listings that we first established back in 2009. Not that anybody pointed this out to us, right enough, so we could probably have got away with such a lapse, but honesty’s always the best policy, of course. To make up for such an unintentional error, we decided this year to double the size of our national chart to a Top 20 and to introduce four regional ranking tables that now allow us to feature a total of thirty Indian courses. So, from every bad situation something positive can occur and we hope that we’ve redeemed ourselves somewhat with that gesture to extend our coverage of Indian courses. We were able to do this by calling on a number of golf industry insiders within India who know the golfing lie of the land and have been around most, if not all, of the top tracks, both traditional and modern. In particular, we’re indebted to Vijit Nandrajog, our new Indian correspondent, a man who is heavily involved with several national associations in various facets of the golf business in India. So to our new Top 20 for India, where the big news is that our new number 1 is a brand new entry that leaps straight into the top spot. As if that’s not enough to contend with, our former number 1 disappears entirely in a totally unprecedented move, because it’s been reduced from an 18-hole championship layout to what now amounts to a 9-hole relief course. The Nicklaus Design course at Kalhaar Blues & Greens in Ahmedabad, only the second layout that the Golden Bear’s design company has built in India, is our number 1, replacing the Arnold Palmer course at DLF which drops out of the chart completely. It’s one of the longest and toughest layouts in the country and it’s already forging a tournament pedigree through hosting the Ahmedebad Masters. Incredibly, we have another new entry in the runner-up position at number 2 and it’s the DLF (Gary Player) course in Gurugram, the new 18-hole layout that used nine of the former Arnold Palmer holes when it was constructed during 2015. It remains to be seen if this new layout will enjoy the tournament success of its predecessor, which hosted a couple of recent European Tour events. The biggest climber in our revised chart is the Robert Trent Jones Jnr course at Royal Springs in Srinager, rising five places to number 4. Set out within a thickly forested property in the foothills of the Zabarwan Hills, this layout enjoys an idyllic setting close to Chashme Shahi, one of the 17th century Mughal walled gardens, where the course is operated by the local tourist board. Two other modern tracks make modest upward moves. Greg Norman’s Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida (up one to number 5) was unveiled in 2000 and it’s still the Great White Shark’s only Indian design. The Nicklaus Design 27-hole layout at the Classic Golf Resort (up one to number 6) debuted two years earlier and the Ridge and Valley nines form the 18-hole course of first choice here. Contemporary designs don’t have it all their own way because a couple of old established courses also rise up the updated standings: Delhi Golf Club’s 18-holeLodhi course, where the Indian Open was held two years ago, nudges up one place to number 3, and Royal Calcutta’s course, redesigned by John Harris and Peter Thomson in the early 1970s, clambers up two spots to number 8. Kaziranga in our eastern region just missed out on our new Indian chart on this occasion. Owned by B&A Ltd, whose business activity is the cultivation and manufacture of “black tea,” the course is set out around a beautiful 125-year-old heritage bungalow known as Burra Sahib’s Bungalow, built from imported steel from the UK, which now acts as a charming old clubhouse for the golf club. Clover Greens in our southern region also came close to making the Top 20 cut. Fashioned by Pacific Coast Design and opened for play in 2009, this modern facility is a popular weekend golfing destination for players in and around Bengaluru. In addition to its top-rated course, the club also boasts a two-tier driving range for those who want a proper warm up before taking to the fairways. Finally, Chandigarh didn’t quite make the leap from our new northern regional chart to the national listings this time around. With floodlights on the front nine holes to extend play into the evening, golfers take the game seriously at this club, none more so than local pro Jeev Milkha Singh, the most prolific Indian golfer ever on the European Tour, who still plays at the club when he’s at home. Looking ahead, Phil Ryan from Pacific Coast Design, who has worked on more than twenty projects in India over the last two decades, tells us he has three courses due to open next year: two new enterprises in Kolkata (Calcutta Riverside GC) and Hyderabad (Vooty GC) plus the renovation of the layout at Kashmir Golf Club in Srinagar which was badly damaged by flooding in September 2014. We’ll be keeping a close eye on these ventures, along with many other golf construction activities taking place around the country, throughout the next twenty-four months. Now that we have Vijit Nandrajog as part of the Top 100 Team, we’re confident our man in the field will keep us right on top of things, enabling us to bring you news of interesting course developments as they occur. Rank/ To view further details of the Top 20 Golf Courses in India click the link. We always like to know what you think of our re-ranked national listings so if you’d like to get in touch regarding our newly enlarged Indian Top 20 then feel free to click the “Respond to this article” link at the top or at the bottom of this page to give us your opinion. Jim McCann Editor Top 100 Golf Courses

Exploring the Best of Gurugram: A Guide to Activities Around the DLF Golf Course Nestled in the bustling city of Gurugram, Haryana, the DLF Golf Course stands as a beacon of luxury and leisure, offering more than just a world-class golfing experience. Surrounding this esteemed venue are myriad activities and attractions that promise a memorable time for golfers and non-golfers alike. Whether you're here to hit the links or just explore, Gurugram has something for everyone. 1. Experience Ultimate Relaxation at a Spa After a day on the greens, what could be better than unwinding at one of the many luxury spas in proximity to the DLF Golf Course? These sanctuaries of relaxation offer a range of treatments from traditional Ayurvedic therapies to modern wellness treatments, ensuring that you leave feeling rejuvenated. 2. Indulge in Fine Dining Gurugram is a melting pot of cuisines, and the area around the DLF Golf Course is no exception. From high-end restaurants serving global cuisines to local eateries offering delicious Indian fare, there's no shortage of dining options. Whether you're in the mood for Italian, Japanese, or traditional North Indian dishes, you're sure to find something to satisfy your palate. 3. Explore the Cyber Hub A short distance from the DLF Golf Course, Cyber Hub is the go-to place for entertainment and dining. This vibrant complex is home to some of the best cafes, restaurants, and bars in the city. Cyber Hub also hosts live music and performances, making it the perfect place to spend an evening. 4. Shop at High-End Malls Gurugram is known for its shopping, and the malls near the DLF Golf Course are a testament to this. Visit the Ambience Mall, one of the largest malls in India, offering everything from luxury brands to local boutiques. It's a shopper's paradise, complete with a multiplex, a bowling alley, and numerous dining options. 5. Take a Leisurely Stroll in Leisure Valley Park For those who prefer a quiet day amidst nature, Leisure Valley Park is an ideal spot. Located a short drive from the DLF Golf Course, this beautifully landscaped park offers a serene escape from the city's hustle and bustle. It's perfect for picnics, jogs, or simply a leisurely stroll. 6. Embark on a Cultural Journey at the Kingdom of Dreams Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Indian culture at the Kingdom of Dreams, just minutes away from the DLF Golf Course. This entertainment complex blends live theatre, food, and shopping in an extravagant setting, showcasing India's art, cuisine, and heritage. 7. Enjoy a Night Out at Sector 29 Sector 29 is a bustling nightlife hub close to the DLF Golf Course. It's filled with pubs, breweries, and live music venues, offering a lively atmosphere for those looking to experience Gurugram's vibrant night scene. Conclusion The area around the DLF Golf Course in Gurugram is a treasure trove of experiences, from indulgent relaxation and dining to shopping, culture, and nightlife. Whether you're here for the golf or just to explore, you'll find no shortage of activities to fill your days and nights with unforgettable memories. Find out more about travel to Golf Courses in Northern India Why not register today to be the 1st to Receive World Rankings releases for 2024. Lockhart Travel Club Concierge Services FAQ What is the Lockhart Travel Club? Lockhart Travel Club is dedicated to offering its members unique opportunities for world-class golf exploration and adventure. It connects members with like-minded individuals worldwide, aiming to fulfil their desire to play at the best golf courses globally. The club originated from Robert Lockhart's passion, a Scotsman who introduced golf to America in the late 19th century, and it continues to embody his spirit of golf travel​ (Lockhart Travel Club)​. Who are the members of the Lockhart Travel Club? Members are individuals from some of the world's greatest clubs, sharing a common passion for golf and adventure. The club welcomes golfers eager to travel, play, and check off their bucket list of courses. They are driven by the opportunity to see and play the best courses worldwide, taking advantage of the club's network​. What kind of experiences does Lockhart Travel Club offer? In 2023, the club provided opportunities to play in various top-ranked courses and locations, including the Sand Hills of Nebraska and Colorado, the best of Japan and Korea, the English Heathlands, the classic courses of France, and the best of New Zealand’s North Island. The 2024 schedule promises unique experiences in 19 different countries, including Thailand & China, Brazil, South Africa, the Northeast USA, and Australia​. How do I join Lockhart Travel Club? Interested individuals can inquire about membership by contacting the club directly via their official email. The club values connections among golf enthusiasts and strives to plan unique, unforgettable opportunities for its members throughout the year​. For more detailed inquiries or to apply for membership, please refer directly to the Lockhart Travel Club's official website or contact their membership services. Lockhart Travel Club About Us: Learn more about the club Top 100 Golf Courses - Lockhart Travel Club: Explore member experiences and trips

Asian Golf Course Rankings 2012 Top 100 Golf Courses extends its Asian rankings 14th January 2012 We must confess that we have done a disservice to Asian golf courses. Rather embarrassingly we neglected the world’s largest and most populous continent while focusing elsewhere. However, we have now reviewed every Asian country and feel quietly confident that the very best Asian golf courses are now featured on the Top 100 website. If you feel we have missed any then please let us know. Let’s be honest, defining the best golf courses in every Asian country has been exceptionally difficult, so we must thank dozens of people who have provided us with invaluable information. Special thanks go to Masa Nishijima, our International Consultant, who brought numerous top Asian courses to our attention. With Masa’s help, we soon hope to produce the first ever rankings of the Top 100 Golf Courses of Asia. India holds an honourable place in golfing history. Older than any club in the world beyond Britain – older, indeed, than most of those in Britain itself – the Royal Calcutta Golf Club has antecedents stretching back to the days when the power of the British Raj was gaining strength, beyond the beginnings of Victoria’s reign. Today, there are around 200 golf courses in India and the number is growing but the engine room of Asian golf is Japan. There are more golf courses in Japan than the rest of Asia put together – nearly 2,500 in fact. The Japanese are serious golf lovers but you may wonder therefore why we only feature 10 Japanese golf courses. The reason is that our International Consultant believes that there are only a few world-class courses in his homeland. Nevertheless, Japan has more World Top 100 ranked golf courses currently than any other Asian country. But watch out… China is getting deadly serious about golf. Golf in Hong Kong dates back more than 100 years and the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling can trace its roots way back to 1889, which places it amongst an elite group of the 100 oldest golf clubs in the world. Even though Hong Kong is no longer a British colony, we feature Hong Kong as a separate destination to China. If you find yourself in Hong Kong with your golf clubs in tow, you should head to the island of Kau Sai Chau where there are two excellent courses at the Jockey Club. The third and latest layout at the Kau Sai Chau public facility is the East course. It’s one of the few public courses in the world with ocean views from every hole. According to the Guinness Book of records, Mission Hills at Shenzhen (25 miles north of Hong Kong) is the world's largest golf facility. With twelve courses, each headline-designed by a golfing legend, it’s undeniably an impressive golf resort, but Mission Hills Group decided to shift their attention to Haikou on the tropical island of Hainan. Here they built ten more golf courses and two of them have already jumped ahead of their mainland elder siblings in the national rankings. The Schmidt-Curley Design firm laid out all ten courses at Haikou (they are also the design firm behind ten of the twelve Mission Hills mainland layouts) and two quickly emerged from the pack. Lava Fields is our highest new entry from their burgeoning stable, despite the fact that Mission Hills reckon their crown jewel is the Blackstone course – venue for the 2011 Omega Mission Hills World Cup. The Blackstone debuts at 5th position in our new Chinese rankings. After all this talk about Mission Hills, we should say that both the Lake and Mountain courses at the Spring City Resort should not be overlooked. However, if you can find a way to access the Stone Forest International Country Club, you’re in for a real treat. The Leaders Peak layout is our new Chinese No.1 and it really is a future World Top 100 course that Schmidt-Curley routed around some truly breathtaking rock formations. With more than 400 golf courses in China and around 150 more are at various stages of development, China is the No.1 country in the world at the moment in terms of new course developments. South Korea is now a very strong golfing destination. With more than 200 courses there are a few that are world class – including Nine Bridges on the volcanic Jeju Island. The Golfplan-designed Pine Beach Golf Links is an interesting development, which opened in 2008. Pine Beach has been described as Asia’s version of Pebble Beach and the club’s par three 15th even bears a striking resemblance to Cypress Point’s iconic 16th. Indonesia, especially Bali, remains a popular destination for travelling golfers. Greg Norman’s Nirwana Bali is our new No.1 which edged out Gary Player’s Ocean course at Ria Bintan. Singapore punches way above its weight for a tiny city-state and despite its close proximity to Changi Airport, The Garden course at Tanah Merah Country Club remains in Singaporean pole position. The Japanese brought golf to Taiwan and the country’s oldest club, Taiwan Golf & Country Club, dates back to 1918. There are now around 70 golf courses on the appropriately named “Beautiful Island” and the Sunrise Golf and Country Club remains our No.1. Ever popular, Thailand can boast a number of interesting new additions to a portfolio of golf courses that now exceed 200. Designed in 2007 by Phil Ryan of Pacific Coast Design, Black Mountain Golf Club has quickly established itself as one of the best 18-hole layouts in the country. Our new Thai number two is Amata Spring Country Club, venue for the Royal Trophy between 2006 and 2010 and our number one is the exclusive but brilliant Ayodhya Links. We’re not sure exactly how many golf courses are in play in the Philippines, however we do know that there are many more than the 25 facilities registered with the National Golf Association of the Philippines. The Makiling course at Sta. Elena Golf Club is James Spence’s favourite Robert Trent Jones Jnr course in Asia. The author of The Finest Golf Courses of Asia and Australasia reckons Sta. Elena is one of the best driving courses in Asia with a good balance of safety and danger from the tee. Kota Permai Golf & Country Club was created by Australian Ross Watson in the late 1990s. The course has hosted a number of top professional competitions, including the Volvo Masters of Malaysia and the 2008 Malaysian Open, and it’s our new Malaysian No.1. With more than 200 courses in Malaysia we felt it appropriate to feature a Top 20 for the first time. It is evident that Colt & Alison had a hand in the design of Dalat Palace in the late 1920s or early 1930s, though it is not clear exactly what that consisted of. However, Dalat Palace remains our Vietnamese No.1 despite strong competition. The Dunes course at Danang Golf Club opened to critical acclaim in 2010 and it’s our highest new Vietnamese entry. Course designer, Greg Norman, said, “You’d be doing a very poor job to make a boring course out of a site like this”. Straight in at No.3 is Colin Montgomerie’s Links layout, which has hosted the Vietnam Matchplay Championship every year since 2009. With only 25 courses in the country, Vietnam can be proud of quality rather than quantity. David McLay Kidd has left an interesting legacy in Nepal at Gokana Forest Resort which one reviewer recently described as “the ultimate chillax resort”. If Cambodia is on your itinerary then take a look at the 18-hole championship course at Phokeethra Country Club, which opened in 2007, the same year it hosted the Cambodian Open. Should Sri Lanka be your destination of choice then head to Victoria Golf & Country Club where the setting for the Donald Steel layout is “one of the finest in the world” according to architect Martin Ebert. Naturally golf is not the most popular sport in North Korea, but the country does have one notable course. Pyongyang Golf Course is where the first North Korean Open was held a few years ago and it was a decade or so ago that the nation's late dictator Kim Jong-il is said to have shot a 38-under par round of 34 in his one and only round of golf which included more holes in one than most avid golfers will achieve in a lifetime. Every Asian country is featured on the Top 100 website, although not every Asian country is lucky enough to have a course listed. In 2005, Golf World magazine rated the Kabul Golf Club in their first ever World Top 100 rankings. We’re not entirely sure why, but for those who are interested in playing golf in Afghanistan we suggest reading this article (click here) and we strongly recommend advanced booking! Feedback is genuinely welcome… in fact it’s actively encouraged. So please tell us what you think about the latest list of Asian golf courses. We won’t ever claim to be “definitive” but we are the most “informed” golf course rankings in the business. If you’ve played any of our featured Asian courses, we’d be delighted to know what you think, so why not contribute and post a course review or two? Click here to visit Asia on the Top 100 website, or simply click on Asia on the left hand navigation to journey through the continent. Keith Baxter Editor www.top100golfcourses.com