Tom Watson |
Jack Nickalaus |
Eagleton Golf Academy(Bidadi) |
Kodaikanal Golf Club |
Ootacamund Gymkhana Club(Ooty) |
Royal Palms Golf& Country
Club(Mumbai) |
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If India has been
termed a sport crazy country, it is primarily because of the mass
hysteria displayed
during cricket, hockey and football matches. While headlines continue to be reserved for
cricket, another game whose popularity chart has shown an upswing of late is Golf. Media,
both print and electronic, has started giving more and more space for this game, till
recently considered a game fit for the aged. Sports buffs are full of excitement for the
exploits of Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and Vijay Singh all winning astronomical
figures week after week on European and American circuits. |
| Interestingly,
most if not all the Indian metros boast of at least two or more good courses. So much so
golf has come to be considered the best relaxation sport. Mysore, incidentally, boasts of
a very picturesque golf course amidst the lush green race course. The Chamundi Hills
provides the perfect backdrop to the golfers. |
| Named after the
late Maharaja of Mysore, Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, the golf course is so prestigious that
every golfer worth his salt likes to play there. It conducts nearly two dozen tournaments
on the well maintained greens. The better known among them are the Merchant Memorial Open,
Shafi Darasha Memorial Open, Maharaja Cup Open and AV Thomas Open. The club also promotes
junior golfers by conducting free coaching to them and also sponsors them to play to
tournaments. The JWGC has been promoting the game from the lower level and has introduced
a golf promotion scheme. |
| The Mysore Golf
course is a challenging one and is appreciated by everyone who has played on it. The JWGC
is affiliated to the Indian Golf Union. For children below 14 years of age the club
provides everything free (that includes junior golf sets, practice balls, coaching).
Promising youngsters get sponsorship to participate in junior tournaments around the
country. |
| Few other
sports in India have made such giant strides as golf has, in the last ten years, in terms
of holding competitions, rising standards and getting sponsorships from corporate. |
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The golf
course in Mysore was conceived during the Maharaja's days and was mostly patronized by the
British elite in the early days. It is located on 110 acres in the premises of the Mysore
Race Club. It was the late Maharaja Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar who with farsightedness
and a sense of aesthetics chose this locale for the Race course and Golf courses. Although
the history of racing dates back to 1891, it was only when the race course was shifted
from Hinkal to its present location in 1906, that racing and golf were given a new
impetus. |
| In 1984-85, the
Mysore Race club entrusted the maintenance of the golf course to the Mysore Sports club
authorities. Mysore Sports Club continued the good work for a couple of years but due to
lack of funds handed over the same to MRC. This prompted golf enthusiasts to join together
and form Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club. Their objective was to promote and popularize
the game. Their enthusiasm is reflected in the fact that it is one of the best maintained
golf clubs in the country today. However, JWGC is a basic course with 18 holes played on
greens. |
| The Indian
department of tourism had undertaken a project to upgrade golf courses in major tourist
centers at a cost of Rs Five crore, with a view to attracting international golfing
tourists and thereby earning scarce foreign exchange. A sum of Rs 37.30 lakh was given to
JWGC for upgradation. The browns were converted into greens under technical guidance. Care
was taken to install proper irrigation system, besides clearing the fairways of stones. |
| JWGC boasts of
producing some good golfers. Rahul Ganapathy, one of the top amateur golfers in the Indian
circuit, is from this club. As heartening is the news that many promising youngsters are
emerging. The club has a member strength of 650 and has a sprawling club house which
caters for the need of the members and their visitors. |
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The
sprawling Club house built in an area of 3.5 acres at a total cost of Rs. 50 lakh is a
unique one of its kind in the city. The foundation of the Club house was laid on Dec. 15,
1998 and the award winning architect Dr. Bhooshan, designed and developed the master plan
of the Club house. |
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In
order to suit the climate, the lounge in the Club house has an open look which helps in
the flow of pleasant breeze from all sides. |
| The
entrance, the D.T. Bar, (also called the 19th hole) the main lounge area and the
multipurpose hall are highlighted with semi-circular domes reminding one of a golf ball.
The smallest domes are brick domes reviving the technique used for building domes of
yesteryears, in which no concrete or steel was used. The largest dome covering the dining.
hall is unique in its concept and design. It is for the first time a corbelled (
supporting the dome skin) space frame has been designed. |
| In the next phase
the rest rooms will be constructed to enable the members and guests to utilize the
facilities. |
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