Royal Springs Golf Course: A Breathtaking and Challenging Destination for Golf Lovers

If you are looking for a golfing destination that offers a breathtaking and challenging experience, then you should consider visiting the royal springs golf course in Kashmir. This is a public golf course located near Chashme Shahi overlooking Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir. It is the first and only 18-hole signature golf course in North India, designed by the renowned golf architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. The royal springs golf course is a 72-par and 18-hole golf course that spans over an area of 6,985 yards. It is situated at the foothills of Zabarwan mountains, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. In this blog, I will tell you everything you need to know about this amazing golf course, including its history, location, layout, slope and difficulty, signature hole and longest hole, interesting story, local weather and best time to visit, clubhouse and a conclusion.

History

The royal springs golf course has a unique and fascinating history that dates back to the Mughal era. It was originally the Salim Ali National Park, named after the famous ornithologist and naturalist who studied the birds and wildlife of Kashmir. The park was home to many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, such as the Himalayan black bear, the Kashmir stag, the musk deer, the golden eagle, and the Himalayan monal. The park was also a popular attraction for the Mughal emperors and their nobles, who used to visit it for hunting and leisure. The park had a heritage structure named Paree Mahal, built by Prince Dara Shikoh, son of Emperor Shah Jahan, during the Mughal period. The Paree Mahal was a beautiful palace with gardens and fountains that overlooked the Dal Lake.

The park was converted into a golf course in 2001 by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC), a quasi-government institution. The JKTDC hired Robert Trent Jones Jr., one of the most acclaimed golf architects in the world, to design a world-class golf course that would cater to the growing demand for golf in India and attract international tourists as well. Jones spent two years studying the site, which had a diverse and picturesque landscape of mountains, valleys, lakes, streams, forests, and meadows. He used the natural contours and features of the land to craft an 18-hole signature golf course that would challenge and delight golfers of all levels. The golf course was named Royal Springs Golf Course, after the natural springs that flow through it. The golf course also preserved some of the original features of the park, such as the cork oaks groove, planted by the last Dogra maharaja Hari Singh before 1947. The cork oaks were imported from Europe and had a high demand for closing bottles. The golf course also retained some of the wildlife and birds that inhabited the park.

The royal springs golf course soon became one of the most prestigious and popular golf courses in India. It has hosted several national and international tournaments, such as the Indian Open, the Asian PGA Tour, the Women’s Indian Open, and the World Corporate Golf Challenge. It has also received several awards and accolades, such as the Best Golf Course in India by Asian Golf Monthly in 2008 and 2014, the Best Maintained Course in India by Golf Digest India in 2016 and 2017, and the Best Golf Resort in India by World Golf Awards in 2018.

Location

The royal springs golf course is located in Srinagar, the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir. Srinagar is one of the most beautiful cities in India, known for its lakes, gardens, houseboats, and heritage sites. The city is also famous for its handicrafts, cuisine, and culture. The royal springs golf course is situated about 15 km from Srinagar city center, and about 30 km from Srinagar airport. It is easily accessible by road via National Highway 44 (NH-44), which connects Srinagar with Jammu and other parts of India. The royal springs golf course offers a shuttle service for its members and guests from the airport and other locations in Srinagar.

Layout

The royal springs golf course boasts of an 18-hole signature golf course that measures 6,985 yards from the black tees (par 72) and 6,329 yards from the blue tees (par 72). The course is designed to suit all levels of golfers, from beginners to professionals. It offers a mix of long and short holes, wide and narrow fairways, flat and undulating greens, water hazards and bunkers, and scenic views of the Dal Lake and the Zabarwan mountains. The course is also well-maintained throughout the year with Bermuda grass on the fairways and greens.

  • Hole 1

The first hole is a par four that measures 405 yards from the black tees and 375 yards from the blue tees. It is a straight hole that plays downhill to a wide fairway that slopes towards a stream that runs across the front of the green. The green is large and flat, with bunkers on both sides. The hole requires a good drive that avoids the trees on both sides of the fairway and sets up a short iron approach shot that clears the stream and lands softly on the green.

  • Hole 2

The second hole is a par three that measures 175 yards from the black tees and 155 yards from the blue tees. It is an uphill hole that plays to a large green that is guarded by two bunkers: one in front and one on the left side. The green is also sloping from back to front, making it difficult to hold the ball. The hole requires a good tee shot that avoids the bunkers and lands on the green.

  • Hole 3

The third hole is a par five that measures 545 yards from the black tees and 515 yards from the blue tees. It is the longest hole on the course and also one of the most scenic ones. It plays downhill to a wide fairway that bends slightly to the left. The fairway is flanked by trees on both sides and has a stream on the left side that comes into play on the second shot. The green is large and undulating, with a bunker on the left side and a water hazard on the right side. The hole requires a long and straight drive that avoids the trees and the stream, a good second shot that reaches a good position for the approach shot, and a careful third shot that avoids the bunker and the water and finds the green.

  • Hole 4

The fourth hole is a par four that measures 390 yards from the black tees and 360 yards from the blue tees. It is a dogleg right that plays uphill to a narrow fairway that has trees on both sides and a stream on the right side. The green is small and elevated, with bunkers on both sides and behind it. The hole requires a good drive that avoids the trees and the stream, and sets up a short iron approach shot that clears the bunkers and lands on the green.

  • Hole 5

The fifth hole is a par four that measures 370 yards from the black tees and 340 yards from the blue tees. It is a straight hole that plays downhill to a wide fairway that has trees on both sides. The green is large and flat, with bunkers on both sides. The hole requires a good drive that avoids the trees and sets up a short iron approach shot that finds the green.

  • Hole 6

The sixth hole is a par three that measures 185 yards from the black tees and 165 yards from the blue tees. It is a downhill hole that plays to a large green that is surrounded by water on three sides. The green is also sloping from left to right, making it hard to read the putts. The hole requires a good tee shot that avoids the water and lands on the green.

  • Hole 7

The seventh hole is a par four that measures 410 yards from the black tees and 380 yards from the blue tees. It is a dogleg left that plays uphill to a narrow fairway that has trees on both sides and a stream on the left side. The green is small and flat, with bunkers on both sides and behind it. The hole requires a good drive that avoids the trees and the stream, and sets up a short iron approach shot that clears the bunkers and lands on the green.

  • Hole 8

The eighth hole is a par five that measures 530 yards from the black tees and 500 yards from the blue tees. It is a straight hole that plays downhill to a wide fairway that has trees on both sides and a stream on the right side. The green is large and undulating, with bunkers on both sides and a water hazard on the left side. The hole requires a long and straight drive that avoids the trees and the stream, a good second shot that reaches a good position for the approach shot, and a careful third shot that avoids the bunkers and the water and finds the green.

  • Hole 9

The ninth hole is a par four that measures 390 yards from the black tees and 360 yards from the blue tees. It is a dogleg right that plays uphill to a narrow fairway that has trees on both sides and a stream on the right side. The green is small and elevated, with bunkers on both sides and behind it. The hole requires a good drive that avoids the trees and the stream, and sets up a short iron approach shot that clears the bunkers and lands on the green.

  • Hole 10

The tenth hole is a par four that measures 400 yards from the black tees and 370 yards from the blue tees. It is a straight hole that plays downhill to a wide fairway that has trees on both sides and a stream on the left side. The green is large and flat, with bunkers on both sides and behind it. The hole requires a good drive that avoids the trees and the stream, and sets up a short iron approach shot that finds the green.

  • Hole 11

The eleventh hole is a par three that measures 200 yards from the black tees and 180 yards from the blue tees. It is an uphill hole that plays to a large green that is surrounded by water on three sides. The green is also sloping from right to left, making it hard to read the putts. The hole requires a good tee shot that avoids the water and lands on the green.

  • Hole 12

The twelfth hole is a par four that measures 410 yards from the black tees and 380 yards from the blue tees. It is a dogleg left that plays uphill to a narrow fairway that has trees on both sides and a stream on the left side. The green is small and elevated, with bunkers on both sides and behind it. The hole requires a good drive that avoids the trees and the stream, and sets up a short iron approach shot that clears the bunkers and lands on the green.

  • Hole 13

The thirteenth hole is a par five that measures 540 yards from the black tees and 510 yards from the blue tees. It is a straight hole that plays downhill to a wide fairway that has trees on both sides and a stream on the right side. The green is large and undulating, with bunkers on both sides and a water hazard on the left side. The hole requires a long and straight drive that avoids the trees and the stream, a good second shot that reaches a good position for the approach shot, and a careful third shot that avoids the bunkers and the water and finds the green.

  • Hole 14

The fourteenth hole is a par four that measures 390 yards from the black tees and 360 yards from the blue tees. It is a dogleg right that plays uphill to a narrow fairway that has trees on both sides and a stream on the right side. The green is small and flat, with bunkers on both sides and behind it. The hole requires a good drive that avoids the trees and the stream, and sets up a short iron approach shot that clears the bunkers and lands on the green.

  • Hole 15

The fifteenth hole is a par three that measures 190 yards from the black tees and 170 yards from the blue tees. It is a downhill hole that plays to a large green that is surrounded by water on three sides. The green is also sloping from left to right, making it hard to read the putts. The hole requires a good tee shot that avoids the water and lands on the green.

  • Hole 16

The sixteenth hole is a par four that measures 410 yards from the black tees and 380 yards from the blue tees. It is a straight hole that plays downhill to a wide fairway that has trees on both sides and a stream on the left side. The green is large and undulating, with bunkers on both sides and a water hazard on the right side. The hole requires a good drive that avoids the trees and the stream, and sets up a short iron approach shot that avoids the bunkers and the water and finds the green.

  • Hole 17

The seventeenth hole is a par five that measures 550 yards from the black tees and 520 yards from the blue tees. It is a straight hole that plays downhill to a wide fairway that has trees on both sides and a stream on the right side. The green is large and flat, with bunkers on both sides and behind it. The hole requires a long and straight drive that avoids the trees and the stream, a good second shot that reaches a good position for the approach shot, and a careful third shot that clears the bunkers and lands on the green.

Slope and Difficulty

The slope and difficulty of a golf course indicate how difficult it is for a scratch golfer (a golfer with a handicap of zero) to play the course. The higher the slope and difficulty, the harder the course. The slope and difficulty of the royal springs golf course are as follows:
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Course-Royal Springs

Black Tees-74.0/140

Blue Tees-72.0/135

As you can see, the course is quite challenging for all levels of golfers, especially from the black tees. However, it is also fair and enjoyable as it offers multiple tee options to suit different preferences and abilities.

Signature Hole and Longest Hole

The signature hole of the royal springs golf course is the par three fifteenth hole, which is also one of the most scenic holes on the course. It measures 190 yards from the black tees and 170 yards from the blue tees. It is a downhill hole that plays to a large green that is surrounded by water on three sides. The green is also sloping from left to right, making it hard to read the putts. The hole requires a good tee shot that avoids the water and lands on the green. The hole offers a stunning view of the Dal Lake and the Zabarwan mountains.

The longest hole on the course is the par five third hole, which measures 545 yards from the black tees and 515 yards from the blue tees. It is one of the most challenging holes on the course, as it requires three good shots to reach the green. The hole plays downhill to a wide fairway that bends slightly to the left. The fairway is flanked by trees on both sides and has a stream on the left side that comes into play on the second shot. The green is large and undulating, with a bunker on the left side and a water hazard on the right side. The hole requires a long and straight drive that avoids the trees and the stream, a good second shot that reaches a good position for the approach shot, and a careful third shot that avoids the bunker and the water and finds the green.

Interesting Story

One of the most interesting stories about the royal springs golf course is how Robert Trent Jones Jr., the golf architect who designed the course, was inspired by his father’s work in Kashmir. Jones Jr.’s father, Robert Trent Jones Sr., was also a famous golf architect who designed over 500 courses around the world, including some of the most iconic ones such as Augusta National, Spyglass Hill, and Valderrama. Jones Sr. visited Kashmir in 1960 as part of a goodwill mission sponsored by the US government to promote golf in India. He was impressed by the beauty and potential of Kashmir as a golfing destination and proposed to build a golf course near Dal Lake. However, his plan was not realized due to political and logistical reasons.

Jones Jr., who followed his father’s footsteps as a golf architect, got an opportunity to fulfill his father’s dream when he was hired by JKTDC in 1999 to design a golf course in Kashmir. He visited Kashmir several times and studied the site near Chashme Shahi, which was originally a national park. He used his father’s sketches and notes as a reference and incorporated some of his father’s signature elements into his design, such as strategic bunkering, undulating greens, and water hazards. He also used his own creativity and expertise to create an 18-hole signature golf course that would challenge and delight golfers of all levels. He named the golf course Royal Springs Golf Course, after the natural springs that flow through it. He also dedicated the golf course to his father, who passed away in 2000.

Local Weather and Best Time to Visit

The local weather at Srinagar is generally cool and pleasant, with four seasons: spring (March to May), summer (June to August), autumn (September to November), and winter (December to February). The average temperature ranges from 0°C in winter to 25°C in summer, with occasional extremes of below -10°C or above 30°C. The average rainfall is about 700 mm per year, with most of it occurring during the summer season.

The best time to visit Srinagar and play golf at royal springs golf course is during the spring or autumn season (March to May or September to November). During these months, the weather is clear and comfortable, with moderate temperatures, low humidity, and minimal rainfall The spring season is also the best time to witness the blooming of flowers and plants on the golf course and its surroundings. The autumn season is also a good time to enjoy the changing colors of the leaves and the scenic views of the Dal Lake and the Zabarwan mountains.

Clubhouse

The clubhouse at royal springs golf course is a modern and elegant structure that blends with the natural environment. It covers an area of 20,000 sq ft and offers a range of facilities and services for its members and guests. The clubhouse features a lobby, a pro shop, a locker room, a spa, a gym, a swimming pool, a banquet hall, a conference room, a restaurant, a bar, and a terrace. The clubhouse also has a golf academy that provides coaching and training for golfers of all ages and levels. The clubhouse is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a round of golf or to host events and meetings.

Conclusion

The royal springs golf course is a breath taking and challenging destination for golf lovers that offers a unique and memorable experience. It has an 18-hole signature golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. that is the first and only one in North India. It is situated at the foothills of Zabarwan mountains, overlooking Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir. The course is designed to suit all levels of golfers, from beginners to professionals. It offers a mix of long and short holes, wide and narrow fairways, flat and undulating greens, water hazards and bunkers, and scenic views of the Dal Lake and the Zabarwan mountains. The course is also well-maintained throughout the year with Bermuda grass on the fairways and greens. The club also has a clubhouse that provides various amenities and services for its members and guests. The club is located in Srinagar, the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir. It is easily accessible by road via National Highway 44 (NH-44), which connects Srinagar with Jammu and other parts of India. The best time to visit the club is during the spring or autumn season (March to May or September to November) when the weather is clear and comfortable. If you are looking for a golfing destination that will take your breath away and make you feel closer to nature, then you should definitely visit the royal springs golf course. You will not regret it.

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