If you are looking for a unique and beautiful golfing experience in India, you should definitely visit the Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club in Vadodara, Gujarat. This club is not only the oldest private golf club in Gujarat, but also one of the most scenic ones, as it is built around the majestic Laxmi Vilas Palace, the residence of the Baroda royal family. In this blog, we will tell you everything you need to know about this club, including its history, location, golf course layout, slope and difficulty, signature hole and longest hole, interesting story, local weather and best time to visit, clubhouse and a conclusion.
History
The Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club was established in the mid-nineties by Maharaja Ranjitsinh Gaekwad, the former ruler of Baroda and a keen golfer himself. He wanted to create a golf course that would blend with the natural beauty and heritage of his palace estate, which covers an area of 700 acres and has many historic structures and monuments. He also wanted to promote golf as a sport and a lifestyle in his city and state. He hired Phil Ryan, a renowned Australian golf course architect, to design the course and oversee its construction. The club was inaugurated in 1996 by Maharaja Ranjitsinh Gaekwad and his wife Maharani Shubhangini Devi.
Location
The Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club is located in the heart of Vadodara city, around 4 km from the railway station and 8 km from the airport. The club is easily accessible by road and has ample parking space for its members and guests. The club is situated within the Laxmi Vilas Palace estate, which is one of the largest private residences in the world and a major tourist attraction in Vadodara. The palace was built in 1890 by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the grandfather of Maharaja Ranjitsinh Gaekwad, in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. The palace has four gates, and the club can be entered through gate number.
Golf Course Layout
The Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club has an 18-hole par-72 golf course that measures 6,700 yards from the championship tees. The course is spread over 110 acres of land and offers stunning views of the palace from every hole. The course has a unique layout that challenges both beginners and experts alike. The course has sharp doglegs, narrow fairways, water hazards, bunkers, trees and flower beds that require accuracy and strategy from the players. The course also has a natural stream that runs through it and adds to its beauty and difficulty.
The course has four sets of tees: black (championship), blue (men), white (senior men) and red (ladies). The slope rating of the course is 131 from the black tees, 128 from the blue tees, 125 from the white tees and 122 from the red tees. The course rating is 72.7 from the black tees, 70.9 from the blue tees, 69.1 from the white tees and 71.2 from the red tees.
Signature Hole and Longest Hole
The signature hole of the Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club is the par-4 9th hole, which is also known as the “Palace View” hole. This hole offers a spectacular view of the Laxmi Vilas Palace as it curves around it. The hole measures 405 yards from the black tees, 385 yards from the blue tees, 365 yards from the white tees and 345 yards from the red tees. The hole has a slight dogleg to the right and a water hazard on the left side of the fairway. The green is guarded by two bunkers on either side and has a gentle slope towards the palace. This hole requires a good tee shot to avoid the water and a precise approach shot to hit the green.
The longest hole of the Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club is the par-5 18th hole, which measures 560 yards from the black tees, 540 yards from the blue tees, 520 yards from the white tees and 500 yards from the red tees. This hole is also known as the “Homecoming” hole as it leads back to the clubhouse. The hole has a slight dogleg to the left and a water hazard on the right side of the fairway. The green is elevated and surrounded by four bunkers. This hole requires a long and straight drive, a well-placed second shot and a careful approach shot to avoid the bunkers and reach the green.
Interesting Story
One of the most interesting stories about the Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club is the one involving a peacock and a golf ball. According to the club’s website, this incident happened in 1998, when a member of the club was playing on the 12th hole. He hit his tee shot towards the green, but it landed on a tree branch instead. As he was walking towards his ball, he saw a peacock perched on the same branch. The peacock mistook the ball for an egg and picked it up with its beak. The member tried to retrieve his ball from the peacock, but it flew away with it. The member had to take a penalty stroke and play another ball.
Local Weather and Best Time to Visit
The local weather in Vadodara is generally hot and humid, with an average annual temperature of 26.3 degrees Celsius. The city experiences three seasons: summer (March to June), monsoon (July to September) and winter (October to February). The summer season is very hot and dry, with temperatures reaching up to 45 degrees Celsius. The monsoon season brings heavy rainfall and high humidity, which can affect the playing conditions of the course. The winter season is mild and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 30 degrees Celsius.
The best time to visit the Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club is during the winter season, when the weather is cool and comfortable, and the course is lush and green. The club is open throughout the year, except on Mondays, which are reserved for maintenance. The club also hosts various tournaments and events throughout the year, such as the Maharaja Ranjitsinh Gaekwad Memorial Trophy, the Laxmi Vilas Palace Cup, the Baroda Open and the Gujarat Open.
Clubhouse
The clubhouse of the Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club is a modern and elegant building that offers various facilities and amenities for its members and guests. The clubhouse has a reception area, a pro shop, a locker room, a spa, a gym, a swimming pool, a badminton court, a tennis court, a restaurant, a bar, a banquet hall and a conference room. The clubhouse also has a terrace that overlooks the golf course and the palace.
The restaurant of the clubhouse serves delicious Indian and continental cuisine, as well as snacks and beverages. The bar of the clubhouse offers a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as live music and entertainment. The banquet hall and the conference room of the clubhouse can accommodate up to 300 people each and are ideal for hosting weddings, parties, meetings and seminars.
Conclusion
The Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club is a royal retreat that offers a unique and beautiful golfing experience in India. The club has an 18-hole par-72 golf course that is built around the majestic Laxmi Vilas Palace and offers stunning views of it from every hole. The club also has a modern and elegant clubhouse that offers various facilities and amenities for its members and guests. The club is open throughout the year, except on Mondays, and hosts various tournaments and events throughout the year. The club is easily accessible by road and has ample parking space for its members and guests. If you are looking for a golfing destination that combines history, heritage, nature and culture, you should definitely visit the Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club in Vadodara.
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