If you are looking for a golfing experience that is unlike any other, you might want to check out the Kaziranga Golf Resort in Assam, India. This resort is not only a place to enjoy a challenging and scenic 18-hole golf course, but also a place to immerse yourself in the colonial tea culture, the rich wildlife and the natural beauty of the region. In this blog, I will give you an overview of the history, layout, features and facilities of the Kaziranga Golf Resort, and why you should visit it at least once in your lifetime.
History of the Kaziranga Golf Resort
The Kaziranga Golf Resort was conceived as a premium, futuristic abode for spending a holiday in a colonial tea environment. The resort is located within the Sangsua and Gatoonga tea estates near Jorhat in Assam, which have a history of over 100 years of tea production. The resort was designed by Ranjit Nanda, a renowned golf course architect who has created several courses in India and abroad2. The golf course was inaugurated in 2011 by Tarun Gogoi, the then Chief Minister of Assam.
The resort aims to promote golf tourism in the Northeast region of India, as well as to provide a world-class facility for golf enthusiasts and professionals. The resort also hosts various tournaments and events throughout the year, such as the Kaziranga Masters, the Kaziranga Open and the Kaziranga Ladies Open.
Layout of the Kaziranga Golf Resort
The Kaziranga Golf Resort boasts of an 18-hole championship golf course that spans over 150 acres of land. The course has a par of 71 and measures 6,830 yards from the back tees. The course is set amidst lush green tea gardens, with rolling hills and dense forests in the backdrop. The course offers a variety of challenges and features for golfers of all skill levels, such as water hazards, bunkers, doglegs, blind shots and elevation changes.
The course is divided into two returning nines, with each nine having its own character and difficulty. The front nine is relatively flat and open, with wide fairways and large greens. The back nine is more hilly and wooded, with narrow fairways and small greens. The course also has four sets of tees to suit different handicaps and preferences.
Some of the notable holes on the course are:
- Hole 3: A slightly right doglegging par four that requires an accurate tee shot to avoid the water hazard on the right and the bunker on the left. The approach shot is to a raised green that slopes from back to front.
- Hole 5: The second of the five par threes on the course, this hole plays 200 yards from the back tee. The tee shot has to carry over a pond that guards the front and right side of the green. The green is also surrounded by bunkers and trees.
- Hole 10: A right doglegging par five that plays downhill from the tee. The tee shot has to avoid the water hazard on the right and the bunker on the left. The second shot has to negotiate a narrow fairway that slopes from left to right. The third shot is to a large green that is protected by bunkers on both sides.
- Hole 13: A very long par four that plays uphill from the tee. This hole is rated as the toughest on the course, with a stroke index of 2. The tee shot has to avoid out of bounds on the left and trees on the right. The approach shot is to a small green that is guarded by bunkers on both sides.
- Hole 18: A testing par four that plays 415 yards from the back tee. This hole veers slightly left from the tee towards an offset green that is fortified by water on either side of the putting surface. A par on this hole is a great way to finish your round.
Signature Hole and Longest Hole
The signature hole of the Kaziranga Golf Resort is arguably hole 14, a par three that plays 175 yards from the back tee. This hole demands an all-carry tee shot over a lake that covers almost the entire length of the hole. The green is also surrounded by bunkers and trees, making it one of the most picturesque and challenging holes on the course.
The longest hole on the course is hole 15, a par five that plays 580 yards from the back tee. This hole plays uphill from tee to green, with a slight bend to the right. The tee shot has to avoid bunkers on both sides of the fairway. The second shot has to clear a creek that crosses the fairway at about 250 yards from the green. The third shot is to a large green that slopes from back to front and is guarded by bunkers on both sides.
Slope and Difficulty
The slope rating of the Kaziranga Golf Resort is 136 from the back tees, 129 from the middle tees, 123 from the front tees and 117 from the ladies’ tees. The slope rating indicates the relative difficulty of the course for a bogey golfer compared to a scratch golfer. A higher slope rating means a more difficult course.
The course rating of the Kaziranga Golf Resort is 72.8 from the back tees, 70.6 from the middle tees, 68.4 from the front tees and 70.2 from the ladies’ tees. The course rating indicates the average score that a scratch golfer would shoot on the course. A higher course rating means a more difficult course.
Local Weather and Best Time to Visit
The Kaziranga Golf Resort enjoys a subtropical climate, with hot and humid summers, mild and dry winters, and moderate rainfall throughout the year. The average temperature ranges from 18°C to 32°C, with the highest temperatures occurring in May and June, and the lowest temperatures occurring in December and January. The average rainfall is about 2000 mm per year, with the highest rainfall occurring in July and August, and the lowest rainfall occurring in November and December.
The best time to visit the Kaziranga Golf Resort is from October to March, when the weather is pleasant and dry, and the course is in its best condition. This is also the peak season for tourism in Assam, as many visitors flock to see the famous Kaziranga National Park, which is home to the endangered one-horned rhinoceros and other wildlife species. The national park is about 80 km away from the resort, and can be easily reached by road or by air.
Club House and Facilities
The Kaziranga Golf Resort has a spacious and elegant club house that offers a range of facilities and services for its guests and members. The club house has a restaurant that serves delicious Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisine, a bar that offers a variety of drinks and snacks, a lounge that provides a relaxing atmosphere for socializing, a conference hall that can accommodate up to 100 people for meetings and events, a pro shop that sells golf equipment and accessories, a locker room that provides storage and changing facilities, and a golf academy that offers coaching and training for golfers of all levels.
The resort also has eight cottages with 16 superior cottage rooms that are located next to the club house. The cottages are designed in a colonial style, with wooden floors, high ceilings, large windows and antique furniture. The rooms are comfortable and spacious, with modern amenities such as air conditioning, television, telephone, internet access, mini bar, tea/coffee maker, safe deposit box and attached bathroom.
Conclusion
The Kaziranga Golf Resort is a unique destination for golf lovers who want to enjoy a game of golf in a serene and scenic setting. The resort combines the charm of colonial tea culture with the thrill of golfing amidst nature. The resort also offers excellent facilities and services for its guests and members, as well as easy access to the nearby Kaziranga National Park. The resort is an ideal place for a holiday, a weekend getaway or a corporate outing. If you are looking for a golfing adventure that you will never forget, you should definitely visit the Kaziranga Golf Resort.
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