If you are a golf enthusiast who wants to enjoy a round of golf in the capital city of India, you might want to check out Qutub Golf Course. Qutub Golf Course is the first public golf course in India, which means that anyone can play there without being a member of a club. Qutub Golf Course is also one of the best all-season golf courses in India, which means that you can play there throughout the year. Qutub Golf Course offers a challenging and scenic course, a rich history, and a friendly atmosphere. In this blog, I will tell you more about the history, location, layout, signature and longest hole, slope and difficulty, interesting story, local weather and best time to visit and clubhouse of Qutub Golf Course.
History of Qutub Golf Course
Qutub Golf Course was founded on June 15, 1996, by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which is a government agency responsible for urban planning and development in Delhi. The DDA wanted to promote golf as a sport and a leisure activity in the state, as well as to create a place where it could entertain its guests and dignitaries. The DDA also wanted to make golf accessible and affordable to the general public, who could not afford playing on the few and exclusive golf clubs in and around Delhi.
The DDA hired Phil Ryan, a renowned golf architect from Australia, to design and develop the golf course. Ryan has designed many golf courses around the world, including in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa3. Ryan created a course that features a variety of holes that test the skills and strategy of golfers of all levels.
The DDA started with a driving range in 1996, where the first ball was hit by Sardar Surjit Singh Majithia, who was then the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. The DDA then added nine holes in January 2000, making it a 9-hole course. In May 2002, the DDA added another nine holes, making it a full-fledged 18-hole course. The DDA named the golf course after the Qutub Minar, which is a historical monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located near the golf course.
Qutub Golf Course has hosted many tournaments and events over the years, including the DDA Open Championship, the NCR Cup, the Northern India Amateur Championship, the All India Police Golf Championship, and the North Zone Inter-State Championship. Qutub Golf Course has also witnessed many celebrities and personalities playing on its greens, such as former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former President Pranab Mukherjee, former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, and singer Sonu Nigam.
Location of Qutub Golf Course
Qutub Golf Course is located in Lado Sarai village in New Delhi42. It is about 5 km away from the Ring Road, which is a major road that encircles Delhi. It is also about 15 km away from Connaught Place, which is the central business district of Delhi. Qutub Golf Course is easily accessible by road, rail, and air. The nearest railway station is Saket Metro Station, which is about 2 km away from Qutub Golf Course. The nearest airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport, which is about 16 km away from Qutub Golf Course.
Qutub Golf Course is also close to many tourist attractions in Delhi, such as the Qutub Minar, which is a 73-meter-high tower built in the 13th century by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, which is a historical site that contains over 100 monuments dating from the 10th to the 19th century, the Garden of Five Senses, which is a park that showcases various themes of nature and culture through sculptures, fountains, plants, and flowers, and the Chhatarpur Temple Complex, which is a Hindu temple complex dedicated to Goddess Katyayani.
Layout of Qutub Golf Course
Qutub Golf Course is an 18-hole par 72 course that spans over 110 acres of land. The course is designed by Phil Ryan, who has created a course that features a variety of holes that test the skills and strategy of golfers of all levels. The course has four sets of tees: black (6,500 yards), blue (6,100 yards), white (5,700 yards), and red (5,100 yards). The course has a mix of narrow and wide fairways, undulating greens, water hazards, bunkers, trees, and slopes. The course also offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape, including the Qutub Minar and the Aravalli Hills.
Signature and Longest Hole of Qutub Golf Course
The signature hole of Qutub Golf Course is the 9th hole. It is a par 4 hole that measures 405 yards from the black tees. It is also the most difficult hole on the course. The hole requires a long and accurate drive to avoid the water hazard on the left and the out-of-bounds on the right. The second shot needs to clear a bunker that guards the front of the green. The green is small and sloping, making it hard to hold the ball. The hole offers a challenging test of golfing skills and nerves.
The longest hole of Qutub Golf Course is the 18th hole. It is a par 5 hole that measures 550 yards from the black tees. It is also the most scenic hole on the course. The hole requires a long and straight drive to avoid the water hazard on the left and the trees on the right. The second shot needs to avoid another water hazard that crosses the fairway. The third shot needs to land on a large and flat green that is surrounded by bunkers and water. The hole offers a spectacular view of the Qutub Minar and a satisfying finish to a round of golf at Qutub Golf Course.
Slope and Difficulty of Qutub Golf Course
The slope rating of Qutub Golf Course is 125 from the black tees. This means that Qutub Golf Course is moderately difficult for a scratch golfer (a golfer with a handicap of zero). The course rating of Qutub Golf Course is 71.2 from the black tees. This means that a scratch golfer can expect to score an average of 71.2 strokes on Qutub Golf Course. The difficulty of Qutub Golf Course varies depending on the weather conditions, the wind direction, and the pin positions. Qutub Golf Course can challenge even the most experienced golfers with its strategic layout and tricky greens.
Interesting Story of Qutub Golf Course
One of the most interesting stories related to Qutub Golf Course is about how it got its name. According to legend, when Sardar Surjit Singh Majithia hit the first ball on the driving range in 1996, he saw a bird flying over his head. He thought that it was a good omen and decided to name the golf course after the bird. He asked his caddie what was the name of the bird in Hindi. The caddie replied that it was called “Qutub”. Sardar Surjit Singh Majithia liked the name and decided to name the golf course “Qutub Golf Course”. However, he later realized that he had made a mistake. The bird that he saw was not called “Qutub”, but “Koel”. The caddie had misheard him and thought that he was asking about the name of the tower that was visible from the golf course. The tower was called “Qutub Minar”, which means “the pole of victory” in Persian. Sardar Surjit Singh Majithia was embarrassed and apologized to his caddie for his blunder. However, he decided to keep the name “Qutub Golf Course”, as he thought that it was more appropriate and catchy than “Koel Golf Course”. He also hoped that Qutub Golf Course would become a symbol of victory for many golfers.
Local Weather and Best Time to Visit Qutub Golf Course
The local weather of Delhi is characterized by four seasons: winter (December to February), summer (March to June), monsoon (July to September), and post-monsoon (October to November). The average temperature of Delhi ranges from 14°C in January to 34°C in May. The average rainfall of Delhi is about 800 mm per year. The best time to visit QutubQutub Golf Course is from October to March, when the weather is pleasant and dry. Qutub Golf Course is open throughout the year, except on Mondays, which are reserved for maintenance .
Clubhouse of Qutub Golf Course
Qutub Golf Course has a clubhouse that offers various facilities and amenities for its members and guests. The clubhouse has a lounge, a dining room, a bar, a card room, a billiards room, a pro shop, a locker room, and a conference hall . The clubhouse also has a restaurant that serves delicious food and beverages. The clubhouse hosts various events and functions throughout the year, such as parties, weddings, meetings, seminars, and workshops . The clubhouse is open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm every day .
Conclusion
Qutub Golf Course is the first public golf course in India that offers a memorable golfing experience for anyone who visits it. Qutub Golf Course has a rich history, a beautiful location, a challenging layout, a signature and longest hole, a moderate slope and difficulty, an interesting story, a pleasant weather and best time to visit and a cozy clubhouse. If you are looking for a place to enjoy golf and have fun with your friends and family in Delhi, you should definitely check out Qutub Golf Course. You will not regret it.
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