Chandigarh, the capital of Punjab and Haryana, is a city that has a rich history and a vibrant culture. It is a city that was planned by the famous French architect Le Corbusier, and is internationally known for its architecture and urban design. It is also a city that has a passion for golf, with two of the finest golf courses in the region.
Chandigarh is located at the foothills of the Shivalik range, and enjoys a pleasant climate throughout the year. The city is divided into sectors, each with its own layout, facilities, and green spaces. The city is also adorned with many monuments, museums, and gardens that showcase its heritage and art. The city is also home to many educational institutions, industries, and entertainment venues that make it a dynamic and modern metropolis.
Chandigarh is not just about history and culture. It is also about golf. Chandigarh has two of the finest golf courses in the region: The Chandigarh Golf Club and The Forest Hill Golf & Country Club. Both are located within the city limits and offer an enjoyable golfing experience. They are designed by renowned golf course architects and feature lush green fairways, challenging bunkers, and scenic water features. They also have clubhouses that offer various facilities and amenities for their players.
The Chandigarh Golf Club
The Chandigarh Golf Club is the oldest and most prestigious golf club in India. It was established in 1962, as part of the master plan envisaged by Le Corbusier. The club is located near the Sukhna Lake, a man-made lake that is a popular spot for boating, jogging, and picnicking.
The Chandigarh Golf Club is an 18-hole par-72 course that measures 7,202 yards from the championship tees. The course is designed by Peter Thomson, a famous golf course architect from Australia. The course is known for its narrow fairways, thick roughs, and challenging greens. The signature hole is the par-4 7th, which requires a tee shot over a water hazard to a dogleg right fairway. The green is surrounded by bunkers and trees, making it a difficult approach shot.
The Chandigarh Golf Club also has a clubhouse that offers various facilities and amenities for its members and guests. These include a pro shop, a driving range, a caddy service, a locker room, a swimming pool, a gymnasium, a spa, a library, a bar, and a restaurant. The club also organizes various social and cultural events throughout the year.
The Panchakula Golf Club
If you are looking for a golfing destination that offers a blend of natural beauty, challenging layout, and affordable rates, then you might want to check out the Panchakula golf course in Chandigarh. This 18-hole course, set up in 2003, is a public sports facility run by the Haryana Government and affiliated to the Indian Golf Union (IGU). It is located in Sector 3 of Panchkula, a satellite city of Chandigarh, and is easily accessible from the Panchkula-Kalka-Zirakpur highway.
The Panchakula golf course has a distinctly Scottish touch to it, with its undulating fairways and wind gusting in from the Ghaghar river valley. The course is flanked by the Shivalik hills and the Ghaghar river, offering scenic views and a tricky test of golfing skills. The course plays to a par of 72 and measures 6,900 yards from the championship tees. The greens are large and fast, with Tiff dwarf grass and undulations that add to the challenge. The fairways are carpeted with Bermuda grass and dotted with trees and roughs that can punish errant shots.
The course has a balanced mix of par 3s, par 4s, and par 5s, each with its own character and difficulty. The par 3s are especially challenging, as some of them are among the longest in the region. The par 4s are not very long, but the wind factor can make them play longer or shorter than their yardage. The par 5s are generous in width, but have hilly knobs that can affect the ball flight and landing. The course also has some water hazards and bunkers that add to the strategic element.
The Panchakula golf course has a modern club house that offers integrated facilities such as a health club, gymnasium, well-stocked bar, relaxing lounge, multi-cuisine restaurant, party hall, and terrace with a spectacular view of the river and hills. The club also has a driving range and a pro shop that provide golf coaching and equipment rental. The club has 1,440 members from all walks of life and hosts regular tournaments and events for its members and guests
