Wikipedia

Kodaikanal Golf Club

Kodaikanal Golf Club is a private membership club with an 18-hole, par 71 Golf course. It is located about 6 kilometres (4 mi) southwest from the center of Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu, South India at an elevation of 2,220 metres (7,280 ft). [1] The club is on Golf links Road near the popular view point 'Suicide Point' (Green Valley View) and 3 kilometres (2 mi) before the 'Pillar Rocks' viewpoint and flower garden.

Kodaikanal Golf Club
Club logo
Club information
LocationKodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, South India
10°12′49″N 77°28′15″E / 10.21361°N 77.47083°E / 10.21361; 77.47083
Established17 June 1895
Owned byKodaikanal Golf Club
Operated byKodaikanal Golf Club
Total holes18
Events hostedPalani Hill Open, Veday Cup, Rudrappan Memorial Cup, Contessa Open,TAKE Solutions World Corporate Golf Challenge and A.V. Thomas Tournament
WebsiteKodaikanal Golf Club
Par71
Length6,426 yards (5,876 m)
Course rating72

This club is notable for its age and the wildlife frequently seen on the course. The club logo is two crossed golf clubs behind an indian tiger on a round yellow field, framed with "Kodaikanal Golf Club * Play the Game" imprinted in white on a dark green border.[2]

History

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The club was established on 17 June 1895[3] by twelve British golfers. They were also the architects of the course. In the early years, members were British and American civil servants and missionaries. During the fifties it became a club tradition for the annual Captaincy to rotate between an Indian, an American and a Commonwealth citizen. This tradition continued until the late 70's, when the local expatriate population diminished.[1] Originally there were only 9 holes and the putting surfaces were browns. In the early fifties the course was extended to 18 holes. In 1986 the putting surfaces were relaid with greens.[4] The clubhouse, named the Centenary Building, was renovated in 1995.[5]

Facilities

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Groomed green at KGC

The Kodaikanal Golf club is a private membership club with over 600 members.[1] The club has a range of facilities available for the recreation, entertainment and comfort of its guests. The main facility is the 18 hole golf course described below. There is a practice net for driving practice and a designated putting practice area.

Inside the clubhouse, for group activities there is a 12-seat conference room, a card games room, a billiards Room, a members lounge with fireplace, a BYOB bar and a dining hall. For members visiting from a distance, there is lodging available, including 2 super deluxe rooms, 2 deluxe rooms and 2 standard rooms.[5][6]

Golf Course

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Non-members are allowed to play the full 18 holes by becoming temporary members or by paying the required green fees. Non-members must have a handicap or take lessons before they play here.[4] The course is closed 15 April to 15 June.[3]

This 18 hole, par 71 course covers about 150 acres (61 ha). Total length of the course is 6,426 yards (5,876 m) Some holes have interesting alternative names, depending on the challenges they offer to golfers. The 4th hole is also called the Devil's Dip, as the fairway from the tee-box to the green is a solid dip, which runs on as far as the eye can see. The 6th hole is named Tiger Hole because Tigers used to be sighted near it. The 12th hole is called the Cardiac Hole, due to the strenuousness of the walk. A "hard hitters" course, the 13th Twister green is not visible from the tee box. The 15th hole (New Long'un) which has the longest yardage of 587 yards (537 m), needs two long shots to sight the green.[2]

 
Saddle-10th hole, 304/244 yards,
par 4, ST Index 8
 
Sentinel, 12th hole, 256/226 Yards,
Par 4, ST Index 12
Hole Name Gents Ladies Par
yards metres yards metres
1 Old Long'un 350 320 292 267 4
2 Plateau 218 199 203 186 3
3 Hoping 231 211 184 168 3
4 Devil's Pit 383 350 333 304 4
5 Pulpit 322 294 260 240 4
6 Tiger 441 403 372 340 4
7 Hill Side 489 447 462 422 5
8 Punch Bowl 167 153 161 147 3
9 Pimples 496 454 458 419 5
10 Saddle 304 278 244 223 4
11 Overhill 162 148 145 133 3
12 Sentinel 256 234 226 207 4
13 Twister 344 315 302 276 4
14 Majestic 175 160 171 156 3
15 New Long'un 561 513 516 472 5
16 Roadside 524 479 388 355 5
17 Sure Shot 160 150 143 131 3
18 Home 526 481 437 400 5
[7] Total: 6,109 5,586 5,297 4,844 71

It takes about 3 hours to play the entire course.[2]

Tournaments

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In 2008 fifty-six tournaments were conducted daily between mid-April and early June.[8] Palani Hill Open, Veday Cup, Rudrappan Memorial Cup, Contessa Open and A V Thomas Tournament (introduced recently), are some of the major tournaments.[2] The 2008 Addicts Golfing Society of Southern India 3 day Kodaikanal meet had 108 entries and 5 competitions.[9] The first regional round of the 'TAKE Solutions World Corporate Golf Challenge' was played in Kodaikanal on 29 December 2010.[10]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Play The Game, Kodaikanal Golf Club, Beginning[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ a b c d India Golf Courses, IndiaTravelNet, Kodaikanal Golf Course
  3. ^ a b Golf Today Course Guide, Kodaikanal Golf Club, 2008
  4. ^ a b Kodaikanal.org, Places of special interest in Kodaikanal, Kodaikanal Golf Club
  5. ^ a b mohanakanna, The Kodaikanal Golf Club, UTube, p. 1:41/3:46, retrieved 27 February 2011
  6. ^ Play The Game, Kodaikanal Golf Club, Facilities Archived 13 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Play The Game, Kodaikanal Golf Club, The Course Archived 10 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Play The Game, Kodaikanal Golf Club, Tournament Calendar-2008[permanent dead link‍] (large file)
  9. ^ "Kodaikanal Meet". Addicts Golfing Society of Southern India. Archived from the original on 22 May 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  10. ^ Take Solutions World Corporate Golf Challenge' to tee off at Kodaikanal, The Indian Express Limited, 22 December 2010, retrieved 27 February 2010
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