The Royal Calcutta Golf Club and its beautiful parkland golf course are synonymous with the game of golf in India. Founded in 1829, the Royal is also the oldest golf club outside the British Isles. Originally located near what is now Calcutta airport, the club moved to the Maidan and finally to its present location at Tollygunge in 1910.

Formerly a 36-hole course the Royal Calcutta was redesigned in 1972 by Peter Thomson and Commander John Harris as an 18-hole layout. A substantial effort has also been put in over the last decade to enhance the 7,237-yard layout on both the design and beautification fronts, and now the Royal is considered to be one of the finest golf courses in Asia.

The area over which the Royal Calcutta's par 72 courses is laid was originally paddy fields and is consequently very undulating. Successive committees built mounds and planted thousands of trees and shrubs to enhance the beauty of the property. The greens are quite large by modern standards and their undulations make them tricky, however, Royal's conspicuous features are its strategically located water tanks and natural water hazards.

Golfers at the Royal will find ample practice facilities including a driving range, chipping green, and putting green. There is also a Pro Shop with caddies available for hire. The clubhouse offers multiple bars and dining options, function rooms, and a host of other amenities such as a tennis court, swimming pool, gymnasium, and a lawn bowling green.

Image(s) published courtesy of Noise Break.com, Golf Advisor.com, and Golf Design India.com