'Delhi Golf Club: Where old-world charm mesmerises modern-day golfers'

Marked by a dense treeline on either side of the fairway for the entire 18 holes, the Delhi Golf Club haunts the amateur golfers for its difficulty rate. And that's no exaggeration when you hear some of the top players’ opinion about this unique 90-year-old course where the inaugural DP World India Championship was held. 

“No. The next time I hit a driver will be in Abu Dhabi,” world No. 2 Rory McIlroy had quipped on the eve of the tournament last Wednesday when asked if he would use the longest club in the bag, his biggest weapon, at the DGC this week.  

“The dog (driver) is out of the bag and is having a sleep in the locker,” added the reigning Masters champion, who teed off without a driver at an event for the first time since turning professional in 2007.

For McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Ben Griffin or the other long hitters, most of the par-4s and par-5s are short on the par-72 course. But the corridors of the green turf that are covered in forest force even the best to be not adventurous to cut down the distance. Because a ball even an inch inside the boundaries of the jungle will have golfers doing acrobatics to get it back into play.

The rough area along the fairway and the putting greens have their own distinct characteristics. While the former has grass growing thin and long making the ball sit deep, the undulations and grain on the green have motion and speed fluctuating at will. 

“Generally, there isn’t a lot of air movement in Delhi, and the trees create a microclimate by blocking air and sunlight,” explained Ben Mclean, a New Zealand-born greenkeeper who worked at the DGC between 2020 and 2022.

“That’s why you see a lot of leafy top growth rather than strong root development as the sunlight is poor. It leads to a grainy surface, and when you combine that with the tight fairways, it’s quite unlike the courses usually seen on tour. But what a great challenge to have,” said Mclean who is now based in Bengaluru as course superintendent at Prestige Golfshire. 

Brutal? Sure, but that’s what makes DGC unique and interesting and has caught the attention of golf lovers around the world. The scenic course with ancient tombs in the backdrop and the peacocks dancing around are a throwback to the old-world charm which leaves the modern-day golfers mesmarised.  

At a time when contemporary golf has become all about bombing drivers on treeless fairways and fancy wedge play before nailing putts on true greens, DGC rewards toned down vintage golf with old-school values. From accurately angled long iron/ rescue/ wood shots off the tee to flop shots as stock shot and relying on instinct more than data on the greens, the layout is all about reciprocating respect and displaying patience. 

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? For a greenkeeper or a golfer, the course makes you think every single second. There are very few courses in the world with such a thin margin for error. No wonder the top golfers and the golfing world are going gaga about DGC. It’s a well-deserved appreciation,” admired Mclean of his former workstation.