Hyderabad city gets new golf course

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Golf Club on Saturday became a fully-fledged facility when a world class 18-hole course was inaugurated here in Hyderabad. The course, situated in the shadow of the historic Golconda Fort, is spread over 140 acres.

Telangana Minister for Information Technology & Panchayat Raj K. Taraka Rama Rao, who inaugurated the par-71 course, was all praise for the Hyderabad Golf Association. “I must congratulate the Hyderabad Golf Association on doing a fabulous job on the course,” KTR said.

“In spite of several hurdles, this feat was accomplished” said KTR, referring to the several roadblocks the expansion of the course which was a nine-hole affair till recently had run into.

“I’ve travelled to more than 20 countries and I have visited golf courses there and I can say for sure that I haven’t seen a better golf course” KTR also called on sports aficionados in the city to popularise the sport.

“Despite the ease of access, golf is still considered an elitist sport and it comes down to us to change its image.”

Saturday marked the culmination of almost a decade-and-a-half of hard work by the members of the HGA. The Association was founded in 2001 with an aim to develop the sport in the city.

Calling the course India’s only ‘Heritage Golf Course’, Hyderabad Golf Association president J. Vikramdev Rao said: “It was our vision to set up an international standard golf course which would not only promote the game, of golf but also give a major impetus to Hyderabad on the International tourism map. Now backed with this state-of-the-art Golf course we will be aiming to bring some international golf tournaments to Hyderabad.”