History of golf in India
India was the first country outside Great Britain to take up the game of golf. The Royal Calcutta Golf Club, established in 1829, is the oldest golf club in India and the first outside Great Britain. By the end of the 19th century, India had a dozen golf clubs. Golf is as much a part of the British legacy as parliamentary institutions, electric trams or the game of cricket. Because of British rule, the nineteenth century saw the rapid growth of new golf clubs across India. The founding of the Royal Calcutta Golf Club in 1829 was followed by that of the now-defunct Royal Bombay Golf Club in 1842 and the Bangalore Golf Club in 1876. Golf had already been played in India for twenty-seven years before the first major course was opened in Europe and fifty-five years before the first course was opened in the United States.

Today there are nearly 200 golf courses, many backed with clubhouse facilities, pro-shops and other amenities. From the Himalayas to the crowded cities, from lakes to forests and tea estates, there is a different flavor to each of India’s golf courses. The visiting golfer can look forward to much more besides a challenging test of his skill. Most Indian courses combine a sense of history, scenic surroundings and a variety of other leisure activities with great game possibilities.