The DLF Golf & Country Club in India will be the setting for a historical occasion when the International Series India kicks off on January 30. The Tournament will be the first of 10 high-profile events on the 2025 Asian Tour Calendar and will feature reigning US Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau.
DeChambeau, who will tee it up alongside his Crushers GC Teammate and Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri, will be the first reigning major champion to compete on the Indian Subcontinent, having won the 2024 US Open. The tournament that takes place in Gurugram will be a $2 million prize money enterprise. Let’s take a deep look at the course DeChambeau will be teeing off in and how it stands out
The new and improved DLF Golf & Country Club
The initial design of the course was made by none other than the famed Arnold Palmer. No expense was spared in constructing the course in 1999 with top-notch irrigation and drainage systems in place. 195 floodlight pylons allowed the course to be illuminated at night as well.
With the addition of newly available land, another legend, Gary Player was commissioned by DLF to build a brand new course. The 9-time Major winner refashioned 9 holes from the initial design and added nine new holes in the new land to create a delicious and enviable course. The facility now boasts 27 holes, the 18-hole Gary Player area and the 9-hole Arnold Palmer course.
The Gary Player course, where the tournament is conducted is unique in its own standing. The elevation changes provide a significant hurdle for the players and their ability to judge distance. The holes are designed in such a way that strategy and approach hold a lot more importance than brute force.
Aakash Ohri, the executive director of DLF Homes & Chairman of DLF Golf Resorts, had a few more insights to give about the course. “Greens are large and undulating, giving players a lot to think about while putting.” He said.
He also went on to explain another unique feature the course had, the bunker. “Their [the bunkers] geo-rivetted faces are not only aesthetically pleasing but also serve a purpose. The bunkers can be made deeper with this design.”
The course is not your standard cup of tea. A different and thoughtful approach could be the difference in Gurugram.
The short game will be more important for Bryson DeChambeau
“Short game will play an important part in good scoring. Players getting their strategies will play a bigger part,” Aakash Ohri added. This would be something DeChambeau will be looking to pay attention to, as he is in unfamiliar territory.
Jun 11, 2024; Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA; Bryson DeChambeau speaks to the media during a press conference at the U.S. Open golf tournament at Pinehurst No. 2. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
The setup is very refreshing and has the ability to throw in a few surprises. The layout has two large lakes and a very interesting ‘Island Green’ which is set on a three-par hole. The course also has the bold rock formations of a former quarry which add to the aesthetic appeal of the course.
Gurugram’s golf course is the pride of the country. Envisioned as part of the ‘Make In India’ campaign put forth by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the course is the best Indian golf has to offer. “The course is a scenic parkland design with dramatic landscape enhanced by ambient lighting. The course has many firsts in the country. It has the first ever ‘Island Green’ in the country. Also, for the very first time, ‘Sub Air Systems’ have been used in India. Sub Air aeration and moisture removal system promotes healthier and stronger playing surfaces through moisture content management, subsurface aeration, and root zone temperature control.” Aakash Ohri added.
The International Series India tournament will be a great exhibition of how much golf has grown in India and its level of comparability to international standards. For Indian fans, it will be a chance to see one of the best golfers in the world in action. Bryson DeChambeau will have his task cut out in a challenging new course to impress his Indian fans. Do you think he will emerge triumphant at the DLF Golf & Country Club?
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