With five world-class golf ranges already functional and three more to come up in and around the tricity, the sport has carved out a niche for itself in this cricket-dominated region. At present, golf enthusiasts can putt at Chandigarh Golf Club, Panchkula Golf Club, Chandigarh Golf Range in Kishangarh, a golf course at Chandimandir and one at Forest Hill.

Slated to come up soon is a lavish golf course at Sector 109 in Mohali to be built by Emarr MGF Limited. The other two courses will come up at SAS Nagar. Golfers will tee off at a 312-acre golf course in the sprawling Patiala ki Rao area on the Kharar-Banur road. The course will be spread across Sectors 91, 92 and 93 of SAS Nagar.

The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) also plans to set up a golf academy by December in Phase XI, near the Commando Apartments in SAS Nagar.

GMADA’s Chief Administrator Vivek Partap Singh said: “Our aim in setting up the academy is to uplift the social infrastructure and provide golfing facilities to the citizens. In fact, we are also considering a golf range in Sector 48, Mohali, which will have a club, restaurant and swimming pool.”

The Panchkula Golf Club greens situated in the foothills of the Shivalik Hills are also being be spruced up by adding facilities like a gymnasium, health club, swimming pool, restaurant and automatic irrigation machines. Plans are also afoot to construct golf villas to attract foreign visitors.

General Manager of the Panchkula Golf Club, Brig I P Punia said: “Golf is now a favourite sport among all age groups. And realising this fact, we want to offer the best facilities to our patrons. The Indian Golf Union has promised to allot us a national junior and senior tournament each this year.”

Chandigarh Golfing Tour

After the success of the first and second Chandigarh Golfing Tours last year, the third edition — be organised from April 11 to 13 — promises to be even bigger and better. This time, a large contingent of NRIs and foreigners is expected as augured by the last tour in which as many as 80 NRIs from 12 countries had participated.