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Chandigarh Golf Club · Estd. 1966
Our Heritage
Six Decades of Story
to a nationally celebrated golf destination — the journey of
Chandigarh Golf Club through the decades.
1959
1959
1952 – 1959
A Prime Minister's Vision
As golf lore goes, Pandit Nehru – the first Prime Minister of Free India – was planning a visit to the newly planned city of Chandigarh in the late 1950s. He was politely asked to postpone, as the Chief Commissioner had travelled to Delhi on a golfing holiday.
1962
The Beginning of the Club
The Chandigarh Golf Club came into existence in 1962. Chief Minister S. Pratap Singh Kairon’s Punjab Government allotted the land. Luminaries like Mr. HS Brar, Anthony Leocadia Fletcher, Mr. Bhawan Singh Rosha and Mr. PN Thapar (ICS) pooled extraordinary effort to make it happen.
TK Sehgal became the first Honorary Secretary, serving from 1962 to 1977. He housed the club’s office in his own factory – ‘Meters and Instruments’ – hosted all meetings, and bore expenses from his own pocket.
Founding members – BS Grewal, AN Grover, Dr. PN Chuttani, Dr. SS Anand, Gp Capt Jaspal Singh, Brig Naresh Parshad, KS Narang and Kanwar Moti Singh – gathered under the open sky. With no clubhouse, they cooled off under a tree, self-sufficient for tea and refreshments.
The Club’s first Governing Body was headed by Mr. P.N. Thapar, ICS, Chief Secretary, Punjab, as President, with Mr. J.S. Sethi as Captain. Mr. T.K. Sehgal became the Club’s first Honorary Secretary and served from 1962 to 1977.
The original front nine holes were laid out by Mr. H.S. Malik, a pioneer of Indian golf, and Mr. Goswami, Course Manager of Delhi Golf Club. The initial layout comprised nine tees and eight greens, with a combination of Par-3, Par-4 and Par-5 holes. Additional holes were subsequently added with the support of the then Governor, Mr. R. Dharamvira, allowing members to play a longer round and laying the foundation for the Club’s eventual 18-hole course.
1962
1962
1962-66
1962-66
Early 1960s
The Early Course & Club Life
The first nine holes were laid out by Mr. H.S. Malik, a pioneer of Indian golf, and Mr. Goswami, Course Manager of Delhi Golf Club. The original layout was located on the side of the road where the Club stands today and consisted of nine tees and eight greens, with the first green also serving as the third.
The original nine comprised six Par-4s, one Par-5 and two Par-3s, making it a Par-35 layout. An additional green was subsequently created for the first hole, a Par-5 played over the shed, taking the front nine to Par 36. Later, three more holes were added with the support of the then Governor, Mr. R. Dharamvira, allowing members to play 12 holes or repeat certain holes to complete an 18-hole round.
In the early years, the U.T. Horticulture Department was responsible for maintaining the course. While the Club took care of the tees and greens, the fairways continued to remain under the Horticulture Department.
Membership was small and the subscription was just ₹20. Before the Club building and kitchen came into existence, members were largely self-contained for tea and refreshments and, in the absence of a clubhouse or gazebos, would often relax under the shade of trees.
1966
The Club is Born
The Chandigarh Golf Club was formally registered as a Society on 25th August 1966 marking the beginning of a remarkable journey in Indian golf.
Over the decades, the Club has evolved into one of the region’s premier golfing institutions, nurturing generations of golfers and fostering a strong tradition of sporting excellence.
1966
1966
1969
1969
1969
A Home Rises
The club building came into being in 1969 on the initiative of Mr. Dharamvira, Governor of Haryana. This milestone transformed the club’s identity – membership began swelling almost immediately after the clubhouse opened its doors.
What was once a gathering under a tree now had walls, a kitchen, and a 19th hole. The club had arrived.
1977
A New Chapter in Club Management
After serving as Honorary Secretary for 15 years, Mr. T.K. Sehgal’s tenure came to an end in 1977. In February 1977, Subedar Kartar Singh joined the Club and, assisted by Pandit Gopal Dutt, took over the office and administrative responsibilities.
Pandit Gopal Dutt went on to become the oldest serving employee of the Club, marking an important chapter in the Club’s long-standing association with its dedicated staff.
1977
1977
1977-78
1977-78
1977-78
18 Holes & Peter Thompson
By 1977–78, growing membership demanded a full 18-hole course. S. Kulbir Singh, Chief Engineer UT, facilitated land acquisition across the road. Mr. Simran Singh then reached out to Peter Thompson, Five-time British Open Champion, to design the new layout.
With the plan in hand, Mr. Simran Singh, assisted by Maj. B.S. Malhotra, Honorary Secretary, began the development work. The new course stretched across what was once a rocky riverbed of pebbles and stones. Then Maj Gen PN Hoon, stationed at Chandimandir, lent Army machinery and manpower to transform the terrain into sprawling. The greens that were once teased as ‘Browns’ were becoming a genuine showpiece.
1980 Onwards
Nurturing Champions
The Club’s junior golfers were beginning to make their presence felt nationally. Kanwalinder Singh and Ajai Johl started representing Chandigarh in junior tournaments across the country.
In 1980, Kanwalinder Singh became the first golfer from the region to participate in the World Juniors in San Diego, establishing an important precedent for future generations of Chandigarh golfers and marking the Club’s growing presence on the international junior golf scene.
At one extraordinary point in history, the entire Indian national golf team was drawn exclusively from the Chandigarh Golf Club.
1980
1980
1983
1983
1983
Sri Lanka Open Triumph
In 1983, Kanwalinder Singh won the Sri Lanka Open Golf Championship, five years after his father had won the same event. His achievement further strengthened Chandigarh Golf Club’s growing reputation for producing high-quality competitive golfers.
1985
A Course Completed
Col AP Singh took charge in 1982 after Mr. Simran Singh moved to Coimbatore, providing the final shape under the presidentship of Mr. RS Mann. The layout underwent several thoughtful revisions before settling into the masterpiece it is today.
Col AP Singh and Mr. RS Mann completed the 18-hole vision that had been years in the making. As per Peter Thompson’s original plan, the third green was initially laid where the CGA now stands – the road between didn’t even exist yet.
The course that began as nine improvised holes had evolved into a world-class layout, drawing players from across northern India and earning CGC a permanent place on the national golf map.
1985
1985
The Vision