Project Description
Project Overview
Hyderabad Golf Club is one of the world’s most unique courses, with golf holes built within a protected monument, the Golconda Fort. The original construction of the course in 2001 came about as a result of the Telangana Tourism Development Corporation’s objective to create a sustainable recreation and tourism facility for the State of Telangana on the Indian Peninsula. Portions of the course play along the forts granite walls that were built between 1512 and 1687, an era when Bahamani rulers took possession of Golconda Hill and created the fort to protect its citizens. Over the years the fort’s walls and structures have been restored with the golf course carefully conforming to the Archaeological Survey of India, who is responsible for preserving the fort and its heritage.
In 2022, the firm was selected out of a field of golf course architects to oversee transformation of the club’s course. Originally conceived as a “limited course” with just a few golf holes, Hyderabad had evolved over the years, gradually growing to 9-holes in 2002, then 12-holes and finally, an 18-hole layout. However, that gradual evolution brought with it many awkward routing aspects, among them crossing holes, tight setbacks and long distances between greens and tees.
The club’s goal was to correct these routing anomalies, and to bring international awareness to the Telangana Region through professional golf tournaments hosted by the club. Other goals included building a new, modern clubhouse and a state-of-the-art golf range and academy facility. Our planning work began with these goals and resulted in a unanimously accepted Master Plan document that will guide improvements through 2024.
Using the premise to “Preserve, improve and prepare,” our work added more than 400 yards to a specially configured “Tournament Course Layout” that now exceeds 7,000 yards. A “Member’s Course” layout, to be used throughout the majority of the year, can play from 6,500 yards down to 4,500 yards. Golf features now interact more with the historic fort and have been expanded into newly acquired land the club was given access to by local archeological authorities. Part of this approval process involved a commitment by the club to protect the fort walls and structures, and in some areas, restoration of old walls and fort features.
Quick Facts
Scope: Member Engagement, Assessment, Master Planning, Entitlements, Construction Documents, Construction Observation, Club Branding
Course: 18-holes/Par-72/7,000-yards
Budget: $10.5 million USD
Address: Seven Tombs Road, Golconda, Hyderabad, 500008, Telangana, India.
Articles
India’s “Undiscovered” Hyderabad Golf Club Selects Golf Group Ltd. for Major Renovation