Trevor Ng
Golf in India is growing in popularity, particularly among the middle classes. However, it has historically been considered a niche, elite sport, with a perception that it is inaccessible to those outside the upper classes. There are numerous golf courses across India, with a mix of 9-hole and 18-hole facilities, and the country has a rich legacy of golf. The first golf club established outside the UK was the Royal Calcutta Golf Club in 1829. Today, there are efforts to make golf more accessible and to grow the sport in India, including the development of new courses and the emergence of domestic tournaments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of golfers in India | 100,000-200,000 |
| Number of golf courses in India | 230-231 |
| Number of golf clubs in India | 24 |
| Number of tournaments in 2014 | 24 |
| Number of 18-hole golf clubs in India | 39% share |
| Number of 9-hole golf clubs in India | 60% share |
| Number of 27-hole golf clubs in India | 3 |
| Average number of rounds played per annum at 18-hole facilities | 25,000-30,000 |
| Average annual revenue for 9-hole courses | $180,000-$200,000 |
| Average annual revenue for 18-hole courses | $180,000-$200,000 |
| Average annual revenue for larger clubs | up to $800,000 |
| Number of new players joining IGU each year | 600 |
| Number of members at the Delhi Golf Club | 4,800 |
| Number of golf courses that conform to international standards | Fewer than 200 |
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What You'll Learn
Golf in India is an elite old man's sport
Golf in India has traditionally been considered a sport for the elite and the older generation. While the sport has a long history in the country, with the Royal Calcutta Golf Club established in 1829 as the first golf club outside the UK, golf has largely remained a niche hobby. The sport has faced challenges in becoming more accessible to a wider population due to various factors.
One of the main obstacles to golf's growth in India is the issue of accessibility. There are around 230 golf courses in the country, but most of them are private and exclusive. Many of these private clubs have long waiting lists, some even stretching up to 25 years. Additionally, the cost of playing golf can be quite high, with equipment and green fees being expensive for the average middle-class Indian. The sport has often been associated with wealth and exclusivity, earning it the label of an "elite old man's sport".
The lack of accessibility has impacted India's representation in professional golf. The sport has primarily been taken up by individuals from affluent backgrounds or those who have been able to secure sufficient practice time, such as caddies or the sons of club greenskeepers. This limited access to golf courses and the high financial barrier to entry have contributed to the perception of golf as an elite sport.
However, there are signs that this perception is beginning to change. Efforts are being made to increase the popularity of golf among amateur and corporate players. The emergence of domestic tournaments, such as the India Amateur Golf League, has contributed to a rise in participation. Cities like Bengaluru, Pune, and Gurugram are now developing a strong golfing culture. The performances of Indian golfers like Chikkarangappa and Rashid Khan are also helping to broaden the appeal of the sport.
Additionally, the success of Aditi Ashok, a 23-year-old female Indian golfer who came close to winning an Olympic medal in Tokyo, generated significant interest in golf among Indians. This event signaled a shift away from the perception of golf as solely an "elite old man's sport". The increasing involvement of organizations like the Indian Golf Union (IGU), Professional Golfers' Association of India (PGA), and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is also contributing to the growth and development of the sport in India.
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Golf courses in India
Golf has been a niche hobby in India since its arrival in the country nearly two centuries ago. However, in recent years, the sport has seen a surge in popularity among amateur and corporate players, thanks to the availability of high-quality imported equipment and the emergence of domestic tournaments.
There are numerous golf courses spread across India, catering to a total of 2,00,000 golfers (including both amateurs and professionals). The supply of golf courses in India is split between 18-hole (39% share) and 9-hole (60% share) facilities, with three 27-hole clubs. The average number of rounds played per year at 18-hole facilities ranges from 25,000 to 30,000, while the average annual revenue for 9-hole and 18-hole courses ranges from US$180,000 to US$200,000, with some larger clubs reaching up to US$800,000 per year.
Some notable golf courses in India include the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, which was established in 1829 and is older than any club in the world outside the British Isles. The Karnataka Golf Association in Bangalore also boasts a 9-hole layout established on a 124-acre site near the city centre. The Classic Golf Resort in South Asia features the first Jack Nicklaus signature golf course, with its Ridge & Valley nines. The Jaypee Greens, designed by Greg Norman, is another notable course, intended as the centrepiece of a 430-acre residential development.
The Prestige Golfshire, designed by Bob Hunt from PGA Design Consulting in the UK, is a semi-private resort course located near the Nandi Hills, just a 30-minute drive from Kempegowda International Airport. The DLF Golf & Country Club offers a unique golfing experience with its 27 holes, including an 18-hole Gary Player course and a 9-hole Arnold Palmer course with floodlighting for night-time golfing.
The development of golf courses in India faces challenges due to the difficulty in acquiring land cost-effectively and in a timely manner. Despite this, organisations like the Indian Golf Union (IGU), Professional Golfers' Association of India (PGA), and the India Golf Tourism Association are actively working to grow the sport in the country and improve its standard.
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Golf tournaments in India
Golf is growing in popularity in India, and the country has several golf tournaments. The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is a men's professional golf tour based in India, formed in 2006 as the successor to the Indian PGA Golf Tour. The PGTI serves as a feeder tour for higher-level tours such as the Asian Tour, with some players progressing to the European Tour or the PGA Tour. The tour typically includes around 20 events per season, with tournaments held in India and other countries in the region, such as Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
The PGTI became a member of the International Federation of PGA Tours in 2009, and its events have been awarded Official World Golf Ranking points since 2019. Tournaments offer prize money, with totals varying depending on the event. For example, the total prize money for the 2004/05 season was ₹30,500,000 (approximately US$698,260 at the 2004 exchange rate), while a more recent event, the Classic Golf and Country Club tournament, offered a prize of US$ 300,000.
Some notable PGTI tournaments include the Mysuru Open 2025, held at Prestige Golfshire in Bengaluru, and the Clover Greens tournament, featuring McIlroy as a star player. Other golf tournaments in India include the HSBC India Legends Championship, hosted by Jeev Milkha Singh.
In addition to these professional tours and tournaments, India is also home to some of the world's oldest golf clubs. The Royal Calcutta Golf Club, founded in 1829, is regarded as the oldest outside the United Kingdom.
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Golfers in India
Golf has been in India for nearly two centuries, but it has always been a niche hobby, considered an "elite old man's sport". However, in recent years, the popularity of golf among amateur and corporate players in India has seen a notable rise, supported by the availability of high-quality imported equipment and the emergence of domestic tournaments like the India Amateur Golf League.
There are numerous golf courses all over India, with around 196 registered golf courses and 35 additional un-affiliated courses. This includes the Classic Golf Resort, the first Jack Nicklaus signature golf course in South Asia, and Jaypee Greens, Greg Norman's first Indian design. Cities such as Bengaluru, Pune, and Gurugram now have a strong golfing culture.
There are around 200,000 golfers (amateur and professional) in India, and several notable Indian golfers have made their mark on the sport internationally. Eight Indians have played at the Majors, with a combined total of 55 Major appearances: Gaurav Ghei, Jyoti Randhawa, Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal, Shiv Kapur, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Anirban Lahiri, and Shubhankar Sharma.
Anirban Lahiri has had the most Major appearances of any Indian golfer, with 18 so far, including standout performances such as a top-10 finish at the 2015 PGA Championship. Arjun Atwal made history as the first Indian to win on the PGA Tour with his 2010 Wyndham Championship victory. Shubhankar Sharma holds the record for the youngest Indian to play in several Majors, including the 2018 Masters at 21 years and eight months.
In addition to these accomplished golfers, Aditi Ashok, a 23-year-old female Indian golfer, made waves in 2021 when she came close to winning an Olympic medal in Tokyo, signalling a shift in the perception of golf as an exclusive sport in India.
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Golf's popularity in India
Golf has been present in India for almost two centuries, with the first golf club outside the UK, the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, established in 1829. However, it has traditionally been considered a niche and elite sport, accessible only to the wealthy. The sport has faced challenges in becoming more popular due to the high cost of equipment and course fees, as well as the limited number of courses and the difficulty of acquiring land to build new ones.
In recent years, there has been a notable rise in the popularity of golf among amateur and corporate players in India. This can be attributed to the increasing accessibility of high-quality imported equipment and the emergence of domestic tournaments like the India Amateur Golf League. Cities such as Bengaluru, Pune, and Gurugram are now developing a strong golfing culture. The performances of Indian golfers like Chikkarangappa and Aditi Ashok, the first Indian woman to compete for an Olympic medal in golf, have also inspired more people to take up the sport.
Despite these positive developments, golf in India still faces challenges in shedding its elitist image and becoming more accessible to a wider range of people. Most golf clubs in India are private, with long waiting lists that can be up to 25 years. While there are some public courses, they are often on exclusive public land reserved for government officials, and the walk-in green fees can be restrictive for non-members.
Various initiatives and schemes have been introduced to address these issues and grow the sport in India. The Indian Golf Union (IGU), established in 1955, has been making efforts to improve the standard of the game in the country. The commencement of the Indian Pitch and Putt Union, a governing body for Pitch and Putt Golf in India, has also received support from the World Golf Foundation. Additionally, the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) of India focuses on educating and training its members to develop the various aspects of the game.
The future of golf in India holds potential, particularly with the growing middle class, estimated at around 300 million people. However, to fully realize this potential, efforts are needed to increase accessibility, address the cost barriers, and promote sustainable participation in the sport.
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Frequently asked questions
Golf has traditionally been seen as an "elite old man's sport" in India, with a stigma of being a game for the wealthy. However, in recent years, the popularity of golf among amateur and corporate players in India has seen a notable rise. Cities such as Bengaluru, Pune, and Gurugram now have a strong golfing culture.
One of the major challenges is the inability to acquire land in a cost- and time-efficient manner. Most golf clubs are private, and there are long waiting lists to gain admission. The cost of playing golf is also quite high, with greens fees ranging from 250 rupees per round at public courses to 5,000 rupees per round at exclusive private clubs.
The Indian Golf Union (IGU) is making efforts to improve the standard of the game in the country. Additionally, the commencement of the Indian Pitch and Putt Union, a governing body for Pitch and Putt Golf in India, has received support from the World Golf Foundation. Real estate developers are also increasingly making golf the centerpiece of residential complexes.
