Heavy iron gates give way to a long drive up to the course, which opens on to a golfer’s dream — carpeted greens and lush thick endless fairways. The soft silence, green surroundings and the occasional sound of falling water at the DLF Golf and Country Club is far cry from the country’s old courses where cacophony of the traffic disturbs a players’ concentration.The course is well looked after all year round, but a little extra preparation goes into preparing the course for special matches and competitions like the Express Power Golf tournament, which will be played here on Saturday. “The fairways look a lot tighter during competitions and the presence of water on the course generates extra excitement,” says Col Kapil Kaul, the club’s General Manager. Head professional Karan Bindra adds: “The course has been playing well all winter and is in very good shape at the moment.”Officially inaugurated on August 14, 1999, the Arnold Palmer-designed course has unofficially been in use since July 1999. At present, it is the only course that offers night golf — twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The academy also offers a two-story driving range, an analyser and numerous training gadgets for beginners and advanced golfers. Considered amongst the best golf courses in the country at the moment, the greens at the par-72 course are immaculate and match the speed maintained for international professional golf competitions. They are not too big, making accuracy an important aspect of the game and large water bodies around the course make errant shots unforgivable.The par-four fifth hole, flanked by an out-of-bounds wall on the left demands accuracy as well as length off the tee. Another thinking hole, the par-five, 528-yard 14th hole is adventurous for big-hitters who attempt to carry a drain and hit the green in two.Meanwhile, the par-four 17th hole requires one to keep the head down as water on either side of the fairway penalise inaccurate drives and second shots. As one approaches the clubhouse, one encounters the par-five 18th hole. The fairway surrounded by water, which runs alongside the length of the fairway on the right, opens onto a green, which is guarded by water in front.
