At the redesigned Visakhapatnam’s East Point Golf Club, golfers across India are hitting the fairway in true style

Gazing across the valley to East Point Golf Club (EPGC), a lush landscape of fairways and endless greens, mischievous sand traps and brilliant blue ponds greet the eye. Amid this, the approving claps of a gallery of viewers take to the rugged peaks of the surrounding Eastern Ghats. Ever since the track was redesigned into a Category A championship course about a year ago, the EPGC has been buzzing with energy.

After a pandemic-induced lull for nearly two years, which has hampered both sport and travel to the destination, the EPGC is giving golfers the chance to hit the fairway in true style. With a few bodies of water, palm trees and bunkers, all maintained in top condition, the 18-hole course attracts golf enthusiasts from afar. Also non-members can rent golf equipment here. Since September last year, the EPGC has hosted three national-level tournaments and is gearing up for two more in the summer. It recently closed the Captain’s Cup tournament and hosted a brilliant Captain’s Night to celebrate the winners of the year’s tournaments.

Member-friendly course

Designed by Bengaluru-based golf consultant Nandan Heblikar, the course was completed in a record 18 months during the pandemic. Nandan says, “For many decades, the EPGC was all brown; With an increase in the number of golfers over the years, the course was converted to green. When I came here, I was instructed to turn it into a member-friendly course. It was a great team effort with the construction done in-house by the EPGC and some great positive contributions from the members of the club.” Nandan describes the features of the newly designed course, adding: “It has Bermuda fairways and 75 bunkers dotted with bodies of water on the long holes. It is a very interesting course.”

The club was founded in 1884, mainly for the entertainment of the British. Originally a nine-hole golf course was in the area overlooking the sea to one side where the VUDA Park and Park now stand. However, the golf courses were closed during the First and Second World Wars when British citizens were drafted into the army. It moved to its present location in Mudasarlova in 1964 with the efforts of Raja PV Gajapathi Raju of Vizianagaram and other passionate golfers of the time. Today the club has 1,400 members, 300 of whom are active golfers.

A social space

The renewed course is defined by the latest trends in modern architecture, complemented by natural beauty and an endless space and width. The course’s woodland setting is matched by superb vegetation management by EPGC’s Greens Committee. This club also serves as a social space and members enjoy many other services in addition to their camaraderie and conviviality.

“The whole atmosphere of the club is warm and inviting. The most amazing part is experiencing the natural splendor of the location while playing a round of golf. It’s a magical experience to whiz through the dew on the grass on a winter morning while watching the sunrise over the misty hills,” said Manisha Bhattacharya, an avid golfer. Manisha plays on the court four times a week. Almost every golfer has to bridge the gap between the shots he or she can make and the shots they actually hit. “You can have a great day from your first shot or a terrible one. Sometimes we are too fast or too distracted. Golf gave me lessons on mindfulness. If your mind is calm and peaceful right now, you are doing well. Golf is addictive in that sense; you strive to do better,” says Manisha, who is in love with the EPGC’s renewed course.

enthusiastic students

“The course upgrade is definitely a turning point for the EPGC. Now we see a growing number of people eager to learn the game. We have structured coaching programs with two coaches. One of the highlights of the newly designed course is a new driving range for the training academy,” said Prashant Sagi, secretary of the EPGC.

The maintenance and maintenance of the track is done by the Green Commission. “We have 75 people working on the trail to maintain it. It is unique for its palm trees and perennial water bodies. Apart from adding aesthetic value and natural elegance, the trees increase the difficulty of the course,” said MSN Raju, chairman of the Green Commission. Raju is an avid golfer and spends three hours on the course during the week and five hours on weekends. “It serves a dual purpose: passion and fitness. Golf is a game of concentration. You have to be calm and patient to perfect it,” said Raju, winner in the ‘senior’ category of the Captain’s Cup tournament. What makes him play golf day in and day out at age 66? “Once you get into this sport, you can’t stay away from the course,” says Raju. “And the best part is that this sport keeps you mentally and physically fit. You’re always alert,” he adds.