 Karachi
Golf Club started as an affiliate of Sindh Club in 1888
and was registered as independent Club in 1891 on Pattern
of Bombay Golf Club. The first Club house resembled a
wooden shack was located where the Plaza hotel stands
today on E. I. Lines and a lane in vicinity bears the
name of Golf Road. During the post partition period there
were large number of refugees who were camped in the Golf
Course grounds on men’s links near Cantonment, Railway
Station; then there was a compulsion from the Government
to make a School, a wireless station and Jinnah hospital
in the area so this was a caution signal for the club
to plan ahead and move the Course elsewhere. As a consequence
the Golf Course had to be relocated and therefore in 1953
an alternate land measuring 440 acres around a neglected
RAF 9 Hole Course on Drigh Road near Karsaz was leased
from Ministry of Defence; Col. Iskandar Mirza Secretary
Defence sanctioned the lease. On this land a 6322 yards,
par-71, an 18 hole sandy Course was developed and inaugurated
by Patron-in-Chief of Pakistan Golf Union, Field Marshal
M. Ayub Khan in 1959. This new location was ranked as
a classic desert Course with barren and sandy fairways
and chocolate Greens. The whole area was doted with numerous
cactus and akasia (keekar) trees, and the Course had undulations,
water hazards, reeds and marshy areas with typical flora
/ fauna, and because of these unique features the Course
was rated amongst the 100 interesting Golf Courses in
the world.
In 1985–86 earnest efforts were made to Green
the Course; By 1988, nine holes were turfed and adorned
with thousands of trees. The 9 holes were inaugurated
by President of Pakistan General M. Zia-Ul-Haq. In 1991
a reputed Golf Course architect Peter Heradine was invited
to design 18 holes Championship Course. The 18 holes
Green course was completed in 1992 and by 1993 another
9 holes were commissioned. The Golf Courses and its
affiliated facilities are now located on 217.6 acres
and the three Courses are now known as Blue, Yellow
and Red. The official SSS of the Courses are; Red &
Blue Par 72, SSS 74; Red & Yellow Par 72, SSS 73;
Blue & Yellow Par 72, SSS 73.
To meet clubs irrigation requirement water was initially
pumped through 9 km long 12” RCC pipeline from
Mahmoodabad to Karachi Golf Club. In 1994 this system
was discontinued and effluent water from adjoining colonies
was collected; but with passage of time the volume of
water declined and moreover the water was untreated,
therefore to cope up with course irrigation of about
one million Gallons of water per day,construction of
a water treatment plant was undertaken near Yellow-14
fairway; On completion in August 2005, the plant will
have a storage capacity of 5.5 Million Gallons of treated
water, which can also help to facilitate installation
of auto Sprinkling System in the future.
The first President of the Karachi Golf Club was a
British civil servant Mr. H. E. M. James (1894), whereas
the last British President of the Karachi Golf Club
was Mr. M. J. Condon (1957-59). The Chief of the Naval
Staff is the Patron-in-Chief of the Club, whereas the
serving Commander Karachi is the President of the Karachi
Golf Club; Vice President is elected annually.
The first Golf tournament to have been played was Pritchard
Cup in 1888, and marked the formal opening of the Club.
The Pakistan Masters Golf Championship was hosted at
Karachi Golf Club twice from 1995-97 now the Pakistan
Open Golf Championships and Sponsor Tournaments are
held regularly.
The Club has a Golf Academy, a Driving range, an International
standard Pro Shop, a Gymnasium; Gents cloak room besides
Bag locker facilities . There are also air-conditioned
lounges and open-air refreshment areas.
To enjoy an exciting round of Golf the Golf equipment
and Golf Carts can be hired or purchased from the Pro
Shop. The Club also offers services of Caddies. The
Professionals at the Golf Club can be hired for Coaching
and in-addition there is a Par-3, nine hole Course for
short game and practice.
The Club is Open on all days including Public Holidays
from Sun Rise till 9 p.m. (Summer time). |
