GAEKWAD BAR0DA GOLF CLUB – Set in the very heart of Vadodara city is one of Gujarat’s most prestigious golf clubs. The Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club of the Baroda royals offers golfers the great privilege of teeing off in the only private golf course in and around Vadodara. Its setting alone (the Laxmi Vilas Palace built in 1890 by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III) adds to the fabulous heritage of this royal expanse of verdure which has played host to a slew of jetsetting celebs in the past. Established in the 1930s as a private course, it was renovated and opened to the public in the 1990s as the Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club (GBGC) by Maharajah Ranjitsinh Pratapsinh Gaekwad’s grandson Samartjitsinh, a former Ranji Trophy cricket player.
The 10-hole course (designed and developed by Ranjit Nanda) is a joy for both amateur and professional golfers. The challenging GBGC course features immaculate greens punctuated by a slew of natural waterbodies, five teeing ground options on each hole and perfect layout for shot makers and strategic players and the driving range (a quick walk from the main course) has 10 bays set amidst gorgeous surrounds. The Moti Baug Palace on the estate serves as the main clubhouse complete with a judiciously stocked Pro-shop, a verandah Cafe facing the golf course and a multi-cuisine restaurant.
Sporting fans can also enjoy its other facilities which include tennis, badminton, gymnasium and a large swimming pool for complete family recreation. It’s not easy to become a member but to get to play on it even as a guest is a great experience. Committed to encouraging the ‘gentleman’s game’ it has a membership programme which includes basic coaching to help new members pick up the game fast to start playing on the main course.
