The Shillong Golf Club was founded in 1898 and is situated close to the Polo Ground. It is considered to be one of the most attractive places in the town. It was started by a group of British Civil Service officers and in the beginning was only a nine hole course. After World War I the club became a popular resort for European golfers. In 1924 the club was updated to an eighteen hole course with a PAR 70. The course is open the entire year and has a distance of 5,321 yards for the ladies and 5,873 yards for the men.
The redesign of the new course was done by Captain Jackson and CK Rhodes. They did a fantastic job of laying out the new course while at the same time preserving the natural beauty the area had to offer. The course sits in a valley which contains undulating hills and thick groves of pine trees along with rhododendron trees. The fairways feature various types of local grass which is not only beautiful, but interesting to play on. The sixth hole is 594 yards which make it extremely difficult to play. It is also one of the longest holes in the country.
The fairways are tight and can prove difficult to negotiate but there are also a lot of out-of-bound streams that cross back and forth over the course. Most shots are made uphill which make it a challenge for even the veteran golfer. The greens also provide a challenge because they are heavily trapped by sand bunkers.
The ninth hole is a dog leg which is a 372 yard, PAR 5 hole. It is also one of the most beautiful places on the course because it provides a picturesque view. You must tee off from a pine grove which is elevated about 200 feet above the fairway. The tiger line is located on a steep ridge and to the left of a pine tree. The second shot comes from a valley which is also the elbow of the dog leg. From this point you will be able to see the green which is located on a hill just ahead. The area which surrounds the green is uneven and requires skill to stay on PAR. Rain is another factor which the frequent golfer has to deal with on this course.
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