Rs 15-crore golf driving range at Oragadam

In what can be good tidings for golfers, an international-standard golf driving range was inaugurated at Oragadam here on Saturday evening.

Firdose Vandrevala, CMD of Hirco, inaugurated the course. The range is 250-m etre long and has a grassed area that is fairway-type shaped. International award-winning designer David Hemstock designed the range, for which the works began about six months ago. It has 12 bays with an architectural canopy, and was constructed at a total cost of about`15 crore. The range forms part of an upcoming 9-hole golf course spread over an area of 45 acres.

A golf clinic was later conducted, in which AAA master professional of PGA USA, John Volz, interacted with golfers and dwelt on basic putting skills.Says V Suresh, who has been involved in the construction of the range: “The range has been constructed keeping in mind environmental regulations. It is located close to the automobile townships in the region and will be a source of relaxation to the expats and executives who reside in the city.” He adds that the grass used in the range is of the palpasma variant, which consumes very less water. Recycled water will be used for the grass, for which a 1.8 MLD water recycling plant has been set up in the vicinity.  Most other items used for the construction of the range have been indigenous, says Manzeer Hussain, COO of Hirco.  The range at present, will be limited to use for the residents of the Hirco Gardens,  but international golf events could be held at the range by 2013, Suresh said. Also, workshops and training sessions for golfers would be conducted in future, he added.