New Town is going to have a full fledged golf course, the one-of-its-kind anywhere outside Kolkata at Eco Park.
Work is on in full swing and it will be thrown open to public soon. Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) officials along with local golf enthusiasts and a golfer will gather at the golf course on June 18, Sunday at 6.30 pm.
Kolkata has two golf courses which were set up during the British period, namely at Tolly Club and the Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC).Women golfers often use the field behind Race Course and opposite Fort William to play the game.
The first golf course is India was the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, built in Kolkata. Over the ages, the interest in this elite sport has increased exponentially, and today, golf is not just a
leisurely sport for the elderly, but a new fad of the youngsters.
The whole idea to open the golf course at Eco Park is to discover hidden talents among boys and girls who cannot afford any golf course because of hefty membership fees.
From school days, boys start playing games like cricket, football, basketball, table tennis and athletics and many of them develop the skill and become players later on. But playing golf is a dream for most of them as they fail to get any opportunity to visit a golf course and even touch a golf ball or a club.
The golf arena will be situated close to gate number 6 of Eco Park. A driving range with 12 stands is being constructed and there is scope of expansion.
To play golf, one has to get a morning walker card from the curator of Eco Park which is Rs 200 as registration fee and Rs 750 per month. Golf balls will be provided at Rs 100 for 50 balls. Golf clubs will be available on hire and personal trainers will be available on payment of fees. The timings would be 6 am to 9 am and 4 pm and 6.30 pm.
It may be mentioned that many are showing great interest in two sports in the city — cycling and skating which are essentially two modern sports. A multinational company selling sports goods has opened its outlet off Kona Expressway and a spokesman said skating kits and imported cycles are being sold in good numbers per month.
It may be mentioned that cycling is coming up in a big way in New Town.
In Eco Park, there is an arena for cycling. Graded tracks for cycles are underway as well.