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Before coming to CGL, I’d worked as a horticulturist with Indo-American Hybrid Society and on the estates of the Jodhpur Maharaj for over 5 years. I’d never worked on a golf course, so when I was introduced to Mr Aiyapa and was told of the project, I was a little hesitant. But, Mr Phalnikar and Mr Rajshekar from Shimoga encouraged me to take it up as a challenge. This was back in 1990, and at that time the present day course was just paddy fields, marsh land and bamboo thickets. We began by clearing the marshes and paddy fields. We then transported over 1,000 plants in three trucks all the way from Bangalore to Coorg. We built a fence and started work on the drainage. Every day Mr Aiyapa would come to the course at 7am and we would work till the evening.
Everything I know today about golf courses, I learnt at CGL. Under Mr Aiyapa’s guidance I learnt to make my first green. All the material was obtained locally. We built the course together on a budget, using machines, tools, fertiliser, manure and tractors all sourced from School Estate (Mr Aiyapa’s home and estate). We used School Estate as a nursery for the golf course. Most of the trees you see today on the course started as saplings at School Estate. Even the bluegrass we used for some of the greens and tee boxes initially came from the lawns at School Estate. Mrs Aiyapa would also get plants from all over and keep adding them to the course.
Everything I know today about golf courses, I learnt at CGL. Under Mr Aiyapa’s guidance I learnt to make my first green. All the material was obtained locally. We built the course together on a budget, using machines, tools, fertiliser, manure and tractors all sourced from School Estate (Mr Aiyapa’s home and estate). We used School Estate as a nursery for the golf course. Most of the trees you see today on the course started as saplings at School Estate. Even the bluegrass we used for some of the greens and tee boxes initially came from the lawns at School Estate. Mrs Aiyapa would also get plants from all over and keep adding them to the course. It took us two years to develop the first nine (currently the back nine). There were many challenges like the heavy rain, lack of drainage and resistance from the locals and each of these challenges we tackled together. Today when a new golf course is being built, people bring in foreign architects, landscapers and consultants. But Mr Aiyapa got friends and other players to give suggestions and he got it done himself. After five years at CGL, I learnt a great deal and with the experience gained, I have assisted in construction of golf courses in various places. I still remain in touch with Mr Aiyapa. We meet often. To me, he’s like a father
I started playing golf when I was with the Border Security Force. I joined BSF in under the sports quota – I was a hockey player and learnt golf while I was there. After retiring I came back to Coorg and took up the post of Course Supervisor at CGL. Back then it was a 9-hole course. Soon after I joined, Mr Aiyapa came up to me one day and said he wanted to add another nine holes and showed me the area where he proposed to do this. I pointed out to him that the land was full of rocks and hilly and that it would be very difficult. But he said, “We have to make it happen. I will support you.”
He showed me the way, and I just did what he said. Today if I tell you the present front nine used to be a bamboo thicket, you will find it difficult to believe. But just a few years ago there were over a 1,000 bamboo clumps here and huge boulders strewn all over. It took us more than a year to just clear the grounds and level it.
We had very few machines to work with. And the going was very tough. On some days Mr Aiyapa would be working at the course with me till 9pm. He had this dream of building a golf course and he almost singlehandedly made it come true.
Throughout he was very insistent on quality. He would tell me to work on just 10 yards a day, but never compromise on quality of work. In the ten years I was at CGL, the course changed a lot. Today, it’s of international standards and still every day changes are being planned. Initially very few people came to play golf here. Mr Aiyapa would give me `75 and ask me to arrange for tea for the players. Now there is a big clubhouse and a restaurant. All those years ago there may have been about 150 members, but only 20 to 25 would turn up every week and even they had to be goaded by Mr Aiyapa. I remember we even had a ‘dosa day’ every Thursday to get more golfers to come and play. Now, when I see so many players at CGL, it makes my heart happy.
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Coorg Golf Links “Spring Valley Annexe” Bittangala, Virajpet,
Kodagu District Karnataka 571218
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