Gymkhana Club, Chennai

The Gymkhana Club is one of the two 18-hole golf courses in Chennai, India. It was established in the late 19th century.

History

In April, 1884 that a select gathering of distinguished colonial gentleman founded the “Gymkhana Club” on the Island grounds. It was then that Brig. Gen. Johnson formulated the objectives and rules of the club and christened it the “Gymkhana”.

Early membership of the club, was reserved for the Garrison members, British executives and some of the blue blooded members of the Indian gentry. Sports and Games all started, when a tent was put up in the open grounds, where polo and pig sticking was played. The sea change in the club however came about, when the Raja of Venkatagiri donated a Grand stand.

Now from Polo and pig sticking, the club moved on. Cards, Polo, Rugby, Tennis, Golf, Trap Shooting were played by the members with gusto. Further, the South Indian Rajahs nurtured the club with generous donations for buildings, billiards tables and polo ponies.

The history of the club is for the most part, intertwined with the history of India. With the onset of the First World War, calling for an ordinance to expel all the German members of the club, only for the club to later find out that most of its German settlers had erstwhile fled away. With the Indian woman gaining more and more prominence, the club now passed an ordinance to allow Independent women to become members of the club.

A bowling green came up, along with a ball room in the paddock. Dance nights concluded with grand suppers, where starlit pictures of couples dancing in the moonlight were taken by the photographers The Club was alive and radiant, and in due course was facilitated with its swimming pool. It was in this same pool, a few years hence that a special event Major Sammy Lee, Olympic Diving Champion, performed at the Gymkhana treating over 500 members to an unforgettable diving exhibition, It was around this time that the club kitchen was upgraded with an Ice making plant, Ice – cream machine and a deep freeze cabinet.

A few years hence, amidst much fanfare the Tom Thumb golf area was set up. The Men’s bar, gave way to the new look Mixed Bar, and one would often see a member heading out here after his stint at the Tom Thumb.

Accommodation

There are 14 rooms-3 deluxe, 6 regular and 6 suites. Accommodation is provided for members of both domestic and internationally affiliated clubs.All rooms are air-conditioned.

Sports

The tennis courts are a great prestige to the club, from the likes of Vijay Amritraj who grew up here in these very own tennis courts. The courts have held several prestigious tournaments for the ITF, and more popularly, the national Women’s tennis ranking championships. All the 4 courts are flood lit.

It also houses a gym, swimming pool, billiards, table tennis and a cards room.

Other Facilities

The club also has a sports shop, salon, beauty parlour, ice cream parlour and a well stocked book and dvd library.