Golf Hut At The Nuwara Eliya Golf Club Gets A New Face

The ‘Golf Hut’ at the Nuwara Eliya Golf Course recently underwent a metamorphosis at a cost of over two million rupees enabling the club to strengthen its feature-rich package. The Nuwara Eliya Golf Club celebrated its quasquicentennial - its 125th anniversary in other words - with great fanfare in August this year.

With  its  widespread  interest  of  promoting  Sports  in  all  spheres  and,  recognizing  social  welfare,  the  McLarens  Group  of  Companies  was  instrumental  in  the  construction  of  the  ‘Golf  Hut’  from  the  point  of  designing  up to  its  completion.

The  ‘Golf  Hut’   enables  Golfers  to  take  a  rest,  and  some  refreshments,  in-between  a  game,  thereby  boasting  of  one  of  the  finest  golf  experiences,  whilst  adhering  to  dress  codes  and  golf  standards  at  all  times. The ‘Golf Hut’ constructed anew is self-contained and features a canteen, food warmer, refrigerator,  serving area with seats around, ladies’ and gents’ washrooms etc., encompassing everything under one roof.

The President  of  the  Nuwara  Eliya  Golf  Club,  Capt. Nihal  Keppetipola,  a  passionate  Golfer,  in  an  endeavour  to  enhance  the  existing  facilities  of  the  Club  had  approached  several  institutions  with  the  aim  of  regenerating a unique ‘Golf  Hut’  on  this  vast  Course.

This  18-hole  Golf  Course  undergoes  regular  maintenance  and  development  in  order  to  retain  its  stunning  surroundings  and  century  old  heritage.   The  latest  addition  towards  this  end  was  the  reconstruction  of  the  ‘Golf  Hut’  on  the  large  open  Course.

Situated  some  6,200  feet  above  sea  level,  amid  the  tea  plantations  of  the  cool,  central highlands   Nuwara Eliya  (the  Little  England),  is the  highest  city  in  Sri  Lanka  which  lies  beneath  the  tallest peak  of  the island, Pidurutalagala or Mount Pedro (2555 meters).

This  charming  hill  station  developed  by  British  Planters  in  the late  1800’s,  set  in  an  area  of  great  natural  beauty  and  pleasant  climate  in  parts,  echoing  their  homeland, easily  persuaded  the  British  to  settle  here.  Testament  to  its  past,  the  town  is  home  to  many  renowned  institutions  of  Sri  Lanka’s  colonial  British  era  such  as  the  Race  Course,  the  Hill  Club  and  of  course  the  magnificent  Nuwara  Eliya  Golf  Club (NEGC).

Founded by British servicemen and colonial tea planters in the year 1889, the NEGC features fir lined fairways, bunkers and scenic surroundings. It has a well known 18-hole Golf Course with a terrain that consists of uphill and downhill treks and many waterholes. The entire length of the course is 6075 yards. The fairways will take the players through breathtaking sceneries whilst spotting palm squirrels, dragon flies and many species of grasshoppers. It has also won the admiration of the forefathers of the game as the “best hillside course East of Suez”. It is the third oldest Golf Club in this part of the world, with the Royal Calcutta Golf Club being the first and the Royal Colombo Golf Club the second.