Golf in Bangalore using Infinia

[ak_1978]

Hi TF Community

Wanted to share my experiences and provide tips for using Infinia in Bangalore for Golf.

Courses where I have used the card successfully:
Clovergreens - My personal favorite. I am there almost every fortnight. Green fees in weekend is roughly 4K which becomes Zero with Infinia. Mandatory Caddy Fee of 700 (I normally pay 800). Course is near Sarjapur (opposite exide factory in Tamilnadu border). You can play early mornings (lovely weather + sunrises)
Prestige Golfshire - Difficult course to play but very posh. Green fees in weekend is roughly 7.5K which becomes Zero with Infinia. It is a course where you have to pay for buggy/golfcart. Mandatory buggy/caddy fee of 1,800 + you need to pay caddy another 200 once the game is over. Course is near the airport on the way to Nandi Hills. Cardholders are given slots to play only after 11.00
Zion Hills - 9-hole course with different target/flag when you are playing 2nd time. (For the uninitiated - golf is normally played over 18 holes). Green fees in weekend is roughly 3K which becomes Zero with Infinia. Caddy is optional, so if you are willing to push/pull your own trolley, you can play for FREE. Course is far from Bangalore. It is after Kolar town, which is around 75 km from city centre. You can play early mornings.

Thanks for reading. Let me know your comments & I will keep updating the main thread based on what folks want to know.

Cheers

 

[helloworld]

Prerequisites, process, and further expenses if any. Do share, TIA.

In the context of completely for a person never visited golf course before..

 

[ARV]

Did you take any golf lessons before starting to play. Please do share your experience

 

[ak_1978]

Prerequisites, process, and further expenses if any. Do share, TIA.

In the context of completely for a person never visited golf course before..

Prerequisites

For coaching - Almost none. Perhaps dress code could be a prerequisite. When you book coaching through a card, you get everything - the coach will provide you the clubs (bats/sticks), 50 balls and teach you how to hit.
Range/simulator - Range is a maidan or open space where you can hit golf balls. You can also do this indoor using a simulator

For the game -
Golf course - Place to play. Duh 🙂 An interesting point though is even a beginner plays in the same place as an international professional. Imagine learning to play cricket in Chinnaswamy stadium. Hope you get the drift...
Ability to play - A golf ball is like a stone and if hit recklessly towards another person can cause serious injury. Ability to hit reasonably straight is important. Some courses insist on a handicap card which indicates your ability to play. Lower your handicap number, the better the player. All the folks that you see on TV are basically handicap Zero.
A kit - You need some clubs, a bag to keep the clubs, a trolley to drag the bag, some tees (little sticks to prop the ball up from the grass), cloth to clean clubs and golf balls. Will cost about 15K minimum when bought used.

Process
Easy - send an e-mail to Credit card concierge to book lesson/game. Request should be sent 4/5 days in advance.

Further expenses

Travel - Most golf courses that accept Credit cards are outside the city.
Food/Drinks - Most golf courses are expensive when it comes to food/drink. One can always have outside the course
Betting money/drinks - Some folks keep bets like 10/20/50 bucks per hole as bets or beers post the game

 

[ak_1978]

Did you take any golf lessons before starting to play. Please do share your experience

I did. Not through credit cards. I paid & learnt. Took 10 classes and played for the first time on a course with the coach.

I encourage you to learn golf. Open, green spaces, lovely views, joy that comes through playing a sport, unexpected friendships, great food/drinks/company.

Golf also has a handicap system that allows players of different ability to play together. Let me try and explain using cricketing analogy:
International level - Can get out only once; bowled is bowled
State level - Can get out twice; once bowled gets a second life
District level - Can get out thrice
Gully cricket - Can get out 5 times

Golf is normally 72 shots. 36 handicap golfer gets 36 more shots (Total 108) to hit the targets as compared to Zero handicap golfer who has to hit in 72. So, if they both play together & Zero handicapper hits 73 shots & 36 handicapper hits 107, then that day 36 handicapper is the winner. His net score is 107-36=71

Hope this helps. Cheers

 

[Swastik]

Shauk badi cheez hai 😅

But seriously i know some of the senior most consultants from my work play golf and have beer on weekends at one of the posh golf course's in my city,
Seems like a nice way to spend time, enjoy life

 

[neel]

Do you think I can use my swiggy mastercard and select wellness debit card for golf lessons and then book a few greens for free too?

 

[ak_1978]

Do you think I can use my swiggy mastercard and select wellness debit card for golf lessons and then book a few greens for free too?

No idea. Apologies. Perhaps other card experts here may be able to help. Figure out the card benefits & then let me know for help at the golf place

 

[ARV]

I did. Not through credit cards. I paid & learnt. Took 10 classes and played for the first time on a course with the coach.

I encourage you to learn golf. Open, green spaces, lovely views, joy that comes through playing a sport, unexpected friendships, great food/drinks/company.

Golf also has a handicap system that allows players of different ability to play together. Let me try and explain using cricketing analogy:
International level - Can get out only once; bowled is bowled
State level - Can get out twice; once bowled gets a second life
District level - Can get out thrice
Gully cricket - Can get out 5 times

Golf is normally 72 shots. 36 handicap golfer gets 36 more shots (Total 108) to hit the targets as compared to Zero handicap golfer who has to hit in 72. So, if they both play together & Zero handicapper hits 73 shots & 36 handicapper hits 107, then that day 36 handicapper is the winner. His net score is 107-36=71

Hope this helps. Cheers

Thanks, this is helpful. Can you also please shed some light on other costs like equipment rentals ect.

 

[ak_1978]

Thanks, this is helpful. Can you also please shed some light on other costs like equipment rentals ect.

Good catch. Since I have never taken rentals, I guess I kinda missed that here. Club rentals cost between 750-1000 per game and trolley rentals cost about 200

 

[ak_1978]

I might be playing in Clovergreens, Bangalore on Sunday 3rd Nov 2024. Happy to introduce golf newbies to coaches etc. Let me know. Cheers