The Thiruvananthapuram Golf Course is believed to have been established in the 1850s, during the reign of Sri Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma (1846 - 1860). However, available documents show that the construction of the golf course and pagoda-inspired clubhouse in the premises was carried out much later, between 1893 and 1895, when the princely state of Travancore was ruled by Sri Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma (1885-1924).
The work for the golf course and the clubhouse, in the area then known as Oolanpara, was executed by the Public Works Department under the direct supervision of the palace.
In a letter (No. 1287), sent on April 2, 1895, Diwan S. Shankar Subbayar, asks the then chief engineer to expedite the works of 'His Highness the Maharaja's Golf Course' at the earliest. Thereafter, on August 21, 1895, Scottish zoologist Harold S. Ferguson has sent a letter (No. 388) to the chief engineer, in which it is mentioned that the work has been completed and that the grounds can be used for playing as soon as the grass has grown slightly longer.
Mr. Ian Crawford, who was conducting research on 19th century Scottish golfer Douglas Rolland, sent a copy of the weekly magazine ‘Golf a weekly record of Ye Royal and Ancient Game’ containing news related to the Travancore Golf Course published in Scotland on October 15 and November 25, 1895.
The news states that Rolland was offered a contract by the Maharaja to teach golf at the Trivandrum Golf Course. It mentions an agreement to pay Rolland a sum of £350 (present day equivalent of INR35,000) per year, along with an invitation to visit India.
The news, published on November 15, 1895, also reports the opening of a golf course by the Maharaja by utilising funds from the Public Works Department and that it has been named 'His Highness Maharaja's Golf Course'.
One of the pillars in the building bears an inscription about renovation works that were carried out in the Malayalam year 1905 (English year 1920), as per the solar calendar also known as Kollavarsham which is followed in Kerala. This shows that the clubhouse building, constructed in 1895, was renovated for the first time in 1920 during the reign of Maharaja Sri Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma.
After the Kowdiar palace was built under the initiative of Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma in 1934, the golf club saw more visitors such as foreign dignitaries and guests of the Maharaja enjoying the facility.
According to an agreement in order no. EJA/2508 dated February 2, 1950, after it was agreed that the princely state of Travancore would merge with the newly-formed Kerala government following the independence of India, all edifices of the Maharaja were transferred to the government. This included the golf course, then under founder-president Colonel G.V. Raja.
But the very next month, on March 03, 1950, the government, by order no. 16413/49/Ed, brought the golf course under a management committee with the chief secretary to the government being appointed as a committee member.
In 2014 a lease agreement dated August 17, 2014, was drawn up, stating that the golf course under the ownership of the government of Kerala has been leased to SAI for a period of 33 years. The MOU was signed by Biju Prabhakar IAS, then district collector, Thiruvananthapuram on behalf of the government and Dr. G. Kishore, regional head, SAI.
The SAI National Golf Academy and the SAI Trivandrum Golf Club were inaugurated on September 22, 2014, at the open-air auditorium within the golf course in a grand manner. The academy was inaugurated by Sarbananda Sonowal, then Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, by striking a golf ball while then Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated the SAI Trivandrum Golf Club by putting a golf ball.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Adoor Prakash, then Revenue Minister of Kerala, Thiruvanjoor Radhakrishnan, Sports Minister of Kerala and other eminent personalities from the cultural and political spheres apart from students and teachers from SAI LNCPE (Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education).
As per the MoU, SAI Trivandrum Golf Club was registered on December 24, 2014 under the 12th Thiruvithamkoor Kochi Literary, Scientific and Dharma Sanghas Registration Act, 1955. A governing body was constituted for a period of five years.
The Club House
A historic building that is more than 120 years old. It is designed using a unique blend of Colonial and Kerala architecture. Spread over 3500sqft, it boats a large welcoming area and 4 rooms now occupied by the Offices of the Club. This Club House has also been certified as a Heritage Building by the Dept. of Archaeology. The Club House has a teak wood exterior. Ahead of the building, a spacious stepped terrace and fountain area was also created by the Maharaja and remains a popular area for Club functions and formal dinners to this day. The annexe building houses a small gymnasium, a snooker room, restaurant, meeting/party hall, rest rooms and four guest rooms. This 70 year old structure is about 4000sq ft spread over two floors.
This 2345 yd 9 hole golf course is set amidst lush greenery, very typical of Kerala, with huge trees that are more than a 100 years old, which are very challengingly located to make it a very challenging course, Whose yardage gives a very different impression. The course with its deep rooted history, Is a MUST PLAY COURSE for its HISTORY and beauty.
Easily one of the most beautiful Club House in India.
Presently, the Golf Course has been leased out to The Sports Authority of India in 2014 for 33 years, after the Government took over the property from The Trivandrum Golf Club, who was managing it from 1967 to 201
