Gurgaon: Once frequented by diplomats, industrialists and leading golfers, Manesar Golf Club has now become an example of neglect and mismanagement. The nine-hole golf course, spread across 32 acres in IMT Manesar, lies barren, overgrown with vegetation, while the club building and the swimming pool have fallen into disrepair.Shut since 2019, the facility has become populated by peacocks and wildlife. More than 1,100 members, including industrialists and retired armed forces personnel, have repeatedly sought Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corp. (HSIIDC) to revive the club. However, the corporation currently has no concrete plan to reopen or redevelop the facility.Developed by HSIIDC, The Manesar Club was inaugurated in 2004, while the golf course became operational in 2005. Initially, the corporation managed the facility through its own staff, but due to operational challenges, the management was subsequently outsourced to private agencies.“Diplomats and golfers from the embassies and high commissions of the United States, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Myanmar and several other countries visited the club regularly,” a club member, Col. (retd) A.K. Chawla, said. “We used to organise monthly medal rounds and other tournaments here.”Manesar Industries Welfare Association general secretary Vikas Gupta said the club was once a vibrant centre for business networking. “We used to bring clients to the club. Business deals were negotiated on the golf course,” he said. “The club was conceived as a facility where entrepreneurs could host foreign delegates visiting IMT Manesar and build business relationships, but everything has come to a standstill now.”According to members, the club underwent renovation between 2010 and 2013. Thereafter, its operations and maintenance were outsourced to firms with little experience in managing golf facilities. “It proved to be disastrous. The golf club and swimming pool area were turned into wedding venues,” said Col. (Retd) Suresh Gulati. He alleged that despite numerous complaints, the situation continued until the facility was sealed in 2017.The club was again outsourced between 2018 and 2021 to operators who lacked expertise in running a golf course. Maintenance gradually ceased, and the operator was eventually served a notice to vacate.Members claim that no maintenance has been carried out on the golf course since February 2019. During the prolonged closure, perimeter fencing, generator sets, machinery and the filtration plant were allegedly stolen. Water pumps, motors, sprinkler systems and DG sets have rusted due to years of disuse. Even the high-voltage transformer installed at the club premises was reportedly stolen.“The golf course is overrun with weeds and will require at least a year of intensive work to restore,” said member Raghu Nandan Kochar.Members have blamed HSIIDC officials for the deterioration of the facility, alleging gross negligence in safeguarding and maintaining the property. They pointed out that the Punjab and Haryana High Court, in a 2013 order, had directed that the operation and maintenance of the club be handed over to its members.“Despite the order, HSIIDC continued to outsource the management of the club,” Chawla alleged.According to members, the club rightfully belongs to the industrial allottees of IMT Manesar, who bore the entire cost of the land and construction. “HSIIDC has consistently failed to operate the club effectively. The facility should be transferred to an elected body of members. Until formal elections are held, an ad hoc committee should be constituted immediately and empowered to manage the club for one year,” Gulati said.In 2025, HSIIDC explored a proposal to clear the overgrown grass and revive the facility, but the plan never moved beyond the proposal stage. “At present, there is no plan for revival. A decision on the future of the club will have to be taken at the highest level,” an HSIIDC official said.
