Cochin International Airport Limited to commission golf course on February 1

Kochi: Adding another feather to its cap, the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) is set to commission the second phase of its golf course project adding nine more holes. In the first phase, the golf course had nine holes.

The 18 hole golf course, to be commissioned on February 1, will be one of the longest golf courses in the country having international standards. It has been built at a cost of Rs 35 crore.

A golf academy to train people in the sport has also been set up at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore which will also be inaugurated on the same day. Kerala architecture has been used for the golf academy building.

Facilities at the golf club, currently having 1400 members, include guest rooms, a health club, pool and billiards room, tennis and basketball club, and swimming pool.

The all weather golf course is spread across 130 acres and is 7412 yards long and has five lakes. The first phase was commissioned in 2010 May.

The waste water generated at the airport is purified and used to water the grass on the golf course. A computerized automatic sprinkler system is used for this. Facilities have been included for children and women to play.

Mowing of the grass is done by imported equipment that has been purchased at a cost of over Rs 50 lakh. “The golf course and academy have been set up with the twin purpose of giving space to professionals and also to invite more people to the sport,” said a senior official of the airport.

The CIAL golf course is the venue for lawn bowling for the National Games to be held later this year.