Course review: The reimagined and extended Jaypee Wishtown

The swank and well-appointed Boomerung Complex now greets golfers at Jaypee Wishtown.

By Rahul Banerji

Alignment, alignment, alignment. Positioning is everything on the reimagined and recently-extended Jaypee Wishtown golf course which opened in its new avatar last month.

From being a par-67 track ranging between 5,584 yards (black tees) and 4,987 yards (blue tees) dotted with a rash of short par-3s, Wishtown has been turned into a 6,000-plus yard golf examination.

Now a respectable par-71, 6,589 yards from the tips, 6,150 yards (blue), 5,720 (white) and 5,254 (red), the course remake has crunched some of the shorter holes and had tees pulled back on a few of the others. 

The original Graham Cooke design has not been altered greatly and the essential alignment of the fairways remain unchanged,  which means with the longer fairways, accuracy is even more of a premium.

A swank new clubhouse, the Boomerung Complex situated much closer to the Wishtown complex entrance, now welcomes golfers who tee off on what used to be the old par-3 15th hole, now a 410-yard par-4 which incorporates the previous 15th green.

Says golf course manager Akshat Seth, who has been associated with the Wishtown property for long, “I’m extremely pleased with how the transformation has turned out. 

Positive response

“The response from players has been overwhelmingly positive, and overall traffic on the course has increased significantly. With the driving range now operational as well, we’ve seen even more engagement from golfers. 

“We plan to continue introducing new ideas and enhancements to ensure the course and facilities keep evolving for the betterment of our golfing community.

“The changes have been very well received. Golfers are particularly enjoying the added challenge in the new layout — especially the 17th hole, which now features a striking peninsula green. 

“It has quickly become one of the course’s most talked-about highlights. Many members have appreciated the enhanced playing experience, and as a result, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in the number of rounds being played.”

The number of water bodies has not changed but with the longer distances off the tee, they have become even more of a test. After the opening hole, two and three are the old 17 and 18, much as they were earlier.

Tricky approach

The fourth hole is the old first, but the tee in use now is the previous second one, which not only makes this a third successive drive over water, but also a tricky one to approach as the green slopes away from the fairway and carries a course index of 3.

Four and five (both par-4s) have tees retracted well back while hole six (the old fourth) demands a monster hit again over water onto the fairway that slopes away to the left and another water-body..

Returning to what was the start of the back nine (now the 11 hole) leads you into the earlier “hidden nine” at Wishtown part of which is now a driving range. 

The signature 17th hole features plenty of water, bunkers and a long, sloping green.

Of the four holes on this stretch, the 17th is the most interesting, as Seth mentions. 

A par-4 357-yard from the blue tee, you are greeted with water and a bunker complex on the left and an out of bounds area all the way up the right which is very quickly turning into Wishtown’s signature hole.

Real challenge

At index 4 it is one of the hardest on the course with its extended green that is bordered by yet more water while the sixth, seventh and eighth are indexed at 1, 3 and 5 respectively — a tight and challenging bunch of holes. 

The clubhouse is set along the left of the 18th fairway (the old 13th) and well guarded from hooked drives by tall and sturdy nets while a long pond sits to the right.

Carts and caddies are available but checking with the starter for a convenient time is wise as they are much in demand.

Wishtown has certainly acquired more teeth since I played it last some two years ago, and as mentioned, getting your lines right leads to more than one ball saved from the waiting water.

Also read: Jaypee Wishtown’s hidden jewel and the Indomitable Doctor