CleanupBot II at 10:17, 14 August 2023

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{{short description|Club in Chennai, India}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox golf facility
| name = Madras Gymkhana Club
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| pushpin_map = India Chennai
| location = Chennai, India
| coordinates = {{Coord|13.07207|N|80.27720|E|display=inline,title}}
| establishment = {{start date and age|df=yes|1886}}
| owner =
| operator =
| holes = 18
| tournaments =
| website = {{URL|http://www.madrasgymkhana.com}}
}}

The '''Madras Gymkhana Club''' (MGC) is a club in [[Chennai]], [[India]], which was founded in 1884 to promote sports and social and cultural activities. It owns and operates one of Chennai's two 18-hole [[golf]] courses, one of Asia's oldest courses. [[List of governors of Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu Governor]] [[Surjit Singh Barnala]] published ''The Glory Years'',<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Madras Gymkhana Club - The Glory Years|url=https://issuu.com/raintreemedia/docs/madras_gymkhana_club}}</ref> a coffee-table book commemorating the club's 125th anniversary, in 2009.<ref name=book125>{{cite news|last=Staff reporter|title=Book records Gymkhana Club’s glorious years|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/06/stories/2009090657860200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514172000/http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/06/stories/2009090657860200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 May 2014|access-date=2 August 2012|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=6 September 2009}}</ref>

=={{anchor|List of Presidents|List of Honorary Secretaries}}History==
[[File:The Gymkhana Club.jpg|thumb|alt=Long, low two-story building|The club around 1905]]
The club was founded in April 1884. Early membership was restricted to garrison members, British executives and some upper-caste Indians. A tent was erected, and early activities included [[polo]] and [[Boar hunting#Pigsticking|pigsticking]]. The [[Raja of Venkatagiri]] donated a grandstand.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/familyhistoryofv00sastrich | title=A Family History Of Venkatagiri Rajas | publisher=Addison Press|location= Madras| author=Alladi Jagannathaysari| year=1922 | page=[https://archive.org/details/familyhistoryofv00sastrich/page/131 131] | isbn=9785519483643}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/chennais-illustrious-clubs/article7689063.ece|title=In a league of their own|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=17 April 2019|date=25 September 2015}}</ref> In addition to playing polo, members began [[trap shooting]] and playing cards, rugby, tennis and golf. The [[South India]]n [[raja]]s made donations for buildings, [[billiard table]]s and [[Polo pony|polo ponies]].

The club's history is intertwined with the history of India. Although an ordinance expelled its German members at the onset of the First World War, the club later learned that most of the German settlers had already fled. Women were allowed to join the club as "Independent Lady Members" from 1971.<ref name=":0" />

A [[bowling green]] was established, along with a ballroom in the paddock. Dance nights concluded with grand suppers, where dancers were photographed. A swimming pool was built, at which the American Olympic gold medalist [[Sammy Lee (diver)|Sammy Lee]] performed a diving exhibition. The club kitchen was upgraded with an ice-making plant, an ice–cream machine and freezer. A [[miniature golf]] course was built, and the [[Bar (establishment)|bar]] was renovated.

[[File:Plaque_of_Madras_Gymkhana_Club_list_of_Honorary_Secretaries.jpg|alt=See caption|thumb|Plaque listing the club presidents]]
[[File:Plaque_of_Madras_Gymkhana_Club_list_of_Presidents.jpg|alt=See caption|thumb|Plaque listing the club's honorary secretaries]]
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:25em"
|+Club presidents
!Year
!Name
|-
|1884
|Lt. General C. B. Johnson
|-
|1885
|Brig. Gen. Johnson
|-
|1886
|J. A. Boyson
|-
|1887
|H. McLeod
|-
|1888–1889
|G. J. Smart
|-
|1890–1891
|G. M. J Moore
|-
|1891–1892
|T. Vanstrauveiy
|-
|1893–1898
|G. M. J. Moore
|-
|1916–1921
|J. H. Symons
|-
|1921–1923
|L. H. Bewas
|-
|1924–1925
|C. E. Odgers
|-
|1926
|G. W. Chambers
|-
|1927
|A. D. Charles
|-
|1928–1929
|C. G. Alexander
|-
|1930
|Owen Beasley
|-
|1931–32
|G. A. Bambrioge
|-
|1933
|J. W. Wyles
|-
|1934
|M. A. Angus
|-
|1935
|V. Mockett
|-
|1936
|H. M. Small
|-
|1937
|K. R. Simpson
|-
|1938
|F. W. Gentle
|-
|1939–1940
|C. A. F. Hingston Keobe
|-
|1941–1942
|K. M. Kelso
|-
|1943
|K. R. Simpson
|-
|1944–1945
|G. Gill
|-
|1946–1947
|S. Jackson
|-
|1948
|R. J. J. Perry
|-
|1949
|A. Sinclair Rose
|-
|1950–52
|R. Wright
|-
|1953
|K. H. Chambers
|-
|1954
|R. Wright
|-
|1955
|R. M. King
|-
|1956
|H. I. Cormack
|-
|1957–58
|K. M. Nanjappa
|-
|1959–60
|K. Ramunni Menon
|-
|1961
|J. V. S. Milne
|-
|1962
|K. Ramunni Menon
|-
|1963–64
|I. G. Macintosh
|-
|1965–66
|V. S. Subramanian
|-
|1967–68
|[[R. N. Manickam]]
|-
|1969
|G. A. Phadke
|-
|1970–71
|N. Seshachelam
|-
|1972–73
|S. Vishnu Mohan
|-
|1974–75
|J. M. Thambuswamy
|-
|1976–77
|K. S. Vaidyanathan
|-
|1978–79
|P. L. Reddy
|-
|1980–81
|C. R. R. Pillay
|-
|1982–83
|A. R. Ramanathan
|-
|1984–85
|R. G. Phadke
|-
|1986–87
|K.S. Vaidyanathan
|-
|1988–89
|R. J. Rajasekhar
|-
|1990–91
|N. R. Santhanam
|-
|1992–94
|T. K. Singaram
|-
|1994–96
|Rabi Rajaratnam
|-
|1997–98
|B. Surender
|-
|1998–99
|M. V. Raghunathan
|-
|1999–2001
|K. J. Ramaswamy
|-
|2001–03
|P. B. Santhanakrishnan
|-
|2003–05
|C. S. Sivanandan
|-
|2005–06
|V. V. Mohindra
|-
|2006–08
|D. V. Seetharama Rao
|-
|2008–10
|Arvind Ramarathnam
|-
|2010
|N. A. Mirza (November)
|-
|2010–13
|P. V. S. Vencatasubramaniam (acting)
|-
|2013–14
|M. R. G. Apparao
|-
|2014–16
|P. V. S. Vencatasubramaniam
|-
|2016–18
|S. B. P. Anand Mohan
|-
|2018–present
|C. Venugopal<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.madrasgymkhana.com/comm_ListOfPresidents2018.html|title=Madras Gymkhana Club – Committee – List of Presidents|website=www.madrasgymkhana.com|access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref>
|}
{{col-break|gap=2em}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:30em"
|+Honorary secretaries
!Year
!Name
|-
| 1884
| G. S. Barister
|-
| 1885 – May 1886
| John F. Caldwell
|-
| May–December 1886
| Seymour Biscoe
|-
| 1887–1893
| H. L. Ansted
|-
| 1893–1894
| H. S. Fraser
|-
| 1894–1897
| J. Campbell
|-
| 1897–1898
| N. Michael
|-
| 1898–
| Mr. C. Lane
|-
| 1913–1915
| Mr. Birley
|-
| 1915–1916
| J. Leask
|-
| 1916–1921
| A. McBulloch
|-
| 1921–1922
| D. Stewart
|-
| 1922–1923
| A. C. Rowdon
|-
| 1923–24
| F. C. Bishop
|-
| 1924
| J. M. Wilson
|-
| 1925–1926
| J. E. Cumming
|-
| 1926–1929
| A. W. Hutton
|-
| 1929–1930
| J. W. Wyles
|-
| 1931–1932
| A. C. Mercer
|-
| 1932–1934
| A. Feebles
|-
| 1934 – March 1935
| A. Mackenzie
|-
| March 1935 – January 1936
| J. E. Inglis
|-
| February 1936 – 1938
| W. B. Horrocks
|-
| 1939–1940
| G. L. Rossiter
|-
| 1941–1944
| J. Malvenam
|-
| 1944–1945
| R. J. Perry
|-
| 1945–1946
| F. W. Johnson
|-
| January – October 1947
| W. I. Lavery
|-
| October 1947 – October 1948
| G. L. Rossiter
|-
| October 1948 – March 1950
| H. E. Hele
|-
| March – September 1950
| N. S. Fridinger
|-
| September 1950 – January 1951
| A. J. Martin
|-
| January – April 1951
| H. H. Chambers
|-
| April 1951 – May 1954
| N. S. Fridinger
|-
| 1954–1955
| J. Ashton
|-
| 1956–1957
| E. F. G. Keyser
|-
| January – February 1958
| I. G. Macintosh
|-
| March – May 1958
| J. V. S. Milne
|-
| June – August 1958
| J. E. Peters
|-
| September 1958 – February 1959
| I. G. Macintosh
|-
| March 1959 – 1960
| Mr. T.T.P. Abdullah
|-
| 1961 – September 1962
| B. Devaraj
|-
| September – November 1962
| L. V. Hermon
|-
| November 1962 – 1964
| N. Seshachalam
|-
| 1965–1969
| S. Vishnumohan
|-
| 1969–1970
| P. L. Reddy
|-
| 1970–1971
| T. C. Krishna
|-
| 1971–1976
| P. L. Reddy
|-
| 1976 – June 1980
| M. M. G. Appa Rao
|-
| June 1980 – 1984
| T. C. Krishna
|-
| 1984 – September 1985
| N. R. Santhanam
|-
| June – August 1986
| K. V. Srinivasan
|-
| August 1986 – 1990
| T. K. Singaram
|-
| 1990–1992
| Rabi Rajarathnam
|-
| 1992–1995
| M. V. Raghunathan
|-
| 1995 – March 1997
| K. P. Sashidar Rao
|-
| March 1997 – 1998
| K. J. Ramaswamy
|-
| 1999–2000
| P. B. Santhanakrishnan
|-
| 2000–2001
| C. S. Sivanandan
|-
| 2002–2003
| V. V. Mohindra
|-
| 2003–2004
| D. V. Seetharama Rao
|-
| 2004–2006
| Arvind Ramarathnam
|-
| 2006–2008
| N. A. Mirza
|-
| 2008–2010
| P. V. S. Vencatasubramaniam
|-
| 2010–2013
| S. B. P. Anand Mohan
|-
| 2013–2014
| Giridhar Bail
|-
| 2014–2016
| A. P. Suresh Kumar
|-
| 2016–2018
| C. Venugopal
|-
| 2018–present
| T. Gunasagaran<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.madrasgymkhana.com/comm_ListOfSecretaries2018.html|title=Madras Gymkhana Club – Committee – List of Honorary Secretaries|website=www.madrasgymkhana.com|access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref>
|}
{{col-end}}

=={{anchor|Accommodation}}Accommodations==
The club has 15 rooms: three deluxe, six regular and six suites. Accommodations are provided for members of domestic and internationally affiliated clubs.<ref name=":0" /> All rooms are air-conditioned.<ref name=":0" />

==Sports==
[[File:Madras_Gymkhana_Club_Swimming_Pool.jpg|thumb|alt=Outdoor swimming pool at night|Swimming pool]]
The club has four lighted tennis courts, and [[Vijay Amritraj]] played there. It has hosted several [[International Tennis Federation]] tournaments and the women's national championships. The club also has a gym, swimming pool, billiards, table tennis and a cards room.<ref name=":0" />

==Other facilities==
The MGC also has a sports shop, salon, beauty parlour, ice-cream parlour and book and DVD libraries.

=={{anchor|Guindy Annexe|Course details}}Guindy annexe==
Originally on the [[The Island, Chennai|Island Grounds]], the golf course was moved to [[Guindy]] around 1887. It originally had nine holes before increasing to 14, 16 and 18 holes. Golf here was originally played off the browns;{{clarify|date=April 2019|reason=Never heard of "browns".}} the transition to [[Golf course#Greens|greens]] occurred during the 1980s. The Guindy course was known for its [[Golf course#Fairway and rough|roughs]], made challenging by the shifting wind.<ref name="Guindygolf"/> The 6,325/5765-yard course is within the {{convert|2400|m|mi|adj=on}} oval of the [[Guindy Race Course]].<ref name="Madras Gymkhana Club">{{cite web|last=indiagolfcourses.com|title=Madras Gymkhana Club|url=http://www.indiagolfcourses.com/golf-courses-madrasgymkhana.htm|publisher=indiagolfcourses.com|access-date=2 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804061346/http://indiagolfcourses.com/golf-courses-madrasgymkhana.htm|archive-date=4 August 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Ross Thompson was the first captain of the golf club. The first inter-club competition between the MGC and the [[Bangalore Golf Club]] was held in 1878, and it remains the world's oldest continuing competition between two golf clubs. In 2002, the golf club celebrated its 125th anniversary.<ref name="Guindygolf"/>

The par-70 course is about 6,258 yards off the regular tees. There are also ladies tees and a set of championship [[Teeing ground|tee boxes]]. It has over 50 [[Hazard (golf)#Bunker|bunkers]], most guarding the relatively-small greens.<ref name="Guindygolf">{{cite web
| last = Madras Gymkhana Club
| title = Welcome to the Madras Gymkhana Club Golf
| publisher = Madras Gymkhana Club
| url = http://www.madrasgymkhana.com/fac_sports_golf.html
| access-date = 2 August 2012}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Guindy Links]]
* [[Cosmopolitan Club (Chennai)|Cosmopolitan Club]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Madras Gymkhana Club}}
* [http://www.madrasgymkhana.com/ Website]

{{Chennai Topics}}
{{Golf clubs in India}}
{{Sport venues in Tamil Nadu}}

[[Category:Sport in Chennai]]
[[Category:Golf clubs and courses in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:1886 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Chennai]]

Madras Gymkhana Club - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 10:17, 14 August 2023