Kiwi appointed superintendent to top course in India

A world leading golf management company has appointed a New Zealander to be the golf course superintendent at a top course in India.

Troon, an American-based management business, has recently been expanding it’s operations to Asia with the latest being the Delhi Golf Club in India.

Troon has appointed Ben McLean of New Zealand to oversee enhancement projects at Delhi, including improving the playing surface of the 27-hole layout.

McLean will be tasked with managing the agronomy operations. He has a background specialising in the turf industry, including international experience with both warm and cool season turf species.

He studied at the New Zealand’s Sports Turf Institute and has gone on to work at a number of premier golf venues, including the Royal Sydney Golf Club and the Belfry Hotel & Resort in England, before he became assistant superintendent at Brookwater Golf & Country Club in Brisbane.

McLean is the latest from Brookwater Golf & Country Club to venture abroad and share his expertise and Troon experience. Brookwater has been a breeding ground for many of Troon’s brightest agronomists including Troon’s senior vice president of agronomy, Dave Nicholls, Troon international’s senior vice president of agronomy and construction, Robin Evans, and director of agronomy, David Lunardelli, as well as Clinton Southorn, the group director of agronomy across Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and Yas Links Abu Dhabi.

Delhi Golf Club is one of India’s premier golf clubs located in the heart of New Delhi.

It is a club full of history, starting out as a municipal course in the early 1930s and transformed into a corporate entity in 1950. The club features the 18-hole championship Lodhi Course, which was recently redesigned in 2019 by Gary Player. There is also the nine-hole Peacock Course designed by Phil Ryan in 2015.

Manjit Singh, presiden of Delhi Golf Club, said: “We are delighted to have Troon’s expertise on-board at Delhi Golf Club and welcome Ben to the team.

“Ben’s experience, attention to detail and incredible work ethic will be invaluable as we look to develop and enhance the course and take it to the next level on a global stage.”

Delhi Golf Club has enlisted Troon’s support to engage in a comprehensive improvement project to take the 27 holes offered to the next level, with a focus on improved playing surfaces and the golfers’ experiences. The championship Lodhi Course is renowned as one of the best in India.

Mark Chapleski, president of Troon International, said: “Delhi Golf Club has an impressive reputation in India already, but it has the potential to become a world-class golfing destination and Troon is thoroughly looking forward to working on developing its agronomic reputation led by Ben alongside the staff currently on the ground.''

Delhi Golf Club is the third golf course that Troon International will be working with in India, following the appointment to Karnataka Golf Association in 2019 and Prestige Golfshire Club which has been part of the Troon family for more than seven years.