Nestled within the lush undulating hills and scenic valleys of Lugazi within the Mehta Group Complex, Mehta Golf Club is fast becoming one of the golf destinations in Uganda.  Located 50 km East of Kampala City and 35 km West of Jinja City along Jinja highway at 1,240 metres from sea level, the course has comfortable climate all around the year.

The golf course not very long , but hilly. It does slope a bit, but learning how to hit sidehill lies only makes you a better golfer. The greens are large, well-kept, undulating and fast. Many are characterized by multiple fountains, created streams and tree hazards. The fairways are well maintained at all times. Mehta Golf Club is the first private and most beautiful golf course in Uganda. 

The golf gem was early this year upgraded to Par-70 18-holes championship course, adding to the already existing five championship courses in Uganda. The upgrade was skillfully designed by David Hemstock of Hemstock Design, a member of the European Institute of Golf Architects. Imported Tif Dwarf, Bermuda grass from the United States has been used on the new greens and has been spread out even to the old holes whose sizes have also been increased. Extension work for the extra nine holes that started in 2016 was completed early 2021.

Mehta Golf Club becomes the sixth 18-holes course after Uganda Golf Club, Entebbe Golf Club, Kilembe Mines Golf Club, Garuga Golf Club and the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort. The number of par 5s has been increased from two to three, the par 3s arefive each with hole no: 13 having a distanceof 220 yards, the par 4s areeleven and par 5s are five. The new holes on the course are No. 6,7,8,9,10,11& 13.Hole No.4 is now well designed with a water hazard. There has been a change in the numbering and apart from the new holes some of the old holes have new Tee boxes.

Hole 1 is a par 3 whose yardage is 193 but the green sits exceedingly so down the tee-box and, for a first timer, choosing the right club can be a nightmare. The risk of over-clubbing looms large. Hole 2, a par-4, is a blind shot to the fairway with out-of-bounds situated to the left and right of the fairway, and the green located deep down from the fairway.  Hole 3 is a 166-yard par-3 that requires you to pump your tee-shot over a pond that sits right behind the green. Hole 4 is a dog-leg left par-4 which calls for a straight shot to lay up and a perfectly timed second shot to a protected green that has a water hazard right before it. Hole 5 is a 195-yard par-3 that crosses the valley and has a very elevated small, narrow green. Sitting on for one calls for an inch-perfect shot. The first par-5 is hole 6, an intimidating 582-yard hole that has a sharp left dog-leg and out-of-bounds staring in the face of long-hitters.

According to Mr. N.J. Paul, Mehta Golf Club’s Golf Captain, the expansion of the course adds to the number of 18-hole championship courses in the country and enables golfers to have better tournament preparations. He also believes the new course will promote tourism.

“Our chairman M.N. Mehta through the Mehta Golf Course and the Mehta Golf Academy is committed to the development of golf in the country and is continuing to promote the game by sponsoring and giving free coaching to young players who will be the future golfers for our country,” Paul stated.

What makes Mehta Golf Club special is the attention to detail, especially the white sand bunkers and unique tree species that pose a real challenge to golfers. More than one hundred thousand tree species have been purposefully planted – adding to the existing areas of indigenous floral life giving Mehta Golf Club a distinctive look. More interesting are the birds nested in the trees. It is inspiring to see peacocks spread their beautiful feathered bodies onto the lawns.

The dramatic and highly detailed bunkers create a visual experience that is both rare and inspiring – their natural shapes blending beautifully with the gentle slopes. You own everything around you; cherish every moment while you are at the golf course and making your appetite grow exponentially for showcasing your golfing prowess. This is the reason why the place becomes the best golfing spot among the ones available in and around the country.

Each hole offers variety and challenging strategic options, rewarding golfers who think their way around the course. To play this course, a tactical approach is required and a golfer needs to find the correct side of the fairway from which to attack the green. The greens are large, undulating and fast. Many are characterized by multiple fountains, created streams and tree hazards.  Depending on the winds and flag positions of the day, every hole can be played in a multitude of ways.

The signature hole is believed to be hole number four; a short, tight driving hole with a big dogleg left. The second shot may be a blind approach over a deep troublesome gulch to a sloping green. Most golfers like the short par 3 ninth/eighteenth with its distinctive bunker in the middle of the green for the last two holes.

Mehta Golf course has attracted rave reviews from amateurs, artisans and professional golfers who have played it since its re-opening. 

According to Ronnie Bukenya, Mehta Golf Club Professional, the most challenging holes according to Bukenya are holes No. 6, 13, ,15 and 18. The  tenth tee ‘Tiger tee’ on the new redesign stands at the highest point with expansive views of the entire course and part of the Sugarcane plantations. Bukenya noted that golfers will have to adjust to the new conditions, from the clubs they formerly used on the old course because the yardage is now longer. They will also encounter new challenges like bigger and faster greens.

“Golfers will have to be patient and also take time to read the greens because the grass on the greens is also different, therefore the putting will have to change.  There are so many ups and downs, curves and bends so they have to be very careful,” Bukenya noted.

Brian Toolit, a Ugandan professional played the course and drove his tee-shot out of bounds. He remarked, “This is a very, very challenging course but at the same time beautiful and world-class. I have no doubt in my mind that sooner than later this course will either be hosting the Uganda Open or a leg of the Safari Tour.”

“Hole 15 is a very tough one because pumping your second shot up the hill to attack the green, you can even struggle for a stance,” said Deo Akope, captain of Uganda Professional Golfers Association.

Mehta is not a course for the faint hearted. It requires top fitness levels to play all 18 holes given its length and the undulating terrain. You are either walking uphill or downhill and the hills and slopes are as steep as they are sharp when descending.

The nature lovers and non-golfers will not only enjoy the beautiful landscaping on the course but also the nature walkways designed by Mrs.Mehta and the cool breeze from the surroundings.

Mehta Golf Club is your golf club while in Uganda. The green fees are very reasonable –just a UGX. 30,000 or USD 10. Mehta Golf club is not crowded and is an ideal course to have your small group (20-40 players) for friendly tournaments.You are welcome to share their exquisite clubhouse, a private oasis where you can sit back, relax with a chilled beer or a drink and some tasty varieties of Rolex and other snacks. And those of you who want to enjoy it further can stay in the lovely Villa Anona Guest house which is in the same campus and having a balcony view of the golf course.