Lavanya Jadon won the Indian Golf Union All India Ladies Championship with rounds of 74-67-77-70 for an 8-over 288 total at the par-70, 6259-yard Rambagh Golf Club in Jaipur, also taking the Billoo Sethi Trophy for best 36-hole stroke play score.
The larger question is what that scoring says about India’s pathway. On the LPGA, the average course length is around 6400 yards and winners frequently reach 20-under par over four rounds. No one expects Indian juniors to match those numbers yet, but if the goal is future internationally competitive players, domestic golf needs tougher, more realistic setups and tournament organisers who understand those demands.
This year’s Women’s Asia-Pacific Amateur at Hoiana Shores, a par-71 at just 5819 yards where Saanvi Somu was best Indian at tied-38th, showed how firm, fast, windy conditions and demanding greens can turn a short layout into a world-class test. Yardage alone is not the issue; it is how the course asks players to control ball flight, manage angles and rely on their short game.
At the same time, a growing group of Indian amateurs are heading to the U.S. for college golf. Players such as Lavanya Gupta (Kansas Women’s Golf) and Zara Anand (Auburn University) will gain four years of elite competition on strong, well-set-up courses under experienced coaches. Their career trajectories will be interesting to watch. If they return to play in India, that exposure can significantly raise standards at home.
So the question is shouldn’t India’s biggest national championships be played on courses that are closer to international tournament conditions? If India truly wants teams that can compete in global conditions, their selection should be based on playing firmer, tougher setups and our institutions need to build a coaching and travel ecosystem that prepares teams to be competitive outside India.
