The Air Force Golf Course in New Delhi has been closed until further orders, and the closure has cost Air Chief Marshal AP Singh the customary golfing-out farewell planned for him before he retires on Saturday.

The sports complex that houses the course shut to members from 5 am on Wednesday, according to a message sent to its members.

The closure follows notices issued by the Land and Development Office (L&DO), which works under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), asking for the land on Lok Kalyan Marg to be handed over. The complex sits inside the Race Course Air Force Station, close to the Prime Minister's residence. The Centre has speeded up the process of taking back prime land parcels in the surrounding area.

Air Force Golf Course closure cancels the golfing-out farewell

A golfing-out is held for every outgoing Air Chief. The reason is simple. The Chief of the Air Staff is the patron-in-chief of the Indian Air Force's nine-hole, par-35 course, and the round marks the end of that role. A former Air Chief said such an event is generally organised for an outgoing Chief.

This year, there is no course to play on.

Sports complex spans more than 30 acres near Lok Kalyan Marg

The Air Force Golf Course lies within the Air Force Sports Complex, spread over more than 30 acres in the heart of the capital. Besides the course, the complex has a clubhouse, a bar, multi-cuisine dining, a swimming pool and a gymnasium, all used by serving and retired personnel.

It also houses a relatively new training centre for Agniveer Vayu recruits enlisted under the Agnipath scheme.

Veterans hold differing views on the closure

Reactions among military veterans have been mixed. Some have raised concerns over the closure of a long-standing Air Force facility. Others have backed the government's move to reclaim prime land in the national capital.

The L&DO has recently cleared other major sites as well, including the Delhi Race Club and the Jaipur Polo Ground.

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh's other farewells went ahead

The closure did not touch the rest of the farewell schedule. According to sources in the Ministry of Defence, the Air Chief has already been given three official farewells.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hosted the first on Monday, before leaving on a foreign visit. The Defence Minister commended Air Chief Marshal Singh for his distinguished service, leadership and contributions to the Indian Air Force and the nation over 42 years. According to the Ministry of Defence, he credited the outgoing Chief with a key role in the successful execution of Operation Sindoor and in strengthening the IAF's capabilities, and wished him well for the future.

Senior Air Force commanders hosted a farewell dinner on Tuesday at the Akash Officers' Mess near India Gate. Air Headquarters followed with a farewell party on Wednesday at the Air Force auditorium in Subroto Park, the same day the sports complex shut its gates.

One more request was cleared by the Defence Ministry. Air Chief Marshal Singh had asked to fly a sortie with his first flying instructor, Wing Commander V S Kochar (Retd), who retired from the IAF several years ago. The two flew together on 20 October, in a Kiran trainer that closed the Air Chief's flying career in IAF aircraft.

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh retires on Saturday after 42 years

His final ceremonial farewell comes on his last day in office. On Saturday, the Air Chief will lay a wreath at the National War Memorial to honour the fallen, then inspect a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Air Force Station, New Delhi, before he superannuates.

A fighter pilot, he was commissioned into the IAF in December 1984 and took over as Chief of the Air Staff on 30 September 2024. Operation Sindoor was fought on his watch. Earlier this month, he led the 94th Air Force Day celebrations as Chief for the last time, and flew his final fighter sortie in an indigenous Tejas over Jodhpur.

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, takes over as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff in the rank of Air Chief Marshal from Saturday afternoon, the government announced earlier this month.