There is a renaissance of sorts for golf emerging along the south side of the Himalayan massif extending from Kashmir and Jammu in the West to Bhutan in the East. A look at this vast craggy expanse of the Himalayas provides one all with wonder and great satisfaction. In large part, golf and the Himalayas have been strangers. Trekkers have known some sections, mostly the Everest Trek and the route around Annapurna. More ambitious commercial exploitation of tourism and trekking are not vigorously pursued.

Golf is becoming more fashionable and less exclusionary. It is a means of opening and introducing new, unexploited, unused natural areas around the country which is a welcome sight in many south East Asian countries.  Tourism is the world’s single largest industry. The numbers of golfers, on the basis of head count of actual and potential annual travellers, are immense. Golfers as a single group comprise some 60 million or so — not an insignificant focus group. Tourism is unavoidable and many countries will more and more seek their share of the tourism dollar. Creating jobs opportunity, in a country where education can never reach all, is the only means of countering social disaffection.

Golf tourism must be viewed with caution. Overdevelopment, a lack of lasting regard for the environment, excess capacity of mindless building can leave a bad taste. There are examples of golf raping the land more than enhancing it. Yet, when done with intelligence, experience, care, awareness and long term vision, golf can be a blessing in disguise to bring about much needed changes socially, environmentally and economically. Golf clubs, resorts and related service facilities create much needed semi-skilled and also skilled employment.

Kashmir has long been known as a mountain paradise. Gulmarg hosts a golf course at nearly 3,000-metre altitude — not great, creative golf but long favoured by those escaping summer on the plains of Delhi.  The young, progressive and visionary chief minister of J&K, Omar Abdullah and the state minister for tourism see golf as a means of attracting a new type of tourist to the region. A state supported course for tourists and local residents, Sidhra Golf offers a basic but welcome game. This course demonstrates how local labour can be mobilised to achieve the results. Mechanisation is not the only solution.

Green pastures, riversides and forested gentle slopes with views to the high Himalayas are compatible for golf courses. Some location in high places can be used for the golf-ski combinations as is being done in Korea, Japan, Canada, the US and many European countries. Golf and ski resorts are being operated jointly. Nepal presents the most suitable landscape for Himalayan golf. In Pokhara, there are two amazing unconventional courses, which are almost mirror images of each other. Handmade, rough, barely maintained, shoo the sheep and cattle out of the way. Yeti’s Golf at Fulbari Hotel and Himalayan Golf present Nepal’s finest example of golf in the Himalayas.

The entire Annapurna massif, seven peaks above 6,400-metre, including Annapurna I, an 8,000-metre peak, are in full view. On clear days, Manaslu to the East, and Dhaulagiri to the West present two additional 8,000-metre tops. These are three 8,000 meter peaks out of 14 in the world which can be viewed from the 1,000-metre altitude flat land of Pokhara. It’s a 26 minute flight from Pokhara back to Kathmandu. 

Golf has been in the Kathmandu valley since a very long time as the Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC). It has been reconfigured several times, as the adjacent airport expands; the RNGC is under threat again for further airport expansion. Adjacent to the RNGC is the Tribhuvan Army Officers Golf Course (TAOGC); another modestly maintained course, similar in 1850’s Scottish feel to Himalayan and Yeti’s at Pokhara, a good test for sturdy players. If by politics and good fortune, portions of the RNGC and TAOGC can be combined physically via open land within the Army command headquarters, then an 18 hole full-fledged golf course can emerge in the heart of Kathmandu. Le Meridian Hotel and Gokarna Forest Golf offer a more tranquil out of town setting, which is the only full 18 hole golf course in the country today. 

Few more golf courses in and around the Kathmandu Valley are required in the near future, which is going to be a challenge due to land fragmentation, soaring demand and prices, putting a stop to the development of any new close-by golf course. Nonetheless, the Nepal Golf Association has initiated various youth golf teaching programmes that saw 200 youngsters turn out and is also seeking help and support of the government for the acquisition of necessary lands. The state must provide unused lands for the construction of golf courses considering the huge rewards they can reap for the country.

Nepal can be a beneficiary of the rapidly emerging golf markets in India and China. New courses in the neighbouring countries will breed more players who are likely to seek out the cooler weather of the Himalayan foothills. Golfers in Europe and America, parts of which are covered in snow during winters, can be attracted to Nepal where the game can be played all year round. Air traffic from the Gulf countries can bring desert residents keen to see monsoon rainfall and greenery in Nepal. Nepal presents social, cultural, gastronomic, environmental and geological wonders no other golfing country can match.  Nepal is rugged, socio-economically volatile, overpopulated, undereducated, underfed and greatly in need of uplift. Perhaps tourists toting golf bags and clubs in various part of the country can help make a difference in the lives of ordinary Nepalis. But we need to wake up in time and take the necessary steps to reap benefits.

(Sherpa is honorary secretary of RNGC and joint secretary of Nepal Golf Association)

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