The Himalayan Golf Club, Nepal

To many people’s surprise golf does exist in Nepal, rarely considered as a golf destination it is certainly not on the most ‘must play’ lists. Trekkers are far more aware of the significance of Nepal relative to Kathmandu, Mt. Everest, and the Annapurna massif.  The Himalayan Golf Club is located just 7 kilometers from the center of Pokhara, the second city of Nepal and is the gateway to the majestic Annapurna Range of 8,000-metre mountains.

The course designed by a keen golfer, Major Ram B. Gurung a former member of the British 2nd King Edward’s Own Gurkha Rifles, acted upon a burning ambition to design a course to call his own. The twice played 9 hole course is well laid out for championships at 6,900 yards with a par of 73. Due to space limitations, several of the holes share fairways, or multiple tees, it has 11 greens and different tee positions and lies for the most part inside a sweeping canyon created by the Himalayan snowed waters of the Bijayapur river. The grass is tick and wiry, reminding the original, rustic links of Scotland centuries ago; due to the unusual terrain and playing conditions you might spend a bit more time than the average to complete the game. This rough and rugged course is an extraordinary achievement.

The Club house is perched on the edge of balcony land 250 feet above the river canyon from where you have a bird eye view below of the golf course with scenes of stunning canyon walls dotted with eagles nest, waterfalls and the and the relaxing sound of river winding through the golf course. In addition to the mountain and river canyon scenery, various forms of wildlife live on or frequent the course foxes, monkeys, hawks, eagles are among the resident fauna here; wild flowers are evident in profusion, with the wild geraniums most visible by the fourth green.