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the-south-asian Life & Times April - June 2009 |
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Cover
Story Himalayan
Golf Royal
Thimphu
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Gulmarg Golf Club, Gulmarg (near Srinagar, Kashmir) L-R: The signature hole - the 9th; a church by the side of the 18th; the Club House in winterPhoto Abid Maqbool The second oldest golf course in India after the Royal
Calcutta Golf Club. The Holes – 18 Length – 6760 yards Par – 72 Signature Hole – 9th Altitude – 8,500 feet / 2,650 meters Open from April to November No carts – but caddies available The original six-hole golf course in Gulmarg, a tiny hill station near Srinagar, was built in 1890 by a British army colonel. In 1901, the Maharaja of Kashmir donated land that was turned into a separate course also known as the ‘upper course’, which was redesigned in the 1970s by Peter Thomson, into the Gulmarg Golf Club – a links style public course. The turf, since it lies buried six to eight feet under snow for five months of the year, is soft. The greens are a combination of moss and a variety of high-altitude grass, which are fast to play on, and the thin air carries the ball further. It features the country’s longest hole, the 8th, a 610-yard par-5. The toughest hole is the 17th. It is among the highest and the most beautiful green golf courses in the world. Gulmarg, approximately 2,650 meters above sea level, is also a skiing destination. It is a little over 2 hours (flying and driving time) away from the heat and dust of Delhi! The Club is managed by Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation. Golf sets can be hired at the pro-shop in Gulmarg. The Gulmarg Golf Club is currently closed. Ranjit Nanda, a Delhi based golf course architect is redesigning the greens and fairways and extending the course yardage. The course may be ready by summer 2010.
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