Kathmandu:

Nepal’s biggest annual golf event — Surya Nepal Masters teed off at the Le Meridian Gorkarna Golf Resort and Spa. This enticing 18-hole course has been hailed by many national and international golfers as one of the finest courses in the whole of South Asia. Much is accredited to the surrounding natural beauty, the marvellous course design, bent grass greens, suitable climate, attractive facilities that complement golfing, and its comparative inexpensiveness.

Apart from Gokarna, there are six other smaller and beautiful golfing sites in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Dharan and Nawalparasi.

The interest among the urban population for this sport seems to be on the rise like never before. Furthermore, efforts by Nepal Sports Council to form an ad hoc committee to enhance the state of golfing in the country, formulate new statute, promote the younger players, mobilise sponsors among others, has given a mental boost to many mature and budding golfers alike.

According to some pro-golfers, our professional golfers unlike previous years are now increasingly considering of stationing themselves at home. Their number also increased

by two at this year’s Surya Nepal Masters, taking it to 27. All in all, one has many reasons to be optimistic vis-à-vis the future of golf in Nepal.

Says Brandon D’Souza, an experienced golfer and managing director of Tiger Sports Marketing, India’s leading golf marketing and mananging company, regarding the Nepal golf courses, “ This (Gokarna) is the best kept secret in South Asia. Those who come here will fall for it. However, more aggressive marketing is needed. Promotional campaigns should be at a more personal level; mere advertisements do not suffice.”

He feels golfing should come in a package and that people from the corporate sector should be targeted in promotional campaigns as they can pour in more money. “And one international tournament is not enough, several need to be organised to keep the course bustling with activity.”

D’Souza feels that Nepali players have the potential to emerge winners, provided they get more exposure in the international arena and sponsorship from the corporate sector. He also suggests giving more attention to imparting instructions (golf) in a modern fashion incorporating other aspects like yoga, flexibility and psychiatric treatments.

Ghanashyam Thapa, president of Nepal Professional Golfers Association, however sees a lackadaisical attitude on the government’s part when it comes to golf.

“They need to understand that tourists who come here for golf are usually affluent ones, and thus many sectors can benefit,” he says.

Thapa, whose first date with golfing goes back almost half-a-century, says that golfing can really boom in Nepal if more competitions and tournaments are organised. He also sees a need for a couple of more international standard golf courses in the country “so that tourists can enjoy variety here. And they’ll be hooked in for a long time”.

Tashi Ghale, a leading Nepali golfer and vice president of Nepal Golf Association, says he is confident that Nepal will soon make a mark at least at the Asia-level in a few years from now. He also wants more tournaments to be organised at home.

“Around five million golfers visit our neighbouring countries annually. We too can pull them in as we do have the potential.”

Making a mark

KATHMANDU: She turned a professional golfer in August last year, and has become first Indian Pro woman to play in a men’s event. Winning accolades in several competitions before becoming a pro, Parnita Garewal credits her mother for her foray into the gentleman’s game.

“My mother used to play golf, and once casually asked me to go for the sport. I did as she said. Slowly, as I excelled in the game and won accolades in some competitions, my confidence bolstered and I found a new purpose and ambition in life,” she says.

Her tips to women looking forward to go tee off professionally are, “Know that golf is 70 per cent a mental game. You need to play within your ability — know your weaknesses and work on it.”

Of her Gokarna experience, Garewal says it was “great”.

“It is not like any other golfing course,” she says. — HNS