KATHMANDU: Three international golf officials are visiting Nepal to attend the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Nepal Golf Association (NGA) scheduled for July 30.

President of the Asia Pacific Golf Association (APGA) Kwon Soo Hur, APGA Vice President David Cherry and Director of APGA and Royal & Ancient (popularly known as R&A) Golf Club Dominic Wall are scheduled to arrive here on July 28, informed Tashi Ghale, the NGA General Secretary.

The officials will visit and inspect the five golf courses — Royal Nepal Golf Club, Gokarna Golf Club and Tribhuvan Army Officer’s Golf Club in Kathmandu, Himalaya Golf Course in Pokhara and Nirvana Country Club in Dharan — of Nepal. According to Ghale, they will also play a round of golf in Pokhara on July 29 and Gokarna the next day. “The R&A has also shown interests in taking over the operation of the Himalaya Golf Course in Pokhara,” said Ghale.

The APGA and R&A officials are visiting Nepal for the

first time after the NGA renewed it membership last year. The NGA had taken the

membership in 2003 but it was detached from the international body due to the failure of the previous committee to renew the membership, informed Ghale.

The NGA is planning a ceremony to mark its 25th anniversary. The APGA officials will be welcomed at the RNGC upon their arrival. After their trips

to Pokhara and Dharan, the

officials will attend the anniversary ceremony on July 30. The NGA is also planning to honour the players and officials on the occasion.

The NGA officials will also have a meeting with the visiting officials. “We are

planning to establish an academy in Kathmandu and we are looking forward to some assistance from the international associations in this regard,” said Ghale.