KATHMANDU: The President of Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Kwangsoo Hur said the regional body would extend their help for the development of golf in Nepal.

Hur said the APGC would like to see Nepal golf reach to new heights. “There are lots of potentials in Nepal and we will work together with the R&A to help in the development of Nepali golf,” said Hur, who along with his vice president Dr David Cherry and Asia Pacific Director of R&A, the governing body of golf, had come to Nepal to attend the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Nepal Golf Association (NGA).

“We were here to find out the potential of the Nepal golf industry and how we can cooperate in enhancing the sport of golf in the country,” said Hur. “After visiting places and meeting with officials here, I found that a lot of tourists can be attracted for golfing and mountaineering, hiking and trekking together,” he said. “I am impressed with the people here. They are warm hearted and they have love for the golf,” added Hur, who has committed 20 sets of golf clubs to the NGA.

He also said the APGC would work together with the R&A to help the NGA establish a golf academy. “We will definitely help Nepal golf. “This is just a beginning for the larger cooperation in future. We are committed for the development of Nepali golf,” he added. The APGC President also suggested the NGA to work together with the government and acquire lands to build golf course. “There are lots of beautiful places where golf courses can be built. By taking the lands on lease, the NGA can build a minimum standard golf course,” he said.

Hur hinted at the APGC bringing in international golf tournaments in Nepal in future. “We are convinced that Nepal is capable of hosting international golf tournament,” he said. However, the APGC President was concerned with the road-side garbage and muddy roads. “Nepal is a very beautiful country. But the garbage at the road-side is not acceptable. They must be removed,” he added. “If we bring in international players in this condition, they might get wrong impression,” he said.

The three-member team arrived Kathmandu on Tuesday. They went to Pokhara and played a round of golf at the Himalayan Golf Course the next day. The trio played at the Gokarna Golf Club before attending the silver jubilee function of the NGA on Thursday evening. Hur said his team was highly impressed with the scenic beauties of the Himalayan Golf Course. There are so many beautiful golf course in the world but there is no one like Himalayan. Looking over Annapurna and Fishtail mountains covered with snow all year around. It is one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world,” he said.

“I enjoyed very much playing there. However, with that kind of arrangement, you cannot attract many people. You can leave the surroundings as it is in a wild way but greens are the must and you have to bring up to the minimum level of standard,” he said.