Gokarna Forest Golf Resort Nepal, by David Kidd

The Golf course was designed by David Kidd of Gleneagles Golf Developments who as a real designer won Golf digests Designer of the year in 1999.

I have never read such poetic description of a golf course before so I am cutting and pasting a section;
Gokarna Golf Course
"The myth, magic and mystery of the once Forbidden Valley
inspired the creation of a masterful challenge within this sanctuary.
The par 72 course meanders for 6,715 yards through most 500 acres
of untouched forest. Eighteen holes of sheer perfection"
"Undulating Bent Grass Greens built to USPGA specifications. Soft cushions of local Bermuda fairways. Lush unyielding forests-hundreds of years old. Winding streams. Wandering hills and valleys opening to a holy river's plain. Cynical monkey's watching your progress. Shy spotted deer peering from the trees. The lofty Himalayas keeping score. Truly enchanting."

If you look at the photo album its not far off, though its difficult to prove the lofty Himalayas are keeping score, and if the monkeys are cynical they have every reason to be with a golf course being plonked right in the middle of their 100's year old forest. It looks very much like the Scottish Highlands which is sort of what Nepal is like, but on a bigger scale, with Everest, its own royal family and palaces but no tartan.

Katmandhu is close by and has always been a fantastic holiday destination. The legacy of the hippy trail and continuing overland trips ending in Nepals capital mean that some part of the city has turned all European- you can get bacon and egg and theres even a pub with bar towels and beer mats. But dont forget the main Durbar Square with the Royal Palaces.Rent a motor bike (or just get a taxi)to Nargakot where you can get the best views of Everest without a sherper and an oxygen mask- then straight back to the golf resort for the full Spa treatment and some Jazz? I can not believe we have missed the JAZZMANDHU festival at the Gokarna Forest Golf Resort in Nepal! How could we? Its only the biggest Jazz Party in the Himalayas.

Play Golf in the Shadow of the Taj Mahal

My recent early morning games at Fajara Golf Club in the Gambia brought back memories of my very first golf lesson at Agra Golf Course in India in 1989. It is only in such environs that I have been able to afford the luxury of a first class instructor and a couple of ball boys.

I know he was a first class instructor because he had me hitting unbelievable shots which much annoyed my companion, a bloke. I had that first feeling of contorting my hips and a strange grip and the follow through, and felt like I was Tony Jacklin.(I say Tony Jacklin because he was the main Englishman for golf when I was growing up; Kevin Keegan for football; Ray Rearden for snooker etc )
The ball boys were of course necessary because it didnt always work,balls were expensive and the rough was rough, and then some. My top tip if visiting Golf clubs in commonwealth countries is dont forget to take a tie-if you want a slimline tonic in the clubhouse after (if you're a bloke)

As non members we were able to play in the morning, but in that heat when else would you consider a game? The fairways were yellow, and sacred cows were eating the rough, but the design classic I want to really get over in this post is that The Agra Golf Course stands in the shadow of the Taj Mahal.

Looking at its website the club has come up in the world following a lull around 1989,with irrigation bringing the greens up to USPGA standard and lots of other amenities for the family; swimming pool (I'm David Wilkie), snooker (Ray Rearden again) and air conditioned restaurant and bar!I suppose it was 20 years ago. That is why I do not have any digital photos to upload of me, a golf ball and the Taj Mahal. You get the side view of the main dome from some of the greens.Ive included the full frontal Taj fro about the right distance just in case you dont know what you are missing.

Dubai Golf is Green

I have just picked up this snippet of news about Dubai Golf from the Times online;

The scarcity of water is impacting construction in markets all over the world, from Spain to Cyprus, but a byproduct of the construction boom in Dubai is creating new project options. Undrinkable water can be used to irrigate golf courses, which have been identified as the next big thing in Dubai. A report by the KPMG Golf Advisory Practice found that 42% of professionals in the industry believe that Dubai will offer the best opportunities for golf course development over the next five years.

Did any of you see that coming?

Colin Montgomerie the Golf Course Designer and Ryder Cup Captain

I do feel a little scared about even a slight mocking tone when talking about Colin Montgomerie. Its a tone I cant help really on this subject and it is the tone which encouraged me to start the blog-I had been ranting about the likes of Lilly Allens dress colection for Top Shop and Kate Moss purfume collection! I thought I could accept Paul Newmans salad cream, and even Lloyd Grossmans pasta sauce; Pauls Ranch dressing royalties were for Charity and I had seen Lloyd cook a bit, or at least taste food before. But Golf Pros somehow having the skills of an architecht or builder while on the golf circuit seemed to me to be taking it too far. For goodness sake let the true designer or designers take the credit, Dont you get enough publicity and cash as it is?

As Colin Montgomerie has been given the captaincy for the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in 2010, I thought I'd have a closer look at his Golf Course Design claims and record and try to take the view that the experience of playing golf on course all over the world could provide some insight into what makes a good course (in their opinion)Also, perhaps the designers do not want the credit for their work, and then that perhaps with a pile of clay, paint and accessories the golf pro could 'design' a golf course which could then be interpretted by the architect.

From his website it would seem that colins philosophy is to challenge the golfer of any level. Water features should potentially cost the points, and not just make the course attractive for the TV cameras, rough should be rough and bunkers should be hazardous.'Nature should not be tampered with unnecessarily'Well that fits in with my gripe about Spanich Hacienda Dubai course design.

The design team are introduced on the website which is honest and good. Designs include the Montgomerie at Celtic Manor, Wales and a Montgomerie Links In Vietnam. And just because he is the man to bring back the Ryder Cup I am going to congratualte him on his wonderful designs.