Pitting his considerable skills against the mountainous terrain of Nepal, David McLay Kidd designed the course at the Gokarna Forest Golf Resort in 1999, creating a golf masterpiece. Gokarna is the first 18-hole course in Nepal. Set against the backdrop of the snow-capped mountains of the magnificent Himalayas, the course makes its way through a section of the protected Gokarna Forest, home to ancient, majestic trees; and once the private royal hunting ground of the erstwhile kings of Nepal.
From the black tees (four sets of tees here), the par 72 course stretches out to 6755 yards and is spread over 140 acres at 4,550 feet above sea level. It is not the longest course in Asia but is sufficiently long and challenging to host the Surya Nepal Masters which draws leading pros from India and Pakistan. Besides, Gokarna boasts the only Bent Grass greens on an 18-hole course in South and South East Asia, making it one of the highlights of the professional tour circuits in the region.
Gokarna opens up from a tempting elevated tee with the Himalayas as the backcloth. The opener and the next three holes draw you into the deep, lush forest before you finally emerge from the valley and enter a flat plain carved by the sacred River Bhagmati. From here at the 5th, the course displays a completely different but equally engaging look and feel. The 8th is one of Asia’s most daunting par threes – it measures a whopping 225 yards from the tips! The unique crescent-shaped green curves around a huge, deep, wood-faced bunker that dominates the view; and crisscrossing creeks only add to the dare of this one-shotter. Consider a par on this hole a collector’s item to be treasured!
Quiet and tranquil, the Gokarna Forest Golf Resort stands out for its exceptional location, unusual design, and gorgeous surroundings. If you get the opportunity to play this delightful course, make sure to look out for playful monkeys as you navigate the forest; if you are lucky you may catch a glimpse of the coy spotted deer which roam free or even a flying fox skimming trees.
A round at Gokarna is without doubt an enchanting and unforgettable experience for the recreational golfer.
For the golfing connoisseur – or even a non-golfer – the Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara is an experience not to be missed. Regarded by many to be one of the 10 most unique golf courses in the world, the course has some of the most visually spectacular holes you will see. This is adventure golf at its truest.
Designed and constructed by an Ex British Army Sandhurst commissioned officer Major Ram Gurung (MBE), the HGC opened for play in January 1998. It has been the venue for the Nepal Surya Western (professional) Open since??
The HGC is one of only two 18-hole courses in Nepal. The par 70 championship course stretches out to 6100 yards and lies largely inside a sweeping canyon carved by the snow-fed waters of the River Bijayapur. Cattle and buffalo freely roam the course. Foxes, monkeys, hawks, and eagles are the other resident fauna here. The course meanders through aerial cliff drops of hundreds of feet down to the signature Island Hole within the River Bijayapur afloat with gleaming boulders washed down over time from the soaring mountains above.
Play on the 1st and 2nd holes is fairly simple as these par 4s are laid out on relatively level ground on each side of the clubhouse.
The uniqueness of the course is revealed only when you step up to the 3rd tee and are rewarded with spell-binding natural beauty. For this is an unparalleled sight. The panorama before you unfolds the magnificent Fishtail and Annapurna mountains of the Himalayas. Some 300 feet down the sheer canyon walls dotted with eagle's nests, the Bijayapur rushes without pause.
A barely visible flag some 300 yards distant and 90 feet below marks the place where your ball should end up after only four strokes.
Once the ball successfully lands on the 6th green, you will discover why it is famous. Selected by the world’s leading golf architects as one of the 80 most unique holes in the world, the 6th Island Hole is known to be the only Island Hole in the world that is built on a natural river.
On the edge of the canyon stands the Club house. With huge verandas all round, it is reminiscent of a tea plantation bungalow in India. Down below the scene is surreal - a golf course resting in the amphitheatre-like setting of a river canyon.
With Scottish-influenced features such as fairway mounding, split fairways, and the use of natural landforms, the excellent course makes for both formidable and invigorating play.
Built by the British in 1962 in Ghopa Camp, Dharan, the Nirvana Country Club, Health, and Golf Resort, was originally called the Dharan Country Club.
The Club has a 5990 yard, par 70, 9-hole course that has alternate tees and 14 greens, four of them being shared. The colonial-era course in Nepal was designed by the Nuffield Trust, UK.
Located where the Himalayan foothills and Terai plains overlap, the course affords spectacularly rare views – six of the world's tallest mountains can be seen from here!
Playing this course is also a marvellous opportunity for golfers who are also keen explorers and adventurers.
If you still have enough reserves of energy after your invigorating game, do take a day trip to the Koshi Tappu Wild Life Reserve – it is just a short drive away. The Reserve is an absolute birder’s paradise with nearly 300 species of birds to be spotted here; you can also trek, hike or enjoy a boat ride on the River Koshi. Want even more adventure? Choose from rafting, game fishing, national parks, and forest trips.
