Kashmir Valley offers verdant golf courses at
Srinagar and Gulmarg, where one can play golf all through the summer,
stretching from April to November. Bordered by trees of Chinar and Pine,
one may play for longer hours here than in the plains because of the
lower temperatures and invigorating climate.
The golf course at Gulmarg is one of the prettiest ones. Located as
high as 3730 metres above sea level, it is the highest green golf course
anywhere in the world. Hardly any stretch of the course is flat, which
is full of the land slopes and inclines along the complete area of the
course, which has a par of 72. The place has rarefied atmosphere, which
carries the ball further, and the turf, since it lies buried six to
eight feet under snow for five months of the year, is soft. The greens
have a combination of moss and a high variety of grass and natural
slopes, which are fast to play on.
The Kashmir Golf Club at Srinagar is spread over 52 sprawling acres of
lush land. Its president, the noted politician Dr. Farooq Abdullah, is
himself a keen golfer. With well laid out bunkers and hazards,
interspersed between Chinars and Pine trees, is a professional 18-hole
course and has been the venue of many tournaments. The course has common
fairways and a par of 70.
Stretching across an expense of 300 acres near the famous Cheshma Shahi
at Srinagar, The Royal Springs Golf Course was designed and laid out by
the World-renowned Golf architect, Robert Trent Jones Jr. II, who has
been known to design about 500 courses all over the World, including the
cities of Bangkok and China. Overlooking the famous Dal Lake, it is set
in a natural environment created against the dramatic backdrop of
Zabarwan hills. Course at a par of 72 offer a challenge to all levels of
players. The fairways are turfed with cool weather grass of different
Shades. The trees bordering it are Rye, Kentucky blue and tall frescoes
that lend a touch of color throughout the golfing season.
There are golf courses at Srinagar and Gulmarg, where one can play golf from April to November.
Jammu Kashmir » Adventure Tourism » Golf