Many of the game's most intriguing courses have intriguing stories behind them. For example, think about the rebirth of Askernish; how the Great Depression resulted in the charmingly uncrowded Yeamans Hall (rather than the originally planned 36 holes with much more housing); Marion Hollins's role in the formalization of the 16th hole at Cypress Point; George's Crump's Pine Valley; Bob Jones's dream of Augusta National; Henry Fownes's creation of Oakmont; and so forth.
To that list emphatically belongs Himalayan Golf Course, outside Pokhara, Nepal, which was profiled on this site earlier this year. The credit for this gem belongs to Major Ram Gurung, a retired Gurkha. His vision and ingenuity produced what, eight months after playing it, I still consider to be the most amazing golf course on the planet. Even without, on a clear day, the stunning backdrop of the Annapurnas, Himalayan Golf Course is on the short list of the most dramatic courses, with its setting along, down into, through, and out of a river gorge. The course offers much more than just scenery and drama, though, as the bold routing and hand-carved details provide much interest, variety and strategy.
In this month's Feature Interview, Major Gurung provides insight as to the evolution of the course. Also contributing to the interview is Ron Fream, a frequent visitor to Nepal and pro bono consultant to Himalayan Golf Course on some tweaks along the way. It is refreshing to hear a professional architect gush about the work of an amateur architect, and Ron's enthusiasm for both the course and its designer are evident. Ron also shares his thoughts on other courses in Nepal (especially the nine-hole Yeti's Course at the Fulbari Resort and Spa, also near Pokhara).
This interview will leave us all looking for our passports. On my next trip to Nepal, I will have to play three courses (Himalayan Golf Course (again); Yeti's; and David Kidd's Gokarna Forest (outside Kathmandu)). With so many reasons to visit Nepal, who would have thought that golf would be one of them??