Now, although golf is not exactly a traditional Kyrgyz sport, the country does have a golf course which is available for members and non-members alike, which hosts a number of tournaments, competitions and charity events.   The Maple Leaf Golf and Country Club was opened in 2001, and although most of the members are ex-pats working in the republic, there is a growing interest in the sport and in 2009 the “Kyrgyz Open” was entered by representatives of fourteen different nationalities but the top three places were won by local grown talent.

The nine-hole course was created by a Canadian designer, offering a challenging 3207 yards of golf, with narrow fairways, lakes, smaller greens and more was only the second golf course in Central Asia.

The course lies about 15 kilometres to the South of the Bishkek, or about twenty minutes from the city centre,  in the lee of the foothills of the Kyrgyz Range of the Tien Shan mountains, in a setting of tranquil beauty and fresh air.

For those who understand these things, the statistics for the nine holes are:

For beginners there is a driving range and practice putting greens.  It is possible to hire clubs and balls and trolleys and there is also a “Pro Shop” and a Club House for relaxation before and after your game.

In addition, there is also an electronic driving range in Bishkek, which is useful for keeping in practice in the Winter months when a round on the links is not really a practical option.

Alistair Cooke, my hero, was keen on two particular sports, and almost every year he would feature these in one, (but just one each year), of his “Letter from America” broadcasts.  These two sports were: Tennis and Golf.

Although I am not aficionado of either sport, I knew enough to make sense of whatever he was saying – and, anyway, his talks were not really about the sport itself, but there was usually a more general point that he would try and illustrate using the sport as a medium.

I have never been particularly fond of either sport.  They are both individual sports – and, as I am not particularly good in any specific sporting skills, I have always tended to favour team games.

In terms of Tennis, for example, my experience is fairly limited … as a schoolboy I played one match – and lost it, six-love, six-love, six-love.  That humiliating experience gave me no real incentive to have another go – even if there were no witnesses to my spectacular defeat apart from my opponent.

As for golf, I have never played it.  I have watched it on TV and know the basic principles.  I know several people, however, who do play and who enjoy it immensely.  The idea of going for a stroll and at the same time enjoying a game does seem appealing, but I feel that it’s a bit late for me to take up a new sport, especially one that involves a certain amount of skill, devotion and application.

I remember my first exposure to Golf.  It was in 1969.  Tony Jacklin was playing in the British Open and was in a commanding position after the first day’s play.  The last time a British player had won the competition was in 1951, (before I was born), and the media sprang into action.  The next three days saw a growing exposure to the sport on television and in the daily newspapers.  When Jacklin eventually won, it was a event widely publicized and hailed as a sign of the improvement in Britain’s sporting prowess.  He went on to win the US Open the following year and this seemed to confirm all the hype.

We all seemed to get caught up in the excitement.  New words, or at least new meanings for words, seemed to enter our vocabularies: tee, fairway, green, rough, bunker, wood, iron, drive, put, birdie, eagle, bogey, caddy … and so on.  Even my father, who had never held a golf club in his hands, became captivated and an “armchair expert”.

Despite all this interest, Golf was still somewhat of an “exclusive” sport: The equipment was expensive, and out of the reach of most people’s budget; it was played in specialist courses, to which access was restricted and it required application and practice.  On top of that, (at least to me), it didn’t seem like a sport as  you walked everywhere.

It might come as a surprise therefore that I spent last Saturday at a golf tournament.  Not participating as a player, I will quickly add, but as spectator.

If I’m not exactly a golfer, what was my motivation for going along?  Well, it was threefold:

1. The competition was organized by the International Business Council, (IBC), and as member of the management board I felt that I should take an interest.  As noted by the executive director in his opening remarks, we often meet “in suits” to discuss important topics about “doing business” in Kyrgyzstan, but it’s good to meet in less formal surroundings and simply pass time together, getting to know each other and build a greater understanding and such events as a Golf Tournament are not only good for “networking” and  team building” but provide a good social experience as well as a fund-raising event.
2. As well as the tournament itself, with opportunities for both experienced players and novices alike, there was a “Golf School” for absolute beginners.  I have already said that I am not so sure about this for myself, but I took along the baseball kids and gave them the chance to have a go at the game.  Although they enjoyed it, as they pointed out, it’s not the same as baseball which they prefer, but at least they have had an opportunity to have a go.  Something I never had at their age.
3. Although golf is not a traditional Kyrgyz game, the Maple Leaf Golf Club, (where the tournament was held), was established some eight years ago.  I have often thought about going to have a look, but somehow, I have never made it.  Some friends of mine play occasionally at the weekends and we have often talked about the possibility of my tagging along to walk round with them … but somehow, it never happened.  This tournament gave me the excuse to actually get away from my desk and go and have a look.

After the official opening, the teams dispersed to the holes that would serve as their starting point, the kids went off to the driving range for their first lesson, and I took up my camera and set off on a three and a half kilometer stroll around the nine hole course.

The course, itself, is in a village about fifteen kilometers, or a twenty minute taxi drive, from the Bishkek city center and set in scenic surroundings under the foothills of the Kyrgyz Range of the Tien Shan mountains.   As well as the well kept fairways and greens there is a certain amount of landscaping with colourful flowerbeds, several ponds and sapling trees which in years to come will mature into mighty trees.

Unfortunately, being Autumn, the day was cold and overcast which detracted from the full beauty of the landscape, although the potential for spending a pleasant Spring or Summer day here, was clear.  At least it wasn’t raining!

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves … evidenced by the sound of “whelps” of delight and the sight of grown men rolling around on the grass in celebration as the little white ball sank into the hole and even the desperate, (but good natured), cries of “What have I done?” as the ball flew off into the rough to the left or the right of the fairway.

As I wasn’t playing, I got round the course a lot quicker than everyone else … and settled down in the warmth of the clubhouse to look at the photographs and glance through the coffee table books with pictures of spectacular courses around the world.  The Salt Peanuts Jazz Band braved the cold to perform.  As the teams returned to the clubhouse, a hearty lunch was served and jolly merriment abounded as the prizes and awards were presented.

All in all, it was a successful event, a pleasant day out and everyone is looking forward to it becoming an annual event and to next year’s tournament.

One of the nice things I noticed was that although most of the players were foreigner, ex-pats, a number were locals, and the teachers giving lessons in the Golf School were all locals.

Indeed, it is quite interesting that although most of the club’s cliental are foreigners, in Kyrgyzstan for business, there are quite a few locals who have successfully taken up the game.  Earlier this year, the club hosted the “Kyrgyz Open” Tournament and representatives of fourteen different nationalities participated, but the top three places were taken by local people.

I wonder what Alistair Cooke would have made of that?