The Surya Nepal Golf Tour and the unwavering support of the local golfing fraternity continue to herald a bright future for golf in Nepal. The first event of the tour, the Surya Nepal Central Open, concluded last Friday and Shiva Ram Shrestha won with a brilliant score of 10 under par. The outstanding performance of many professionals at the event not only showcased their ability but also confirmed that given the opportunity they can enhance their skills and make a mark in international golf.

The next event lined up on the tour is Golfer Pilots NPGA Classic, which will run from 25 to 27 May. This will be a real test for the pros as they will have to compete over all three golf courses in the Kathmandu Valley, comprising a total of 54 holes. The first day will be played at Tribhuwan Army Officers' Golf Club, followed by the second round at Le Meridien Gokarna, and finally the 18 holes at the RNGC.

This event was initiated last year by enthusiastic pilot golfers, who envisioned scheduling it a week before the all-important Surya Nepal Masters to provide exposure for the competition and a chance to prepare for the bigger tournament. This paid off last year as we witnessed a Nepali winning the Surya Nepal Masters.

The two founders, Rabindra Dhakal and Deepak Thapaliya, are firmly committed to making this an annual affair. This year the prize money has increased three-fold and the winner of the event will receive Rs 100,000.

I caught up with Rabindra Dhakal who said, "The pleasure that golf provides is amazing. Apart from that, this sport really enriches your heath too. We are trying to encourage young talent in golf because we want to give something back to the game."

There will also be a Pro-Am event on 24 May. Here again amateurs will have to opportunity to play alongside professionals and experience a higher level of play than they are used to.

We hope that the golfing community and sponsors will continue their support, to make the Surya Nepal Golf Tour bigger and better this year and in coming years.

Deepak Acharya is a golf instructor and Golf Director at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa, Kathmandu.
prodeepak(at)hotmail.com