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Gulmarg also has one
of the world's h ighest
green golf courses, as well as a clubhouse, which is a
historical building in its own right. For the would-be golfer,
there are golf sets on hire, pros to instruct one in the game,
and temporary memberships. Naturally, these facilities are
available to players as well, except that serious golfers
usually carry their sets along.
Gondola Lift:
For a fun filled ride of a most unusual kind, Gulmarg's newly
constructed Gondola lift from high above Gulmarg, through pine
clad slopes, is exhilarating.
Established in the early days of the British rule by Sir Neville
Chamberlain, K.C.B., the Gulmarg Golf Club has attracted golfers
for almost a century. It .is almost as if god intended a golf
course at Gulmarg when he created it: a lush green bowl covered
with a variety of alpine flowers and crises crossed by snow fed
streams and rivulets; gently undulating slopes carpeted with a
natural mossy turf, and a crisply cool bracing weather! What
more could a golfer ask for?
Redesigned by the famous golf archi tect,
Peter Thompson, Gulmarg now has a 6,760 yards, par 72, 18 hole
golf course. The highest course in the world, it also boasts of
India's longest hole, a par five, 610 yards. Unlike most of the
other par-fives on the Gulmarg course, the eighth plays much
longer than its 610 yards because of the uphill factor. The
green course includes not only the pre-defined rivulets, streams
and ponds, but also herds of sheep which eliminate the need for
lawn mowers and keep the fairways in top condition. A golfer at
Gulmarg also has to beware of the local crow which does not
hesitate before taking off with a ball from the fairway,
presumably mistaking it for an egg.
The most interesting and trying hole on the Gulmarg course is
undoubtedly the 17th. Although not very long, it calls for some
precise hitting to land on the green which is precariously
placed on the edge of a cliff. The 18th hole, a par five, is an
exhilarating experience. It's downhill travel from St. Mary's
Church to the club house, a drop of 300 feet. The Gulmarg Golf
Club is well equipped to handle the holiday golfer and arrange
for the services of caddies and coaches; golf sets can also be
hired at very reasonable rates. Amenities at the club include a
bar, library, lounge, table tennis, lawn tennis and a putting
green. The Gulmarg course is usually open between April and
November, as it is covered by snow for the rest of the year and
its gentle slopes are transformed into mini ski runs for
beginners.
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