National 5 (Spotlight Weekly)

SURYA GOLF
Pioneer Tournament

Surya Golf – the country's oldest and pioneer international Golf tournament - attracts a large number of top class golfers from India

By A CORRESPONDENT

In the last two decades, the golf has transformed from a game of amateur elites to that of professional players. Thanks to the Surya Nepal Golf, Nepalese golf players also get an opportunity to expose their talent at international level.

Surya Golf Nepal Masters has also received recognition from the Professional Golf Association- India (PGAI) and is a part of their official tour. It is said to be one of the 24 order of Merit tournaments for professionals from Nepal and India.

Along with top class professionals from India, other golfers from Bangladesh, China and Pakistan are also taking part in the tournament. There will be more than 60 participants from India including some top golf players. It will be held on November 19-21.

Organizers : Promoting the sports

To make it more attractive to foreigners, Surya Nepal also increased the prize purse to Rs.1.6 million (US$ 22,000) this year for the Surya Nepal Masters. This is about Rs. 80,000 (US$ 1,000) more than the prize amount of previous years. Along with increasing prize money for International level tournament, Surya Golf has also increased the prize money for Surya Nepal Western Open from Rs.1,00,000 (US$ 1200) to 125,000 (US$ 1500).

"Since its inception in 1993, Surya Golf has evolved a lot, and for the last ten years it has been an integral part of the Asian circuits and has put Nepal on the golfing map of the world. Over the years, Surya Golf has reached higher standards in terms of participation and the quality of golf with every passing year," say organizers.

Following the construction of eighteen holes Golf Course, an international level course, at Gokarna Forest, 6 miles east of capital, the valley is in a position to organize all kinds of international tournaments. Till a few years ago, Royal Golf Course was the only golf field in the valley.

Before the beginning of the Surya Golf, the Surya Western Nepal Open will be held on 14th and 15th of November at the Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara. According to organizers, all Nepali professional golfers will be competing for the prize money.

Local professionals like Deepak Acharya will be accompanied by the likes of Surya Nepal Western Open 2002 winner Ramesh Nagarkoti, leading Pros Deepak Thapa Magar and Sabin Sapkota and Honda Golf Tour regular Toran Shahi. They will be trying out their mettle with the best in the subcontinent. Also the tournament will provide a platform for Nepali Amateur players mainly from Pokhara to show case their golfing talent and get a feel of the professional.

Surya Nepal Pvt.Ltd continues the vision of widening the base of golf in Nepal, as well as promoting Nepal as the ultimate tourist and golfing haven. But this can only be materialized with the help of all concerned. “Therefore we look forward to your assistance in helping us take Surya Golf to higher levels in Nepal and in the international golfing arena as well,” said an official from the Surya Nepal.

Professional and international level sports event in Nepal is a very recent phenomenon and the games like golf and cricket are recently taking shape. After the long isolation, the golf is gradually coming up.