Teetimetales is off to Kashmir, and its fabled golf courses

By Rahul Banerji

For the next few days, Teetimetales.com hopes to be in Kashmir with a chance to visit at least a few of its fabulous and fabled golf courses, in addition to taking in the sights.

Yes, I know. Not a great idea, or at least not great tiiming.

Covid continues to spread its tentacles, our front-liners struggling to cope, with doctors, para-medic staff and the whole support system stretched to breaking point.

At the same time, a visit to Kashmir – planned some months in advance – is not something one can pass by easily.

It’s been a long, long time since this writer last visited Srinagar and memories are hazy, of pony rides along Dal Lake, sitting on my father’s shoulders, a wobbly shikara ride…

Golf was nowhere on the horizon.

And in the years since, there simply hasn’t been another opportunity to go.

So, there we are. Hello, Srinagar and the rest of the Kashmir Valley in a long-awaited return.

Not to mention the golf courses Kashmir is justly famous for.

Sound of music

Just listen to the cadence and music in this name as you say it out loud: Lidder Valley, Lidder Valley, Lidder, Lidder…

Ring, ting, ting….

How can one not go?

Lidder Valley in Pahalgam apart, there’s the Gulmarg course, one of the highest green courses in the world (whatever that means).

Under snow, Gulmarg is a skier’s paradise, along with other sundry winter sports. A great hangout for honeymooners as well, apparently.

In the summer, it’s a giant green bowl that was first created by Neville Chamberlain, later Prime Minister of Great Britain that stretches for 6,700-plus yards and includes a 610-yard par-5.

And there are plenty of more such goodies on offer around Kashmir.

I ask again, how can one not go?

There’s the Kashmir Golf Club in the heart of  the city, and then of course, the jewel in the crown.

The Royal Springs Golf Course, spread out along one flank of the Dal and overlooked by Jehangir’s Chashma Shai walled garden.

So for details on all of these and more, travel tips and tit-bits and some toothsome Kashmiri fare, keep an eye on updates here.

Also read: Delightful locations that remind us why golfers love this sport