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When I first saw
the words Bhutan and Golf together in the same sentence, I
had to look twice. Was this a Monty Python skit, or
maybe the theme of a golf joke? I was on the
conservative PGA of America members web site at the time,
looking to escape the Nova Scotia winter and work elsewhere
for a few months.
I thought, "isn't The Kingdom of Bhutan that hidden,
inaccessible, remote Buddhist Shangri-La way up in the
Himalayan Mountains? As great as this game is, surely
it isn't played there!"
I was wrong. I heard said the other day that golf is
`the new rock and roll', accepted by nearly everybody,
nearly everywhere. Tiger Woods is the most recognised
face on the planet. For the months of January through
April, I will be teaching at the Royal Thimpu Golf Club, as
well as going out into the even more remote areas of the
country, to teach. Every two weeks, I intend to post,
on this home page, a journal of my activities and
observations.
This part is being sent from the Ambassador Hotel in
Bangkok, Thailand, where I am resting for a few days after
22 hours of flying. Then on New Years Day (western new
year, Jan 1), I will fly to Delhi India, Katmandu Nepal,
past Mount Everest, to Paro, Bhutan. Each stop is a
first visit for me; I feel grateful that my livelihood,
teaching the game of golf, is affording me such an awesome
adventure.
Many thanks to Rick Lipsey, founder of the Bhutan Youth Golf
Association, and the many people who have assisted me with
advice on the country, books, warm clothing, and other gifts
for the trip. Thanks as well to the Royal Canadian
Golf Association for a package of hats, prizes, and teaching
handbooks from the successful Future Links Program.
Finally, thanks and love to my wife and daughter, for
'keeping the hearth warm' while I am gone. I look
forward to showing you both around when you come to visit.
Now, I’m off to get some authentic Thai food, and finalize
preparations for my upcoming assignment. I'll keep in
touch! |
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