This story is from the incredible 4 months I spent in Bhutan -Ed

The Bhutanese army is a definite presence in the country; and they are men and women of peace.  Well trained and disciplined, at the same time devoted Buddhists, this military represents enlightened rulership.

And they love golf!  On the Dechen Choling army rifle range, is a nine hole course that could be the model for one of those calendars of fantasy golf holes.  Cows mow the fairways, much as the sheep did at early Saint Andrews, the home of golf.  On some holes I felt as if I were looking at a fairway the width of a bowling alley, with a miniature green in the distance perched on a small mountain.  In short, intimidating.

During my time here, I kept hearing of `the Generals’, three highest ranking officers, who not only played golf, but also philosophized about this game that is such an enigma to many.  I finally met them at the Royal Thimpu course, and was invited out for a game at their unique course.

This turned out to be one of the most memorable of the thousands of golf games I have played in my life.  Not playing much, and teaching a lot eventually has taken its toll on my performance.  That, combined with a bag of clubs stitched together from the juniors sets, and a course that was a combination of star wars and Disneyland, led to a less than stellar performance from me.  I played like a clown.

But it didn’t seem to matter.  They were supportive, funny, and super story tellers. It was a round of golf that felt like a great massage, or a wonderful meal.  It flowed like honey.  I knew it was going to be a special day, when, on the first hole, after half-topping a shot or two, I found my ball just short of the green.  As I looked down at the lie, I couldn’t miss the very large 4 leaf clover, just behind my ball.  All my life I have been looking for one of these, but until this moment have never found one.  I picked it and put it in a safe place, as a reminder of this special day.

Fittingly, on the last hole, Toli, not a General but a close attendant of the King who was our 5th member of the group, chipped in from a pretty impossible place to win a bunch of skins.

After the round, the attendants served tea and rice in a lovely meadow that is normally used as a classroom to teach military tactics.  Perhaps someday, that spot will become the officer’s grill in the clubhouse.  Thanks, gentlemen.  The guarding of your countries is in good hands.