golf in kazakhstaN
Well, there's plenty of room!
By Mike Pickup, Mike writes about travel for numerous newspapers and magazines, both consumer and trade, and has over a hundred features published each year. He is also the Editor of Holiday Magazine and a professionally trained photographer. For more information click here
Kazakhstan is not a country one would normally associate with golf. Indeed, under Soviet rule the game was regarded as a decadent western sport and was not allowed. However, as the world’s largest landlocked country, and ninth largest overall, there’s plenty of room for a few courses.
In December 1991 Kazakhstan gained independence from the USSR and the recently-retired Nursultan Nazarbayev was appointed its first president. During a visit to the US three years later he was introduced to the game of golf but a further two years elapsed before he gave his support to a nine-hole course, Interlux, which opened in 1996 at Alatau, just outside the then capital, Almaty.
However, such was the interest in membership that the course was expanded to an 18 hole course. The new course, known as Nurtau Golf Club, is a par 72, 6916yds course and was opened in 2004 with an inaugural match between the then President and Colin Montgomerie.
In December 1991 Kazakhstan gained independence from the USSR and the recently-retired Nursultan Nazarbayev was appointed its first president. During a visit to the US three years later he was introduced to the game of golf but a further two years elapsed before he gave his support to a nine-hole course, Interlux, which opened in 1996 at Alatau, just outside the then capital, Almaty.
However, such was the interest in membership that the course was expanded to an 18 hole course. The new course, known as Nurtau Golf Club, is a par 72, 6916yds course and was opened in 2004 with an inaugural match between the then President and Colin Montgomerie.
The course was also the first home of the Kazakhstan Open golf tournament which is now part of the European tour. With prize money of £400,000 it is one of the richest on the tour and winners have included Tommy Fleetwood.
The Zhailjau Golf Resort is a more recent addition. Designed by legendary Arnold Palmer in 2006, this championship-standard 18-hole course is in a delightful setting with the Tien Shan mountains providing a dramatic backdrop. The club’s Dali restaurant is popular with locals and there are saunas and spas. Green fees are from around £60 on weekdays and £80 and week-ends. The course now alternates with Nurtau in hosting the Kazakhstan Open.
Kazakhstan’s new capital recently changed its name from Astana to Nur-Sultan, but many of the organisations have stayed with the old name. One of these is the Astana Golf Club, a 72 par 18 hole course around ten miles from the centre of the city and opened in 2000.
Due to the extreme temperatures, the course is not open in the winter months. Green fees are similar to those at Zhailjau and the clubhouse has a restaurant offering European and Asian dishes.
For non-golfing days or partners, there is much to see. The old capital, Almaty, is the country’s largest city. The most striking attraction is magnificent Russian Orthodox Zenkov Cathedral. It is the largest wooden cathedral in the world and was built entirely without nails. It’s situated in Panfilov Park, named after a Russian General who commanded a group of soldiers from Kazakhstan in World War Two. A memorial to fallen servicemen contains a section of the Berlin Wall.
Almaty narrowly lost out to Beijing to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. One of the key locations is the vast open-air Medeu skating rink, built on the site of the rock and mud Medeu dam designed to protect the city from mud slides. The ice is so good that over two hundred world records have been broken there. A short gondola ride up the mountain takes visitors to the Shymbulak ski resort, where visitors have included Prince Harry.
Almaty narrowly lost out to Beijing to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. One of the key locations is the vast open-air Medeu skating rink, built on the site of the rock and mud Medeu dam designed to protect the city from mud slides. The ice is so good that over two hundred world records have been broken there. A short gondola ride up the mountain takes visitors to the Shymbulak ski resort, where visitors have included Prince Harry.
The new capital which, as mentioned, recently changed its name from Astana to Nur-Sultan, is a purpose-built city and noted for its amazing architecture. The Khan Shatry shopping mall, one of a number of buildings designed by Norman Foster, is the world’s largest tent. It contains three floors of shops but on the fourth floor is the Sky Beach Club, complete with sand from the Maldives. How bizarre that for around £30 you can spend a day at the beach in the world’s largest landlocked country!
Dominating the skyline is the Baiterek Tower and other buildings worth a visit are the Presidential Palace, a cross between the White House and a mosque, and the nearby abstract-styled concert hall.
Dominating the skyline is the Baiterek Tower and other buildings worth a visit are the Presidential Palace, a cross between the White House and a mosque, and the nearby abstract-styled concert hall.
There's an art gallery shaped like a doggy bowl, the pyramid Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, also a Norman Foster design, and the national museum. The best bit of the museum is the gold room containing thousands of gold items and a suit of armour dating back around six thousand years, and they are all in perfect condition.
There's no doubt that if you're looking for somewhere totally different to play golf, Kazakhstan takes a lot of beating!
GETTING THERE
The national airline, Air Astana, is 49% owned by British Aerospace and has been named ‘Best Airline in India and Central Asia’ for the last seven years. It operates daily flights from London Heathrow to Nur-Sultan with a ninety minute connection to Almaty. To book, call the London office on 01293 874910 or visit www.airastana.com
There's no doubt that if you're looking for somewhere totally different to play golf, Kazakhstan takes a lot of beating!
GETTING THERE
The national airline, Air Astana, is 49% owned by British Aerospace and has been named ‘Best Airline in India and Central Asia’ for the last seven years. It operates daily flights from London Heathrow to Nur-Sultan with a ninety minute connection to Almaty. To book, call the London office on 01293 874910 or visit www.airastana.com
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