Whole in One - PuttPutt at Civil Mall, golf for everyone

Eagle, Double Eagle, Birdie, Bogie—these are some new words we’ll be learning soon at the new miniature golf and simulation facility—Putt-Putt. Re-introducing one of biggest sport in the world here in Nepal, with wider accessibility, as well as wider appeal with its multiple approaches, PuttPutt is the new cool thing in town.

Who won the last PGA Championship? No idea; but I’m sure I’m not the only one. Golf has never been that big in Nepal. The gears are quite expensive, there aren’t many golf courses around and general assumption is that it is an elite sport. On the other hand, internationally golf is a big sport—Tiger Wood was once the highest earning sports figure in the world. And in the corporate world golf is vital; as the saying goes—there are more business deals made on golf courses than in meeting rooms.

The recently launched PuttPutt at Civil Mall aims to reduce this divide, bringing golf for all ages, for all skill levels and for a bigger mass. Officially launched on 27 April, 2012, PuttPutt is the latest business venture of PG&G venture. Brain child of Prem Prabhat Gurung, Chairman of PG&G Group and a golfer himself, the 11,000 sq feet premise on the ground floor of Civil Mall introduces miniature golf and golf simulators for the first time in Nepal. There is an 18-hole mini golf facility for recreation, and for people looking for something serious there are 3 virtual golf simulators at PuttPutt.

At PuttPutt there is something for both kinds of golf enthusiasts—the ‘sports is for fun kind’ and the ‘sports is a passion’ kind. According to Nishant Shrestha, the Head of Marketing and Communication of Civil Mall, PuttPutt aims to make golf appeal to different groups of people—young and old, experienced and beginners. He says, “At PuttPutt, there is something for everyone—of any age group and any kind of golfing experience. If you are young and are looking for a place to hang out with your friends, you can come to PuttPutt and play mini golf. You can come with your kids and play mini golf with them. If you are enthusiastic to learn golf, you can come to PuttPutt and learn golf on our simulator without having to buy expensive golf gears. For experienced golfers, in times of bad weather, you can come to PuttPutt and work on your swing”.

Talking about the recreational golf facility or the mini golf facility at PuttPutt, it is the new fun filled destination for people of all ages. Following video game parlors and bowling alleys that hit us more than a decade ago, mini golf at PuttPutt is the new sensation in town. The miniature course includes 18 holes with different levels of difficulty. As the number increases, so does the difficulty, with uneven terrain, curves, tunnels, boulders, rocks, logs and other animated obstacles. A round costs NRs. 200 per person, with which a player can complete the whole 18 holes course. A game can be played between 4 players at most, and with most rules as same as actual golf, the games can be fun and a bit competitive. Water fountains, artificial animals and varieties of plants surround the miniature golf course, providing a Tropical Jungle like ambience to the venue. With the beautifully laid out ambience of the venue and the exciting golf tracks, Putt-Putt provides a unique setting for everyone to enjoy. Putt-Putt miniature golf can be enjoyed by anyone, it does not have any age bar, and the game is simple and exciting at the same time, so anyone can easily catch it.

Coming to the serious aspects of the game, the simulators at PuttPutt provide a complete real-life golfing experience through the means of technology. Encompassing all the real aspects of the game, including real clubs and balls, and real life golf course settings, the golf simulators emulate all the intricate details of the sport. Golf simulation provided at PuttPutt uses Bogolf, a top end golf simulation system that uses Super High Speed Camera System to capture ball flight information, such as ball speed, launch angle and spins. The simulator provides real life 3D simulation with more than 50 options of international golf courses, including Augusta Georgia (Masters Championship Course). The simulation system also includes advance projector for 3D imaging and force absorbing projection screens.

The simulator is accessible to both beginners and advance players. For experienced players, simulator is a great indoor option to work on their swings, without having to worry about the weather. For the ones who want to start learning golf, PuttPutt provides training sessions from Sachin Bhattarai from Royal Nepal Golf Club. A full training for 10 days costs NRs. 4,500. Shrestha assures me, “A full training at Putt Putt with the simulator will get anyone ready for actual golf outdoor”. The training facility at Putt Putt is a great way to introduce the young generation to the sport. Trainings are also aimed at business personnel, for knowing golf can be crucial in securing international business deals. As golf is a major aspect of corporate world in some countries outside, golfing maybe a skill worth learning.

Also having a bar serving a wide range of beverages and a huge area, one can always find a nice spot at the premise to relax between the games. Having swung golf clubs all day, a drink or two at the bar can be great way to rejuvenate for another round of golf.

With these new modern facilities at the heart of the city, PuttPutt has re-introduced golf with a completely new perspective. It has introduced both serious and fun aspect of golf, making it appealing to people of all age groups and golfing experience. PuttPutt has made golf accessible to a wider mass and learning golf does not require a large sum of money anymore. At the same time a new recreational facility is in town giving us all a reason to be excited once again. Golf has not made it big in the country yet, that might just start to change now.