Royal Thimphu Golf Club ☆ Follow

Located in Thimphu, Bhutan, at an altitude of 2,300 meters, the Royal Thimphu Golf Club is a nine-hole course with a total par of 36. The layout features three par-3 holes, four par-4 holes, and two par-5 holes. The course is situated near the iconic Tashichho Dzong and includes strategic water hazards and bunkers. The course was established in 1971 under the dedication of Major General T.V. Jeganathan, Commander of the Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT). It was Bhutan’s first nine-hole golf course, initially built on barren land with browns instead of greens. The initiative was supported by the Bhutanese monarchy, particularly His Late Majesty the Second Druk Gyalpo, who sought to create a recreational space while protecting the surrounding areas of Tashichho Dzong from overdevelopment. Significant transformations occurred in the late 1980s when American architect Stephen Kay redesigned the course, replacing the browns with lush greens. A major renovation in the early 1990s, funded by the Onishi Construction Company, further improved the terrain, drainage, and landscaping. The course was renovated again in 2015, a project that was acknowledged as the best renovated course in the country.