There’s something deeply calming about playing golf in Bhutan. Maybe it’s the stillness of the mountains, the scent of pine in the air, or the quiet hum of prayer flags fluttering nearby. Here, the game feels less about chasing scores and more about finding peace in every swing.

Golf came to Bhutan quietly in the 1970s — not as a grand event, but as a simple curiosity. A visiting Indian military officer, with the blessings of Bhutan’s royal family, laid out a few holes in Thimphu’s open meadows. That’s how the story began — without fanfare, without expectations — just an experiment that slowly grew into a part of Bhutan’s sporting fabric.

From that humble start rose the Royal Thimphu Golf Course (RTGC) — Bhutan’s first official golf course. Over the years, it has become a landmark not just for golfers, but for anyone who loves the harmony between nature and sport.

RTGC is not your average course. It sits at around 2,500 meters above sea level, beside the grand Tashichho Dzong — one of Bhutan’s most important fortresses. It’s a 9-hole layout that plays like 18 when you switch tees, but what makes it truly special is the view. Every fairway opens to a panorama of mountains and monasteries, and every putt feels like a quiet prayer.

Locals often say, “You don’t just play golf here — you feel it.” And they’re right. The ball travels differently in the thin mountain air, the pace of the game slows, and time seems to stretch. It’s golf with soul.

In Bhutan, even a sport like golf finds its place in the country’s broader philosophy of Gross National Happiness. It’s not about luxury or competition — it’s about balance, joy, and connection. The caddies, many of whom have worked at RTGC for decades, share stories of how the course has become a second home — a place where laughter, friendship, and mindfulness meet.

Today, RTGC and newer courses like Dragpoi Golf Course keep the game alive in the capital. Visitors come not only to play but to experience what it means to be fully present — surrounded by the majesty of Bhutan’s natural beauty.

Golf in Bhutan is not about chasing birdies. It’s about chasing peace.
And that’s what makes it unlike anywhere else in the world.