Two British men are travelling over 10,000 miles to build the first ever golf course in Turkmenistan. The course will be opened on August 3rd and be located next to the famous ‘Gates of Hell’ – a giant gas sinkhole that has been burning for over 40 years..
London-based Patrick Colquhoun and Anthony Millet, who together make-up Team Mongolf, are taking part in the 2015 Mongol Rally – an annual event where teams travel from London to Mongolia with the aim of raising money for charity. The rally started on July 18 and will end in the Russian city of Ulan Ude on August 24.
Unlike the rest of the participating field, Patrick and Anthony have added another layer to their challenge. As part of their trip, they have committed to playing a round of golf per day, per country as part of their route, taking in 17 different courses in 17 different countries. Part of this commitment is building a course to play in Turkmenistan, which does not currently have a golf course.
Upon arrival in Turkmenistan, Team Mongolf will measure out a nine-hole course, replicating a regular golf course by establishing potential greens near hazards. Following the inaugural round, the course will remain open to the public to use.
The team’s progress is being tracked throughout using golf app Hole19, one of the sponsors of the expedition, which is also mapping the course in Turkmenistan for others to use in the future. The course is being funded through donations and with equipment provided by sponsors, including Yonex Golf.
Commenting on the idea, Milett said: “Seeing as we are attempting to drive to Mongolia anyway, we figured why not play golf along the way – in fact, why not play golf in every country we travel through. The idea has resulted in a list of 18 courses, ranging from the elite to the default – the only one in the country. In Turkmenistan, we are building our own course as close to the famous Gates of Hell as possible using equipment we have brought with us.”
The Mongol Rally covers 10,000 miles across the mountains and desert, travelling through mainland Europe, into Western Europe and the former Soviet Union, including places such as Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, before finally finishing in Mongolia. There is no backup support and no set route for the teams taking part, with the only rules stipulating that the car must be unsuitable for the anticipated terrain. The Mongolf team is driving a vintage 1986 Porsche 944 with 138,000 miles on the clock. To date Team Mongolf has raised £25,000 for its chosen charity, St George’s Ethiopia.
To donate to Team Mongolf please visit the JustGiving page here, while more information can be found about the Mongol Rally on the website and live progress of the team can be tracked by visiting www.teammongolf.com