By Joy Chakravarty
In Monday’s first practice round, Bhutan’s Dechen Lhendup reached the fifth hole of Te Arai Links and decided to stop and walk to the beach behind the green.
In 25 years of living, it was his first time at a beach.
“I have never been to one. Obviously, we do not have any oceans in Bhutan. The water was mesmerising. It was a beautiful moment for me,” said Lhendub, with the smile that never leaves his face.
Dechen shot rounds of 86-81 to miss the cut in the 17th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, the second time he has played in the event after making his debut in Japan in 2024.
But the man who hails from the ‘Happiest Country in the World’ is perfectly happy.
“I am so happy to be here. I am happier than players who are leading. This has been a great learning experience for me. I have never seen a golf course that is as beautiful as Te Arai Links. I made so many friends. I have learned new shots. And, most importantly, I have been to a beach,” said Lhendup, who plays at Drakpoi Golf Club, a nine-hole course 15 minutes' drive north of the capital, Thimphu, with stunning views of the Himalayan mountain range.
"“I am so happy to be here. I am happier than players who are leading."
To be fair to Lhendup, it was a noteworthy performance at Te Arai Links for several reasons.
This is the first time he has seen a links course. This is also the first time he has played in gusting winds that reached 35-40 miles per hour. The greens he practiced on are slow and flat and not as firm and undulating as this week. But the biggest difference was playing at 70 feet above sea level, after spending all his life hitting balls at more than 7,500 feet altitude.
“I usually hit my driver around 305-310 yards at Drakpoi or Royal Thimphu. Here, my best drive was going 270 yards because of the wind and the altitude. I was like ‘Oh my God!’ I had to quickly adjust to the new yardage from all my clubs,” said Lhendup, who loves watching videos of Tiger Woods for his golfing inspiration.
“I have also never played in wind like this. After the first round I spent some time with my friend Rahul (Biswakarma, of Nepal) and he taught me how to hit a low cut. I tried hitting several low cuts in Friday’s second round and it was a lot better. Even though it was windier that day I improved on my first-round score by five shots.”
Bhutan has two good nine-hole courses. There are nearly 250 golfers in the country but Dechen reckons that number is growing.
“I have felt that more people are playing golf now. I was lucky that my father was in the army and I lived near a golf course. It was my brother and sister who forced me to join a junior camp at Drakpoi. They don’t play anymore but I can’t live without golf,” Lhendup added.
“I think we should have a few more camps like the one I attended. And we should have a few tournaments. That would make us slightly better prepared for tournaments like this.
“It’s also difficult to get equipment back home. I am very lucky to have a sponsor, a businessman who loves golf. He helps me with some travel and equipment. I think we can do a lot better if we have some more support.”
The 2027 AAC is scheduled for Hoiana Shores in Vietnam another links-style course. And Lhendup is intent on making history for his country.
“I have a better idea of playing on a links course and greens like this. I know the things I have to work on. I don’t know how I can replicate these conditions back home but I will be better prepared,” he said.
“I want to thank Augusta National Golf Club, The R&A and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation for giving us this wonderful opportunity. My dream is to make the cut in this Championship. I may have missed out this year but I promise I will come back as a better golfer next year.”
Lhendup’s flight back home is on Tuesday. He has a full day planned for Monday. If you want to find him, he will be sitting on the beach somewhere behind the fifth green, staring at the ocean.
