Out of the Loop

Thanks to skillz, I think we've found a formidable site for this years Daler Mehndi Invitational.  It appears that the Kabul Golf Club in Kabul, Afghanistan has gracefully allowed us to use its breathtaking facilities in late August of 2004.

Luckily, our deep ties with the Gidwani family allowed us access to such a prestigious course and resort.

If anyone is interested in playing, sponsoring, or caddying in the tournament, please let us know via e-mail.  We will post the rates as soon as we get them here on the web, and also via e-mail.  If anyone can donate spare HazMat suits or gas masks it would be greatly appreciated as it appears the course can sometimes get caught in the line of fire.

This years tournament will benefit the Anti-Human-Trafficking Association (AHTA) which was started by Mr. Mehndi months ago in an effort to combat the growing problem of overseas human trafficking.

After speaking with Mohammad Afzal Abdul, the 46-year-old club professional, he assured us that the weekend would go off without a hitch, and that adequate lodging is available at the resort.  He would like to remind players that they will be allowed to tee-up from anywhere on the course, and should their ball go beyond the orange “old-mine-field“ stakes, not to go looking for it.  “It's a free drop in the drop area and you don't have to take a penalty stroke.  We lost a couple members last year in the field, so we had the orange stakes installed.  Our main goal is keeping the members happy and safe.  We respect the members, and they in turn respect the Club.“

The fairways will be cut tight, and the greens will be rolling fast, so bring your best game and a full wallet.  Let's help support Mr. Mehndi, and the Kabul Golf Club.

For more information on the spectacular Kabul Golf Club and Resort visit this link.

-schrags

Alas, we have found adequate facilities to host some of the US's finest players. Special thanks to our brown friend and his family's extensive 'network' in the middle-east. Afghani golf is terribly underrated, and we will be lucky to take advantage of the low rates currently being offered as they are looking to grow their truly premier facility. In addition to the orange stakes to denote the old mine field we will be distributing special handheld mine detectors as part of this years outing. The after-golf cocktail hour and dinner will offer members the opportunity to participate in a silent auction for some truly wonderful items; including native Afghani garb from the days of the Taliban, and autographed golf memorobilia from your favorite Afghani golf professionals.

Dinner will offer a taste of truly wonderful, traditional Afghan cuisine featuring everyone's favorite, Mama's flash-bang curry bombs, definitely a treat. Hope to see you all there.

Travel arrangements can be made with, Ariana (Afghan Airways)
Official Airline of the 2004 Daler Mendhi Invitational and Kabul Golf Club

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/506123/L/

sign me up, i'll bring a foursome

im in, for sure. just wondering where we will be staying and how we will be transported to and from the golf club. im assuming bus is out of the question due to this vessel's popular form of mass murder. finally, i believe flak jackets should be issued although this might interfere with the traditional indian garb. actually forget that idea. this is supposed to be an adventure right?

yours truly,
Hamuel

Good observation Hamuel, certainly any form of bus transportation is out of the question and we are looking into armored golf carts.

I am very interested in participating in the tournament. Judging by the plethora of pictures, it appears that Kabul Golf Resort's amenities rival many of the TPC courses. The layout appears to offer 18 breath-taking and challenging holes, designed by world-renown architects. In fact, Kabul is a perennial favorite of golf afficionados everywhere.
Moreover, I would like to applaud the inexhaustible effort of kabul's ground crew. There indefatigable work ethic is evident in the overall wonderful shape of the golf grounds. Perhaps, the carefull attention and tiresome work ethic of the staff is what has propelle kabul to be one of the most highly sought after tee time in the world. Also, the board members of Kabul should be commended for setting inexplicable greens fees and annual membership dues. The lack of affordable prices has plagued many top United States courses. How can America's top courses compete with green fees set at 500 afghani which translates to $10? Or even better, how can Augusta somehow subsidize its yearly membership down from just over $200,000 to a mere $60 a year. The answer is simple, it cannot.
A word of warning to potential Kabul golfers. Kabul is not your typical local park district course. Thus, it takes its dress code and very serious, in order to preserve the rich tradition of Kabul. The proper dress code requires tapered dress slacks for men. Also, dunlop irons and wilson golf balls are frowned upon. Dockers stain resistant britches are recommended due to the abundance of dust. Women must be covered completely from head to toe. In fact, the club shop sells specially designed ashworth. For a sneak peak of this afghanistan collection for women by ashworth please visit the site below

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1345019.stm

Lastly, I was wondering if anyone was going to arrive a few days early to play a practice round or perhaps hone your skills at there cutting edge golf academy. If you arrive early, please post the green speed. I do not believe a Stimpmeter will allow you verify the green speed, due to Kabul's rather unorthodox approach of eliminating the green all together. Just curious if perhaps a ProV1 would be the best decision, considering feel is not the upmost concern when putting on arid soil. In any event, I am anxiously awaiting the opportunity to play at such a prestigious course. Also, I am excited about the opportunity to network at such a remarkable course. Soon I will graduate from college and will be looking for a job. I believe Kabul will allow me the chance to forge strong ties with many industry leaders. Undoubtedly, there will be a plethora of high powered amabssadors, diplomats, and OPEC official present at the tournament.