The Asian Games tournament starts on Wednesday on the 7,134-yard, par-72 Dragon Lake Golf Club course. -Photo by Reuters

GUANGZHOU: The only golf course in Afghanistan is a rock-strewn nine-hole affair in the capital Kabul, which puts Ali Ahmad Fazel and Hashmattulah Sarwaree at a distinct disadvantage at the Asian Games.

The two are the first players from their war-ravaged country ever to compete at an Asiad or any other international golf event.

While the sport was introduced to the country more than 40 years ago, it is only since 2004 that the public have been allowed to play.

“Our national golf federation only formed two-and-a-half years ago,” said team coach Mohammad Jama Hekmati, who added that the lush greens of the Dragon Lake Golf Club were a real eye-opener.

His players are more used to sand and tar-covered fairways where ball finders are a necessity.

“The only thing we can do is play better,” he said.

“Compared to China, Singapore and Korea, Afghanistan has a short golfing history.

“We have practiced here and also back home, but none of our players have participated in an international competition before so, to be honest, I don’t expect them to win a medal.”

The Asian Games tournament starts on Wednesday on the 7,134-yard, par-72 Dragon Lake Golf Club course. -AFP