Armenia is a landlocked and extremely mountainous country, with Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north and Iran to the south, it’s no surprise that Armenia has a rich and varied cultural tapestry. Situated on the ancient Silk Road, this former Soviet state has struggled economically and physically with neighbouring Azerbaijan since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Needless to say, golf is not high on the country’s agenda, but there are vague signs of interest in the sport among the Armenian people and expatriates. Located at Yerevan, Ararat Valley Golf and Country Club is Armenia’s first golf course. It’s just a 9-holer but it’s the only real golf to be played in the Caucasus region. This promising start was supported by the establishment of the Armenia Golf Federation in 2006 and so we look forward to watching the growth and development of golf in this exciting country.

Freelance writer Ashley Kalagian Blunt recently spent a couple months in Armenia, which included a tour of the Ararat Valley golf course. Click here to read Ashley’s article