We put this question to a select group of PPDRDG Citizens:  "Hi Guys!  Its me, Ted, with the web page on DG that you foolishly checked in on and left your email address... Anyway, I have a favor to ask of you:  I need to know!  Is there a golf course there?  Somebody told me there was one, but maybe I just misunderstood???  If there is one, I'd like to do a web page on it.  Not being a golfer (and if you recall, not a yachtsman either - what did I do on DG??? - oh yeah, I forgot, the alcoholic haze), I don't know anything about it (golfing or the Golf Course there).  When I was there but they were talking about building a 9-hole Par 3 on the site of the old dump (north of the powerplant on the ocean side).  Anyway, if one exists, does anybody have any info or photos they'd let me use?  Even if its just a miniature golf course.  Or just land-crab golfing."

15 out of 19 (79%) Believe there is a Golf Course on Diego Garcia.
  8 out of 19 (42%) Actually have seen a Golf Course on Diego Garcia.
  4 out of 19 (21%) Played Golf on a Golf Course on Diego Garcia.
  2 out of 19 (11%) Still lost in an alcoholic haze.

Hi Ted,  I have the same problem as you, it was the alcohol haze.  But it seems to me, I remember something about a golf course when I was there but something like only three holes - sorry I'm not much help.  I don't think the haze has
worn off yet. :)  Michelle

Ted - Ah, the golf course. Yes, they built the Par 3, 9-hole course on the old dump site. They, even installed a driving range and clubhouse a couple years back. There is even a miniature golf course, but it has been abandoned. I think there were four patrons (true!) over six months before they figured it was a wash out. They have closed holes 4 & 5 of the main course, though, due to the fact that due to space considerations the fairways overlap! Someone got beaned and they went from nine to seven holes. Greens are dirt, except for 8 & 9. BJS PW received a contract to put artificial turf on all nine holes. This contract was awarded when the CO was a golfer. The next CO cancelled the project. The turf remains in a warehouse.  Richard

Ted, Yes there is a golf course on DG.  It's about 2 miles south of downtown across the street from the Fil-Mau club (if that was there when you were!).  It's a 9-hole, par 32 course and a 250? yd driving range.  Holes 1-2 head out from the left of the old "clubhouse", 3 and 4 head back towards the clubhouse.  Holes 5 and 6 go BACK out away from the clubhouse, with holes 7-9 coming back.  The entire course, all 4 fairway corridors, is about 150-200 yds wide, thats just a guesstimation since I always played with plenty of beer on hand!  The "greens" were ground up coral, but BJS was working on putting in real greens when I left in Oct 99.  They did finish the new clubhouse (this one with AC!) before I left too.  Sorry I don't have pics, but I do have video of the course.  I'll check around with my friends for any pics they may have.  Hope this helps. ~Brian

Like i said, mine is still in progress.  there is one tho.  and still talk of doing a mini-golf...it's only been in the works for 12 years or more... Cindy

Yes there is a golf course on DG.  I don't know much about it because I didn't golf.  I think it was a Nine hole course and the putting greens were hard-packed crushed coral.  John

Ted - There is a golf course on DG.  Played it 3-4 times while I was there.  I even have some pics.  The course itself was ok.  You have to Tee off from elevated astroturf cause they would allow us to add bermuda grass.  The excuse was that they would know how it would effect the environment.  The "greens" were made of hard packed sand because of the same reason.  Now I haven't been there in about 4-5 years so it may have changed since I was there.  Let me know if I can be of any help on the page.  Bridget

Yes Ted, there was a golf course.  It wasn't much, nine holes and a driving range cut out of the coral.  It was just north across the road from the Fil-Mau Club, next to one of the Filipino villages and a stone's throw from the oceanside beach.  I never used it, I'm not a golfer.  But I understood it was pretty rough on clubs.  Cheers, Jeff

Yes.  Real short course. Four entire holes.  None longer than about 150 yds.  Hellacious sand traps.  Nasty Fairways.  And watch out for those land crabs!  Steve

When I was there '96 there was a large driving range...don't remember a golf course though.  Pennygail

Yes Ted, there is a Santa Clause.... Also, a Golf Course on DG.  At the end of 1994, three of us went out to that area you describe and put in 9 pipe flags at various locations with short pieces of line tied to the bottom of the pipe.  Each flag was numbered and the object was to hit the ball within the string.  If you did, you holed out.  This was our golf until about the begining of 1996 when we made a deal for some sand.  On a Sunday morning, (I remember it was the hottest day of the year), there were two of the original three left on the island.  We pulled up the pipe flags and put rolled plastic down then dumped crushed coral/sand over the plastic.  Comshawed a roller and rolled it out.  We placed the pipe flags back and around them placed a cup about the size of a dinner plate.  Now, you didn't have to pitch into the string length but, put on the sand/coral greens to inside the cup.   It improved and the Diego Garcia Golf Club was formed.  We challenged everyone.  People even brought their own clubs (at their own risk).  It really took off.  Night golf was played against the ROICC office and Contractors every month with trophies (hand made) given to the winner.  It became quite a rivalary.  Approximately a year later, we gained permission to cut back brush and expanded the length of the course.  However, it remained a 9 hole course but, you could get some tremendous drives.  When I left in 1998, plans had been drawn up and approved at the ROICC level for major improvements to include widening the course, putting in a practice putting area, and legal clubhouse.  My sources tell me a lot has been going on with the club.  So, to answer your question.... Yes, there is a golf course on dg.  Take care and keep up the good work president........Jack

yes there is a golf course.  Heather

Ted,  I never played on the course but yes there is one.  It is up by where the New PhilMau Club is.  If you walked out the front door (watching your backside all the way) and turned left, you would be looking at the parking lot of the golf course.  I was told that all of the "Greens" are "White" and the fairways are far from fair.  Dwight

Ted, yeah it's next to the seabreeze village. never went there myself.  Kurt

YES...there really is a golf course there, and a pretty darned nice one, too. In fact, Welfare & Rec $$$$ have been spent recently (during last 2 years) to improve and expand the course, grounds, and club house/19th hole!  Bob.....former Exec of DG who used to do astronomy from behind the hill on the 4th green (the hill blocked the wind and the village lights...)

There was no golf course there when I spent time on DG, but there was a lot of talk about building a miniature golf course with non-appropriated funds. It died a thousand deaths in conference committees. Also, while surveying for a fiber optic cable upgrade, I did see Navy personnel using one of the few large, grassy areas at C-site for a driving range. I don't know how long that lasted because it looked like more than a few of the balls ended up in the ocean.  Mark

The only thing that you forgot was the fact that the Air Force must have built the course.  Isn't that the first thing the Air Force does?  Marty

In 1981 I drove about 150 golf balls into the ocean in back of "C" site ... but guess that doesn't count!  Dusty

Ted- they're right, there is a golf course (as of may 98), I only played it once - fishing boats were booked, and (almost) too early to start drinking.  It was 9-hole, but I think you played 2 of them twice (7 holes).  Packed coral made up the greens.  When I left, the one green (I think it was the 1st hole) was the highest elevation of land on the Island,  I have a few pictures in a book, but I have no scanner to send them, I'll look for the negetives.... - Greg

Here's Lynn's story:  "I've been here since 1995.  I am the manager of the Navy Federal Credit Union office here.  I did interrupt my employment with NFCU to work for 18 months as the Human Resources Manager for the BJS contractor.  I was also president of the DGGA (Diego Garcia Golf Assn) for one year.  The driving range, clubhouse with our lovely attendant/cashier Terry, and a few shots around the course.  Hope you can use them.  We are in the process of installing the artificial turf greens to cover the crushed coral that we had been using.  2 down, 7 to go.  Also there are plans to expand from the present 7 holes to 9 holes.  We play 9 holes by playing #1 & 2 twice.  Par is 32.  6 par 3's, 1 par 4, 2 par 5's.  But the longest hole is only 350 yds, just  tough to keep the ball on the putting surface with your 2nd shot because it's really elevated.  So you're forced to layup and chip on."

Here's the Clubhouse itself, right there at the 7th Green!
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Here are some genuine Diego Duffers actually playing the course (and you thought we were kidding about their even being one!)....

Here's Terry, the best pro-shop manager within a thousand miles!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Driving Range - but you have to collect your own balls!
 
 
 
 
 

Tired of the "Club Scene"?  Tired of endless, drunken, wasted evenings?  Catch up on real golf inside the clubhouse on their big screen TV!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Proof Positive there's a Golf Course:  From Mrs. J. Daly, 8/28/00:  Hi Ted,  Just wanted to drop a quick note to say that the golf course does exist!  My husband, John Daly, practically lived on it when he was working (merchant marine)  in DG in 1999-2000.  He even  brought home a trophy that he won in a tournament there. I believe the golf course helped to keep him sane while he was there.
     Also, due to your site, I was able to help send him and his crew on a mission to see "Katie."  We have beautiful pictures of her.  What an interesting little island.  Very interesting site you have!  Sincerely, Mrs. J. Daly.

Another bad golf course: the one on the island of Diego Garcia, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Just south of the equator is where I spent 10 weeks after Sept. 11. The island has a course with nine holes that you play twice, and native grass grows on top of sand and coral.  AstroTurf tee boxes with AstroTurf, pint-sized greens that are as hard as the rock they lay on. Good shots usually hit rocks before or around the green and bounce wildly into the trees or thick weeds. No greens fees to speak of, which I guess covers the lack of maintenance.  — Dave Krueger, Charleston, S.C.

Editor's Response:  Well, Dave, next time, spend a whole fucking year out there, and not just a measly 10 weeks, and maybe you'll learn to appreciate even the fact that you could play golf at all.  After all, I'll bet Saint Andrews was pretty bad for the first couple hundred years or so...

Now you just MIGHT be able to purchase Coral Sands hats and shirts!
Northwest Embroidery makes them, and you can see them and maybe order them too.
Go to the ad!  (I don't get paid for the ad - its just a service for fellow Diegonians).
By the way, thanks to Jim Mickelson for the idea!

Meanwhile, Visit the Rest of The PPDRDG by Returning to the Site Map and Picking Another Page!

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This, and everything else I write and every photo I produce is copyrighted by Ted A. Morris, Jr.