A first encounter with the ocean
For Bhutan's Dechen Lhendup, the 2026 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in New Zealand brought an experience far beyond his scores. During a practice round at Te Arai Links, the 25-year-old walked from the fifth green towards the beach and saw the ocean up close for the first time in his life. His remarks were published by the championship organisers on 1 November 2026. This account draws on that original reporting; it is not an interview conducted by GOLFTWITT.
Lhendup plays at Drakpoi Golf Club, a nine-hole venue near Bhutan's capital, Thimphu. This was his second Asia-Pacific Amateur appearance after a debut in Japan in 2024. He missed the cut at Te Arai's South Course after rounds of 86 and 81. Yet he described the experience positively, emphasising the new friendships and skills it had given him rather than his place on the leaderboard.
Altitude, wind and unfamiliar greens
A major part of his learning came from the change in playing conditions. Back home, he is accustomed to golf at elevations above 7,500 feet. The coastal venue in New Zealand is close to sea level, while gusts during the championship reportedly reached 35–40 mph. The quicker, more undulating links greens also differed markedly from the relatively flat surfaces he knew.
Lhendup offered a personal comparison: his driver normally travels around 305–310 yards at home, whereas his best drive in New Zealand went roughly 270 yards. These are the player's own estimates from different settings, not a controlled equipment test. The change should not be attributed solely to altitude: wind and other conditions were also at work.
After the opening round, Nepalese golfer Rahul Biswakarma helped him practise a low, controlled cut shot intended to keep the ball's flight manageable in the wind. Lhendup tried that shape in the second round, improving by five strokes despite difficult conditions. The account does not establish that the new shot alone caused the better score.
A wider challenge for Bhutanese golf
The player also described the small scale of the sport in Bhutan. He would like to see more junior camps and competitive events, while noting that sourcing golf equipment can be difficult. A private sponsor helps cover some of his travel and equipment costs.
The next Asia-Pacific Amateur is scheduled for 2027 at Hoiana Shores in Vietnam. Lhendup hopes to return better prepared and, eventually, make the cut. His experience illustrates how entering an international championship can expose an amateur to course conditions and opportunities that may simply not exist at home.
Source: Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, original report by Joy Chakravarty published 1 November 2026, with course details from the organisers.
