Golf in Mongolia

Golf in Mongolia is a small but real niche. A handful of golf courses operate in the valleys around Ulaanbaatar during the short summer season, and the endless grassland has inspired the idea of "steppe golf", hitting a ball across open country with no fairways at all. Mongolia is not a classic golf destination, but for a keen golfer it can add an unusual round to a wider trip. Course details change, so confirm everything directly with the club or your tour operator.

Golf courses near Ulaanbaatar

Most of Mongolia's golf is concentrated near the capital. Courses have been developed since the 2000s, several with foreign investment and partners, and they are set in the river valleys and hills around the city, often with views of the mountains surrounding Ulaanbaatar. Some are full 18-hole layouts, others are shorter courses or driving ranges, and facilities range from simple clubhouses to resort-style settings with restaurants.

The number of courses, their names and their status change over time, so this handbook does not list them. To find a current option, ask your hotel's concierge or a Ulaanbaatar-based tour operator, and contact the club directly about green fees, club rental, caddies, dress code and whether visitors need to book through a member.

The golf season and playing conditions

The playable season is short, roughly from late May to September, with June to August the most reliable months. Winters are far too cold for golf, and spring is windy and dry.

• Altitude: Ulaanbaatar lies at about 1,350 m, so the ball tends to fly a little farther than at sea level.
• Wind: gusty afternoon winds are common and change club selection quickly.
• Turf: with a dry climate and short growing season, fairways and roughs may be firmer and less manicured than you are used to.
• Weather: summer thunderstorms can arrive fast; leave the course when you hear thunder.

Steppe golf: playing on the open grassland

The Mongolian steppe looks like one enormous fairway, and that idea has caught the imagination of golfers. In 2003 and 2004 the American golfer André Tolme famously "golfed across Mongolia", playing a single, very long hole from east to west, and later wrote a book about the journey. Today some travellers bring a club and a few balls on countryside trips to hit shots across empty grassland, often as a lighthearted challenge with drivers and guides. There is no formal infrastructure: you set your own "holes" and targets.

Etiquette for golf in the countryside

• Never hit towards or near livestock, herders, gers, vehicles or other travellers.
• Stay well away from ovoo (stone cairns), monasteries, graves and other sacred sites.
• Watch out for marmot burrows, which can cause twisted ankles, and keep clear of the marmots themselves.
• Respect protected areas and follow ranger rules; some parks prohibit off-trail activities.
• Collect every ball and any rubbish you bring. Lost balls are litter on grazing land.

Practical tips

• Bring your own clubs if you are serious; rental sets may be limited.
• Pack sunscreen, a hat and a windproof layer, since the sun at altitude is strong.
• Allow for traffic: getting to courses outside the centre can take longer than the distance suggests.
• Check whether payment is by card, QR or cash, and confirm prices in advance, as they change.