No English township could be complete without a golf course. A suitable site was finally chosen close to Shimla at Naldehra (23 km). The Naldehra Golf links are one of the oldest in the country, and also the most 'sporting' east of the Suez. Located on a spur, the Naldehra course is crowned by a beautiful grove of deodar trees, and commands a spectacular view of the Shivalik ranges. The environs at Naldehra are so serene that Lord Lytton and LordCurzon, two of India's viceroys preferred it to their stately homes, and spent many weeks of their summer here. The Naldehra course is carpetted by a fine springy turf which requires little maintenance. The par 68 course is basically located in a bowl and has nine holes which can be back played to 18. The longest hole is the sixth at 370 yards; and the shortest, the fifth, with a yardage of 115. The undulating landscape demands lofty and sure shots, as a stray ball would tend to roll off the hillside into the 'out-of-bounds' areas. The greens are extremely fast and have to be read carefully. It is difficult to master the Naldehra course as a misjudged drive would change direction on hitting the rocky part of the fairway. Hazards on the course include an artificial water tank, cliffs with greens on the edges, and a local temple. A game of golf can be pleasantly interrupted by a colourful procession of hillfolk bringing a deity from a nearby village to confer with the deity at the Naldehra temple. It is well worth spending a night or two in the log huts in Naldehra's deodar forest. The woods are teeming with a variety of birds, and the apple orchards nearby offer fresh fruit. Naldehra is more than just a game of golf, it's a complete outdoor holiday.