A celebration took place at the Ashgabat Golf Club on Tuesday, attended by representatives of embassies and international organizations accredited in Turkmenistan, as well as enthusiasts of an active lifestyle, golf players with prior experience, and those who are just planning to take up this sport, which is quite popular in various parts of the world.

Golf, as many believe, originated in Scotland. However...

But why there? After all, there is ample evidence that games similar to golf existed among many peoples, including the Turkmens.

Thus, opening the Ashgabat Golf Club in October 2017, National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stated that national games and pastimes, among which "chilik-hekgal" (or simply "chilik") closely resembles modern golf, have been passed down to us from ancient times.

But the fact is that it was in Scotland that this game acquired modern features and spread around the world at the end of the 19th century. The same story as with football, which was played by the ancient inhabitants of the planet in many corners of the world, but officially the birthplace of the "football game" is considered to be England.

And it all derives from the fact that in England in 1863 the rules of the game were developed and published, generally accepted for all participants of the competitions, which were held within the framework of the Football Association, incidentally, the first in the world.

Although the first written mention of golf in the Netherlands dates back to 1297, describing a game played with a stick and a leather ball, it was in Scotland that golf clubs first appeared and the rules of the game were first formulated for everyone."

Moreover, in the XV century, a game similar to golf was mentioned in two documents of the Scottish Parliament, which (hard to believe!) prohibited... playing "gouf". Local legislators were convinced that this game distracts the subjects of the kingdom from more important pursuits.

Incidentally, this is additional evidence of the game's widespread popularity if parliamentarians felt compelled to legislate against it...

And seven years ago, the first golf club was opened in Turkmenistan. This was a significant event in the sporting life of the country, considering that golf was little known in Turkmenistan until then. And yesterday, thanks to the efforts of entrepreneurs, a renovated restaurant was launched here, offering harmoniously balanced meals and a variety of healthy drinks.

One of the organizers of the celebration told us about it....

...Let me remind you that the club itself was built on the basis of the ideas of the famous American golfer Jack Nicklaus, who specially visited Ashgabat to develop the project.

So golf as a sporting discipline has a rich history, which began on the green meadows of Scotland and spread all over the world, and in recent years, thanks to the support of the government and the efforts of enthusiasts, has been gaining fans in white-marble city of Ashgabat.

And this is good, because it is believed that golf develops many qualities necessary in life - both physical and psychological. And it would not be superfluous to mention them.

So, golf requires constant walking on the course, which helps to strengthen the cardiovascular system. And this has a direct impact on a person's overall endurance.

Powerful strokes on the ball (incidentally, a golf ball resembles an ordinary stone in terms of gravity, rigidity and strength) help a person develop speed and strength qualities.

At the opening ceremony of the Ashgabat Golf Club, National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that golf develops reaction, attentiveness, and coordination of movement, develops strategic thinking, helps prevent diabetes and depression, and has a positive impact on increasing life expectancy.

He also added that golf requires focus on the ball and a precise calculation of the trajectory of the shot. I was personally convinced of this when I tried to compete for the grand prize in a competition organized immediately among the participants of the ceremony.

It should be added that the game often lasts several hours, which is both a test and a lesson in controlling emotions and patiently waiting for the right moment.

Another important feature is that it is a confrontation where there is no refereeing. But as far as I know, there are no arguments, much less conflicts, between opponents during a game of golf. Respect and etiquette are the constant companions of the game of real gentlemen.

All these qualities make golf not only a pleasant pastime, but also a useful tool for personal growth. It is appropriate to remind that on Saturday, 29 June, the Open Day will be held in the golf club from 9.00 to 13.00. Everyone is invited to play golf or to learn how to do it, or simply watch how others do it.

Speaking of the competition between the guests of the celebration, the first place and the main prize went to Mr Li Yue, Advisor for Trade and Economic Affairs of the Chinese Embassy.

The main prize, by the way, was kindly provided by the network of shops "Uzum Market".

The second place was also won by Mr Li's diplomatic colleague.

What is this: a happy coincidence of circumstances, favor of fate or some kind of regularity?

Perhaps the latter... There were times when the Mongol Yuan dynasty ruled over the vast territory of the Celestial Empire. But in the second half of the XIV century, as a result of a popular uprising, the Mongol dynasty was overthrown, and the Chinese Ming dynasty came to power. It was during that period in the domains of the great empire began to cultivate a game that very much resembles modern golf.

So it is possible that the first two winners have awakened something in the corners of their historical memory... And you, too, perhaps, it has not yet been completely erased. Come to the golf club and we'll check it out.

Bekdurdy AMANSARYYEV