articles by chris in mongolia

One man hits a ball across Mongolia

MONGOLIA SEEMS to attract a certain breed of foreigner, and those who love the country share certain characteristics - a pioneer attitude, a lot of patience, a tough posterior, a love of spontaneity and an appreciation for the absurd. Summer has brought many tourists and travelers to the country, among them some interesting individuals on interesting missions.

One such man is Andre Tolme, who has decided to turn Mongolia into a giant 18-hole golf course, the distance between each hole measuring 140km. The Mongolian steppe may seem perfect for golf, but when you consider the clumps of grass, the marmot holes, the hidden rocks and ditches, the idea of going for a quiet Sunday game of golf doesn't seem quite so simple. Apart from those factors, consider the size of the country and the inaccessibility of most areas. Tolme's idea of hitting a golf ball from the eastern side of the country to the west begins to sound like some extended form of torture. Either that, or a huge physical challenge. Golfers are not particularly renowned for their adventurous spirit, so Tolme obviously has a pioneering attitude and hopefully, a large reserve of patience.

Tolme first came to Mongolia in September 2001, and has been travelling almost continuously through Asia and Australasia since then. He started playing golf at the age of ten, and although he is not a professional golfer, he says he loves the game because it is mixture of technique and concentration, and that 'no matter how good you are, you can always get better'. His trip across Mongolia combines his two great loves - golf and travel.

Ulaanbaatar is hole number six on the trip, and it took Tolme five weeks to reach the capital, coming on foot from Choibalsan. He walked the first three holes, carrying his own clubs, balls, water and tent. After enduring this trek, he bought a metal cart, which he dragged all the way to UB. He spontaneously donated the cart to a family on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, no doubt sick of the sight of it. He is now looking for a Mongolian traveling companion with a horse and cart, a camel or a jeep.

Through this trip to Mongolia, Tolme hopes to raise international awareness about Mongolia and the problems faced by the country. He will be updating his website - www.golfmongolia.com - from aimag centres, keeping readers up to date with how many balls he has lost (186 so far - donations welcome) and describing his encounters with wolves, electric storms and country veterinarians. Individual and private company sponsors from the US are supporting the first-ever 'adventure golf' expedition in Mongolia.

Tolme plans to reach the final hole in Dund-Us in October. His handicap is 15.

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Inner Visions

NEXT WEDNESDAY, June 11th, 2003, the Union of Mongolian Artists Art Gallery will be opening its doors to celebrate the show called 3 Perspectives on Botany & Medicine. The show will feature over 45 pieces and is the product of a collaboration between American and Mongolian artists. Modernist painter, S. Sarantsatsralt (known as Tsatsa), commercial graphic designer, Alan Lapp, and scientific illustrator, Zina Deretsky are exhibiting works that all share the common themes of botany and medicine. Each artist brings a unique vision, approach and medium to his or her work.

Ms. Deretsky and Mr. Lapp are a husband-and-wife team and have been in Mongolia for nearly a year on a scholarship from the Luce Foundation. Ms. Deretsky has collaborated with the Botanical Institute of the
Mongolian Academy of Sciences on a calendar featuring plants of the Eastern Steppe. On display will also be medical pieces she is contributing to the First Hospital and other hospitals around the city through collaboration with an American doctor.

During their stay in Ulaanbaatar, Mr. Lapp has had a chance to explore making artwork for himself, and not just as a commercial endeavor. His botanical images are based on photographs he has taken here and in his travels through Asia. His medical pieces relate to his position on the receiving end of the Western medical industry.

Prominent and energetic UB artist, Tsatsa, has always been fascinated with surgery. In this show, she expresses her feeling about discovering the inside of a human being. Her botanical pieces play along and against the plant themes chosen by Zina and Alan.

The exhibit will be of particular interest not only to the art community, but also to members of the science and medical communities of Ulaanbaatar. Support for the exhibit was granted by the US Embassy.
Doors are open to everyone. Union of Mongolian Artists Art Gallery (across from the Central Post Office, on 2nd floor next to Sapphire Thai Restaurant). Show opening: Wednesday, June 11th,2003; 6:00pm. Show runs June 11th through 13th. Gallery is open 10 to 5 daily.

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Posted by christiane at 3:24 PM.