Kabul Golf Club Hat
Located in a beautiful valley near Lake Qargha about 7km from Kabul stands the Kabul Golf Club, also known as the "world's most dangerous golf course". The 9-hole course has a troubled past but always stands as a beacon of freedom, peace, and defiance in the face of the Taliban.
We wanted to release our interpretation of the clubs hat. A symbol of hope, positivity and the universal love of golf. A way to spread awareness for those living it every day in the center of a war zone.
The situation in Afghanistan has changed. Right now, it is incredibly hard to get any sort of aid into the country. We are not even sure if the club still exists since the US left Afghanistan in August 2021. Until we hear more on the state of the club and its members, ALL profits will go directly to the International Rescue Committee helping displaced Afghan refugees rebuild their lives in Southern California.
Originally six holes, the course opened in 1967 and was a playground for diplomats and Afghan royalty. It was then closed after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. In 1987, it was a caught in a crossfire between the Soviets and the Afghan Army's 8th Division. At one point, an informal truce was formed by the government so that guerillas and Western diplomats visit to play golf. It was reopened in 1993 but closed shortly after in 1996 when the Taliban banned sports.
After the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, the course was used as an area for military training in the removal of land mines. In the process of restoration, three Soviet tanks and a multiple rocket launchers were removed by a nonprofit agency.
In 2004 the Kabul Golf Club was reopened again while also encouraging and allowing women to play the course on opening day. In 2011, a fund-raising effort was underway with the goal of restoring the golf course and clubhouse. Since then, play on the course has been sporadic and at the mercy of the local security situation. Currently, the club has been reclaimed by the Taliban and the state of it is unknown.
