Story & Photos by Jacob Neff #99277 — Cambodia Country Coordinator

As the sun rises over Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument, a unique event is taking shape. 

Players meander through this 1,200-year-old temple praying for a solid opening round at the Khmer Disc Golf Resort, located just 20 minutes away. As the monks chant their Sanskrit prayers in the iconic silhouetted pillars of Angkor Wat and the massive ancient trees consuming Ta Phrom Temple, the heat rises with the anticipation of winning the country’s most prestigious and longest lasting PDGA tournament: The Khmer Cup!

Cambodia’s premier competition is arguably the most culturally authentic experience on the annual Southeast Asia Tour. The 6th edition was held  February 14-16 and took players to a place that most tourists see from a guided tour or on a bus as they swiftly travel through. Even Angkor Wat can’t offer such an intimate experience with Cambodian culture and its people.

Penh Ban #240808 — Cambodia's top player

The course is strewn with herds of water buffalo that are typically carved into sculptures at Buddhist Temples, active rice patties, ancient water reservoirs. It commences with tight tunnel shots in thick jungle laden with bamboo, cactus, palm grass, mango trees, and palm trees. Then the track opens up to dry rice fields butted up against the jungle allowing for big long drives that risk the peril of water hazards.

An authentic Khmer Village that most people will only see in National Geographic magazines surrounds the course. However, the player is so immersed that they themselves become part of the village. The local children, who are now seasoned golfers themselves, help spot discs and assist in retrieving errant shots from the water and other unforeseen OB liess. They know all the likely places a disc might find when throws go awry, having played the same shots for years now.

This year was special not only in terms of what Cambodia offers the disc golf Tour-ist, it was also the biggest and most exciting Khmer Cup to date. We had a record number of 41 players for any event in Cambodia. The field included Cambodia’s best players in Pich Ban and Penh Ban, the first Cambodians to ever play the game, as well as a rematch from two years ago, between Scott Stokely and Tomi Lehtonen.

In the end, Scott edged out Tomi by one stroke after birdieing 9 of the last 10 holes. Tomi had a long eagle look to tie it up on the last hole but missed slightly to the right. He would get revenge the following week on his home course in Koh Mak, Thailand, where he bested the veteran forehander by 10 throws! Following the final round, a joyous award ceremony which brought tears and laughter. Then an 8-person authentic Cambodian band started to play and the players danced into the night. An unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Already the next morning, preparations for our next events, the Khmer Kids’ Cup and a Holiday in Cambodia, started to take precedence. The Kids’ Cup is a free event thanks to donations by many people including the hundreds of discs that the PDGA has sent us over the last two years. Then, on March 22-23, we will host our final event of the season, the Holiday in Cambodia, a C tier where players will tee off on the grounds of at a Buddhist Temple with a very dark past. Yet another unmatched experience for fanatics of flying plastic in the Kingdom of Wonder!