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LAHORE: The general body of the Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) has endorsed a decision to set up a golf course and an academy in Islamabad.
The general body took the decision in its meeting held under the chairmanship of PGF President Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at the GHQ Auditorium.
A spokesman of the PGF said the golf course would cover a total area of 150 acres, leased by the Capital Development Authority.
Maj Gen (r) Tariq Saleem Malik spelled out salient features of the project which was likely to set the pace for development of golf in the country, he said.
The academy would soon be able to provide required training to youngsters irrespective of their status in society.
Other items on the agenda included approval of the annual report on the activities of the PGF, the main highlights being the performance of golf professionals, Mohammed Shabbir Iqbal and Mohammed Shabbir, who appeared as dominant challengers in the Mission Hills World Cup in China.
Amongst the amateurs Mohammad Ali Hai has demonstrated immense promise and won the top position in Bangladesh Amateur Golf championship, the spokesman said.
The Pakistan team also performed appreciably well in the 24th Asia Pacific Amateur Golf team championship for Nomura Cup, securing the eighth position out of 21 teams.
Other developments during the year were the coaching sessions held to track talented coaches to enhance their grading and through the comprehensive exercise and support from Royal and St Andrews a total of 45 coaches have now acquired the ‘c’ category certification.
He said juniors were now under focus and in collaboration with the provincial golf associations, the Pakistan Golf Federation had been able to identify talent that would be monitored for progress and supported with required facilities.
As for the talent picked from amongst the ball boys and caddies, they would be looked after well so that they remain focused.
Besides cash support, their families would be provided with ration so that the young ones can concentrate on their game.
“In this regard a noteworthy development is that we are a part of the Nick Faldo Series development in Asia and this is going to be very useful for our juniors,” he said.
On this occasion PGF President Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani appreciated the efforts of the professional golfers of the country and promised to facilitate them in getting jobs so that their basic needs would be conveniently met and they can concentrate on their game.
Others who attended the meeting include Aslam R. Khan, Maj Gen (r) Tariq Salim Malik, Taimur Hassan, Col (r) Mohammad Safi, Mehmood Aziz, Lt Gen Ijaz A. Bakhshi, Brig (r) Mohammed Akram, Khawaja Pervaiz Saeed, Col (r) Jameel Khalid, Shahid Khan, Asad I.A.Khan, Ahmed Abdul Bari, Tariq Raz, Munsif Raza, Zahid P. Arbab, Brig Naeem Abdul Baqi Malik, Arshad Mehmood, Brig Ahid Muzzafar, Lt Gen Khalid Nawaz Khan, Durdana Soomro, Asma Afzal Shami, Yasmin Mubarik and Tahira Nazir.
