03 Mar 2022

Rumanza Golf and Country Club, Pakistan’s 1st Signature Golf Course, Celebrates Its Official Launch With The Rumanza Inaugural, Gala Dinner, And Live Entertainment.

The first day of the Rumanza Inaugural teed off to officially launch the much-awaited Rumanza Golf and Country Club, Pakistan’s 1st signature golf course, and a new era of golfing excellence in Pakistan.

The ceremonial opening was attended by the course designer Sir Nick Faldo, Lt Gen Mian Muhammad Hilal Hussain HI(M) Retd President Pakistan Golf Federation, Project Director Brig Shoeb Anwar Kayani SI(M), as well as a host of international and national golfers and dignitaries from different walks of life.

The evening celebrations included a gala dinner, star player fireside Q&A session, an incredible firework display, followed by a live musical performance from Atif Aslam, the famous Pakistani singer, composer and actor who performed a collection of chart-topping hits from his career spanning two decades.

“It is with great pride that we officially launch the Rumanza Golf and Country Club. There is no more fitting way than by welcoming a field of 13 international players, Pakistan’s most promising golfers, media and guests at the Rumanza Inaugural this weekend. The Rumanza project will have many positive effects on Pakistan’s economy and sports tourism – it signifies the dawn of a new era of golfing excellence here in Pakistan, and a confident step for Pakistan onto the global golfing scene.” said Project Director Brigadier Shoeb Anwar Kayani, SI(M)

“I’m delighted to be back in Multan – this is my third visit, and the hospitality is always amazing. And that delight can only be surpassed by seeing the completion of the world-class Rumanza Golf Course – what an incredible accomplishment for DHA Multan together with my team at Faldo Design, especially as most of the construction took place the past 2 years during a global pandemic.” said Sir Nick Faldo, 6-time Major winner and Rumanza course designer. “This is my first ever course design in South Asia – a proud moment for me. I hope that all those gathered in Multan this weekend will enjoy the course, and that it inspires the development of golf in Pakistan in the future.

The action on-course teed off with a shotgun start Pro-Am competition featuring 60 players – the first tournament ever played at the Rumanza Golf and Country Club. Split across 15 teams, the pros included course designer and 6-time Major winner Sir Nick Faldo; 2010 US Open Champion and 2021 European Ryder Cup vice-captain Graeme McDowell; 2021 Spanish Open winner and 4-time DP World Tour winner Rafa Cabrera Bello; 3-time Ladies European Tour winner and 5-time European Solheim Cup player Charley Hull; three of Pakistan’s most talented players – Humna Amjed, Ahmed Baig and Hamza Amin; as well as nine MENA Tour players.

Reigning victorious in the Pro-Am competition was the four-ball led by professionals Khalid Khan and Shahid Javed Khan and made up of Mr. Usman Akram and Mrs. Lindsay Faldo who carded a score of 51 points.

Prizes were also awarded for the longest drive and closest to the pin. The Longest Drive prize was awarded on the par-4, 413-yard hole 14 to Pakistani pro Ahmed Baig (395 yards) who took home a TaylorMade SIM2 Max Driver for his efforts. The Closest to the Pin prize was awarded on the 7th hole – a fantastic par-3, 166-yards from the white tee – to Mrs Lindsay Faldo who won a Scotty Cameron Putter.

The action continued with the Rumanza Inaugural Challenge Match when three teams of two players competed across an exciting alternate shot, strokeplay format. The lowest-score team over 18 holes were crowned champions, winning the Rumanza Inaugural trophy made of stunning blue pottery unique to Multan. The teams consisted of:

• Rafa Cabrera Bello (Spain) and Humna Amjed (Pakistan)
• Graeme McDowell (N. Ireland) and Hamza Amin (Pakistan)
• Charley Hull (UK) and Ahmed Baig (Pakistan)

The Rumanza Golf and Country Club is the 1st signature golf course in Pakistan, and the latest course designed by golfing icon Sir Nick Faldo. With a truly global footprint of 34 courses across five continents and 20 countries, the Rumanza Golf and Country Club marks Faldo Design’s first venture in South Asia and the most ambitious course construction project in Pakistan’s history.

The course is located in Pakistan’s fifth-largest city, Multan – a city steeped in rich culture, heritage, history and stature. It is the centre-piece of the aspirational DHA Multan residential community which includes high-end apartments and villas, a five-star hotel, commercial retail space, multiple sports and lifestyle facilities, state-of-the-art education facilities, health care services and extensive F&B outlets. It is one of Pakistan’s most advanced residential developments.

Multan is also known as the Mango City of Pakistan and is the main producer of mangoes in the Punjab region. Mango orchards can be found dotted around the 2,533-yard Rumanza course – a stunning local element masterfully integrated by Sir Nick Faldo and his team. The opening ceremony included a mango tree plantation celebrating not only of the local produce of Multan, but also the beginning of Pakistan’s golfing growth and journey onto the global golfing map.

As the players in the Rumanza Inaugural are discovering the course is designed to make a statement. The 7,533-yard, par-72 course is a classic desert oasis, carpeted in TE paspalum grass and featuring four lakes. It incorporates stunning local elements including mango and orange orchards, as well ‘deras’ (vernacular mud brick dwellings surrounded by walls which form a courtyard). In addition to the Championship course, the Rumanza Golf and Country Club also boasts a double-sided driving range, a short game area, and soon a golf academy. It officially opened to the public on Tuesday 1 March.