22 Feb 2022

Healding A New Era Of Golf In Pakistan

Set to take place on 25th to 27th February, The Rumanza Inaugural celebrates the official launch of the much-awaited Rumanza Golf and Country Club developed by the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Multan and designed by Sir Nick Faldo.

This exciting invitational event on Pakistan’s golfing calendar welcomes four international golf stars and two of Pakistan’s greatest golfers along with 6-time Major winner Sir Nick Faldo and a host of celebrities.

The invitational player field includes 2010 US Open Champion, 11-time DP World Tour winner, 4-time PGA Tour winner and 2021 European Ryder Cup vice-captain Graeme McDowell from Northern Ireland, who will be joined by 2021 Spanish Open winner, 4-time DP World Tour winner, and former European Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera Bello from Spain.

6-time Ladies European Tour winner, LPGA winner and star of the 2021 European Solheim Cup player Mel Reid; along with 3-time Ladies European Tour winner, LPGA winner with 25 top-10 finishes and 5-time European Solheim Cup player Charley Hull will represent the ladies.

Flying the flag for Pakistan will be two of its best – male pro Ahmed Baig and promising young female amateur Humna Amjed. Baig from Lahore turned pro in 2019 and is currently ranked number 2 on the Pakistan Pro Tour with 5 PAK Pro Tour wins under his belt. Humna is Pakistan’s top ranked amateur female, who at just 14 years of age, became the youngest ever female winner of the PAK Amateur Championship.

No doubt the star is the Rumanza Golf and Country Club, Pakistan’s first Signature golf course, and the latest designed by Sir Nick Faldo which marks Faldo Design’s first venture in South Asia and the most ambitious course construction project in Pakistan’s history.

“This is a landmark moment for myself and Faldo Design – we are truly honoured to have designed Pakistan’s first truly world class Championship course.” Said the six-time Major winner. “Pakistan belongs on the global golfing map, and we are delighted to play a role in cementing it’s position.”

“We broke ground in Multan in 2018, and despite the challenges that have been presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, I was able to visit twice during construction and we are delighted that the course and it’s range of superb facilities are now ready to welcome the world’s best. I can’t think of a more fitting way to launch the course than by welcoming Graeme, Rafa, Charley and Mel to play alongside promising Pakistani talent at the end of February.” Faldo continued.

“The course – without question the crown-jewel of in Pakistan’s golf course portfolio – and it’s launch event, herald a new era of excellence for golf in Pakistan.” said the Project Director Brigadier Shoeb Anwar Kayani, SI(M).

“The Rumanza Inaugural will unveil not only Pakistan’s first signature golf course, but will also showcase several of the best golfers in the world. It will no doubt pave the way for the Rumanza Golf and Country Club to host sanctioned Tour events in coming years.”

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. Located in Pakistan’s fifth largest city, Multan, the golf course 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.

“We are expecting the development to have a tremendously positive effect on Pakistan’s sports tourism, firmly positioning the country on the global golf map, as well as igniting a passion for the sport in our next generation.” Brigadier Anwar added.

As the players in the Rumanza Inaugural will soon discover, the Rumanza 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). Native sand plays a critical role in the layout.

The star-studded Rumanza Inaugural weekend will boast an 18-hole Pro-am match, star player clinics with local youth, a gala evening of musical entertainment as well as a Challenge Match. The Challenge Match will follow an innovative 6-player format over 18 holes. Playing in mixed gender teams of two, three teams will play in an exciting alternate shot, strokeplay format, with the lowest-score team over 18 holes being crowned champions.

“I’m really looking forward to playing in the Rumanza Inaugural. Pakistan is a part of the world that I haven’t had a chance to visit – so while I’m of course looking forward to playing the new Faldo course, I’m equally excited to find out more about the local culture.” commented Charley Hull. “The Challenge Match Play format will be a lot of fun as well. Golf is really starting to boom with female participation, so I love the idea of playing in a mixed gender format. I hope that it inspires young Pakistani girls to give golf a try!” she added.