Teeing off: Nayyar reveals plans for first-ever golf academy

State-of-the-art facility to be completed within two years, says PGF secretary.

ISLAMABAD: While it is true that golf in Pakistan is not popular among the masses and may not offer a lucrative career for players to pursue, the Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) has not given up on its cause and is still actively pursuing the development of the sport in the cricket-mad country.

From among the PGF’s many projects, one of the most promising is the development of Pakistan’s first-ever golf academy — the Pakistan Golf Federation Academy — at a Capital Development Authority (CDA) allotted land near the Lok Virsa Museum in Islamabad and PGF Secretary Brig (retd) Nayyar Afzal believes that the academy would be crucial in improving the level of the sport in the country.

“We have taken the permission for the land from the CDA to set up a golf course and academy,” Afzal told The Express Tribune. “The project was in the pipeline for six years but some administrative hurdles delayed its completion. However, the issues have been resolved.”

Afzal also informed that the academy would have the latest technology from around the world, including a first-of-a-kind computerised evaluation of golfer’s putting and hitting techniques, which would also give a fault analysis – something that has never been witnessed in Pakistan before.

The academy would also include the best trainers and coaches to help improve the golfers’ techniques.

“It will also have latest gadgets through which we can train golfers. That has been the plan so far and even though it will take 2-3 years for its completion, the paperwork has been completed,” he added.

Highlighting the importance for the need of a golf academy for the development of the sport, Afzal said one needs a proper breeding ground to groom the talent.

“Although there are several golf courses around the twin cities and in Pakistan, they are not academies. They allow professionals to compete but do not offer tips and tricks to improve the game. If you want to compete on an international level then you need technical guidance,” concluded Nayyar.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th,  2015.

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