Sp e c i a l 2 0 - pa g e s up p l e m en t
CELEBRATING THE LAUNCH OF THE RUMANZA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Pakistan's 1st Signature Golf Course putting Pakistan on the global golfing map. 25 - 27 February 2022
Charley Hull
Rafa Cabrera Bello
Sir Nick Faldo
Graeme McDowell
Mel Reid
Course designer Sir Nick Faldo on Rumanza Meet the star players of the Inaugural Challenge Match The future of Rumanza Hole-by-hole Guide Meet Rumanza Project Director Brigadier Shoeb Anwar Kayani, SI(M) and Director of Operations Sam Clayton
www.rumanza.golf
A new era of excellence
25 – 27 February 2022 R u m a n z a G ol f & C o un t ry C lub , M ulta n w w w. r u m a n z a . g o l f
The official launch of the Rumanza Golf & Country Club.
Pakistan's 1st signature golf course, designed by Sir Nick Faldo.
Featuring a plethora of global and local golf stars.
NEWS | JUNE 2019
CO N T E N T S
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MEET THE DESIGNER
Six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo, Rumaza’s course architect, talks about his design philosophy and how it plays out at Pakistan’s first signature layout
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Meet two of Pakistan’s up-and-coming golfing talents, Ahmed Baig and Humna Amjed, who will both be playing in The Rumanza Inaugural
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MEET THE COURSE
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FLAVOURS OF MULTAN
The sights, sounds and tastes that make Multan and the surrounding area a must-visit for travelling golfers
MEET THE PLAYERS
Profiles of the four global stars taking part in The Rumanza Inaugural Challenge Match Graeme McDowell, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Charley Hull and Mel Reid
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS
Rumanza Golf & Country Club general manager Sam Clayton reveals the club's ambitions to become the crown jewel of Pakistan’s new golfing revolution
A hole-by-hole guide to the championship course at Rumanza with insights from Sir Nick Faldo on how to play the key holes
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FUTURE STARS
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THE LAST WORD
Solheim Cup star Mel Reid explains why she enjoys playing a global schedule and spreading the golfing word to new countries and new generations
WELCOME! Welcome to the official opening of Rumanza Golf & Country Club – home to the first internationalstandard championship golf course in Pakistan. With a golf course designed by legendary Champion Golfer Sir Nick Faldo – whose skills as a player are matched by his vision as an architect – and a resort boasting state-of-the-art practice and coaching facilities and five-star hospitality, Rumanza will not only set the standard for golf in Pakistan and South-East Asia, but it will also serve to inspire future generations of home-grown talent. The quality of the golf course and the impressive facilities offered at Rumanza are not only destined to attract international interest from travelling golfers and tourists, but also from the world’s best players. By way of an introduction, The Rumanza Inaugural Challenge Match tees off the club’s ambitious journey by bringing together a quartet stars of the men’s and women’s game – European Ryder Cup greats Graeme McDowell and Rafa Cabrera Bello and European Solheim Cup legends Charley Hull and Melissa Reid – to take part in a competitive, yet friendly, match that will serve to showcase the quality of the golf course and the challenge that it represents to some of the game’s most skilled exponents. It will be the beginning of a truly memorable celebration that marks the first chapter in what promises to be a long and storied history at Rumanza Golf & Country Club.
MAPLE HOUSE, THE SPINNEY, HOVE, BN3 6QT
TEL: 01273 381794 EMAIL: info@golfnews.co.uk WEBSITE: golfnews.co.uk FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @golfnewsmag INSTAGRAM: golfnewsmagazine PUBLISHER: Matt Nicholson matt@golfnews.co.uk
PUBLISHED: Blue Green Media Ltd
EDITOR: Nick Bayly
PHOTOGRAPHY: Getty Images, Rumanza
DESIGN: james@ wearecreativecorner.com
SPECIAL THANKS: Faldo Design
© Copyright 2022. No part of this publication may be copied, photocopied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in anyway or means, either by recording or otherwise, without permission of the publishers in writing.
TRAVEL INTERVIEW & BREAKS| APRIL MAY 2019
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With his unparalleled pedigree as a player and as a golf course architect, six-time Major champion Sir Nick Faldo was the natural choice when it came to masterminding the creation of Pakistan’s first signature golf course at Rumanza. The result is a stunning layout that will thrill and challenge amateur golfers and tour professionals alike.
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■ XXXEBIT ET PLABOREHENIS MOST LIS DOLUPTATUR?
■ XXXEBIT ET PLABOREHENIS MOST LIS DOLUPTATUR?
■ XXXEBIT ET PLABOREHENIS MOST LIS DOLUPTATUR?
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IR NICK FALDO is no stranger to success. As a player, his tally of six major championships and 41 tour wins has earned him the honour of being England’s most successful golfer of all time, while his eponymous series of junior tournaments, which he launched 25 years ago, has helped launch the careers of dozens of the current crop of global stars, including Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett, Tyrrell Hatton, Yani Tseng, Megan Khang and over 75 other tour players and counting. Faldo has also made a success of his ‘second’ career, that of golf course architect, with his international practice, Faldo Design, having created 34 courses across five continents and 20 countries over the last 20 years, with the Emirates Club in Dubai, Laguna Lang Co in Vietnam, Lough Erne in Northern Ireland and Cornelia Resort in Turkey being among his most celebrated projects to date. So it is no surprise then that Sir Nick was the man to call on when it came to creating a course to match the standards required at the Rumanza Resort in Pakistan, which is Faldo Design’s 34th course. The most ambitious golf construction project in Pakistan’s history required ambitious designers, and Sir Nick and his talented team, including lead architect Andrew Haggar, Director of Design Gareth Williams, and David Matthews, construction manager at Desert Group, the contractor for the project, are certainly that. Over the last three years, Sir Nick has worked with an extensive on-site team to turn his design philosophy into reality, prioritising course strategy, memorability and embracing the existing natural environment. Throughout the construction phase, the golf course has implemented the most advanced environmentally friendly measures, working alongside the GEO Foundation in order to deliver a high quality, sustainable golf course experience. Speaking ahead of the course opening at Rumanza, Sir Nick said: “This is a landmark moment for Faldo Design and a landmark moment for golf in Pakistan. We are truly honoured to be creating our first Sir Nick Faldo Signature course in Pakistan and feel a great responsibility for taking full advantage of this parcel of land which, right from the outset, we knew had potential to become a great golf course.” Sir Nick was adamant from the start that the course should meet the highest ecological standards and preserve as much as the local character as possible. He said: “The existing site was flat land, featuring mango and orange trees, with cereal crops too. We were keen to retain an identity for the site, so we have preserved certain areas of fruit trees and using them as a feature for specific parts of the course.
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"The site was also dotted with interesting farm dwellings and original earth walling, some of which have been retained as part of the course design to preserve the local character. We have also been careful to keep the views of the desert, the woodlands and the wetlands to ensure that the golf course works in the harmony with the natural surroundings.” He adds: “Rumanza utilises the most modern practices in order to ensure longlasting environmental sustainability. The course is the region’s first pure sand-based design and we have grassed it with Platinum TE Paspalum to not only ensure a firm, fast-running course, but also one that can withstand the extremes of climate that this region experiences.” Sir Nick adds: “Other notable features include the revetted links-style bunkering from EcoBunker, which not only look incredible, but are also easy to maintain; while the four large lakes that we have created significantly add to the visual and tactical enjoyment of the experience.” Speaking about the design of the course, Sir Nick says: “Among my main design philosophies when creating this course was ‘playability’. Given the relative newness of golf in Pakistan, it is quite likely that we will have golfers playing for whom Rumanza will be their first experience on a proper golf course, so it is vital that it is playable for a wide range of skill levels. While for the better golfers, we want to teach the importance of strategy and decision-making, and I think we have achieved that with the layout of many of the holes. Finally, there is ‘memorability’. I want golfers to come off the course being able to remember each hole for its unique design, its style and its character – all of which adds up to creating a memorable round of golf.” Speaking about the impact and the legacy the course will have in Pakistan, Sir Nick adds: ”We hope that Rumanza, and its superb facilities, including the new Performance Academy, can serve as a source of inspiration for a new generation of golfers in Pakistan, helping to grow the game in what remains a relatively untapped market for the sport, as well as providing an incentive for golfers from all over the world to add Rumanza to their bucket list of courses to play. I will certainly be looking to stage some of my Faldo Series events here, and it surely won’t be too long before the Asian Tour and the DP World Tour see it as a potential future venue to host their tournaments. “Whatever the future holds, it certainly looks bright for Rumanza and I’m delighted to have played a role in bringing it to the golfing world at large.”
SIR NICK'S PICK Sir Nick Faldo discusses the options for playing Rumanza’s 14th hole, a stunning 472-yard par four that features some dangerous waste bunkers and a small green protected by a front bunker Sir Nick says: “Off the back tee, this excellent par four challenges the best golfers to hit their tee shot into the narrowest part of the fairway, maybe left of centre, to set themselves up for a really nice second shot to the green. We have four more forward teeing options to give amateurs plenty of opportunities to make what is quite a wide fairway. The number one priority here is not to lose the ball in the righthand waste bunker as that has quite a severe front edge, which will make it impossible to reach the green in regulation. So if you need to
lay up, then you might hit your second shot over the hill to the next wide part of the fairway, and then draw your third shot to the front of the green, or carry it across from the left-hand side of that beautiful EcoBunker and get the ball to skip along and feed into the green. If you’ve hit a beautiful, long drive, then you’ll be trying to hit a midiron across the left-hand waste bunker to a narrow green which slopes slightly from the front left to the back right. If it all goes wrong, a great place to miss the green is that back little low run-off area where you can turn around and chip it in for a birdie three!”
RAISING THE BAR Project Director Brigadier Shoeb Anwar Kayani, SI(M), discusses his ambitions for the venue, its positive impact on the local community, and the role it will play in putting Pakistan on the international golfing map HOW SIGNIFICANT WILL RUMANZA BE IN TERMS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF PAKISTAN’S GOLF SCENE?
It is heartening to share that Pakistan is becoming a fertile land for golf. There are currently around 50 courses in Pakistan, which includes clubs with 9, 18 and 27 holes. Rumanza will take golf in the country to a whole new level. It will be the only Signature Championship Golf Course in Pakistan, and is the only floodlit facility, giving the option for night golf. With these features, we believe that Rumanza will be a unique addition not only at a local and national level, but will serve to put Pakistan on the world golfing map. WILL THE TOURIST MARKET BE A KEY ONE FOR RUMANZA AND WHAT ASPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT WILL APPEAL TO THEM?
Rumanza is a trigger point to attract international players to Multan, which is one of the prominent ancient cities of South Punjab. Multan is a land of saints, as well as of the River Indus, whose civilization is world renowned. Bringing international tournaments and global players to Rumanza will give a boost to Multan and South Punjab as a hub for international tourism in Pakistan. HOW CHALLENGING HAS IT BEEN TO DEVELOP RUMANZA DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC?
Rumanza, being first of its kind in Pakistan and execution of the unique design of Sir Nick Faldo, who is known for unmatchable skills, has been a great experience. Covid has made life difficult, not only with the timing on the opening, but especially with regards to the procurement of machinery, hiring of expertise and travel restrictions affecting visits by our overseas consultants. I have to hand it to my team, headed by Colonel Syed Sohail Akbar, and Desert Landscape Group team headed by David Mathews, who have worked relentlessly to make it possible in two years, so they deserve high praise indeed. WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF RUMANZA?
My vision for Rumanza is not just of a golf course, but as a whole community in itself, with stunning properties surrounded by fairways and lush greens, a hub of international hotels, and state-of-the-art DHA Golf & Country Club. The club will not just be restricted to members, so that anyone who wants to come and experience the golf course, the other facilities and our generous hospitality will be welcome to do so. Rumanza will be for everyone.
RUMANZA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB CARD OF THE COURSE 1 470 yards, Par 4
SI 14
The opening hole sets the tempo for the front nine, with stunning desert waste areas on the right, your first glimpse of the links-style bunkering, and a forgiving fairway. Although a waste area pinches the left of the green, it is otherwise largely unprotected, presenting a decent opportunity for an opening birdie or par.
2 556 yards, Par 5
SI 16
There’s very little trouble to find from the tee to green providing you’re able to hit it straight, so there is a real opportunity to bag an early birdie here, although three bunkers surrounding the green will swallow any offtarget approaches.
3 401 yards, Par 4
SI 11
Although the shortest par 4 on the course, it is not as easy as the card suggests, as the landing area for your drive and the green are both well-guarded by deep bunkers, ensuring accuracy is essential to avoid a sandy grave. The green is deep and generously proportioned, with a back pin position requiring an extra club to find the target.
4 228 yards, Par 3
SI 3
A deceptive par 3 which will require players to take one more club to clear the hump in the apron that fronts the putting surface. Depending on the pin position, most players will be happy to walk off with a par here.
5 581 yards, Par 5
SI 8
The backdrop of mango trees changes up the view on this lengthy par five. The fairway gets tighter in the landing area for the second shot, with water in play on the left and a pot bunker 60 yards out from the green ensuring accuracy is at a premium if taking on the green in two.
6 465 yards, Par 4
SI 2
A deceptively tricky hole, a decent drive down the left side of a narrow fairway will set up an approach to the green with a mid-iron. However, a waste area cuts into the fairway just short of green and your approach will have to be spot on to set up a birdie or two-putt par.
TRAVEL & BREAKS
7 213 yards, Par 3
SI 18
A great par 3 which plays all of its 213 yards from the very back tees, and where picking the right club is critical. Hitting the right level on this multi-tiered green will help secure a par, otherwise a bogey could be on the cards.
8 479 yards, Par 4
SI 6
The longest par 4 on the course requires a drive long enough to ensure the mango trees lining the left-hand side are not blocking your approach to the green. A creek runs across the fairway 30 yards in front of the undulating putting surface, which is protected by a single back bunker.
9 420 yards, Par 4
SI 10
The front nine finishes with superb par 4 that doglegs left around a lake. An accurate drive to the knee of the leg will set up a mid-iron approach to a shallow green which is guarded by four traps – one of which is directly in front.
10 438 yards, Par 4
SI 9
A mudbrick wall extends across the fairway on this deceptively tricky hole. The safe option is to play well short of it and leave yourself a slightly longer approach to the green, which is well protected by an expanse of desert waste.
■ BEAUTIFULLY-CRAFTED, LINKS-STYLE RIVETTED BUNKERS ARE ONE OF THE KEY FEATURES OF SIR NICK FALDO'S STUNNING LAYOUT AT RUMANZA, WHICH ALSO BOASTS CARPETLIKE FAIRWAYS AND SMOOTH, FAST GREENS
11 551 yards, Par 5
SI 5
The tee shot on this slight dogleg left par five is pretty straightforward, but the challenge ramps up for the second shot, with the landing zone short of the green featuring three angled bunkers to catch the unwary.
12 243 yards, Par 3
SI 7
A lofted wood, hybrid or a committed long iron will be required to reach the slightly elevated putting surface on this lengthy uphill par 3, which plays over 240 yards off the back tee. A par here will feel like a birdie.
13 460 yards, Par 4
SI 15
A well-stuck driver followed by an accurate long iron will be the order of the day on this long par 4, which features a desert waste area on the left side. The green features two traps, with the one on the right the most likely to cause trouble.
14 472 yards, Par 4
SI 13
One of the more straightforward holes on the course, a decent drive down the middle will set up an angled long iron approach to a green which is protected by only one bunker short right.
15 387 yards, Par 4
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SI 17
The 15th presents a decent chance of a birdie before the challenging closing stretch. A centre-cut drive will set up a short-iron approach to an elevated green that is surrounded by five traps.
16 568 yards, Par 5
SI 1
This demanding par five, which is played into the prevailing wind, begins a tough closing trio of holes, with a long, accurate drive required to set up your second shot, from where you will enjoy a short approach to a green that is protected by a waste bunker on the left, while a lake runs almost the entire length of the hole on the right.
17 202 yards, Par 3
SI 3
This testing par 3 offers little in the way of fairway and is all about carrying the water that begins at the end of the front tee and ends at the front of the green. Club up and commit!
18 470 yards, Par 4
SI 11
The memorable closing hole doglegs right around a lake with two strategically placed fairway bunkers ready to catch any drives pushed left off tee. Cut off as much as you dare to set up an approach to the green which is guarded by one front bunker, while the clubhouse awaits behind.
STARS ON SHOW Four of the world’s top tour professionals from the men’s and women’s game – Graeme McDowell, Rafa Caberera-Bello, Charley Hull and Mel Reid – will be among the first to tackle Sir Nick Faldo’s stunning new 7,533-yard championship course at Rumanza, so let’s meet the teams
GRAEME MCDOWELL BORN: Portrush, Northern Ireland LIVES: Portrush and Orlando, Florida AGE: 42 TURNED PRO: 2002 TOURNAMENTS PLAYED: 529 (337 ET, 192 PGA Tour) PRO WINS: 14 (10 European Tour, 4 PGA Tour) HIGHEST WORLD RANKING: 4 (2011) CURRENT WORLD RANKING: 327 CAREER PRIZE MONEY: $40m Graeme became the first European to win the US Open in 40 years when he won at Pebble Beach in 2010. In addition to his stunning major triumph, Graeme has won a further 10 events on the European Tour and three on the PGA Tour, with his most recent victory coming at the Saudi International in 2020, where he fended off the challenge of then world No.1 Dustin Johnson to take the title. Graeme has played in over 500 events in his 20 years on tour, with career earnings of over €20m in Europe and $18m in the US. He has represented Ireland in the World Cup five times and has four Ryder Cup caps, being on the winning team in the latter event three times and capturing nine points from 15 matches, including a famous singles win over Hunter Mahan that won the match for Europe at Celtic Manor in 2010. He served as a vice-captain in 2018. A superb ball striker and great wind player, Graeme is a talented all-round sportsman. In his spare time he loves spending time with his family and hosting friends and golf fans at his Nona Blue restaurant in Orlando, Florida, where the most popular speciality on the menu is, of course, G-Mac ‘n’ Cheese!
VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING PART OF THIS INNOVATIVE EVENT PLAYED IN AN AMAZING PART OF THE WORLD. SIR NICK FALDO HAS CREATED A FANTASTIC LEGACY IN THE GAME AND CONTINUES TO INSPIRE GLOBALLY, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHICH BEING THIS NEW COURSE IN MULTAN.
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I’VE PLAYED IN SOUTH ASIA QUITE A BIT, BUT THIS WILL BE MY FIRST TRIP TO PAKISTAN. I’M ALWAYS UP FOR A NEW ADVENTURE, AND I’M EXCITED TO CHECK OUT A NEW PART OF THE WORLD AS WELL AS THE NEW FALDO COURSE.
MELISSA REID AGE: 34 BORN: Derby, England LIVES: Jacksonville, Florida TURNED PRO: 2007 TOURNAMENTS PLAYED: 171 PRO WINS: 7 (6 Ladies European Tour, 1 LPGA Tour) TOP TENS: 21 HIGHEST WORLD RANKING: 39 (2020) CURRENT WORLD RANKING: 63 BEST MAJOR FINISH: 3rd (Women’s PGA Championship 2019) CAREER PRIZE MONEY: $2.8m Mel has been one of the most successful female English golfers over the last 15 years, having won seven tournaments since turning professional following her appearance in the 2006 Curtis Cup. She won the Ladies European Tour’s Rookie of the Year award in 2008 and has since gone on to play in 134 LET tournaments and amass over €1.4m in prize money on the European circuit, with highlights including wins at the Turkish Airlines Open in 2010 and 2015. Mel won her LPGA Tour card at qualifying school in 2017 and has since played the majority of her golf in the US, winning over $1.2m in just five seasons and securing her breakthrough win at the 2020 Shoprite Classic, which moved her into the top 40 in the world for the first time. Mel has played on four European Solheim Cup teams (‘11, ‘15, ‘17 and ‘21) and been on the winning side twice. She has won 7.5pts from a possible 16 and was unbeaten over four matches in 2015, where she picked up 3.5pts. She served as a vice-captain to Catriona Matthew in 2019 and represented Team GB at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Her hobbies away from golf include playing football and snowboarding!
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CHARLEY HULL AGE: 25 BORN: Kettering, England LIVES: Kettering & Florida TURNED PRO: 2013 TOURNAMENTS PLAYED: 196 PRO WINS: 4 TOP TENS: 54 HIGHEST WORLD RANKING: 16 CURRENT WORLD RANKING: 33 BEST MAJOR FINISH: 2nd (ANA Inspiration 2016) CAREER PRIZE MONEY: €1.13m LET, $4.34m LPGA One of England’s finest female golfing talents over the past decade, Charley got her handicap down to scratch aged just 11 and has since gone on to achieve success both on the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour. She earned LET Rookie of the Year honours in 2013 after securing five second-place finishes in her first five starts as a pro and won her first LET tournament before she was 18 at the Lalla Meryem Cup in 2014. Charley achieved her biggest career win at the LPGA Tour’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in 2016, while she took the individual first prize at the 2021 Aramco Team Series event held in New York last October. The youngest ever Solheim Cup competitor when she made her debut aged 17 in 2013, Charley has played in every match since, racking up 12.5pts from a possible 19 and being on three winning teams, most recently in last September’s triumph in Ohio. She represented Team GB at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, where she finished tied seventh. Married to mixed martial arts fighter Ozzie Smith in 2019, Charley divides her time between England and the US.
I LOVE TRAVELLING TO DIFFERENCE PLACES AND EXPERIENCING NEW CULTURES ETC SO IT WILL BE GREAT TO ADD PAKISTAN TO MY LIST. IT WILL ALSO BE INTERESTING TO SEE THEIR REACTION TO PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS AS I’M GUESSING THAT NOT VERY MANY HAVE VISITED BEFORE!
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I’M SURE RUMANZA IS GOING TO BE A REALLY GOOD COURSE. I WANT TO KEEP THE EXCITEMENT TO GETTING THERE AND FEELING LIKE A LITTLE KID GOING TO A NEW COURSE FOR THE FIRST TIME!
RAFA CABRERA-BELLO AGE: 37 BORN: Gran Canaria, Spain LIVES: Gran Canaria, Spain TURNED PRO: 2005 TOURNAMENTS PLAYED: 352 PRO WINS: 7 (2 Challenge Tour, 4 European Tour) HIGHEST WORLD RANKING: 16 (2017) CURRENT WORLD RANKING: 149 CAREER PRIZE MONEY: €14.8m After enjoying a top-flight amateur career, where he won the Spanish National Championship every year between the ages of seven and 18, Rafa turned professional in 2005, starting his career on the Challenge Tour. He quickly graduated to the European Tour in 2006, but after losing his card in 2007 had to win it back again in 2008. He has since won four times on the European Tour, including the Dubai Desert Classic in 2012 and the Scottish Open in 2017, while his most recent win came at last year’s Spanish Open, where he beat fellow Spaniard Adri Arnaus in a play-off to claim victory at his coveted home championship. Rafa has played in 22 Majors with his best finish being tied fourth at the Open Championship in 2017. He represented Europe at the 2016 Ryder Cup, winning 2.5pts from his three matches to remain unbeaten, and has twice represented Spain in the World Cup (2013, 2016). In his spare time, Rafa loves spending time with his Swedish wife Sofia and their two-year-old daughter Alva, as well as surfing at his holiday home in Bali.
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TWO FUTURE STARS OF PAKISTAN GOLF WILL BE TAKING PART IN THE RUMANZA INAUGURAL
AHMAD BAIG TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF... I'm 23 years old and was born in Lahore. I turned pro in 2019 and I'm currently the no.2 ranked professional in Pakistan. HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO GOLF? My house I grew up in was near a golf course, and my brother used to work there, so I had always been very curious about the game from a very early age. WHERE IS YOUR HOME COURSE AND WHAT IS YOUR PRACTICE ROUTINE? My home course is at the PAF Skyview Golf & Country Club in Lahore. I work on my game pretty much every day when I'm not playing, and if not I'm in the gym working on my fitness. TELL US ABOUT YOUR GOLFING CAREER TO DATE? I enjoyed a pretty good amateur career, leading the rankings for three years in the run up to turning professional in 2019. My proudest moment was winning Qatar Open as an amateur. I also won the Faldo Pakistan Series in Karachi as a junior and the Bangladesh National Amateur Championship. Since turning pro I have being playing on the MENA Tour and progressed up the rankings to no.2 in Pakistan. I finished second in the 2022 Pakistan Open Championship held in Karachi last month.
HUMNA AMJED TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF... I'm 17 years old and I was born in Peshawar. My father works for the Pakistan Air Force, so we moved around quite alot when I was growing up, living in Kamra, Lahore, Karachi and Jacobabad. WHO GOT YOU INTO GOLF? My father introduced me to golf and I first started playing at the Jacobabad PAF Base. My father is also my coach, so we'll often work on my game at home or at the course. TELL US ABOUT YOUR GOLF CAREER TO DATE? I've won three Pakistan Ladies National titles and the Ladies PGF Invitational twice. My proudest moment was winning the 2022 Ladies Amateur Championship in Karachi in January this year. I currently play off a 5 handicap. WHICH TOUR PLAYERS INSPIRE YOU? Of the international players, America's Nelly Korda is my biggest inspiration, while here in Pakistan it’s Shabbir Iqbal, as he has been the country's top-ranked player since 2003.
WHICH TOUR PLAYERS DO YOU MOST ADMIRE? My biggest inspirations are Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott and Tiger Woods.
HOW MUCH ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO TEEING IT ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE GAME'S TOP PLAYERS AT RUMANZA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB? It is great opportunity to test my skills on a world-class course in my own country and learn from some legendary golfers. I'm really excited and can't wait!
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE ACCESS TO FACILITIES SUCH AS THOSE OFFERED AT RUMANZA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB? Rumanza has a world-class championship golf course, so playing there would definitely help prepare me for playing in international competition at the highest level.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SEASON? With international travel opening up again, I'm really looking forward to competing in the European Ladies Amateur Championship which is being held at Golf de Saint-Germain in France in June.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? My next goal is to qualify for the European Tour, now known as the DP World Tour, and get a win under my belt.
WHAT ARE YOUR ASPIRATIONS IN THE GAME? Ultimately I'd like to play on the LPGA Tour. l'll enter quaifiying school at the end of this year and see how I get on.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO YOU TO INTRODUCE GOLF TO MORE PEOPLE IN PAKISTAN? My country is very close to my heart – it is my identity. As a professional, I see spreading the awareness of golf as a sport to that can be played by anyone and everyone as one my main responsibilities.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO YOU TO INTRODUCE GOLF TO MORE PEOPLE IN PAKISTAN? Golf teaches you patience, focus and precision, and I try to pass on my love for the game and encourage everyone I meet to give it a go.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU PASS ON TO SOMEONE LOOKING TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS? Work hard, work hard and work hard! WHAT ARE MAIN STRENGTHS OF YOUR GAME AND WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING TO IMPROVE? My distance off the tee and my putting are my best attributes. My wedge game is not quite where it should be right now, but I'm working on it! WHAT THINGS WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT OUR TOUR PRO VISITORS TO RUMANZA SEE DURING THEIR VISIT TO PAKISTAN? Pakistani cusine is a must-try for players coming from abroad. They must also not miss the spiritual and holy sites that are on offer in Multan as well.
WHAT TOP 3 TIPS WOULD YPOU PASS ON TO NEW GOLFERS? Start off with just a wedge and a putter and try to work on your game around greens, as that is the key to good scoring. WHAT ARE MAIN STRENGTHS OF YOUR GAME AND WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING TO IMPROVE? The best part of my game is my wedge play from 110-180 yards. I need to improve my putting, especially on the different types of grass that you experience around the world. WHAT THINGS WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT VISITORS TO RUMAZA SEE AND DO DURING THEIR VISIT TO PAKISTAN? I'd recommend visiting the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, which was once the largest mosque in the world. The Havelli Restaurant in Islamabad is also worth visiting.
MEET THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
SA M CL AY TO N n What can you tell us about Rumanza? Prior to arriving at Rumanza Golf & Country Club, I was based in Cambodia and I had very little knowledge of the project other than some prior communication with the construction team. Albeit, being a Sir Nick Faldo design, this was Pakistan, certainly not known for International standard golf courses. I conjured up visions of a mediocre golf course at best and monitoring the mercury rising every day prior to arriving, I was really heading into the great unknown. The visions of 'mediocre' were diminished as soon as I arrrived on site. Now, with eight months of grow-in, I can safely say that Rumanza, at the is the best conditioned golf course at pre-opening that I have ever come across in my 30 years in the business. The wall-to-wall Paspalum Platinum turf is supremely manicured, while the unique features of desert waste areas that frame the turf creates a contrast unlike any other. The weather from November through to March is the perfect climate for golf, with sunny blue skies and pleasant highs of 28c. Some winter mornings will see some frost, so golfers will probably want to wait until midday before they tee off, when the temperatures hover around 15-20c. n Where have you worked before Rumanza? Prior to setting foot in Pakistan, I had been in golf management for 30 years in the South East Asia/Pacific region, ranging from Indonesia, Fiji, Hong Kong, and my last project in Cambodia, which was another Faldo course. The cultural differences from country to country have always been an interesting transition, however Pakistan has been the easiest of all. The culture of hospitality provided me with a warm welcome, and the commitment to developing a modern and exceptional golfing experience, while respecting the local surroundings and culture is refreshing.
week training programme, has been a big focus to ensure we have the best caddies in Pakistan. The caddies are generally very good golfers themselves, with 80% of them having single figure handicaps and a number being Junior Pakistan Professionals.
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What is the long term ambition of the resort? Rumanza Golf & Country Club is the ‘crown jewel’ of a wider development which includes a luxurious residential community, state-of-the-art lifestyle and sports facilities, a 5-star hotel, retail outlets and more. The long-term ambition of the resort is certainly to provide Pakistan’s first premium golf destination, and firmly put Pakistan on the global golfing map. Hosting a tour event in the near future will be a key step in that exciting journey.
n What local elements are included in the course design, specific to Pakistan/Multan? The idea for the project was conceived by DHA Multan (the Defense Housing Authority). The DHA team, led by Project Director Brigadier Shoeb Anwar Kayani, SI(M), were fully focused on creating an exciting and unique golfing experience for domestic and international golf fans alike. Ensuring the course had a strong local identity was a key element of that, and something that Sir Nick Faldo and his design team have done exceptionally. Some of the elements you can expect to see, unique to Multan, include mango and citrus orchards, date palms, and the original deras (vernacular mud brick dwellings, surrounded by walls which form a courtyard). The design team also used those deras as inspiration for other features around the course. The course is an inland links-style golf course, due to the fact that the design team found sand on-site. They were also inspired by some local landscapes for the shaping and landscape treatment of the out-of-play areas.
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What changes have you implemented since your appointment at Rumanza? As this is a Faldo Signature design we have not made any changes to the course itself; however, from a golf operations perspective, we have added some pathways for golfers exiting greens, which were approved by Faldo Design. The recruitment of caddies, with strict guidelines and a 12-
THE LONG-TERM AMBITION IS TO CREATE PAKISTAN'S FIRST PREMIUM GOLF DESTINATION AND TO PUT PAKISTAN ON THE GLOBAL GOLFING MAP
n Can you tell us a little bit about the Rumanza Inaugural, and why you have chosen this format of event to officially launch the resort? Together with our event management team at Peregrine & Co, we have invited four of the best players in the world to Rumanza to showcase
a level of world-class golf never seen before in Pakistan. In addition to Sir Nick Faldo,'s attendence, we have Graeme McDowell, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Charley Hull and Mel Reid. Hosting a US Open champion, a 2021 winner on the DP World Tour, two of Europe’s most successful female golfers – both with LPGA and Ladies European Tour wins, as well as 2021 Solheim Cup winning experience, is a fitting way to announce to the world that Pakistan has begun a new era in sporting excellence. We are also embracing two of Pakistan’s best players, providing them the opportunity to play with the international golfers. We felt strongly that we should celebrate both male and female Pakistani golfers – which is why we’re so thrilled Ahmed Baig and Humna Amjed will be joining the Rumanza Inaugural. Combining the above, we wanted to balance the Challenge Match on Sunday amongst male and female players, as golf globally, and certainly in Asia, is booming with female participation. We hope that young Pakistani girls are inspired by how dedicated and professional the women are that are playing in the Rumanza Inaugural, and they can do the same in their own lives in their own ways – hopefully on the golf course, or wherever they direct their talent and hard work. We also liked the concept of having male/female teams for the Challenge Match, giving them the opportunity to play together and in a fun alternate shot format. We believe strongly that innovative formats help drive incremental interest in the game of golf globally.
■ THE IMPRESSIVE RUINS OF THE DERAWAR FORT CAN BE FOUND IN AHMADPUR, 130KM SOUTH OF BAHAWALPUR, IN THE HEART OF THE CHOLISTAN DESERT. BUILT IN THE 9TH CENTURY BY HINDU RULER RAJA DAHIR, THE 1.5KM PERIMETER WALL IS 30 METRES HIGH AND IS MADE UP OF 40 TURRETS TO FORM A PERFECT SQUARE
F L AVO U R S
O F
M U LTA N
Visitors to Rumanza are spoilt for choice when it comes to experiencing the magnificent cultural and spiritual highlights that are available in the region, including Multan, Pakistan’s fifth largest city, which offers a majestic melting pot of the old and the new
■ THE TOMB OF SHAH RUKN-E-ALAM IS THE MAUSOLEUM OF THE SUFI SAINT SHEIKH RUKN-UD-DIN ABUL FATEH. THE HIGHLY DECORATED SHRINE WAS COMPLETED IN 1324 AND IS ONE OF THE EARLIEST EXAMPLES OF TUGHLUQ ARCHITECTURE. MADE FROM RED BRICK, THE THREE-TIERED EXTERIOR FEATURES ELABORATE CARVED WOODEN PANELS, BUTTRESSES AND CRENELATIONS, WHILE THE VAST INTERIOR IS GLAZED WITH GLITTERING TILE WORK
TRAVEL & BREAKS
■ BUILT IN 1905, THE DARBAR MAHAL PALACE WAS DESIGNED TO STAGE COURTLY EVENTS AND HOUSE GOVERNMENT OFFICES FOR THE CITY OF BAHAWALPUR. COMBINING LOCAL, ARABIC AND EUROPEAN INFLUENCES, THE EXTERIOR HAS INTRICATE CARVINGS AND STUCCO WORK, WHILE EACH OF ITS CORNERS BOASTS AN OCTAGONAL TURRET WITH SIKH-STYLE DOMES
MAY 2019
■ FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MULTAN’S ANCIENT NOMADIC TRIBES WITH AN UNFORGETTABLE CAMEL RIDE ACROSS THE CHOLISTAN DESERT. CAMP UNDER THE STARS, EXPLORE HISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND LIVE THE NOMADIC LIFE – IF ONLY FOR A DAY!
■ VISITORS WILL FIND IT HARD TO RESIST BUYING SOME TRADITIONAL BLUE AND WHITE MULTANI KASHI POTTERY. ORIGINALLY INFLUENCED BY PERSIAN, MONGOLIAN AND CHINESE ART, THE BEAUTIFUL FLORAL DESIGNS ADORN A WIDE RANGE OF HANDMADE POTS, BOWLS, JUGS AND PLATES AND MAKE FOR IDEAL MEMENTOS OF YOUR VISIT TO THE REGION
■ NO VISITOR TO RUMAZA SHOULD MISS AN AFTERNOON WATCHING SOME OF THE REGION’S FINEST HORSEMEN IN ACTION AT A TENT PEGGING MATCH, OR NEZA BAZI AS IT IS KNOWN IN PAKISTAN. REQUIRING EXPERT HORSEMANSHIP AND PERFECT TIMING, THE AIM OF THE GAME IS TO LANCE A SERIES OF TARGETS WHILE MOUNTED ON A HORSE GALLOPING AT HIGH SPEED. MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT, ELABORATE OUTFITS, INTENSE COMPETITION AND BIG CROWDS GUARANTEES A BUZZING ATMOSPHERE
■ A SWEET DELICACY OF THE MULTAN REGION THAT IS SOLD ON MANY MARKET STALLS AND BAKERIES, SOHAN HALWA IS MADE BY BOILING A MIXTURE OF WATER, SUGAR, MILK, CORNFLOUR, ALMONDS, PISTACHIOS AND CARDAMOM SEEDS UNTIL IT FORMS A STICKY BRITTLE THAT IS HARD TO RESIST
THE LAST WORD
WITH MEL REID
HOW MUCH ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING IN THE THE RUMANZA INAUGURAL? I’m very excited to play in The Rumanza Inaugural and have a chance to experience Pakistan’s first signature golf course up close. I’m also really looking forward to meeting and playing alongside some local players. HAVE YOU PLAYED IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD BEFORE? I’ve played in South Asia quite a bit, but this will be my first trip to Pakistan. I’m always up for a new adventure, and I’m excited to check out a new part of the world as well as the new Faldo course. YOU’RE VERY MUCH A WORLD PLAYER, SO HOW IMPORTANT IS FOR YOU AS A PLAYER, AND SECONDLY, AS AN AMBASSADOR FOR THE GAME, THAT GOLF CONTINUES TO VISIT NEW COUNTRIES AND EXPAND INTO NEW TERRITORIES? It’s very important. The more people we can introduce to the sport and even influence to take up the game of golf the better. Helping to grow the game around the globe is something that I’m very passionate about – it’s part of the reason I’m so excited about this event. IF THE 34-YEAR-OLD MEL REID WERE TO OFFER THREE PIECES OF ADVICE TO THE 19-YEAR-OLD MEL REID JUST STARTING OUT HER GOLFING CAREER, WHAT WOULD THEY BE? 1) Trust your instincts. 2) Understand your strengths. 3) Enjoy every part of the journey. IT OBVIOUSLY TAKES AN ALL-ROUND GAME TO WIN AND COMPETE AT THIS LEVEL, BUT WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MAIN STRENGTHS OF YOUR GAME AND WHERE YOU MIGHT LOOK TO IMPROVE? One of my biggest strengths is driving the ball. A couple of things I’ve been working hard on this off season are making my putting and pitching more consistent. I’m looking forward to putting that hard work to action at the Rumanza Inaugural. ALTHOUGH WINNING INDIVIDUAL TOURNAMENTS OBVIOUSLY COMES WITH ITS OWN PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL REWARDS, IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE GAINED THE MOST ENJOYMENT FROM THE TEAM WINS AS A SOLHEIM PLAYER? Solheim victories are some of the best memories of my life, but I’m also fortunate that when I’ve won individually it hasn’t actually been individually, as I have a great team around me. The best success to me is enjoying it with people who have been on the journey since the beginning and helped me achieve my dreams. IF YOU COULD WAVE A MAGIC WAND TO MAKE ONE THING HAPPEN IN 2022, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Without a doubt…win a major!