28 June 2004	Monday	09 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

LAHORE, June 27: Pakistan will hold Saarc golf championship at the newly built Royal Palm Course on July 29-Aug 1, said secretary Saarc Golf Federation C.R. Bakshi during a ceremony to celebrate Royal Palm Club's affiliation to the Punjab Golf Association.

"The club offers all the world class facilities, so we have decided to hold the regional event here," Bakshi, who is from India, said while adding that all the Saarc member countries except the Maldives would take part in it, with each eligible to field a three-member men's and two-member women's teams.

Bakshi, flanked by Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) president Lt Gen Mohammad Tariq and general manager of Royal Palm Club, Jeremy Frankel, hoped that Pakistan would organize the event in a befitting manner.

He said that Asia had good prospects in golf. "Asia defeated Europe for the first time in April this year in Italy in the Inter-continental competition. It shows we are going in the right direction." .

Asked to compare the game's progress in India with that of Pakistan as far as the infrastructure was concerned, he said only New Delhi had eight golf courses. "After cricket, the golf has gradually become the second most popular game in India."

Though he believed Pakistani women's chances in the championship were slim, still he said Pakistan would field a women's team.

Frankel said that the club was likely to hold an Asian competition in April next year. "Wehave been meeting with the executives of Asian bodies and are well on our way to finalise a tournament planned for April next year."

Earlier, secretary Punjab Golf Association, Col Zulfiqar Rana, and Frankel signed the membership agreement.

As members of the PGA, Royal Palm members can now participate in golf tournaments organized by Pakistan Golf Association and can also play in clubs affiliated to the association across the country.