‘BEHIND every successful man, there is a woman’ goes the saying. But the situation was vice versa at the Karachi Golf Club (KGC) where the ladies reigned supreme in the 36-holes second Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) Ladies Amateur Golf Championship recently.

The KGC golfers were nowhere in the inaugural edition launched by the games controlling body at Lahore last year. But with little efforts and a team of able men behind them supporting the cause, they did miracles this time. Indeed, the KGC womenfolk deserve a pat on their back.

Realising the importance of physical drill, a group of KGC ladies went through 10 to 12 days boot camp training on the eve of the competition, perhaps for the first time in their lives, and in the end that paid off.

From golfing lessons of hitting long drives, putting, chipping, how to play shot in bunkers, avoiding penalties etc at the golf course to shifting the scene to nearby rifle shooting range for a change proved highly beneficial.

These were part of their training held under the supervision of Cdre Ghazanfar Abbas, who has taken over as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the KGC recently.

Being a national record holder in pistol shooting and a vice-president of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), he brings rich experience with him. He was assisted by the KGC secretary Cdr Majid Satti during the camp.

The incumbent KGC Lady Captain Fawzia Naqvi was the motivating force behind the successful event. Her three predecessors — Durdana Soomro, Saba Iqbal and Ghazala Zafar — also made their appearance felt in the event.

Chairperson of the event Tahira Raza worked tirelessly and ensured that the outstation golfers enjoy their stay in the city. It was a tremendous team effort.

The Sindh Golf Association (SGA), headed by an avid golfer Asad I. A. Khan, also put its weight behind behind making the show a success.

The two-day event was staged in three categories gold (handicap 0 to 15), silver (handicap 16 to 24) and bronze (handicap 25 to 36).

The KGC golfers scooped 11 of the 18 medals that were at stake in the event.

South Korean Cho Young Me (79, 80) and Humera Khalid (83, 81) did KGC proud by winning gold and silver medals respectively in the gold category while Naghman Atif and Han Hyun Sook lapped up the silver category. Najma Islam and Tabassum Sharif followed suit in the bronze category.

The launch of the ladies amateur event at the national level by the PGF last year is a good omen. The third edition will be held at Islamabad next year.

Competitions for junior girls and ladies are a regular part of golfing events. It is now need of the hour that the PGF should launch a pros event for the womenfolk. This will help women golfers to work hard and earn their livelihood from the sport.

The prize money will also attract more women to pick up the sport as a golfer or as a caddie.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2017