Golf Tournament in Swat

Mojo-jojo

Minister (2k+ posts)
Swat to host first golf event in 20 years

By Fazal Khaliq
Published: August 28, 2013


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Among the 200 participants, 54 professionals, 27 senior professionals, 45 amateurs and seven senior amateur including other players will vie for the prestigious title. PHOTO: FILE


KABAL:
For the first time in 20 years, Swat will be holding a national golf tournament featuring 200 players from across the country, starting today in Kabal

Among the 200 participants, 54 professionals, 27 senior professionals, 45 amateurs and seven senior amateur including other players will vie for the prestigious title.

The venue for the event is the Cedar Golf Club, which, according to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Golf Association Secretary, Colonel (retd) Shahadat, was constructed by the then crown prince Miangul Aurangzeb in 1964.

“Tournaments and matches used to be played here regularly and players from across the country participated,” he said. “However, since 1992, no match or tournament has been organised here.”

The Cedar Golf Club has the largest golf course in the province with a spread over 122 acres.

According to the club’s officials, the course deteriorated during the three years of militancy in Swat, however, rehabilitation work done by Pakistan Army and the district’s administration brought it back to its best shape.

“The course is now ready for all kinds of golf events. It has a pleasant environment,” he added.

He said he hoped to organize a golf tournament in Swat every year.

‘Event will boost tourism in Swat’


Syed Imtiaz Hussain, Deputy Commissioner Swat said that the tournament will help boost the tourism industry in Swat.

“It will send a positive message to the international community about peace in the valley. There is no threat to tourists,” he said, adding that people from across the world can come and enjoy the serenity and natural beauty.

Asad Ali Buneri, an international golfer agreed with Imtiaz.

“Organising the golf tournament proves that peace in Swat has returned and life is on the track of normalcy,” said Buneri, adding that the golf course in Kabal is the best one.

The tournament will run till August 31.


Published in The Express Tribune, August 29[SUP]th[/SUP], 2013.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/596597/swat-to-host-first-golf-event-in-20-years/
 
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Mojo-jojo

Minister (2k+ posts)
I pray and hope there is everlasting peace in this beautiful part of Pakistan and the rest of the country and the world!
 

desan

President (40k+ posts)
Golf to see daylight in Swat after two decades. Way to go KPK!!!!

MINGORA: After being locked down for 21 years, the Kabal Golf Course Kabal in Swat has been re-opened and it will stage its first-ever Open tournament from Thursday.
Swat Deputy Commissioner Imtiaz Hussain said that all arrangements had been completed for the tournament and added that 200 golfers including 27 senior professionals and 54 professionals would participate in tournament.
Addressing a press briefing along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Golf Association secretary retired Col Shahadat, Imtiaz said that the Golf Club Kabal, which was constructed by former governor and son of Wali-i-Swat Mian Gul Aurangzeb in 1964, had hosted many tournaments till 1992.
Due to militancy and other problems in the area during recent years, no tournament of national level has been held here for the last 21 years, he said. But now, the golf club and all of its holes have been restored with the help of army.
Imtiaz added that the Open tournament will run till Saturday and said that it will help in promoting tourism in the alphine valley. We want to give a message to the people that Swat is peaceful now and they can come here without any fear he said.
Col Shahadad, meanwhile, said that the golf course in Kabal was the biggest in the country and hoped that the club would contribute in its role for the promotion of the game as it had done in past.




http://dawn.com/news/1039016/golf-to-see-daylight-in-swat-after-two-decades