Sir Nick Faldo’s golf course design business, Faldo Designs, has begun work on its first signature golf course in Pakistan following the ground-breaking ceremony on the site of what will the country’s first championship-standard layout at Rumanza in Multan.
The Rumanza course, located within the model Defence Housing Authority Multan residential community in Pakistan’s fifth largest city, is set to open in 2020.
Over the next 18 months, Faldo Design’s lead architect Andrew Haggar and Director of Design & Operations Gareth Williams, will work with its on-site team to establish Faldo’s design philosophy, prioritising golf course strategy, memorability and embracing the existing natural environment. Throughout the construction phase, the golf course will also take the most advanced environmentally-friendly measures into consideration.
Faldo, who attended the ground-breaking ceremony, will return to Multan during construction in order to survey progress of a design process which will require careful collaboration with the wider project team in order to deliver a high quality, sustainable golf course experience. Once opened for play, Rumanza will become the 28th completed Faldo Design layout.
Speaking at the launch, Sir Nick said: “This is a landmark moment for Faldo Design. 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 exciting parcel of land, which has great potential for golf. Rumanza will represent all of the characteristics I believe make for a memorable test of golf, and will utilise the most modern practices in order to ensure long-lasting environmental sustainability. Once completed, we hope that Rumania, and its superb facilities, 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.”
Brigadier Nadeem Aslam, DHA Multan‘s Project Director, said:“Golf is a fast growing sport in Pakistan, we have talent, but it needs to be nurtured to compete at international level, and my objective is to see Pakistani golfers participating on Asian and European Tours. Being Pakistan’s first Signature course, complemented by a Performance Academy, constructed by Desert Group UAE, and managed and operated by Troon Golf, Rumanza will become our golfing ‘Centre of Excellence’ and will help bring Pakistan to the world golf map in its suitability for hosting Sir Nick’s Faldo Series and other international events.”