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GOLF TEACHING PRO%u00ae 63 WINTER 2O26STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD PAKISTANNEWS FROM PAKISTANThe Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) oversees around 48 courses across five provincial associations, with roughly 19,000 registered members. Golf remains a largely private-club sport, limited in accessibility. Inflation and security challenges persist, yet the community remains resilient %u2013 sustaining club activity.Growing up in a sporting family, I was inspired to help my son become our first professional athlete through golf. Challenges, including his Covid-19 illness setbacks, drove me to pursue TPI and USGTF certifications, blending fitness, mental training and structured coaching to fill instruction gaps in Pakistan. The USGTF team has been phenomenal in their support throughout my certification journey, providing timely assistance and encouragement.Key Milestones in 2025 %u2013 Junior Golf & Referee DevelopmentJunior development has accelerated. The PGF launched a youth program from age four; juniors secured international wins such as the Kazakhstan Junior Open, and several gained entries into U.S. university golf programs. The Jinnah Development Tour gives juniors professional exposure, while Pakistan hosted its first in-person R&A Level II Rules seminar, strengthening tournament standards.My Contributions with PGF and FGAIn 2025, I delivered the PGF%u2019s first Golf Fitness & Performance workshop, integrating TPI and USGTF principles into player development. I participated in Pakistan%u2019s first R&A Level II Rules seminar and was appointed head coach of the Federal Golf Association junior team for the upcoming 1st National Youth Games %u2013 a precursor to Pakistan%u2019s first golf appearance at the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain. Outlook for the FuturePakistan%u2019s golden era in the 1970s, marked by Taimur Hassan Amin%u2019s (current APGC chairman) dominance, gave way to decades of lull. Momentum is now rebuilding through juniors, international exposure, and improved governance. Looking ahead, I plan to establish Pakistan%u2019s first golf coaching alliance, which aims to bring together teaching professionals under a common framework to standardize instruction, fitness integration, and mental coaching. With guidance and mentorship from the USGTF and its members, this initiative can lay the foundation for a national golf academy that would contribute not only to local development but also position Pakistan as a regional hub for coaching excellence.The infrastructure is also beginning to align with this vision. A Nick Faldo%u2013designed course in Multan has already hosted an Asian Development Tour (ADT) event, while another Faldo project is under development in Karachi. Combined with the return of international tournaments, these developments signal an exciting future for golf in Pakistan. By Abbas Mustafa, USGTF Member

