Back on the fairways

‘‘Had Taimur turned pro, there would have been many more youngsters following him. Golf in Pakistan never really developed because, among other reasons, there wasn’t any icon to look up to unlike, say, a Jansher Khan or an Imran Khan’’, says Faisal Qureshi, a Pakistan national, now settled in India and married to top golfer Nonita Lal.

Taimur, in New Delhi for a golf tournament, has his reasons. ‘‘It was a family decision, not mine’’, he says. ‘‘My dad wouldn’t allow me to turn pro. I was the eldest in the family and I had to take over the family business. Being an icon is okay, but where are the opportunities? There was no money in the sport. Everything we played was purely on individual capacity. You tend to stagnate, playing all by yourself.’’

Qureshi admits that lack of money was a major concern. ‘‘I wanted to turn pro and my dad almost kicked me out! There was absolutely no money in it’’, he says, recalling his struggle to make a mark despite being one of the top amateurs in Pakistan.

But life is turning full circle. Taimur is now secretary of the Pakistan Golf Association with a chance to do what he couldn’t before. ‘‘Yes, golf is now developing in Pakistan. With money now coming in, television and media playing its part, there are a lot of youngsters willing to come up and start playing golf. I want to show them the way.’’

Shafique Haider, a retired top Pakistan Air Force officer in town for the same event, speaks of a ‘‘sea change’’ in the attitude towards golf among the younger generation. ‘‘The federation is encouraging, there are a lot more academies and, most importantly, there’s a busy calendar for all golfers.’’

It won’t be long, Taimur says, before more boys from his country hit the Asian tour. ‘‘My aim is to make Pakistan a part of the APGA. This will really provide fuel for the sport. What we needed all this while was a critical mass to form a base for the sport. We now have that. The results will follow.’’