It was established by the British back in 1888 and is counted among the oldest and most prestigious clubs, not just in Pakistan, but in the entire region.

However, the Karachi Golf Club (KGC) is not all about just past glory or prestige. In the shape of its sprawling 27-hole course, KGC boasts of testing terrains and challenges golfers with all the elements.

Designed by renowned golf course architect Peter Harradine, the KGC course is rich with birds and plantlife. The Harradine influence is visible on all of its three nine-hole courses - blue, red and yellow - as the Swiss maestro successfully managed to integrate the golf course without tearing apart the site’s ecology back in the nineties. The result is a fabulous one as the KGC course has an eye-catching tree line and natural hazards which make golfing a pleasure for amateurs and pros alike.

Because of its status as one of the premier golf clubs of the country, KGC was selected as venue for back-to-back Asian Tour events in 2006 and 2007. It also made the list of 100 most interesting golf courses in the world.

Last year, KGC celebrated its quasquicentennial birthday in style. A series of events were hosted by the club, marking the 125th year of what is the oldest golf facility in the country.

So when we decided to begin a series of reviews in a bid to put the spotlight on golf courses from all over Pakistan, we had to begin with the KGC - the grand old beauty.

DESIGNER: Peter Harradine

OVERVIEW

BLUE COURSE

Many a golfer playing at KGC finds the Blue course to be the toughest of the three. Here, you begin with a par-4 where only long-hitters should think about birdies. There is a shortcut at the right dogleg and if you hit it long and straight you can find yourself on or near the green with a second shot. But be mindful of the various hazards around the green.

TIP: You have to hit straight and avoid the shortcut if you are not a long and sure hitter.

SIGNATURE HOLE:

Its significance is based more on its difficulty level than the scenic beauty. On the par-4 ninth the wind is your enemy and so is the sharp dogleg.

TIP: If you have a controlled fade then your chances are bright on this one.

Also, the par-3 fourth which at 181 yards is a pretty long one. The wind is a big factor as you are hitting into it but still a good shot can get you that cherished hole-in-one.

YELLOW COURSE

You begin this one with a par-5 that is a big favourite among long-hitters. You can reach the green in two shots and if you manage that, an eagle is a possibility. But the hole is not without its fair share of difficulty. There is a water hazard at the left and another hazard just short of the green.

TIP: Use the wind but don’t get too adventurous because a careless hunt for a birdie might end with a ten.

SIGNATURE HOLE:

The 111-yard par-3 seventh is the shortest hole at KGC and is favoured by most. It is reachable for everyone even though you are hitting into the wind to reach the island green. There is a water hazard and a bunker and the pond here is believed to have eaten thousands of balls.

TIP: Aim for the centre of the green regardless of the placement of the flag. Opt for the pitching wedge and give the wind due respect.

TOUGHEST HOLE:

The par-4 sixth can pose you with the most difficult challenge on Yellow. There is OB at your left and as you hit into the wind there is a big chance that it will take your shot towards the left unless it’s a controlled one. There is a towering kikar tree that adds beauty to the fairway but it can affect your tee shot. There used to be another one right next to it but was blown away by a blizzard that did havoc with the club’s tree line several years ago.

TIP: Hit low to take the wind out of the equation.

THE TRICKY ONE:

The par-4 ninth is where many players have won or lost a championship over the years. At 474 yards, it is the longest par-4 at KGC and yes length is certainly a factor on this one.

RED COURSE

If you want to begin your day on a pleasant note then head for this course because the first two holes can be a cakewalk. The par-4 first is an easy one followed by the par-5 second where a tailwind is almost always there to assist you. With no bunkers to trap your shots it can be all about eagles and birdies on this hole.

SINGATURE HOLE

The par-4 sixth is punctuated with bunkers and has the potential to ruin your card.

TIP: Play it safe. Think of it as a par-5 because even a bogey here is good enough.

TOUGHEST HOLE

But if you thought that the sixth tested your nerves then wait for the next one. The 211-yard seventh is perhaps the most difficult par-3 hole not just in Karachi but in Pakistan. Even the best pros have seen their game fall apart on this one. There are ditches all over and the wind is against you which means that you can’t afford an inaccurate shot.

TIP: Aim at the left of the green.

PS: The greens at the KGC were once known as chocolates. They were made of sand and oil but still rolled as straight, fast and true as any surface on a grass course. Today, the club has well-manicured greens which are on the slower side. They are very difficult to read and if you are not a seasoned golfer then go for expert caddy advice.

KGC is all about golf: Bari Mian

Fondly known among friends and fellow golfers as Bari Mian, the affable Ahmad Abdul Bari is at the forefront of the KGC management as the club’s vice-president. He and fellow officials supervised the club’s memorable 125 year celebrations last year and are now striving hard to reach the targets set in 2013. Their biggest task is fixing the club’s nagging water problem.

"Having established in 1888, our club is steeped in history,"says Bari Mian, himself a keen golfer. "It used to be a classic desert course but due to all out efforts of many it was transformed into a green oasis in the middle of the city. I believe that KGC has the best course in the country though I may be biased. But you see it’s the only club from Pakistan that made the list of the world’s 100 most interesting courses,"he adds.

Bari Mian believes that KGC derives its strength from various sources. "We have a magnificent tree line, wildlife and jungles which were left untouched during the designing of the course and that make it a unique facility,"he says.

"Perhaps more importantly, our members and everybody connected to the club really care about it. The players can be seen picking up bottles or any other debris that they find in their path. There is this feeling of ownership and that’s really important.

"Our first priority here is golf because KGC is purely a golfing facility,"he stresses.

In recent times, a dry spell and poor quality of water have affected the KGC course but Bari Mian is confident that the club will manage to restore the course to its past glory.

"We are working on various plans which are aimed at improving the existing facilities of the club. Relaying and redoing of the greens is our primary aim. A comprehensive project to get treated water is already underway and I hope that the club will soon be able to use better water for its fairways and greens.î

The club is planning to invest heavily in its campaign to inject new life in the course by installing new sprinklers and hiring dedicated green-keepers. "We will also send some of them abroad to get training,"says Bari Mian

We will overcome the ‘water hazard’: Zafar Mahmood

It is difficult to strike a conversation with any golfer at KGC and not to hear the name of Commodore (retd) Zafar Mahmood during it. He is that popular! Zafar wears many hats. As chief operating officer of the Karachi Golf Club, he is at the helm of both long-term planning and the day-to-day grind needed to keep the club in good shape.

But meet Zafar on the golf course and you will know the real reason why his name keeps getting mentioned. He is an excellent golfer.

Zafar is in fact both a sportsman and sports aficionado. In his free time, when Zafar is not playing golf he is either watching it or following other sports -- mostly cricket. Zafar was a cricketer of repute in his younger days.

Over the years, he has transformed into a walking, talking encyclopedia of sports.

One of the highpoints of Zafar’s career came when he was selected as President of CISM Golf Committee by the International Military Sports Council (CISM).

It was for the first time that this unique honour was bestowed on any Asian country in over 50 years of existence of CISM. During his three-year-tenure, Zafar became a globe-trotter and played on some of the finest courses in the world.

Zafar, whose wife Ghazala and son Humayun are also avid golfers, counts winning the President Golf Medal at Islamabad Golf Club in 2004 among his fondest memories.

At the moment, Zafar’s biggest goal is to overcome the ‘water hazard’ facing the club.

"Water is the lifeline of any course and unfortunately we’ve been unlucky in recent times on two counts,"he says. "Firstly, there haven’t been enough rains and secondly the quality of the water that we use on the course has deteriorated.î

But Zafar says that the club has made up its mind to fix the problem by taking a series of steps. "Within the next six months, we will improve the water quality and make sure that the course is watered in the best possible manner."