Parkland Golf Club comes alive in Abuja

Located in Garki II, Parkland golf club offers golfers in the FCT and its environs the opportunity to play the game and relax in a serene environment.Built in partnership with the Parks and gardens department of the FCT, formerly Abuja Environmental Protection Board, the 18-hole Parkland golf course sits majestically on land measuring 2.5 hectares.Life […]

Located in Garki II, Parkland golf club offers golfers in the FCT and its environs the opportunity to play the game and relax in a serene environment.
Built in partnership with the Parks and gardens department of the FCT, formerly Abuja Environmental Protection Board, the 18-hole Parkland golf course sits majestically on land measuring 2.5 hectares.
Life Patron of Parkland Golf Club, Architect M.B Bello told SHOT! that even as the club cannot compare itself with the prestigious IBB golf club, it offers what the older club lacks.
He said “The fundamental difference between IBB and Parkland is whereas IBB is a regular golf club built on 110 hectares of land, this is a mini-golf club built on about 2.5 hectares of land.
“Now in golf, you have two games. The long game and the short game. The long drive takes you near but the short game is actually the game. Parkland is a club and a course that will train you to be more proficient in your short games.
“Suffice it to say that the general attitude of most golfers today is just to go play golf without focusing on developing skills and talent in golfing. This is a deliberate opportunity to encourage golfers to develop their skills and talents in short games. So a combination of short and long games will make you a complete golfer”.
Bello also spoke on the strong understanding existing between IBB Golf Club and Parkland. He said “IBB golf club is a senior club and was initiated by government but this is a private initiative golf club but then there is a strong understanding between this club and IBB golf club.
“For instance, the course agronomist here was trained for two weeks by IBB golf club and that has been very useful. We also have some bit of training in the maintenance of the equipment. They are also going back in the future for additional training. This is the partnership that exists between the two clubs. It is also envisaged that in the future there will be inter-club plays”.
He further disclosed the intention of PCDI associates, developers of Parkland golf course to collaborate with the Nigeria Golf Federation in building golf courses across the country.
“Parkland Golf Club and Course was designed by PCDI associates which covers all the initial concepts up to the business development. It is a full package. We are in the final stage now of our assignment as architects which is the commissioning of the course.
“The owners and operators Parkland will continue with the operation and management of the club. We have drawn inference from this performance to build other golf courses across the country”.
Bello said the plan to develop the mini-golf course was conceived as far back as 2007 but actual development commenced three years ago.
“The planning started in 2007. We had to go through all the procedures of development control to get approval and authorisation to build a golf course. That took a lot of time. Thereafter, the construction started with the first five holes and subsequently other holes as well as other infrastructure. Today the phase one of the project which is the golf course is completed and ready for play and membership.
Speaking on the line up of activities for the commissioning, Coordinator of Parkland, Mr. Timothy Ekokota said everything is in place for a successful ceremony.
“We have made the place very much ready for invited guests to attend the programme. The course has been cleaned up.
“We are actually expecting professionals and amateurs to come and play in a tournament to officially open the course. The tape for the course and the club house will be cut by the Senate President, Senator David Mark.
Ekokota also said to ensure a hitch free event, the golf course was tested with several kitties and tournaments. “There was need to do pre-commissioning testing. We have done 15 test kitties and hosted a number of tournaments on the course. All in all some 25 tournaments have been played including the testing kitties. The testing was to check the efficiency of the golf course and this was done in consultation with a golf pro”, he said.