On arriving at Melbourne airport, Munazza was extended a very warm welcome. Everyone at the Reception Desk was eager to meet the Lady Rules Official from Pakistan. One of them remarked, “Although we are used to receiving foreign rules officials, it’s a unique experience and honour for Golf Australia to receive a lady referee from your part of the World.” It is worth mentioning that Munazza Shaheen is amongst a small band of golf officials who have the honour of achieving all three levels of golf rules certification within a short period of only 12 months. She got her Level One Certification on line with a 100% pass in April 2022, her Level Two from Singapore with a distinction in October 2022 and finally earned her Level Three from R&A, St Andrews with a merit in February 2023. Incidentally, she and Col (Retd) Zahid Iqbal are presently the only two Pakistani golf officials who have earned their Level Three Certification. However, in the words of Col Zahid; “Munazza has great potential and is highly committed to golf rules. She is the future hope for Pakistan Golf.” It is pertinent to mention here that this achievement of her’s has inspired many other Pakistani men and women golfers to also follow in her footsteps.
When asked to comment on her phenomenal achievements, Munazza expressed her debt to Col (Retd) Zahid Iqbal for all the technical advice and guidance that he continues to provide her, Mr. Taimur Hassan for introducing her to rules officials abroad. Similarly, she eulogised the support that has been extended to her by the Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) in terms of facilitating and financing her golf related foreign trips. She was also very appreciative of the honour that the PGF extended to her by appointing her as the Tournament Director of the 62nd National Golf Championship held in April 2023, within a month of her qualifying as rules official. The tournament, in which the bulk of the participants were male golfers. This was indeed a classic case of a woman golfer ‘breaking the proverbial glass ceiling’ in Pakistan. However, she had no hesitation in attributing her success primarily to the guidance and support of her mentor, Dr Asma Afzal Shami, the erstwhile Chairperson Ladies Golf in Pakistan on behalf of the PGF. In Munazza’s own words; “She not only ‘discovered’ me but then unleashed my hidden potential and has constantly motivated and challenged me to continue aiming for the stars and beyond.
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