Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, Aug 4

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday pledged to make Jammu and Kashmir a premier golf tourism destination and pitched golf as a key tourism driver, announced plans for a golf academy, and sought to establish J&K Open as an annual fixture on PGTI’s golfing calendar.

Inaugurating the 5th edition of J&K Open 2026 DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) by teeing off the prestigious four-day tournament and unveiling the championship trophy at the picturesque Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC), Srinagar, CM Omar said the region’s world-class golf infrastructure include the courses at Srinagar, Pahalgam, and Gulmarg in Kashmir, besides the golf course at Sidra in Jammu.

He said that plans were also being explored to upgrade another golf course in the Jammu region.

The event marks the return of a major professional golf tournament to Kashmir after a significant gap and underscores the Government’s renewed focus on positioning Jammu and Kashmir as a premier destination for golf tourism.

After ceremonially teeing off the tournament, the CM said that golf tourism forms an important component of the Government’s broader strategy to promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that Jammu and Kashmir was already witnessing encouraging signs of golf tourism, with visitors travelling to Srinagar specifically for weekend golfing experiences.

“This year, even without active promotion of golf tourism, we have seen people flying into Srinagar for a long weekend of golf – arriving on Friday, playing through the weekend and returning on Sunday evening or Monday morning. This is exactly the kind of tourism we want to promote,” CM Omar said.

Describing the J&K Open as a landmark event, he said the tournament would help place Kashmir, particularly the Royal Springs Golf Course, firmly back on India’s golfing map.

He noted that the championship has attracted more than 100 professional golfers, including over 10 international participants, reflecting the growing appeal of Jammu and Kashmir as a sporting destination.

Expressing confidence that the tournament would become a regular feature, the CM said the government endeavoured to make the J&K Open an annual event for at least the next five years.

He said that efforts would be made to progressively enhance both the prize money and participation in the coming editions, thereby strengthening the tournament’s stature on the professional golfing circuit.

Highlighting the importance of nurturing local talent, CM Omar said that such tournaments provide invaluable exposure to young golfers through interactions and competitions alongside seasoned professionals.

He said that the government was also planning to establish a golf academy in Kashmir to identify and groom young talent from an early age, enabling them to compete at the national and international levels.

Referring to the recent sporting achievements of athletes from Jammu and Kashmir, the CM said the region’s youth possess immense talent across several sport disciplines.

He cited the recent selection of J&K cricketer Auqib Nabi in the Indian Test squad for the Sri Lanka series and the remarkable international success of local mixed martial arts fighter Owais Yaqoob as examples of the sporting potential that exists in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Our boys and girls have talent. What they need is exposure and opportunities. By organizing more tournaments like this and encouraging local competitions, we can provide that exposure, inspire more youngsters to take up sports and help them excel at the highest levels,” CM Omar said.

Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary Tourism, Ashish Chandra Verma, CEO PGTI Amandeep Johal, Secretary Royal Springs Golf Course Haris Ahmad Handoo, Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajjad, and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.