PGTI eyes golf boom in J&K as Srinagar hosts J&K Open after hiatus

New Delhi: The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is set to deepen its footprint in Jammu & Kashmir with the return of the J&K Open to Srinagar after a hiatus, as the tour and the Union Territory administration look to position the region as a major golfing and sports tourism destination.

The second edition of the J&K Open, jointly announced by Jammu & Kashmir Tourism and the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (DP World PGTI), will be held at the Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar from August 4 to 7 with a prize purse of Rs 1 crore, double that of the previous edition.

The tournament marks the sixth occasion that the PGTI has staged a professional event in Jammu & Kashmir and is expected to feature many of India's leading golfers, including Order of Merit leader Saptak Talwar, Veer Ahlawat, Om Prakash Chouhan, Manu Gandas, defending champion Shaurya Bhattacharya and Angad Cheema. Fourteen overseas professionals from nine countries will also compete, adding an international flavour to the event.

Speaking at the announcement here on July 29, DP World PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl said the tour viewed Jammu & Kashmir as one of India's most promising golfing destinations and wanted to build a sustained calendar of tournaments in the region.

"This is the sixth time we are having the tournament in Jammu & Kashmir. The entire administration, including the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has been very supportive and understands that golf has to be promoted," Johl said.

He stressed that golf offered Jammu & Kashmir a unique opportunity to showcase itself to a global audience.

"Golf is played worldwide. Golf media is worldwide media. We televise not just the golf course but the entire city and the experiences around it. It is one of the best vehicles to promote Jammu & Kashmir to the world," he said.

Johl revealed that the PGTI was working beyond tournament organisation to create a grassroots ecosystem for the sport in the Valley. During the tournament, the tour will organise golf clinics for students from government schools in Srinagar and donate 2,000 golf balls to the Royal Springs driving range to support coaching programmes for boys and girls.

"We hope these programmes will encourage youngsters to take up golf and eventually produce champions from Jammu & Kashmir," he said.

Looking ahead, Johl said the PGTI was keen to expand its presence in the region beyond Srinagar.

"If the golf courses at Royal Springs, Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir Golf Club continue to receive support, there is potential to stage as many as four tournaments in Jammu & Kashmir. We would love to have events in Jammu and Pahalgam as well," he said.

Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Director Rashid Raina said the government was increasingly using sport to diversify the region's tourism offerings.

"Kashmir is known across the world for its natural beauty, but we also want it to be recognised as a sporting destination. Alongside cricket, football and marathons, golf is becoming an important part of our sports tourism strategy," Raina said.

He added that the J&K Open would also provide exposure to local golfers through interaction with professionals. Amateur golfers from the region will compete alongside professionals in a special event, while children will participate in a golf clinic during tournament week.

The tournament is supported by Jammu & Kashmir Tourism as title partner and Royal Springs Golf Course as host venue, with DP World, Axis Bank, Amul, Amrutanjan Enerlyte, Campa, Air India Maharaja Club and Kalyani among the supporting partners.

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Tags : Golf, J&K, Gulmarg. Srinagar, Pahalgam, Omar Abdullah