Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious roadmap to revive Jammu and Kashmir’s status as one of India’s premier golf destinations, announcing plans to make the DP World PGTI tournament an annual event and establish a dedicated golf academy to nurture local talent.
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the J&K Open 2026 in Srinagar, Abdullah described golf tourism as a key pillar of the Union Territory’s tourism strategy and said Kashmir was already witnessing encouraging signs of visitors travelling exclusively for golfing holidays.
“Even without active promotion of golf tourism this year, we have started seeing the kind of trend we want—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,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the ongoing DP World PGTI tournament marked Kashmir’s return to India’s professional golf circuit after a prolonged gap.
“This tournament is an important milestone in putting Kashmir, particularly the Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC), back on India’s golf map. We have more than 100 professional golfers participating, including over 10 international entries. Our endeavour is to make this an annual event rather than a one-time tournament,” he said.
Abdullah said the government plans to progressively increase the tournament’s prize money and participation while ensuring that it remains on the national golfing calendar for at least the next five years.
Golf Academy to Promote Local Talent
Responding to a question on why Jammu and Kashmir has produced several accomplished cricketers and footballers but relatively few golfers, the Chief Minister acknowledged the need to create greater opportunities for aspiring golfers from the region.
He said local players should be given increased exposure through Pro-Am tournaments, where amateur golfers can compete alongside professionals from across the country.
“We also organise local competitions, but the next step is to establish a golf academy where children can be introduced to the sport at an early age, receive professional coaching and eventually represent the country,” Abdullah said.
Highlighting the growing sporting talent emerging from Jammu and Kashmir, he referred to the recent selection of Kashmiri cricketer Aqib Nabi for India’s Test squad against Sri Lanka and a recent international success by a mixed martial arts athlete from the Valley.
“Our boys and girls have immense talent. What they often lack is exposure. Organising more tournaments will provide that exposure and encourage more young people to take up different sports,” he said.
‘Golf Courses Are Tourism Infrastructure’
Rejecting suggestions that the revival of golf tourism was linked to the abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah said Kashmir had hosted prestigious golf tournaments long before 2014 and had established itself as a leading golfing destination even before the onset of militancy.
He noted that Kashmir’s pleasant summer climate provides a distinct advantage over much of the country, where high temperatures limit golfing activities during the season.
Addressing criticism that government-owned golf courses are expensive and financially unviable, the Chief Minister argued that they should be viewed as tourism infrastructure rather than standalone commercial enterprises.
“A golf course may not be a profit centre in itself, but from a tourism perspective it is invaluable. Visitors who come here to play golf also stay in hotels and houseboats, ride shikaras, purchase local handicrafts and hire taxis. The overall economic benefits extend well beyond the golf course,” he said.
Push for International Cricket Infrastructure
Abdullah also highlighted the steady rise of cricket in Jammu and Kashmir, pointing to the region’s improved performances in the Ranji Trophy, increased representation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Aqib Nabi’s national selection.
However, he said the Union Territory still lacks international-standard cricket infrastructure.
“There is a proposal from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to construct two international-quality cricket stadiums—one in Jammu and another in the Kashmir Valley. For various reasons, the proposal has not yet reached fruition, but we are keen to see these stadiums built so that Jammu and Kashmir can host IPL fixtures as well as international matches,” he said.
Towards the end of the interaction, Abdullah declined to comment on political issues relating to Article 370, stating that the occasion was dedicated to sport. However, when asked about the recent killings in south Kashmir, he strongly condemned the violence.
