Srinagar, Aug 4: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the government wants the DP World PGTI tournament to become an annual event in Kashmir, describing it as a significant step towards reviving golf in the Valley and restoring its place on India’s golfing map.
Interacting with reporters after teeing off the tournament at the Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC), Omar said golf tourism forms an important part of Jammu and Kashmir’s overall tourism promotion strategy.
“This tournament is an important milestone in putting Kashmir, particularly the Royal Springs Golf Course, back on India’s golf map,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the government has already started witnessing encouraging signs, with golfers travelling to Srinagar for long weekends dedicated to the sport.
“We are seeing the beginnings of what we actually want—people flying into Srinagar on a Friday, playing golf over the weekend and returning after a short golfing holiday,” he said.
Omar said the participation of more than 100 professional golfers, along with overseas entries and leading sponsors, would significantly enhance Kashmir’s visibility as a premier golfing destination.
He said the government’s endeavour is to ensure the tournament becomes a permanent fixture rather than a one-time event.
“This is not about organising a one-off tournament. We hope it becomes an annual event. From here we want to scale up both the prize money and participation and ensure it remains a regular feature of the golfing calendar for at least the next five years,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that the government intends to continue hosting marquee sporting events across disciplines to strengthen Jammu and Kashmir’s sporting ecosystem and encourage greater participation while promoting the region as a destination for national and international competitions.
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