CM Omar Abdullah tees off J&K Open 2026, pitches golf tourism as key growth sector
Blazing Tales News Service
SRINAGAR, AUGUST 4: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday inaugurated the fifth edition of the J&K Open 2026 DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) by teeing off the four-day championship and unveiling the tournament trophy at the Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC) here.
The event marks the return of a major professional golf tournament to Kashmir after a significant gap and reflects the Government’s renewed focus on positioning Jammu and Kashmir as a premier golf tourism destination.
Addressing the gathering after the ceremonial tee-off, the Chief Minister said golf tourism would be an important component of the Government’s broader tourism strategy. He highlighted the Union Territory’s world-class golf infrastructure, including courses at Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg in Kashmir, besides the Sidra Golf Course in Jammu, adding that another golf course in the Jammu region is also proposed to be upgraded.
Omar Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir is already witnessing encouraging growth in golf tourism, with visitors travelling specifically to Srinagar for weekend golfing experiences.
“Even without actively promoting golf tourism, we have seen visitors flying into Srinagar on Fridays, enjoying golf through the weekend and returning on Sunday evening or Monday morning. This is exactly the kind of tourism we want to encourage,” he said.
Describing the J&K Open as a landmark sporting event, the Chief Minister said the championship would help restore Kashmir, particularly the Royal Springs Golf Course, to India’s golfing map. He noted that more than 100 professional golfers, including over 10 international participants, are competing in the tournament, reflecting the growing appeal of Jammu and Kashmir as a sports tourism destination.
Expressing confidence that the championship would become a permanent fixture, Omar Abdullah said the Government aims to make the J&K Open an annual event for at least the next five years. He added that efforts would also be made to progressively enhance the prize money and expand participation in future editions to strengthen the tournament’s standing on the Professional Golf Tour of India calendar.
Highlighting the need to nurture local talent, the Chief Minister said such events provide valuable exposure to young golfers by allowing them to compete alongside experienced professionals. He announced that the Government is planning to establish a golf academy in Kashmir to identify and train promising young players from an early age and prepare them for national and international competitions.
Referring to the recent achievements of athletes from Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah said the region’s youth possess exceptional sporting talent across multiple disciplines. He cited the selection of cricketer Auqib Nabi in the Indian Test squad for the Sri Lanka series and the international success of mixed martial arts fighter Owais Yaqoob as examples of the sporting excellence emerging from the Union Territory.
“Our boys and girls have talent. What they need is exposure and opportunities. By organising 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,” the Chief Minister said.
