Srinagar, May 10 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said Kashmir’s world-class golf courses have the potential to boost tourism and inspire a new generation of local golfers as he inaugurated a golf tournament at the Royal Springs Golf Course here.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, Abdullah said Kashmir shares a long association with golf and its courses rank among the best in the country.
“If you look at the most beautiful golf courses in the country, then three courses of Kashmir can easily be counted — Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam,” he said.
The chief minister said the government was focusing on promoting golf tourism while also encouraging local youth to take up the sport.
“Our effort is that local golfers get training and we use these courses for tourism promotion. This tournament is also in the same direction. We want to create a new generation of golfers,” he said.
Abdullah said more than 100 golfers were participating in the tournament, including players from different parts of the country and abroad.
“In North India, many golfers now come to Srinagar during long weekends just to play golf. I hope this benefits tourism,” he said.
On efforts to place Kashmir on the global golfing map, Abdullah said the government, in collaboration with tourism authorities and event organisers, plans to host more such tournaments in Srinagar and Gulmarg.
“The idea is to attract the best golfers from across the country and promote the sport through better events, equipment and outreach,” he said.
He added that the aim was to encourage participation by both local golfers and players visiting from outside Jammu and Kashmir.
“We want more and more golfers from within the Valley as well as from the rest of the country to come here and play together,” Abdullah said.(KNS)
