SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the JK Open golf tournament will be made an annual event as part of efforts to revive golf tourism in the Union Territory, while announcing plans for a golf academy to develop young players.
Addressing participants at the inauguration and ceremonial tee-off of the JK Open 2026, organised by the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) at the Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar, Abdullah said the government wanted the tournament to become a regular fixture on India’s golfing calendar.
He said the administration would seek to increase both the prize money and participation in the tournament and sustain it for at least the next five years.
The Chief Minister said the event had attracted more than 100 professional golfers, including over 10 overseas participants, and described it as an important step towards restoring Kashmir’s position on India’s golf map.
Abdullah said golf tourism was an important component of the government’s wider tourism strategy, noting that visitors were increasingly travelling to Srinagar for short golf-focused trips.
He said the government was also planning a Golf Academy to train children and young players from an early age. According to Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir had considerable golfing talent but needed greater exposure, regular tournaments and structured training to help players reach national and international levels.
He said Pro-Am events could provide local amateur golfers an opportunity to compete alongside professionals from India and abroad.
Abdullah also highlighted the tourism benefits associated with golf, saying visitors who come to play also spend on hotels and houseboats, taxis, handicrafts and other local services.
He referred to the Union Territory’s existing golf infrastructure, including courses at Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sidra in Jammu, and said another golf course in the Jammu region was also planned for upgradation.
Recalling Jammu and Kashmir’s earlier golfing legacy, Abdullah said the region had hosted major golf tournaments before 2014 and that Gulmarg had traditionally attracted golfers during the summer season. He expressed confidence that sustained efforts could restore the region’s standing as a major golf destination.
On cricket, Abdullah said recent performances by Jammu and Kashmir players, particularly the team’s Ranji Trophy success, had changed perceptions about the Union Territory’s sporting potential. He also congratulated JK cricketer Auqib Nabi on his selection in India’s Test squad for the Sri Lanka series.
The Chief Minister said several JK players had subsequently attracted bids from Indian Premier League franchises, which he described as recognition earned through their performances.
Abdullah said inadequate international-standard cricket infrastructure remained a major challenge and disclosed that the BCCI has proposed two international-standard cricket stadiums in Jammu and Kashmir, including one in the Valley.
He said the government wanted the proposed stadium projects to move forward so that Jammu and Kashmir could host IPL and international cricket matches in the future.
Abdullah also condemned the recent killings in South Kashmir, describing the incident as deeply tragic and saying that no religion permitted the killing of innocent people.
He said those responsible for maintaining security must ensure that such attacks did not occur again.
