KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Continuing to fulfill its social commitments, J&K bank has initiated the process of re-development of the Kashmir Golf Course (KGC) – an oldest golf course in the state to retain its lost glory.
The Bank has tapped the best expertise in the field of golf industry for designing and delivering practical solutions with sustainable results to meet international golfing standards, a company statement said Saturday evening.
Commenting on the initiative, Mushtaq Ahmad, Chairman & CEO, J&K Bank, said, “The initiative reflects our comprehensive and diverse approach to Corporate Social Responsibility. The decision to redevelop the prestigious KGC stems from our commitment to promote sports and tourism with an innovative idea to gel the activity with obligation to greenery & environmental health”.
Notably the turf and infrastructure of KGC suffered huge damage due to the September 2014 deluge and Hon’ble Chief Minister, who is also President KGC, during his recent visit to the Golf Course had desired that the Kashmir Golf Course be taken up by J&K Bank under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme to save its heritage status.
Spanning over 500 Kanals of land, KGC is the second oldest golfing club in the country after the Royal Golf Course of Talay Gunj in Kolkatta. It was developed in 19th century by the then Maharaja and British Residency.
For rebuilding the KGC on international standards, Bank has tapped the best expertise in the field of golf industry for designing and delivering practical solutions with sustainable results and has hired the service of internationally renowned designer Phil Ryan, founding director of Pacific Coast Design (PCD) & Vincent Pinto –Director (India) PCD.
Pertinently, Phil Ryan is well versed with redesigning and upgradation of Golf Courses and has a huge experience in the field. He is also credited with designing and upgrading of more than 15 Golf Courses across Asia. Some of his works in India include designing and development of famous golf courses like Oxford Golf & Country Club Pune, Banglore Golf Club Karnataka and Delhi Golf Club, New Delhi.
The Bank also collaborated with Alert Golf Management Services, one of the pioneers in the field of golf industry in India, for providing Management Consultation Services for the Project. Rakesh Sharma, MD of the company is allied with several golf bodies across the globe and associated with more than 30 Golf projects in India.
The Consultants made a presentation on redesigning of the project at Corporate Headquarters of the Bank before the Executive Committee of Kashmir Golf Club and Senior Executive Committee of the Bank constituted in this regard.
