Srinagar, Jul 25: The Kashmir Golf Club here will be thrown open to the general public, including tourists, for a nominal membership fee to encourage the youth to take up the sport, officials said on Thursday.
A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by state Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam, an official spokesperson said. He said the meeting was attended by the senior officers of the Tourism department; Secretary, Kashmir Golf Club; representatives of J&K Bank and elected Executive Member of the Kashmir Golf Club.
“The chief secretary observed that there was an emergent need for earmarking one of the two Golf Courses available in Srinagar for local youth and schoolchildren having propensity for the sport. This will ensure their personal development,” he said.
“It was accordingly decided to earmark the Kashmir Golf Club to golfers, tourists and the local youth of Srinagar,” the official added.
The Kashmir Golf Club was extensively damaged in the September 2014 floods. However, with the help of J&K Bank, the golf course has been revived, the spokesman said.
The Secretary of the Kashmir Golf Club has been directed to invite applications for fresh membership between August 01 and October 31 for a nominal fee of Rs 100 per month with no entrance fee after seeking residential proof, he said.
A simple application will be devised by the Secretary, Kashmir Golf Club for the purpose and given due publicity in print and electronic media so that more and more youth can avail the facility of golf playing.
Simultaneously, Secretary, Kashmir Golf Club will move two separate cost-effective proposals — one for building a training Golf Academy and the other for maintenance/renovation of the existing building for improved amenities to the users. Secretary, Kashmir Golf Club will submit cost-effective proposals by 05.08.2019 for consideration of the government, official spokesperson added.
Secretary, Kashmir Golf Club was also directed to take all necessary steps so that the Club/Course is in order for resuming the operations from mid-August 2019. Director Tourism Kashmir was asked to extend the required assistance to Secretary, Kashmir Golf Club in this regard.
While appreciating the efforts of the J&K Bank in the restoration of the Golf Course, Chief Secretary observed that it would now be appropriate if the Tourism department takes over the Golf Club/Course for its further maintenance. It was accordingly agreed that the Tourism department will take over the Kashmir Golf Course from the J&K Bank from August 31, 2019 after working out the modalities as may be required.
