SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday inaugurated the fifth edition of the J&K Open 2026 DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) at the Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC), expressing the government’s resolve to position Jammu and Kashmir as a leading golf tourism destination.
The Chief Minister formally teed off the four-day tournament and unveiled the championship trophy at the Srinagar course.
Addressing the gathering, Abdullah said golf tourism is an important component of the government’s broader tourism strategy. He highlighted the golf courses at Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg, besides the course at Sidra in Jammu, and said plans are being explored to upgrade another golf facility in the Jammu region.
He said Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing increasing interest from golf enthusiasts, with visitors travelling to Srinagar specifically for weekend golfing trips.
Describing the J&K Open as a significant event for the region, the Chief Minister said the tournament has attracted more than 100 professional golfers, including over 10 international players, and would help re-establish Kashmir on India’s golfing map.
Abdullah said the government intends to make the J&K Open an annual fixture on the Professional Golf Tour of India calendar for at least the next five years. He added that efforts would be made to increase prize money and participation in future editions.
Highlighting the need to nurture local talent, the Chief Minister announced plans to establish a golf academy in Kashmir to identify and train young golfers for national and international competitions.
He said organising professional tournaments would provide local players with valuable exposure and encourage more young people to pursue sports. Referring to the achievements of athletes from Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah 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.
Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Dr Ashish Chandra Verma, Professional Golf Tour of India Chief Executive Officer Amandeep Johal, Royal Springs Golf Course Secretary Haris Ahmad Handoo, Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajjad, and other senior officers were present at the inaugural ceremony.
