Golf tourism gets major boost: J&K Open returns to Jammu

Jammu, Oct 22: The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is set to launch the fourth edition of the J&K Open, featuring a prize purse of Rs 50 lakh, at the pristine Jammu Tawi Golf Course from October 23 to 26. The tournament, presented by J&K Tourism, will conclude with a Pro-Am event on October 27.

The championship has drawn an impressive lineup of players, including Indian stars Olympian Udayan Mane, Shaurya Binu, and Varun Parikh. The international contingent features players from diverse nations - Czech Republic’s Stepan Danek, Americans Dominic Piccirillo and Digraj Singh Gill, and competitors from Canada, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

J&K Tourism Commissioner Secretary Yasha Mudgal emphasised the event’s dual role in promoting sports and tourism. “This tournament serves as a perfect platform to showcase our region’s potential as a premier golfing destination,” she said.

Adding to the event’s appeal, Tourism Joint Director Sunaina Sharma Mehta announced complementary attractions including a two-day Dogra food festival and a FAM tour of nearby heritage sites, offering participants a taste of the region’s rich cultural heritage.

The 18-hole Jammu Tawi Golf Course, designed by Col. K D Bagga and commissioned in 2011, provides a challenging 6,600-meter fairway layout featuring multiple water bodies. The course’s strategic location along National Highway 1A, connecting Jammu to Srinagar, makes it easily accessible to visitors.

PGTI CEO Uttam Singh Mundy highlighted the tournament’s significance in promoting golf tourism in the region. “The J&K Open has become one of our most anticipated events, with professionals eagerly returning to this spectacular venue,” he said.

The tournament aligns with J&K Tourism’s broader initiative to promote golf tourism across the region’s premier courses, including Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar, Pahalgam Golf Course in Lidder Valley, and Gulmarg Golf Club.