Pahalgam’s Lidder Valley Golf Course struggles with maintenance, ‘mismanagement’

Pahalgam, Nov 11: Despite government efforts to boost golf tourism in Kashmir, the once-pristine Lidder Valley Golf Course in south Kashmir’s scenic Pahalgam has fallen into a state of disrepair.

This 18-hole course, surrounded by pine trees at the confluence of the Lidder and Sheshnag streams and nestled among snow-covered mountains, was inaugurated in 2011 with high hopes of attracting elite tourists and golfers.

However, neglect and mismanagement have significantly diminished its appeal.

Neglected Grounds and Hazards

A recent inspection of the course revealed overgrown fairways and roughs, with weeds overtaking what was once manicured grass on the greens.

Lack of regular mowing, fertilisation, and disease treatment has left the turf in poor condition.

Water hazards, including lakes and streams, are choked with algae, and sand traps now have grass sprouting along their edges.

Even essential maintenance equipment, including Toro machines, the Ryan and Green-more machines, and six blowers and mowers, remain non-functional.

Several golf carts are also unusable.

An insider revealed that even the fertilisers used for maintaining the rough and fairways are subpar.

The golf course lacks a dedicated turf manager.

Instead, daily-wage workers, who have served the golf course for 17 years, are assigned multiple roles, including green-keeping, plumbing, and field maintenance.

Lack of Facilities and Membership

Unlike other popular courses in the region, such as Royal Spring Golf Course, Kashmir Valley Golf Course, Gulmarg Golf Course, and Sidhra Jammu Golf Course, the Lidder Valley Golf Course does not have a membership system.

This lack of membership not only limits financial support but also reduces community engagement.

Without a proper membership base or infrastructure, the course is unable to host professional tournaments.

The golf clubhouse is not properly maintained with any refreshment facilities.

According to an official, a previous maintenance contract expired last December, leaving the golf course to be maintained by the locals themselves.

“We hired locals with years of golf maintenance experience,” the official said.

He said that to maintain the golf course properly, it would need more manpower including experts and casual labourers.

Employment and Contract Issues

Officials believe that transferring maintenance duties entirely to the experienced daily-wage workers could have ensured continuity of service and reduced costs.

These workers, some of whom have been with the golf course for nearly 17 years, continue to request permanent employment.

“Our skilled and unskilled staff has maintained the golf course for 17 years on wages of Rs 8000 to Rs 10,000, yet none of us have official employment status,” said Muhammad Shafi Mir, a daily wager at the Lidder Valley Golf Course.

In 2015, then Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed promised to address the labourers’ concerns, and the Tourism Department even requested a financial impact report on formalising their positions. However, the proposal was dismissed due to high costs.

For workers like Muzafar Ahmad Raina, an operator at the course, job insecurity remains a constant frustration.

“The government acquired 6 kanal of my family’s land in 2002 for the golf course,” he said. “Since 2007, I have worked here as a daily wager, hoping for job security, but now it seems there are no such plans.” Raina and others who gave up land for the project had hoped for permanent employment in return. Of the original 83 labourers, only 23 remain.

The rest have left after losing hope for job security.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding their employment, these daily wagers have continued essential tasks like irrigation and spraying to maintain the course for the tourism, even stepping in as caddies when needed.

Authorities’ Response

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Pahalgam Development Authority and Secretary of the golf course, Tariq Naik, acknowledged the need for proper maintenance.

“We are proposing a new maintenance plan and acquiring new machinery,” he said. Naik said that they again plan to outsource maintenance for the next season to ensure the course is properly managed. He acknowledged that hiring locals with expertise has been beneficial and will continue to be part of the maintenance strategy moving forward.