Need to popularise golf and attract youth to the sport: CM

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday chaired the 9th Governing Body Meeting of the Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC) at SKICC, where a comprehensive review of the functioning, infrastructure, finances and future development plans of the premier golfing destination was undertaken.
The meeting was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani and members of the Governing Body which include Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Tourism Ashish Chander Verma, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Shailendra Kumar, Commissioner Secretary Planning, Development & Monitoring Alice Vaz, Secretary Royal Springs Golf Course Haris Ahmad Handoo, Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajjad.
Secretary, Royal Springs Golf Course, Haris Ahmad Handoo gave a detailed presentation to the Governing Body, outlining the action taken on decisions made during previous meetings. The presentation also highlighted the Golf Course’s financial and operational performance, membership profile, infrastructure requirements, and proposed strategies for its future development and growth.
The Governing Body reviewed the progress achieved and deliberated on various measures aimed at strengthening the facilities and enhancing the overall functioning of the prestigious Golf Course. The Governing Body discussed several proposals focussing on restoration and renovation of the golf course through engagement of expert consultants, enrolment of new golf playing members, construction of an aesthetically pleasing boundary wall to secure the remaining area of the Golf Course from intrusion of wild animals which is designed in harmony with the natural surroundings, renovation of huts, solarization to promote clean energy and reduce electricity expenditure, renovation and improvement in Club facilities particularly gymnasium, swimming pool, restaurant and revision in rates to boost revenue collection for maintenance of golf course.
The Chief Minister underscored the importance of improving the overall service, other facilities and overall visitor experience at the Golf course. The Chief Minister emphasized the need to adhere to the accepted engineering standards in turf management and ensuring high quality greens, fairways to match global standards.
CM Omar Abdullah emphasized on development and upgradation of Golf Course infrastructure and amenities to enhance its attractiveness for weekend golfers, corporate groups, tourists, and golfing enthusiasts, thereby promoting the facility as a premier golfing and recreational destination.
The meeting also deliberated on proposals relating to employee welfare, service matters, recruitment rules, financial management and institutional strengthening. Various initiatives for improving operational efficiency, enhancing service delivery standards and promoting golf tourism in Jammu and Kashmir were also reviewed.
Emphasizing the importance of preserving the Royal Springs Golf Course as one of the country’s finest golfing destinations, the Chief Minister directed the Tourism department and the RSGC management to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for the restoration and modernization of the golf course while maintaining its internationally recognized standards and ecological character.
He stressed the need to adopt best practices in golf course management, turf maintenance and hospitality services to further enhance the facility’s appeal among domestic and international golfers. He also called for exploring sustainable revenue-generation avenues to ensure the long-term financial viability of the Golf Course while maintaining the exclusivity and quality of its services.
The Chief Minister underscored the immense potential of golf tourism in Jammu & Kashmir and directed RSGC management to formulate a strategy for attracting more national and international tournaments, strengthening promotional efforts and positioning Jammu and Kashmir as a premier golfing destination on the global tourism map.
He further directed that all future development initiatives at the golf course be guided by the principles of environmental sustainability, financial prudence and long-term institutional benefit. He also emphasized the importance of employee welfare, skill upgradation and capacity building for ensuring professional management and efficient service delivery.
The Governing Body reviewed the budget estimates and action plan for the financial year 2026-27 and discussed strategies for enhancing infrastructure, improving visitor facilities and creating additional opportunities for growth of golf tourism in Jammu & Kashmir.