The State Tourism Department is going in a big way for development of the sport of Golf in the entire state. This is an important sector of present day tourism which involves big money. Golfing Holidays are these days a big craze with the up market tourists all over the world. Japanese fly all the way to California and Arizona in USA for a weekend of Golf. There are now dozens of Golf resorts in different parts of the world which cater for these high end tourists flush with large amounts of money. The Golfers are so crazy that they even hire executive jets to go for a game of Golf anywhere in the world. Golf as a sport started in Kashmir right in the nineteenth century itself. A 6-hole course was made in Gulmarg in 1890-91 by Colonel Neville Chamberlain - the greens were known as browns in those days. The course was later on extended to nine holes. Subsequently two more 18-hole courses were laid. In between the two courses, a third nine hole course also known as “Rabbits Course” was laid. Gulmarg had developed into one of the best resorts this side of Suez and the main clientele were the British Army Officers and their families. There were hundreds of chalets and many hotels. Nedou’s Hotel was constructed in 1888 and is probably the oldest hotel in India. The Gulmarg Bazaar was supposed to stock the most fashionable wares and the Britishers would come from all over India for spending their summer holidays here. Gulmarg Golf Club was established in 1902. Mens’ Amateur Championships were regularly held up to 1947. Ladies Amateur Championships which were started in 1907 were continued right up to 1985. The first professional Golf Championship was held in 1922 and the famous Nedou’s cup was introduced in 1929. Some of the pre-partition championships which were carried on even after the departure of British were Dhanvas Cup from 1918 to 1976 and Holkar Cup from 1945 to 1973. The departure of the British gave a set back to the sport but it was revived in 1954 when a number of events such as Duncan Cup, O.P.Vase, Civil Cup and Nedou’s Cup tournaments were held. A number of new championships were introduced. These included Sundra Trophy from 1964 to 1974 and Calcutta Challenge Trophy from 1965 to 1977. Hill Vase was operational from 1970 to 1977 and the revived Nedou’s Cup carried on from 1973 to 1977. After the revival the Gulmarg Golf Club became once again very active in mid seventies when Wills Northern India Championship was started here. The Championship was held regularly till the eruption of turmoil in 1990. Gulmarg had once again become a hub of top Golfers from all over India. During the months of May and June the entire Indian Golfing crowd would descend on Gulmarg. Even though Gulmarg had over 1,000 beds, it was impossible to get a room there during May and June. It was the Indian elite crowd. Srinagar also had started the Kashmir Golf Club in 1887 with an 18-hole course which produced the first Golf Professional of India, Master Ghulam Mohammad in 1930 itself. Incidentally, there is a Kashmir Golf Club in California, USA. Their website is www.kashmirgc.com It would be interesting for our local Golfers to know who runs it. Thus the game of Golf in Kashmir has a historical background and is not a new tourism activity. One had expected it to grow as one of the USP’s (Unique Selling Propositions) of Kashmir but the turmoil of 1990 made everything go hay wire. But it was in this turmoil itself that the Golf in Kashmir received a shot in the arm by the construction of the now world famous Royal Springs Course. Designed by the famous Golf architect, Robert Trent Jones Junior II, the course has cost over $ 8 million. Robert Trent Jones has designed more than 500 courses all over the world. The Kashmir course is state of the art with computerised sensor fitted irrigation system. The fairways have been turfed with imported cool weather grass of different shades, Rye and Kentucky Blue. The course is now adjudged to be among the top ten in the world. However, its maintenance needs to be put in professional hands as at present it is not up to the mark. The State Tourism Department is presently upgrading, modifying, and extending the courses at Pahalgam and Gulmarg. It is expected that within a year or so there would be three world class Golf courses in Kashmir Valley. This would make an interesting Golf Circuit not only for International level championships but for all Golfing enthusiasts looking for newer courses to try their hands. This is a very important positive initiative taken by the Tourism Department. Firstly it is environment friendly. In all the three places huge areas will now remain green and unmolested by the ever spreading concrete jungles being created by some greedy entrepreneurs. Secondly it is the appropriate step to tap the up market tourist which has been missing from Kashmir for quite sometime. The private sector will have also to chip in to create standard infrastructure to house the up market clientele.

There should be no problem in private sector coming in for joint venture projects in collaboration with some known multi-national hotel chains. A weekend Golf Holiday in Kashmir can be a very good attraction. Already some corporate executives and diplomats have been coming to play at the Royal Spring Course. It has to be an all inclusive package involving flights, accommodation, local transportation and the Golf. With the starting of direct international flights from Srinagar, Golf Package can be easily marketed in the short haul markets of Middle East and South East Asia. During the last season there has already been some movement of high end tourists from the Gulf Region and Malaysia. It would be very useful if the Tourism Department conducts some familiarisation (FAM) tours of select Golfers and journalists covering Golfing events from the potential markets. The Department has already been organising such groups of travel trade and travel media from the domestic market generating centres. Apart from this the possibility of organising some international level championship can be explored. A number of national level events are being already conducted on the Royal Spring Course. Some of the top level Indian international players like Jyoti Randhawa have been visiting the Royal Spring Course. If only Tiger Woods could be motivated to pay a visit to endorse the Course, it would be a break through for Kashmir Golf. Normally he may not come for any tournament with prize money less than a million dollars. However, if he only pays a practice visit, the course will become globally famous. Usually people say Golf is an elitist activity and money should not be invested in it. However, tourism is basically an economic activity with a multiplier effect. It can only be viable when a large number of quality tourists visit an area and spend some money. Tourism is not a charitable activity. There is urgent need to understand this basic premise and support the positive initiatives of the Department in this regard. The important points to be kept in view are the role of Government as a facilitator and the private sector as the main commercial player. If we are able to create through private sector world class Tourism infrastructure and regulate the same through the State sector, we will be able to tap into the massive high end global tourism market. Kashmir’s Golf Circuit is one of these initiatives which can fully revive up market tourism to pre-turmoil levels and take it further. Let us hope our policy makers understand this and fully support these initiatives!