Golf: The J&K Open makes its comeback for the fourth edition, featuring leading Indian stars alongside international competitors.

New Delhi (India), October 23: The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the official governing body of professional golf in India, in collaboration with J&K Tourism, is set to host the fourth edition of the J&K Open at the beautiful Jammu Tawi Golf Course in Jammu, from Wednesday to Saturday.

With a total prize purse of ₹50 lakh, the tournament will also feature a Pro-Am event on October 27. This event is backed by J&K Tourism and the host venue, Jammu Tawi Golf Course.

Jammu and Kashmir, known for its stunning tourist attractions, is a prime location for this tournament. The region is celebrated for its natural beauty, with popular sites including the Mata Vaishno Devi Temple, Amar Mahal Palace, Mubarak Mandi Palace, and Patnitop.

This tournament is part of an initiative by J&K Tourism to promote golf tourism in the area, which boasts exceptional golf courses like Jammu Tawi Golf Course, Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar, Pahalgam Golf Course, and Gulmarg Golf Club, all offering remarkable experiences for golfers.

Among the top Indian professionals participating are Shaurya Binu, Varun Parikh, Olympian Udayan Mane, Sachin Baisoya, Shankar Das, M Dharma, and Abhinav Lohan. The international competitors include Czech Republic's Stepan Danek, Americans Dominic Piccirillo and Digraj Singh Gill, Canadian Sukhraj Singh Gill, Sri Lankans N Thangaraja and K Prabagaran, and Bangladeshis Jamal Hossain, Badal Hossain, Md Akbar Hossain, and Md Jakiruzzaman Jakir, as well as Nepal's Subash Tamang.

Yasha Mudgal, IAS, Commissioner Secretary of J&K Tourism, expressed enthusiasm for welcoming participants and sponsors, calling the event a celebration of golf, tourism, and camaraderie.

Vivekanand Rai, IRS, Director of Tourism in Jammu, stated that the tournament adds a new dimension to the region's tourism offerings and serves as a platform to showcase Jammu's natural beauty and hospitality. 

Sunaina Sharma Mehta, JKAS, Joint Director of Tourism in Jammu, mentioned that the event will feature a two-day Dogra food festival and a familiarization tour, providing participants a chance to explore local heritage sites.

Manav Gupta, Secretary of Jammu Tawi Golf Course, emphasized the course's commitment to promoting golf in India and providing an exceptional experience for players and spectators. Hosting the PGTI tournament for the third consecutive year reflects the course's excellence in elevating golf standards in India.

Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of PGTI, highlighted that the J&K Open is a highly anticipated event, promoting golf tourism in J&K and expressing gratitude to J&K Tourism and Jammu Tawi Golf Course for their ongoing support.

The Jammu Tawi Golf Course, an 18-hole layout designed by internationally acclaimed designer Col. K D Bagga, was commissioned on April 24, 2011. Located along National Highway 1A, this picturesque course features fairways extending approximately 6,600 meters and includes two large and three smaller water bodies.

The Jammu & Kashmir Government undertook the construction of this prestigious golf course to boost golf tourism and nurture young talents in the sport.