Azad invites golfers across world to play in Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 9 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has invited international golfers to come and play the game in the Kashmir valley, saying nowhere in the world is there such a beautiful golfing facility.

Addressing the prize distribution ceremony of the PHD Chamber-Jammu and Kashmir Government Golf Tournament-2007 at Royal Springs Golf Course here today, Mr Azad said the infrastructure available for golfing in Kashmir was underutilised.

He said it was strange to see the high spending golfers and other tourists preferrering Europe and Far East for the sport, although the facilities available in Kashmir were of international standard and cheaper than anywhere in the world.

He sought cooperation of PHD Chamber in bringing about change in this trend asking them to persuade golfers of the country and other high spending tourists to make Kashmir as their No 1 destination.

''Most of the golfers of the country perhaps did not know that Srinagar is just 50 minute flight from the Union capital where they could find one of the best golf courses of the world flanked by mountain and a magnificent lake,'' the Chief Minister said. ''The Valley's connectivity had improved a great deal and as of today 12 flights operated daily between Srinagar and Delhi and Mumbai.

''By April next the international airport at Srinagar would be also operational, thus, improving the scenario further,'' he added.

Mr Azad also appreciated the efforts of PHD Chamber in organising the Golf Tournament here and said it would provide opportunity for them to mix sports with business.

He asked the 70 golfers who participated in the tournament to spread the message about how rewarding and safe it was to visit Kashmir when they return to their places. He told each one of them to bring at least 100 golfers from within and outside the country along with them next year and make the tournament an annual feature here.

Later, the Chief Minister gave away prizes to winners in different categories of the tournament.

The Overall Grass Trophy winner was Shabir Ahmad and the overall winner for men's division was I S Mehta, while the women's division winner was Sita Nanda.

Earlier, President, PHD Chamber, Sanjay Bhatia said the objective of organising the tournament here was to send the message of peace and promote tourism and industry in Jammu and Kashmir.

UNI