Club News
PHD Golf Tourism Conclave & Tournament
HD Chamber of Commerce
&
Industry
(PHDCCI)
organized the 2nd edition of
PHD Golf Tourism Conclave
and Tournament from 22-23
September 2018 at Srinagar,
Jammu & Kashmir with a focus to position
India on the international Golf Tourism
map. PHD Golf Tourism Conclave was held
on 22 September 2018 at Sher-i-Kashmir
International Conference Centre (SKICC)
and brought on one platform all the relevant
stakeholders– the Government and the private
sector to discuss issues and opportunities for
promotion of Golf Tourism in India.
While inaugurating the Conclave, Mr.
Khurshid Ahmad Ganai (IAS), Advisor to
Governor, Govt. of J&K said that the event
will go a long way in promoting tourism in
the State. To promote Golf as a niche tourism
product and also position J&K as a preferred
gol¿ ng destination in the region is important.
He said that the Governor’s administration is
keen to develop tourism infrastructure in the
State to ensure that the visitors have a safe
and comfortable stay.
The occasion was also graced by Mr. B.
Venkatesham (IAS), Secretary- Department
of Tourism, Govt. of Telangana; Mr. Farooq
A Shah (IAS), Secretary, Department of PHE
I&FC, Govt. of J&K; Mr. Masarat Hashim,
Dy. Director, J&K Tourism; Mr. Illiya Dekov,
Counsellor - Head of Trade & Economic
Affairs, Embassy of Bulgaria in India;
Mr. Alexis Bossuyt, Trade and Investment
Commissioner, Govt. of Flanders; Mr. Pawas
Prasoon, Assistant Director, India Tourism
Delhi; and Mr. Rameshwar Prasad, Member,
Bharatiya Janata Party. While welcoming
the delegates, Mr. Anil Khaitan, President,
PHDCCI said that India has the strength to
provide round the year tourism and with Golf
becoming a growing sport worldwide, there
are immense opportunities for the growth
of Golf Tourism in India. Also present from
PHDCCI were Mr. Mukesh Gupta, Chairman-
Tourism Committee; Mr. Mushtaq Chaya,
Chairman- Kashmir Committee; Mr. Rajan
Sehgal, Co–Chairman- Tourism Committee;
Mr. A P Vicky Shaw, Chairman- Tourism,
Kashmir Committee; Mr. Nasir Shah, Co-
Chairman- Tourism, Kashmir Committee;
Mr. Saurabh Sanyal, Secretary General; Mr.
Yogesh Srivastav, Principal Director.The
representatives of different States- Jammu
& Kashmir, Telangana, Delhi and Countries-
Thailand, Bulgaria - gave a presentation
highlighting Golf Tourism and related
infrastructure at their respective places.
During the Conclave, a Panel Discussion
on ‘Positioning India on the international
Golf Tourism Map’ was also organized
which was moderated by Mr. Rajan Sehgal,
President, India Golf Tourism Association
& Co–Chairman- Tourism Committee,
PHDCCI.The panelists included Mr. Vinod
Zutshi (IAS), Former Secretary, Ministry
of Tourism, Govt. of India; Ms. Sunita M.
Bhagwat (IFS), Commissioner of Tourism,
Govt. of Telangana; Mr. Isra Stapanaseth,
Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand-
New Delhi Of¿ ce; Mr. Sudhir Sobti, Chief
Manager (PR & Publicity), Delhi Tourism and
Transportation Development Corporation;
Mr. Ghalib Mohiuddin, Managing Director,
J&K Golf Development and Management
Authority; Mr. A P Vicky Shaw, President,
Professional Golfers Association of India;
Mr. Vishesh Khanna, Vice President-
Sales, Vistara; Ms. Shruti Nada Poddar,
Chairperson- Rajasthan State Chapter; and
Mr. Arshad Shawl, Co-Chairman- Kashmir
Committee, PHDCCI.
The subject was passionately discussed
by the panelists, who sought for various
interventions particularly in Golf Tourism
so that this sector progresses by leaps
and bounds. The PHD Golf Tournament
was organized on 23 September 2018 at
Royal Springs Golf Course, Srinagar. The
Tournament saw the participation of over 90
golfers from the country, besides some local
golfers from Jammu & Kashmir.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Former Chief
Minister, Government of J&K inaugurated
the Tournament and welcomed all the keen
and avid golfers from all across India. He said
that Kashmir has become one of the favourite
spots for Golf lovers and government should
make the Golf Development Authority in the
State which would maintain the existing and
GolfPlus
Governor’s administration
is keen to develop tourism
infrastructure in the
State to ensure that the
visitors have a safe and
comfortable stay
develop new Golf courses. He suggested that
J&K Bank should maintain the Srinagar Golf
Course. The Tournament was also graced by
Mr. Khurshid Ahmad Ganai (IAS), Advisor to
Governor, Govt. of J&K; Mr. Satyajeet Rajan
(IAS), Director General, Ministry of Tourism,
Govt. of India; Mr. Parvez Ahmad, Chairman
& CEO, J&K Bank Ltd along with senior
of¿ cials from PHDDCCI.
All Golfers appreciated the efforts made
by PHDCCI along with the support of the
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
to organize this Golf Tourism Conclave &
Tournament. The Royal Springs Golf Course
proved a challenge even for most experienced
golfers. The winners for the tournament were:
1. Category A (Local Players)
•
Winner – Shabeer Bazaz
•
Runner Up – Altaf Baig
2. Category B (Pan India Players)
•
Winner – Yash Mahajan
•
Runner Up – Sandeep Singh
3. Closest to Pin – Ms. Shama
4. Longest Drive – Pawan Parihar
5. Straightest Drive - Ghalib Shah
NOVEMBER
2018
61