Jammu will be promoted as a golfing destination: Farooq

Jammu: Union Minister Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said Jammu will be promoted as a major golfing destination and suggested that tournaments should be held here every week-end.

"Jammu will be promoted as a major golfing destination in coming days. Golf Course Sidhra is being developed as one of the world`s finest Golf courses," Abdullah told reporters. "In fact, Golf tournaments in Jammu need to be organised at every week end," he said, adding that this would popularise golf. The Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy was speaking on the concluding day of the two-day Golf Championship at Golf Course, Sidhra, Jammu. Around 200 players from across the country, including 45 from the state, participated in the tournament. He praised the tourism department and J&K Golf Association for organising the tournament and asked them to organise such events on regular basis. Abdullah said about one crore pilgrims visit Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine annually which includes many golfers who could be diverted to stay at Jammu for playing the game. He asked the tourism department to explore all possibilities in this regard, adding that both central and state governments would provide all logistic support for the purpose. The tournament was organised in three categories, including senior golfers, juniors and children.