Srinagar, Oct 19: The Kashmir Golf Club held its 26th annual general meeting (AGM) and elections on Monday after a gap of 14 years, with the exercise aimed at restoring the historic club to its former glory and putting an elected executive body in place to manage its affairs.
Haris Handoo, Secretary of the Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC) and Administrator of the Kashmir Golf Club (KGC), said the club’s previous AGM was held in 2012.
“Since the elected government took office in 2024, it was decided that an elected body should be put in place,” Handoo said.
The election is being held to elect four members to the club’s 10-member executive committee. Five members will be nominated by the club’s president, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while the Chief Secretary will head the committee.
Handoo said the formation of the executive body would enable club members to prioritise development works, improve maintenance and upgrade facilities at the historic venue.
“Kashmir Golf Club needs to be restored to its pristine glory. It is one of the oldest golf clubs in India, second only to Kolkata,” he said, adding that the focus would be on improving the turf and other club facilities.
The government has already sanctioned Rs 2 crore under the CAPEX budget for the construction of a new club building, Handoo said.
The club has 525 permanent members, and officials were expecting around 60 per cent voter turnout. Voting and the announcement of results were scheduled for the same day.
Handoo, who was assigned the additional charge of KGC administrator, said the election was being conducted under the control and supervision of the government, with senior member Justice Muzaffar Jaan appointed as the returning officer.
He expressed hope that the club could regain its former standing within a year, with an elected body taking responsibility for identifying priorities and overseeing its functioning.
“Once the reins are handed over to the members themselves, they will be able to decide the priority works and how the club should be maintained,” he said.
Handoo added that golfing activities at KGC had diminished since the establishment of the Royal Springs Golf Course. The club recently hosted a caddies’ tournament, and efforts would be made to revive its independent golfing activities and organise more tournaments.
He said the aim was to ensure that the historic club continued to live up to its reputation and function as an active golfing venue.
Following the conclusion of elections, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani felicitated the newly elected members of the Executive Committee of Kashmir Golf Club (KGC) at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), Srinagar.
Chief Minister, president of the Club, had nominated Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani to preside over the Annual General Meeting of the Kashmir Golf Club.
Former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, MLA Gulmarg Pirzada Farooq Shah, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo who is the chairman of the Executive Committee and other club members were present on the occasion.
Congratulating the newly elected members, the Advisor described Kashmir Golf Club as a prestigious institution with a distinguished place in the history of golf in the country. He noted that the elections, held after a gap of 14 years, marked an important step towards strengthening the club’s administration and restoring its facilities.
The Advisor also announced that funds amounting to Rs 2 crore have been earmarked for rebuilding the clubhouse.
