A few lines about me: I am an Alumni of Regional Engineering College, Srinagar. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs I joined my family business in 1980’s and soon started a chain of Hotels & Resorts in Kashmir. Over the last thirty years I have worked to develop quality tourist infrastructure in the Valley of Kashmir so that our state can be counted among the best tourist destinations in the world. I also believe that tourism is a means of interaction among diverse cultures and helps to make world a smaller and a better place to live in.
What's Golf for me: For me Golf is more than a game, it’s a way to bring people closer. The valley of Kashmir is a remote area within India and I think golf is a great way to integrate the people of the state with the rest of the country.
What inspired me to take Golf: I started playing Golf about 15 years ago to keep fit. However, I was soon captivated by the nuances of the game and have hardly missed a day of golf since 2002. I think playing Golf is exercise for the body as well as the mind which is what I love the most about the game.
Dream golf moment: I still remember my hole in one at the Pahalgam Golf Course in Kashmir. It is a high altitude Golf course with some tough holes and I was among the first golfers to play in the course. It was a 185 yard par three hole and I was very happy to be the first Golfer to score a hole in one in the Golf course.
Interesting snippets: I think golf is more than a game, it is a wonderful way to socialize and get to know people. The pressures of the game reveal the real person in us. How a person plays the game revels his or her integrity & character. I have made some great friends while playing the game and our friendship goes beyond the course.
One thing I would like to change about Golf: Golf is seen a s a game for the sophisticated & the rich, I would like to make golf more accessible so that it can be enjoyed by all. It is also seen as a game for the elderly, I would love to see more youngsters joining the sport.
My favourite golf ‘totka’/ superstition: I do not believe in superstitions, pluck wins where luck fails.
My dream 4-ball: I have young grand children and playing with them is a dream I would like to fulfill.
My favourite Golf Course: Lidder Valley Golf Course, Pahalgam, Kashmir.
