Telangana to take golf beyond Hyderabad to boost tourism

The Telangana government is set to expand its golf promotion efforts beyond Hyderabad, using the sport as a tool to drive tourism across the state. Tourism and Culture Minister Jupally Krishna Rao made the announcement on Saturday while unveiling the 12th edition of the Telangana Golconda Masters, a DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) event scheduled to be held at the Hyderabad Golf Club.

Rao said golf has the potential to draw international tourists while creating direct and indirect employment opportunities. "We have to promote golf, not just confine it to Hyderabad. We have to take it across the State," he said, adding that the sport's growth would also boost tourism.

The Minister indicated that the Tourism Department is willing to invest in promoting golf alongside other sports. He also stressed the need to develop tourism destinations beyond Hyderabad, pointing to areas around the Krishna river, Somasila, forest and hill regions, and heritage sites as having untapped potential.

The tournament, scheduled from September 1 to 4, will feature 132 golfers competing for a prize purse of Rs 1 crore. PGTI president and former India cricket captain Kapil Dev, present at the announcement, backed the idea of positioning India as a golf tourism destination. He praised the Hyderabad Golf Association for improving the course over the years and said the venue could play a key role in promoting Hyderabad and Telangana as golf tourism hubs.