Srinagar, Nov 1: For someone who has spent decades balancing fairways and files, Ghalib’s story feels both inspiring and rooted in heritage. “My name is Ghalib Mohi-u-din,” he begins, smiling with the quiet confidence of a man who has spent a lifetime in sport. “ I used to be a golfer. I have represented India.”
He says, “I have been the state champion for, I think, a decade,” he recalls. “Then I joined government service, served as Secretary at Royal Spring Golf Course, MD Golf Authority, Director of SKICC, and now, I have just retired.” The pause carries a hint of nostalgia. “And now,” he adds, “I am playing this kind of format again.”
A Family of Golfers
Ghalib’s connection with golf was never accidental. “My father was a golfer,” he says, his tone softening. “He used to come to the course and the whole family would join him. My sister represented India, she even won a bronze medal.” For the Ghalib, golf wasnot just a sport, it was part of their identity.
He remembers vividly the moment that started it all. “I won my first tournament at the age of 10,” he says proudly. “After that, I won the national sub-juniors and juniors, the Sher-e-Kashmir Open seven consecutive times, a record still. I have played all over India with big names like G. Milkha Singh and others.”
From Elite Greens to Growing Grassroots
But not everyone in Kashmir had that privilege or exposure. Golf, long seen as a game for the elite, found few takers in the valley. “In the late ’80s,” Ghalib says, “they used to call it an old man’s game. Youngsters didn’t come. There wasn’t much money, only the caddy profession.”
That, he insists, is no longer the case. “Now you can see youngsters everywhere, enjoying the game. There is so much money involved, if one becomes a good golfer, he can make a very good livelihood out of it. We have six or seven golf courses now, Royal Spring, Pahalgam, Jammu Tawi, all of international standards.”
His pride is evident when he mentions his time as secretary of the Royal Spring Golf Course. “There is a huge queue for membership now. People want to play. The concept of golf in J&K has totally changed.”
A New Mission After Retirement
Having retired recently, Ghalib is far from stepping away from the game. In fact, he is planning his return in a different avatar. “Now I want to contribute back,” he says with purpose. “We don’t have a proper golf academy in Kashmir. Youngsters have to learn from caddies or go outside for coaching.”
The idea of starting one himself is brewing. “Maybe I will open an academy,” he says thoughtfully. “It is just an idea right now, but I feel it is time to give something back. Whether it is done by the government or privately, we need a place where our own people can learn and represent the country.”
Finding Space Amid Cricket’s Shadow
In a place where cricket and football dominate every playground, golf might seem like a quiet outsider. But Ghalib believes every sport finds its space. “Cricket has its own following,” he says, “but golf will find its own too. You just need to make it accessible, lower the fees, open smaller golf courses for youngsters, and let them learn.”
He proposes using “B-category” courses like the Kashmir Golf Club and Pahalgam’s smaller courses as training hubs. “Make them accessible,” he said. “Charge a nominal fee, hire good coaches, and let people experience the game. Once they step on the greens, they will understand the beauty of it.”
A Game for All Ages
For Ghalib, golf is not about age or status. “You can start early or after 50,” he says. “If you’ are good, there is no limit. You can make a living out of it, there is so much scope and money now. It’s one of the richest sports in the world.”
The Solace of the Greens
As the conversation winds down, Ghalib looks out at the course, a stretch of green framed by the Zabarwan hills and the shimmering Dal Lake. His voice softens.
“It gives you immense relaxation,” he says. “Playing in this green, clean atmosphere, with Zabarwan on one side and Dal on the other, it makes you younger by ten years.”
And in that quiet line, you hear not just the voice of a golfer, but of a man who has lived his life between the fairways, finding rhythm, reflection, and renewal in every swing.
