By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 17: In a first-of-its-kind visit, the Indian Golf Union (IGU) leadership travelled to the North East as a full team and announced an ambitious roadmap aimed at transforming the region into a major golfing hub.
The delegation, led by Director General (CEO) Maj Gen Bibhuti Bhusan, Honorary Secretary Shashank Shandhu and Treasurer Sanjeev Ratan, interacted with State Golf Associations across the North Eastern states and expressed what they described as a wholehearted commitment towards the development of the game in the region.
Following a series of brainstorming sessions at the IGU office in Delhi, and taking into account the region’s far-flung location, time-consuming travel to the rest of the country, as well as the availability of strong talent and quality golf courses, the IGU unveiled what it termed a comprehensive plan for optimal development of golf in the North East.
At a press conference held on January 28, 2026, the IGU announced the establishment of a dedicated North East Feeder Tour exclusively for players from the region. The tour, scheduled to commence in the 2026 season, will cover all golf courses in the North East and provide players a pathway to enter the main national tour, earn national rankings and eventually represent the country in international events, including the Olympics.The IGU also announced the formation of a North East Golf Coordination Committee comprising representatives from all State Associations. The committee will coordinate developmental programmes across the region, with the IGU extending support to initiatives recommended by the body.As part of its grassroots push, the federation committed to providing golf sets for underprivileged players, practice balls, and a state-of-the-art launch monitor dedicated to the region, which will travel with a reputed IGU coach. Plans also include introducing the sport in schools, conducting talent scouting drives led by experienced professionals, and organising rules clinics by referees of international repute.
Additionally, the IGU unveiled plans for a North East Golf League (NEGL), modelled on the franchise-based format of the IPL in cricket. The league will feature sponsors and team owners bidding for players and is expected to provide greater visibility through live telecasts while generating wider interest in the sport. The announcement was reportedly well received by golfers across the region.Describing the developmental programme as one of a kind, the IGU said such a structured initiative has not been implemented in any other part of the country. The federation reiterated its commitment to nurturing the region’s rich talent pool and expressed hope that the North East would soon produce international-level golfers, mirroring its success in other sporting disciplines.
