Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) CEO Amandeep Singh Johl on 20 June said golf holds significant untapped potential to drive tourism, investment, and broader economic activity in India — and that it deserves recognition as a family sport, not merely an elite competitive pursuit. Johl made the remarks at the Raising An Athlete Sports Talk Series hosted by Equalsportz in New Delhi, during a session titled 'Understanding Emerging Sports in India'.

Golf as more than a competitive sport

Johl, who has been associated with golf since the age of seven, called for a fundamental shift in how Indian parents perceive the game. 'Don't teach anyone golf only to become a champion. Introduce them to the game and let them get to where they can get to,' he said. He positioned golf as one of the few sports where multiple generations — grandparents, parents, and children — can actively participate together, making it a vehicle for family bonding rather than just athletic ambition.

On the values the sport instils, Johl described integrity as golf's defining lesson. 'Golf is one of the games closest to life. You get good breaks and bad breaks, but you still have to play the ball as it lies,' he said.

The economic case for golf in India

Johl made a pointed case for golf's economic multiplier effect, arguing that its impact extends well beyond the sporting arena. 'India needs more golf courses, more access, and more awareness. Golf can support tourism, real estate, investment, and economic activity. The potential is huge,' he said. He called for stronger infrastructure and wider accessibility as prerequisites for unlocking that potential. This comes amid growing global recognition of golf tourism as a high-yield segment, with destinations such as Scotland, Portugal, and Thailand generating substantial revenue from the sport.

The broader panel and discussion

The session brought together experts from four sporting disciplines — golf, chess, mixed martial arts, and squash. Other panellists included International Master and FIDE Senior Trainer Vishal Sareen, Crosstrain Fight Club founder and CEO Siddharth Singh, and squash coach Dhruv Dhawan. The panel examined India's evolving sports ecosystem, covering parental support, coaching standards, financial challenges, athlete welfare, competition structures, and long-term development pathways.

Notably, the discussion reflected a wider push to encourage Indian families to look beyond traditional sporting choices — cricket, in particular — and explore disciplines gaining prominence through international competitions, professional leagues, and structured development systems.

What the Raising An Athlete series aims to do

The Raising An Athlete Sports Talk Series is designed to give parents, athletes, coaches, and domain experts a platform for informed dialogue on sporting careers. Its stated goal is to help families make better-informed decisions while nurturing the next generation of Indian athletes across a range of disciplines. As India's sports infrastructure continues to expand and non-cricket sports attract greater investment, forums such as this are increasingly shaping the conversation around athlete development at the grassroots level.