Hurricane Junior Golf Tour comes to India in partnership with the co-founders of Little Master Junior Golf Tour, Faisal & Zahaan Qureshi. “One year after announcing our expansion to China, we have decided to add the world’s most populous sport to our country,” says the duo.
| Junior tournament age groups |
The first of 11 HJGT tournaments in India kicks off in May with six age groups – Boys: 10 &U, 11- 13, 14- 15, 16- 18; Girls: 13 &U, 14-18.
“We are thrilled to bring our tour to India and continue growing the game globally,” says Mario Conte, HJGT Founder. “We have a large international following here in the United States, and to bring the tour to India this year is a major benefit for junior golfers worldwide.”
HJGT, which served nearly 20,000 junior golf registrations at 325 junior golf tournaments in 2023, plans to continue its international and domestic expansion. “We are just getting started,” says Conte. “HJGT operates events in 30 US states, Canada, China, and India. This commitment to expansion, both here and overseas, will continue to bring more opportunities for our players, families, staff, and partners.”
Largely considered a niche hobby, golf is gaining popularity in the country of 1.8 billion people – thanks largely to younger Indians taking up the game and seeking more development opportunities.
“In the first year, we will host 11 2-day events across India so that our juniors gain the experience of playing professional tournaments as they do on the Hurricane Tour. These players will earn HJGT points and be able to go to America to play in invitational events and the National Championship. We also hope to have American juniors come to India to play in the HJGT India events. This expansion into India provides an opportunity to continue to bring junior golf at a competitive level to the world, adds Faizal.
HJGT making a global footprint
The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) is expanding its reach with events in India, marking an exciting development for junior golfers in the region. The tour will feature multiple-day tournaments, providing young golfers aged 8 to 18 with a platform to showcase their skills on some of India’s top golf courses.
These events are designed to mirror the competitive environment and high standards of hospitality seen in HJGT tournaments in the United States. Participants will benefit from playing in a structured and professional setting that aims to nurture their talent and instil a love for the game.
Introducing HJGT events in India is expected to significantly boost the junior golf scene. It will offer local players more opportunities to compete at a high level and gain valuable experience. The tournaments will also serve as a gateway for Indian golfers to potentially participate in international competitions, enhancing their exposure and development. “We aim to make each event unforgettable while fostering lifelong beneficial habits in our participants,” says Zahaan.
LMJGT is a non-profit junior golf tour that conducts more than 30+ yearly tournaments. The players range from ages 5 to 18 and are exposed to golf holistically through these programmes. They also get a chance to play on some of the best golf clubs in the country, supported by Aravali Polo, Zen Golf, KCT, Neemrana Hotels, Lemontree Hotels, KEGGS, Srixon, Five Iron Golf, Trinity Golf, and more.
