Vizag Dolphins plan grassroots push to popularise golf in Andhra Pradesh

Vizag Dolphins GC plans to popularise golf in Andhra Pradesh through grassroots clinics and a junior academy. The franchise's initiative coincides with the first AM Green IGPL event at Visakhapatnam's East Point Golf Club, featuring the new X-Golf format

Hyderabad: Visakhapatnam’s growing reputation as a golf destination took centre stage as the East Point Golf Club (EPGC) hosted the Green Fuels Maritime Invitational 2026, part of the AM Green IGPL league. It is the first IGPL event to be held at the East Point Golf Club, which has previously hosted numerous Indian Golf Union and Women’s Golf Association of India events.

Mr Sudhakar Kaligithi, Managing Director of the Green Fuels Group and co-owner of Green Fuels Vizag Dolphins GC, expressed enthusiasm about promoting golf in Vizag through his franchise, Vizag Dolphins.

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For Vizag Dolphins GC, owned by Green Fuel Global Trading Pvt. Ltd., the tournament marks the first step in a longer-term plan to grow the game in the city.

“We were keen on taking a franchise team for Andhra Pradesh, and we opted to have a golf team in the name of Vizag Dolphins GC. This sport has international recognition, and it is also an Olympic sport. The very idea is to nurture young talent here in the beautiful city of Vizag, showcase it to Andhra Pradesh and beyond, and develop them into Olympic players in the near future,” said Kaligithi.

The host club, EPGC, and franchise owners, Vizag Dolphins GC, have big plans to create awareness about the game in Andhra Pradesh through clinics and junior programmes at the club.

Mr Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of AM Green IGPL and a former Asian Tour professional, spoke about X-Golf, the league’s new speed-golf format, which aims to attract younger audiences with a fast-paced version of the sport.

EPGC credited the franchise for bringing the league to the city. Mr SVR Raju, Honorary Secretary of East Point Golf Club, said, “EPGC is delighted to host the AM Green IGPL for the first time, and we look forward to continuing this association. We sincerely thank the team owners, Vizag Dolphins, for their initiative and support in making this prestigious tournament happen here. It is a proud moment for our club to be associated with professional golf and to showcase our facilities and hospitality.”

Mr TS Varma, Vice-President of East Point Golf Club, said the club was confident of impressing the visiting professionals, as it now has a new clubhouse and a renovated championship course.

Varma said, “Most people in Vizag are not even aware that there is a golf course here, but we have existed since 1884. Since the course was renovated into a championship course in 2020, word has spread that Vizag has a beautiful golf course. The professionals who played yesterday are all speaking about its uniqueness, a golf course set between the Eastern Ghats that resembles Malaysia or Thailand.”

Vizag Dolphins GC, which plans to make EPGC its home course, has a long-term vision that includes golf clinics and a junior academy.

Mr CH Rajasekhar, Director of Vizag Dolphins GC, added, “Once this tournament is done, we want to have more clinics with our pros, and then start an academy for junior golf with the support of IGPL. We want to train as many children as possible from the grassroots level. Many people are not familiar with golf, so our vision is to make people understand the game first, create interest through this format, and bring as many people as possible to the beautiful sport of golf.”

Bringing new audiences to golf is also the aim of X-Golf, the speed-golf format introduced by the league this season.

“A very exciting format has been added to the league called X-Golf. It is speed golf, played in a stadium format on just one hole and against the clock. We have introduced it for youngsters and people who don’t understand the sport, so they can come and watch it. The aim is to make it more exciting for the entire audience and increase the number of people watching golf,” said Mundy.