Long viewed as an elite pastime, golf in India is repositioning itself as an accessible and commercially scalable sport, drawing corporate investors and franchise capital as companies widen their commitments beyond the cricketing oval.In 2025, two new leagues were announced: the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), backed by former cricketer Yuvraj Singh, and Professional Golf Tour India’s 72 The League, which has the support of former cricketer and avid golfer Kapil Dev.The investment in golf comes as India’s sports sponsorship industry grew 6% year-on-year to Rs 16,633 crore in 2024, with cricket accounting for 85% of the market. Golf’s new franchise push reflects an attempt to capture a larger share of that expanding commercial ecosystem. The IGPL, aligned with the Indian Golf Union, has secured $100 million in franchise commitments over 10 years. Ten golf teams would each pay $1 million annually as franchise fees to be a part of the league.Live EventsThe team owners include the Phoenix Group in Hyderabad, Flyingman Academy in Kolkata, RVR Infra in Delhi, and private equity firm Vimtra Ventures in Chennai, among others.The focus is on building compact 8 to 10 acre golf courses in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, alongside academies and training facilities aimed at widening access to the sport.IGPL CEO Uttam Singh Mundy said returns are being evaluated at a broader ecosystem level rather than at the franchise level alone.“We are not looking at returns from the franchise alone. Each project is about building integrated golf communities that create jobs and wider economic value,” he said.He added that there will be no equity dilution in the first five years.“The first two years are a takeoff period where we guide franchise owners closely, covering costs and offering strategic support, from team selection to understanding global golf trends. By year three, they operate independently, with infrastructure and academies in place and revenues beginning to flow.”The IGPL has signed over 60 golfers, including Jeev Milkha Singh, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Jyoti Randhawa.Meanwhile, PGTI’s 72 The League has sold the Rajasthan franchise to Haldiram Snacks and KLJ Group, and the Uttar Pradesh franchise to the owners of Prometheus School.Indian tennis legend Leander Paes outlined a long-term ambition to empower 250 million children through sports education over the next 25 years. He sees golf, much like tennis, as an inclusive sport with Olympic medal potential for both men and women.”IGPL’s goal is to build golf academies across India, develop new golf courses, make the sport more accessible to the masses, and break the perception that golf is only for the wealthy and elite,” said Paes.Gopikrishna Patibanda, managing director of Phoenix Group, described the move as part of a broader development strategy.“Golf is both a lifestyle driver and a strong economic catalyst. Our entry into the IGPL marks the beginning of a larger vision to develop integrated golf-led destinations, where sport, hospitality and real estate converge to create distinctive urban ecosystems,” he said.



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