Bengaluru, Sep 9 (IANS): The seventh Toyota Karnataka Golf Festival (TKGF), South India's largest golf tournament, is all set to start at the Karnataka Golf Association here on Thursday with more than 500 participants from across the country.

The tournament will once again be the official selection of five players who will participate in the World Golfers' Amateur Championship to be held in Turkey from November 28 to December 5.

During the four-day fest, the Indian Golf Industry Association (IGIA) will host a conference on golf course development, maintenance and management on September 12 at the KGA, conducted by renowned consultant Charles Graham, CEO and president of On Course Agronomic Consulting, who will be visiting from the US.

Several golf course owners from South India, course managers and industry experts will be attending the conference.

Supported by the Department of Tourism, Karnataka, and sanctioned by the Indian Golf Union, the Golf festival has showcased Karnataka as a premier golfing destination for the last six years with over 100 golfers traveling from Kashmir, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Mysore and Hyderabad.

Toyota Karnataka Golf Festival is the official India Qualifier for the World Golfers Championship in which five Winners from five different handicap categories (0-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20 and 21-24 handicap), will participate as a team at the World Golfers Amateur AChampionship.

The World championship will see participants from 40 countries competing over four rounds with handicap adjustments after each round, giving all a fair and equal opportunity.

In addition to top amateur golfers, TKGF will also see celebrities like former cricketers Syed Kirmani and Venkatesh Prasad, former India hockey player Ashish Ballal, TV host and cricket commentator Charu Sharma, former India athlete Ashwini Nachappa display their golfing skills at the KGA.

Past editions have seen champions such as Chikkrangappa S, Khalin Joshi, Saqib Ahmed, Sharmila Nicollett and Aditi Ashok participate.