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Pirin Golf News: 29 November 2007
In July 2007, Bulgarian construction industry weekly "Construction City" published an exclusive interview with Pirin Golf & Country Club - Bansko CEO on golf course construction and golf development in Bulgaria. The interview gives for the first time an important insight in Bulgarian golf development process and market. Missed in the summer holidays by many , who are interested or others who continue to speculate about the future of golf in Bansko-Razlog valley it was followed by latest reports that the announced 9-hole Pine course will be extended to full 18-hole layout by a team of young golf designers. This means that Pirin Golf & Country Club will have 36 holes golf. There are indications that the company's goal is to build an overall of 54 holes golf(adding a third 18-hole golf course nearby) and offer the first standard European golf holiday package in Razlog valley. Should they succeed , with recent reports for Bansko airport procedures started, things may look quite different in a couple of years.
We offer parts from Pirin Golf & Country Club President interview, which will help better understand golf property investment in Bansko - Razlog valley and may influence golf property investment in this area.
Question (Q): What is essential for the success of golf resorts?
- High quality is crucial for any golf resort to become a success story. The combination of high quality holiday services and good infrastructure is the key factor. Investments in golf resorts are about providing top quality holiday, entertainment and sports services. Our projects are an example - they have not only golf courses and equestrian centres, but also service centres, SPA, restaurants, bars, shops, sports complexes with tennis courts, basketball grounds, volleyball, mini-football.
Q: How are golf courses evaluated?
- The category depends on the golf course design and the overall project and on whether the world standards have been strictly followed. The basic standards for a golf course are set in the technical specifications - playing length, width and space as well as location of the different playing grounds, distance between them and the surrounding facilities. If a complex with golf course meets the standards it has to occupy from 80 to 100 ha of land. If the site for such a complex is on an uneven, hilly ground, the necessary plot of land has to be around 1,000,000 sq. m.
Eighteen holes are the standard for an average golf course. But there are nine hole courses , where two sets by nine holes are played for a whole game. There are golf complexes with 27 holes where different combinations can be made for a whole game of 18 holes. There are complexes with 36 holes as well.
Q: What in the development of such a project takes most of the time and the resources?
- No doubt, it is the purchase of land, which is a single large expenditure when for a short period of time a serious portion of the investment is made. It is important to understand that the necessary plots for the complex are difficult to consolidate. For a top quality 18-hole course, only for the development of the course EUR 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 are needed.
Another major expenditure item is maintenance, which takes about EUR 30,000 - 40,000 per month. If some money are saved on these expenses this would lead to ground quality deterioration.
.......Please contact us for further details and full text of the interview
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