7 Golf Courses are being constructed nearby Razlog

7 Golf Courses are being constructed nearby Razlog

Article by Lilyana Pandelieva, Monitor daily

The municipal will invest 72 million in infrastructure. The mayor will lay an “Advertisement” tax for the new buildings. Seven golf courses will be constructed on the territory of Razlog municipal, announced the mayor of Razlog Mr. Luben Tatarski. The first golf project in Betlovoto is situated on an area of 900 decares and will start operating this spring. Investor is “Balkanstroy”. Kulinoto village plans another golf course on a total area of 600 decares in the region of Dolno and Gorno Draglishte, Dobarsko and Godlevo – 1800 more decares. %RIMG1The mayor of Razlog announced that the project plans the construction of a whole complex. Only low buildings are planned to be constructed in the complex on a total area of 30% of the whole complex. 3900 decares of land will be transformed in golf terrains with 18 wholes. The municipal however has a majour problem with the law for rehabilitation of agricultural land, explained Mr. Luben Tatarski. The 5 year moratorium does not allow the municipal to use the land to gain shares in the joint venture. That is why the municipal started a procedure for change of the function of the land. The investment in the region is huge and is referred to terrains which are deserted and the effect on the economy will be of great importance, explained the mayor on the mountain town. %LIMG2According to Tatarski, more than 5 years are necessary for the construction of only one golf course – the decision for the first one was made in 2003. The mayor defines the investment as long term and thus the municipal council plans the infrastructure in advance, as well as the taxes which will be gathered for permissions for construction. The municipal will take on the infrastructure, while the joint ventures will take care for the golf courses. %RIMG3Only for the Betlovoto region, where the detailed plan is approved, the streets along the two golf courses are with total length of 60 km. The municipal has already invested 8 million BGN in the majour elements of the infrastructure construction. The sum was gathered from taxes for construction approvals. The whole infrastructure only for the two golf courses will cost 52 mln BGN. This sum includes roads, water conducts, sewerage, lighting, design and etc. The infrastructure for the rest of the golf courses in the region will need around 20 million BGN. It has to be completed for maximum 6 years. Huge buildings and hotels will not be allowed in the region, because the majour demand is directed towards the luxurious properties and family houses, announced Tatarski. 33 apartments complexes, build on several thousand square metres of land will be constructed around the first golf course. %LIMG4Three majour mineral springs in the villages Banya, Dobrinishte and Eleshnitsa are at the base of the now developing spa and wellness tourism. The investors are again private enterprises and the land is being provided by the municipal. At the same time two projects, financed by PHARE program are planned to review the historical inheritance of the region. It will be a majour part of the complete tourism outlook of the region. Over 1 million BGN were invested by Razlog in this direction. Around 3 mln BGN were invested in the development of eco trails in the region. The mayor Tatarski knows that golf courses will not be able to attract tourists and that is why he has decided to use the service of an international advertisement company, to set the new brand of the tourism, which will be presented by Razlog municipal. The municipal has defined a tax of 10 BGN per square metre for advertisement, which will be gathered when the buildings are given permission for exploitation. Golf Facts %RIMG5At the moment there are only three operating golf courses – St. Sofia Golf Club & Spa, just 15 km away from Sofia, Golf Club Air Sofia in Ihtiman – 40 km away from the capital of Bulgaria and the Golf Course in Sliven. According to the world famous golf player Mr. Gary Player, who visited Bulgaria not long ago, the country has a potential for 100 golf courses. %LIMG6Lighthouse Golf Resort and BlackSeaRama in Balchik are in process of development. Another golf course – Thrachian Cliffs Golf & SPA Resort in Kavarna is also being developed along the northern part of the Bulgarian Black sea coast. Ibar Golf complex will be constructed in Dolna Banya, nearby the famous ski resort Borovets, and in Razlog – Pirin Golf & Country Club is now in process of development. Except for the one in Razlog, several other golf courses are being projected. A brand new golf course and complex is planned to be constructed in Kableshkovo, where Primorsko municipal is investor. Pravets Golf Resort & Country club is planed for the Pravets region, together with Sport Centre Katina, near the village of Katina, which is also very close to Sofia. There are also other projects for the construction of golf courses which will be situated in the regions of Razgrad and Primorsko. For comparison Scotland comprises a total area of 79 000 square metres with a population of 5,1 million and a total number of 400 golf courses are situated on its territory.