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Seven golf courses will be constructed on the territory of Razlog Municipality, according to Razlog mayor, Lyuben Tatarski.

The first golf project in Betlovoto covers a 90 hectare-plot and is scheduled to open this spring. The project's investor is Balkanstroy.

The Kulinoto village would feature another golf course with a total area of 60 hectares, Monitor daily said.

A large golf complex, embracing more than 180 ha, will spring up in the region of Dolno and Gorno Draglishte, Dobarsko and Godlevo villages, comprising low buildings with construction density below 30 per cent. About 390 ha of agricultural land will be rezoned into plots for 18-hole golf courses. The municipality, however, faces serious problems with agricultural land rehabilitation, the mayor said.

Last year's amendments to the law on agricultural land rehabilitation imposed a five-year moratorium, prohibiting local governors from using municipal land to gain shares in joint ventures. Hence, Razlog Municipality initiated a procedure for changing the land's purpose.

Investment in the region is huge and could have a significant effect on the local economy if these deserted lands could be used to implement successful projects, the mayor said.

He explained that the construction of a single golf course takes more than five years, which defines it as a long-term investment. The municipal council has to plan infrastructure in advance, as well as the amount of building permit fees. The municipality will develop the infrastructure but investors will oversee the golf courses themselves, Tatarski said. Local authorities have so far invested 8 million leva in infrastructure in the Betlovoto region. The total cost of developing the infrastructure is estimated at 72 million leva and is to be completed within six years.

Development plans do not envisage large buildings and hotels because demand is directed towards luxurious properties and single-family houses, according to Tatarski.

The three big mineral springs in the villages of Banya, Dobrinishte and Eleshnitsa are a good foundation for developing lucrative spa and wellness tourism in the area.

Investors are again private enterprises and land is provided by the municipality.

There are also two more projects aimed at reviving the historical heritage of the region, financed by the PHARE programme. Razlog municipality has so far invested more than one million leva in this direction. Another three million leva were spent on developing eco tracks in the region.

The municipality will use an international advertising company to promote the region as a worldwide golf destination. They will finance their campaign by levying a tax, amounting to 10 leva a sq m, on the total built-up area of each edifice, which is given a certificate of occupancy.

Currently, there are only three functioning 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 and the Golf Course in Sliven.
Bulgaria has the potential for 100 golf courses, according to golfing legend Gary Player who visited Bulgaria recently.

The Lighthouse Golf Resort and BlackSeaRama in Balchik are currently under construction. Another golf course, Thrachian Cliffs Golf & SPA Resort in Kavarna, is also being developed along the northern part of the Black Sea coast. Ibar Golf complex will be constructed in Dolna Banya, near the prime ski resort Borovets. Pirin Golf & Country Club is being developed in Razlog.

Several other golf courses are projected - one in Kableshkovo (the investor is Primorsko municipality), Pravets Golf Resort & Country club in Pravets region, Kuttina Sports Centre near the village of Kuttina, which is close to Sofia. There are also other projects for golf courses in Razgrad and Primorsko area.

By comparison, Scotland, which has an area of 79 000 sq m and a population of 5.1 million people, has 400 golf courses.

January 23 2008, source: www.propertywisebulgaria.com