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We’re not suggesting that mayors and municipal councilors should take up the game. God forbid! However, with all the noise about Cyprus attracting quality tourism becoming such a bore to the extent that we have forgotten what “quality tourism” is all about, perhaps it is time that the local authorities take matters into their own hands.
After a long wait, Cyprus will get its fourth golf course near Polis in the new year, with at least one more planned in the Larnaca area.
However, in all cases, these are owned and operated by private companies that have pushed green fees so high that it is no longer economically feasible to play a game in Cyprus. These operators have succeeded in making golf a rich man’s game, whereas in the rest of the world golf federations are trying to make it a more commonly appealing game, attracting youngsters and amateurs to the game as well.
The high cost of investment and course maintenance is just an excuse that has been used to add some value to the properties around the golf courses, with past and present government officials duped by realtors and developers alike.
It makes absolutely no sense that playing a game in Cyprus is more expensive than in the U.S., three times more than in Scotland which is the ‘home of golf’ and four times costlier than Egypt, which makes it more attractive for players to pack up their golf bags and head south to play in any one of the new courses around Cairo.
Scotland has many courses that are owned and operated by the local town councils, which allows for green fees to be lower than many others, while they also encourage one-off visitors and have special rates for children and teenagers. This also makes them attractive to tourists who would consider playing a game or two while on vacation, an idea that has become prohibitive for holidaymakers in Cyprus.
Despite all the good intentions of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, this is a lost case, as only 60% of the 90,000-or-so games played in the year are attributed to tourists.
If municipalities were to operate new golf courses, they would, over the long term, secure fresh funds for the town halls, as they only have to put up 30% of the EUR 5 mln license in advance, and the balance settled in four years. Many already operate municipal football and futsal fields, so why not golf? This would also be a better way for the Greens and all those who care for the environment, to monitor and ensure that water resources and natural habitats are safeguarded. And if land is an issue, some municipalities could even operate driving ranges.
So, what are the mayors waiting for? Who are they afraid of?
