Solid ground for tourism development

Take a large diversity of landscapes, mix it with favorable weather conditions and multiple entertainment sources, then put the whole mixture on a small area, and you’ve got yourself an excellent tourist and property investment destination.
At least that is what Bulgaria has become over the last couple of years. Over some 111 000 square kilometers, the country hosts 37 small and big mountains (8 of which exceed the altitude of 2000 meters), several large plateaus, lakes and a 300 kilometers seashore, allowing it to offers a multitude of ski and sea resorts, as well as lots of recreational and SPA accommodations. In order to further exploit the local tourism potential, the sector’s ambitions, recently shifted towards establishing the country as one of the major Golf destinations in Southeastern Europe.  

Golf development market overview

Although the country is currently serviced by three operating Golf courses – the St. Sofia Golf Club & Spa, the Ihtiman Golf Club and the Sliven Golf Course, 15 Golf projects are already on the agenda. As the game of Golf suffers from a lack of popularity in Bulgaria, the local Golf developments market is mainly orientated towards foreign customers, BGP Services’ Sales Manager, Nedko Nedev said. Investors are usually people, already familiar with the game, interested in the development of particular Golf courses, offering a new emotional flow to the game. Once operational, those Golf courses will attract mainly foreign Golfers, at least for a certain period of time. According to Nedev, the popularization of the game requires a massive advertising campaign, supported by solid financial funds.

Bulgaria's Golf development projects

Attracting “The Golfers” – one of the most prestigious and wealthy traveling clienteles”, is a really tough and challenging task. Creating new, unexplored Golf sensations and conceptions, meeting the world’s highest Golf standards, in terms of design, implementation and servicing, set the bar high and imposed to golf development investors the urging need to refer to the services of professionals such as the South African Golfing legend and Golf course architect - Gary Player, the British professional Golfer Ian Woosnam or the American legend Jack Nicklaus. The move resulted in the development of two Gary Player signature Golf courses, currently under construction in the area of Balchik and Kavarna, two Ian Woosnam signature Golf courses, also under construction, one in the area of Tabiata (Balchik) and another in the area of Razlog.
Several other first class Golf accommodations are also being built in the country – one near by the popular Bulgarian Black Sea resort of Primorsko, with a Golf course stretching over some 3 237 square meters, a huge Golf complex in Dolna Banya, between Kostenets and Borovets and a mini-Golf course which will part of the luxurious Kavarna resort – the Summerland Golf and Beach Club. 





BGP - MARKET OPERATIONS


The fact that the Black Sea is probably the most popular and attractive travel destination in Bulgaria, explains the consentrated amount of investments directed towards regional golf projects there.  However, amongst the most impressive golf resorts on the coast rank the BlackSeaRama Golf Resort, the Lighthouse Golf Resort, the Thracian Cliffs and the Summerland Golf & Beach Club. 

BlackSeaRama stands out to be the finest and luxurious golf destination on the local seacoast, claims Nedev. The personal participation of Gary Player in both the design and marketing process, together with the reputation and visibility of the Gary Player brand bring significant value to the project. “We promote a design philosophy, based on the combination of modern technology and traditional design principles. In every instance we seek to design courses that are unique so that a golfer who finishes playing has had a very positive experience” – explains Player. 

Combining personalized services, with a unique atmosphere, Summerland Golf & Beach Club boasts the ideal conditions for recreation and rejuvenation. Located in a nice and quiet area, about 300 meters away from the wide sandy beach of Kavarna, the Summerland Golf & Beach Club combines the charm of the traditional Bulgarian architecture with the latest construction trends. In close proximity to the other three golf courses in the region, the luxurious facility wil include a mini-Golf course, which will ensure the Golf completeness of the area. Summerland Golf & Beach Club is expected to become an ideal holiday destination for Golf lovers.

Lighthouse Golf Resort is also expected to become a great golf destination, considering the participation of Ryder Cup Captain 2006, Ian Woosnam in the project.

Forecast

According to experts, the country’s weather conditions allow an average 10 months per year exploitation of the Golf areas, which is a great advantage. The close proximity of Golf developments, especially on the Black Sea will offer Golfers the opportunity to benefit from courses diversity in a short amount of time. All these facts, additionally boosted by the overall popularity of Bulgaria, as travel destination, give the country a strong chance of taking the lead amongst other Golf destinations of the region.




OPERATING GOLF COURSES


• Golf Club Air Sofia/Ihtiman – 40 km from Sofia     
• Golf Course  Sliven - 90 km from the Black Sea
• St. Sofia Golf Club and Spa/Ravno Pole





GOLF COURSES UNDER CONSTRUCTION


• Balchik - Lighthouse Golf & resort - Ian Woosnam signature Golf course
• Balchik - Black Sea Rama - Gary Player signature Golf course
• Kavarna - Thracian Cliffs Golf & spa resort, investor Tempe /Austria/- Gary Player signature Golf course
• Dolna Banya near Borovets - investor Ibar Golf complex
• Razlog – Pirin Golf & Country Club



GOLF COURSES PROJECTS


• Razlog - Kulinoto Ski & Golf - investor Balkanstroi and Razlog municipality
• Kableshkovo, Primorsko municipality
• Pravetz - Pravetz Golf Resort & Country Club - investor Terra Tour Services Ltd.
• Kuttina village, Sofia area - Sport Centre Kutina, designed by Manuel Ferry Sanches 
• Pirin Golf & Country Club - investor Golf Plus, Ian Woosnam signature Golf course
• Razlog - 2 golf courses; investor 1 - Razlog municipality and British fund ECFM;investor 2 - Rila Valley Golf
• Razgrad - investor Sofia Air
• Gorna Bania - investor Sofia Air
• Primorsko - investor Albena