Golf course planned for Swakop beachfront

A CONSORTIUM of entrepreneurs plans to build a N$200 million “state-of-the-art” golf course along a section of the Swakopmund beachfront.

Construction is set to start early next year, pending the approval of the municipality. The nine-hole course will be known as the Links Golf Course and will be surrounded by facilities such as 43 single residential stands, a multi-purpose centre, a hotel and spa, as well as a golf academy.The plans were revealed in Windhoek yesterday by The Skeleton Golf Estate Development Company.According to Sidney Martin, one of the partners, the Links Golf Estate will be the only one of its kind in Africa and only the fifth in the world.”The intention behind the development of the estate is to create a unique world-class development incorporating the combination of golf and water-sport recreational activities,” he said.According to Martin, funding for the project will not be a problem.”We are going to cultivate interest among the business community to be part of it,” he said.”Part of the money will be our own resources, while the financial institutions will also be involved.Golf courses are very sought-after establishments and I have no doubt in my mind that nobody would not want to be part of it,” he said.The Swakopmund Municipality has not yet approved the consortium’s application, but Martin says they are positive that they will be given the green light.”We last met the Council in April and they indicated that they would come back to us as soon as possible as they are also very excited about the development,” he said.Municipal spokesperson Freddy Kaukungua said yesterday that the issue had not yet been discussed by the Town Council and will possibly come up at the next management committee meeting.”The meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, and I cannot confirm that it will be discussed there either,” he said.Martin says the envisaged Links Golf Course will be modelled after the St Andrews Course in Scotland, which is known worldwide as the home of golf.He added that the planned development on the Swakopmund beachfront would make provision for public picnic facilities, park benches, walking and jogging paths and braai facilities.According to Martin, a Development Trust will be formed to plough back some of the profits into the Swakopmund community.A multi-purpose community centre will be built to address the lack of recreational facilities at Swakopmund, he said.It will include a library, a community hall and a fully equipped computer centre to teach young people computer literacy.In addition, the developers plan to establish a golf academy managed by a professional golfer to introduce the game to previously disadvantaged youngsters at Swakopmund.Another partner in the project, Desmond Amunyela, said the proposed beachfront development would not spoil the sea view of people living in the area.”The course will be as low as possible and the view of the residents along the beach will in no way be affected.There will also be no security fencing,” he said.The third partner, Lazarus Jacobs, said at least 200 jobs would be created during the construction phase.Martin added that local people would be given preference when workers are recruited, and local small businesses would be contracted to provide support services.The area earmarked for the proposed development is currently demarcated as a public open space.Martin said the development would not deny the public access to the beach, but would “enhance the aesthetics of the space”.The nine-hole course will be known as the Links Golf Course and will be surrounded by facilities such as 43 single residential stands, a multi-purpose centre, a hotel and spa, as well as a golf academy.The plans were revealed in Windhoek yesterday by The Skeleton Golf Estate Development Company.According to Sidney Martin, one of the partners, the Links Golf Estate will be the only one of its kind in Africa and only the fifth in the world.”The intention behind the development of the estate is to create a unique world-class development incorporating the combination of golf and water-sport recreational activities,” he said.According to Martin, funding for the project will not be a problem.”We are going to cultivate interest among the business community to be part of it,” he said. “Part of the money will be our own resources, while the financial institutions will also be involved.Golf courses are very sought-after establishments and I have no doubt in my mind that nobody would not want to be part of it,” he said.The Swakopmund Municipality has not yet approved the consortium’s application, but Martin says they are positive that they will be given the green light.”We last met the Council in April and they indicated that they would come back to us as soon as possible as they are also very excited about the development,” he said.Municipal spokesperson Freddy Kaukungua said yesterday that the issue had not yet been discussed by the Town Council and will possibly come up at the next management committee meeting.”The meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, and I cannot confirm that it will be discussed there either,” he said.Martin says the envisaged Links Golf Course will be modelled after the St Andrews Course in Scotland, which is known worldwide as the home of golf.He added that the planned development on the Swakopmund beachfront would make provision for public picnic facilities, park benches, walking and jogging paths and braai facilities.According to Martin, a Development Trust will be formed to plough back some of the profits into the Swakopmund community.A multi-purpose community centre will be built to address the lack of recreational facilities at Swakopmund, he said.It will include a library, a community hall and a fully equipped computer centre to teach young people computer literacy.In addition, the developers plan to establish a golf academy managed by a professional golfer to introduce the game to previously disadvantaged youngsters at Swakopmund.Another partner in the project, Desmond Amunyela, said the proposed beachfront development would not spoil the sea view of people living in the area.”The course will be as low as possible and the view of the residents along the beach will in no way be affected.There will also be no security fencing,” he said.The third partner, Lazarus Jacobs, said at least 200 jobs would be created during the construction phase.Martin added that local people would be given preference when workers are recruited, and local small businesses would be contracted to provide support services.The area earmarked for the proposed development is currently demarcated as a public open space.Martin said the development would not deny the public access to the beach, but would “enhance the aesthetics of the space”.