Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh will have golf courses in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada-Guntur region near the capital city. Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu will have a feasibility survey conducted and golf courses developed in tourism-potential areas as they also attract investments.
Officials said entrepreneurs from countries like Japan like to discuss business while playing golf. The new tourism policy of the Andhra Pradesh government that was approved by the state cabinet proposes either Public Private Partnership mode or Swiss Challenge method for development of tourism infrastructure projects.
“We are writing to the district collectors of Krishna, Guntur, Visakhapatnam and a couple of others to identify suitable land for setting up golf courses. International airports and star hotels with other world class tourism facilities are required in the vicinity of golf courses. Keeping these requirements in view, land for golf courses would be identified,” a senior official in the Tourism Department said.
Most golfers expect a golf course to have 18 holes with a par of about 72, plus a practice range and practice greens. This typically requires 140 to 180 acres of land. Nine holes with a par of 35 or 36 will require less than 100 acres, officials said.
The government is inviting Expression of Interest from companies to construct golf courses. Land along with concessions will be given by the AP government to the investors.
