Steve Pope

EIGCA presentation

April 2002

The impact of the European Regional Development Fund

on golf

EIGCA presentation – Steve Pope

Importance of ERDF to GC architects

ERDF big impact on golf in certain EU Member States

– Ireland €20 million in golf grants, 30% of all new build 1989/99

– Portugal grants up to €3.7 million

ERDF impact on UK golf - varied

Possible future role, eg in Med & Eastern Europe

EIGCA presentation – Steve Pope

What is the ERDF?

2nd largest EU financial mechanism (€13 billion p.a.)

Grant aid to certain regions only:poorest (objective 1)industrial & rural decline(objective 2)

Removing regional imbalance in the single market

Investment in infrastructure, SMEs, tourism, etc to create jobs

EIGCA presentation – Steve Pope

Case study 1 - Ireland

International standard new parkland GCs (K Club)

New championship GCs in remote areas (Doonbeg)

CHs & visitor facilities (Co. Sligo)

Golf tourism marketing

Integrated use of ERDF & ESF – Gort GC

Remodelling GCs – very few cases

EIGCA presentation – Steve Pope

Case study 2 - Doonbeg

Biggest single Irish grant - €3.3 million

Proactive search for ERDF golf projects by Shannon Development

Environmentally-sensitive area chosen

US investor – Kiawah

Only Greg Norman design in EU

Delay in approval of grant

EIGCA presentation – Steve Pope

Continental Europe

Portugal

ERDF golf projects 1988 - 2006

Golf grants up to €3.7 million

Greece & Italy

Considering ERDF now for golf

Eastern Europe

Developing golf tourism

Future members of EU will have access to ERDF

EIGCA presentation – Steve Pope

The EU candidate countries

EstoniaLatviaLithuaniaPolandCzech RepublicSlovak RepublicHungarySloveniaRomaniaBulgaria

MaltaCyprus

? Turkey

EIGCA presentation – Steve Pope

Northern Ireland

Equivalent actions to the Republic

England

Only one case of English ERDF golf grant

Wales

New objective 1 & new golf tourism strategy

EIGCA presentation – Steve Pope

Scotland

Marketing

Golf Highland campaign

Golf hotel

Carnoustie

Only one eg of ERDF for Scottish GC build

EIGCA presentation – Steve Pope

Case study 3 – Dora GC

Standard municipal GC

Not a golf tourist resort

ERDF golf for land reclamation

Weak in terms of direct job creation

Strong indirect impact – changing the image of ugly derelict sites

EIGCA presentation – Steve Pope

ERDF big impact on golf in certain EU Member States

Good practice:

Golf tourism strategy

Golf tourist clusters

Proactive search for sites

Reclamation of derelict land

GC architects should be aware of ERDF / golf possibilities

Conclusions