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NEWS
UGANDA
Peter has recently visited Uganda, to look at a possible 9-hole course as well as a separate driving range site. Both projects still in the very early stages of the planning process, but it seems golf is spreading to many of the African countries today.
ZAMBIA
We have done a layout for a big mining group in Zambia, on a new mining project. The mining project consists of 3 planned future mines, with an entire village being planned at each mine. Currently the first mine has received its government mining approvals, and construction of a golf course at the first site looks set to start in 2012. Road clearing and an airstrip have already been done. We have visited the site and center-lined the course, set amongst stunning indigenous trees.
MAURITIUS
∑ Mont Choisy: a proposed new golf course development in the north of Mauritius. Plans have been finalized, and the client is waiting for all the relevant approvals, to be able to access finance and start selling membership to the golf course. We have met with the client during early September, and progress is being made. The client is optimistic that construction would start during early 2012.
∑ Avalon: A proposed new golf course development in the southern mountains of the island. Being situated around 400m AMSL, the site provides breathtaking views of the distant ocean, surrounding mountains, tea plantations and forests in riverine canyons. Aimed at both the local and investor market, this project hopes to commence in mid 2012.
NAMIBIA
Omeya Golf & Residential Oasis
The construction of this course has progressed well in spite of the highest rainfall ever recorded since 1876
The construction crew were very busy repairing the wash. The rain did however highlight a lot of wrong assumptions regarding drainage and allowed us to make good on these. Post the rain all effort was made to complete the construction, irrigation and drainage of the first nine and with the exception of the 9th fairway all fairways were seeded before winter arrived.
If we thought that the heat of summer was the killer in Namibia we were to be rudely surprised as with the very sudden onset of winter all hard grow-in was rudely interrupted as the temperatures plummeted to – 9 degrees Celsius.
During the winter period Matkovich and Hayes completed the bulk earthworks on the second nine and now await approvals to complete the irrigation and planting. The delay has arisen due to the intended expansion of the municipal boundaries of Windhoek to include Omeya which meant the developers having to meet approval of all services from the Windhoek municipality. The sales have been truly remarkable and only 100 odd plots are still for sale, but exacerbate the frustrations that have arisen as result of the delays in obtaining the sign off on the township. The developers who could be transferring these sales and thereby be getting the income of these sales are unable to register the plots for transfer.
In the meantime Matkovich and Hayes are continuing with the grow-in of the first nine holes- all greens including an enormous practice green are covered and all over seeding has germinated and rapid coverage is occurring, which bodes well for the first 9 being playable in January.
MALAWI
Mbawa Golf Course
We have completed all bulk earthworks, drainage and green sand installation and am currently busy with the irrigation installation. The pump house is currently being built and we have temporarily connected 3 of the 5 boreholes to fill the irrigation dam. An alternative water supply from the construction of a 250 million litre dam will ensure sufficient water. Seeding will commence in October.
The client intimated that the course has exceeded all expectations and he never imagined the amount of work that actually goes into the construction of a golf course.