The ‘golf’ of Eilat

December 30, 2009 - 9:33 AM by

The luxurious Casaerea golf course

The luxurious Casaerea golf course

How do you say ‘bogie’ in Hebrew?

Israelis have not developed an affinity over the years for golf. Sure, we have a high-class golf course in Casearea that costs a fortune to play on, but there’s only a certain segment of the population that can afford the accoutrements and who look good in plaid.

However, realizing from the current Tiger Woods scandal exactly how popular golf – or adultery – is in other parts of the world, the Tourism Ministry and the Israel Land Administration have announced a long-range plan to invest $200 million over the next 15 years to build 15 golf courses around the country.

The idea is to promote Israel as a golf swinger’s paradise – nine months of outdoor sunny weather with no chance of a rainout. According to Tourism Ministry assessments, Investing the golf courses may result in a 20% increase in hotel occupancy and the average amount of money spent by tourists visiting Israel may double form $1,000 to $2,000.

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov predicted in Ynet that thousands of golf aficionados will visit Israel every year, adding that golf tourism would, in turn, encourage local and foreign investments.

The initial locations being discussed for the blue and white golf courses include Eilat and the Dead Sea in the south, Tiberias and Hatzor Haglilit in the north and Savyon and Rishon Lezion in the center.

While the idea may have some merit, the building of the golf courses will likely neccessitate destroying lots of natural acreage, which hasn’t already been destroyed by building or road contractors. Is that the best way we have to utilize what’s left of our open spaces?

Secondly, have any of these people behind the idea try to walk 18 holes at the Dead Sea or Eilat in August lately? The plan will also be contributing to medical tourism, as we’ll be having lots of emergency room heat stroke cases.

But who knows? Maybe in 20 years, we’ll all be dressing unfashionably, shouting ‘fore’ and dating cocktail waitresses. Can’t wait.

Tags: , , , , , • Category: A New Reality, Business, General, Israeliness, Life, Sports, Travel 

Comments

7 Comments on The ‘golf’ of Eilat

  1. Dan on Wed, Dec 30th 2009 6:18 PM

    2. Wouldn’t this undertaking require massive amounts of water? That isn’t exactly a resource we’re drowning in (http://www.instantrimshot.com).

  2. Maskil on Thu, Dec 31st 2009 2:53 PM

    3. 15 golf courses in a country the size of Israel? With her climate? This is a massive waste of two of Israel’s most scarce and valuable resources: land and water.
    Instead of trying to promote Israel as a golfing destination, the authorities should rather focus on tourism of a sustainable nature, e.g. agri-tourism, eco-tourism and spiritual tourism.
    Golf and course courses in particular belong to another era; an era before man-made climate change and global warming. We should be be turning existing golf courses into public parks and bio-reserves, not creating more!
    I hope that the green bodies in Israel will unite to prevent this abomination.
    I’m also very surprised that Israel21c is cheerleading this misdirected effort.

  3. Maskil on Thu, Dec 31st 2009 5:07 PM

    4. Please see also my earlier blog post regarding the proposed Mount Arbel golfing development. Israel21c took the same uncritical line towards that proposal:
    Mount Arbel: Greenwashing golfing greens
    http://digg.com/u3J2iD

  4. mika. on Sun, Jan 3rd 2010 12:17 AM

    5. A typically idiotic idea, coming from complete imbeciles over at the Israeli gov ministries. Seriously, these morons had the country paved over with asphalt and mega highways, exactly at the time when the writing is on the wall regards automobiles and the age of oil. Instead of investing in green infrastructure, renewable energy, and walkable city living, these idiots now want to pour money into golf courses to attract international jet-setters. Makes you wonder if the Israeli gov hasn’t been completely penetrated with enemy saboteurs.

  5. 5 min and 8 Israel-related Headlines, Week of December 27, 2009 : Israel Innovation 2.0 on Mon, Jan 4th 2010 9:49 AM

    6. [...] Israel set to become major golf destination Share and [...]

  6. Maria Calder on Tue, Jan 19th 2010 7:52 PM

    7. I was in Israel working, about 30 years ago. I lived in the Negev for a couple of years and still today I consider those like the best years of my life. What an incomparable experience that was! The roughness and beauty of the landscape had no equal! I’d love to go see how it looks like now, but one thing I know it’s more like all the tourist spots existing all over the world that once were unique. It’s so sad that Man always wants to make everything uniform for the sake of a buck . I agree with all the posts before me. All these golf courses will only destroy the beauty and uniqueness of the landscape, plus I’m not sure that there will be a great revenue in the long run. It would be better try something different. But… I just may be “a voice crying out in the desert”…

  7. Maskil on Wed, Jan 20th 2010 9:38 AM

    8. @mika, @Maria Calder, well put!

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