Golfing in North East Brasil

[michaelbush]

Hi All

I thought I would start something that may turn out to be controversial!!

[michaelbush]

There are so many new golf courses planned for the North East of Brasil, I think all of them by European and Scandinavian developers. I imagine that none of the management have spent more than 2 weeks at a time here!
If anyone has played in Florida, that is nothing compared to here. Tropical - even equatorial conditions with high humidity, high temperatures and moreover short daylight hours, all make me wonder if golfers will really flock to play!

[michaelbush]

Never mind all the hype, conditions for golf are not like Spain and Portugal; in the Natal area the sun rises at 5 ish, and sets at 5 ish and then it is dark- suddenly! From 6 am the sun is hot, by 8am it is really hot. A round of 18 holes would be what - 3 hours or more? How golfers must like to suffer!!!
Then there is the maintenance cost. How many will go bust? did any of them research the market for golf here among Brasilians? I have not met one who plays or has the inclination to play, due to the heat.
In the south of Brasil they have a different climate and even daylight saving!
So if you want golf why buy in the North East?

That should get things going!!

[beenthere]

It always amazes me about this forum, every few weeks someone comes on and tells everyone that they are idiots, that no-one knows anything and that everyone is going to get ripped off.

The one thing that is consistent though is the same ulterior motive, the person doing the criticising is selling the "good" property that no-one else can get hold of.

Good luck to you and your brethren.

[michaelbush]

Well, well Beenthere!! Nothing constructive to add? I was hoping some of the golfers out there could comment!! However your post has nothing to say on the subject line? Why was that? Do you just like to wind others up with your posts? I do actually sell golf resorts too, but am at a loss to understand why they are here in the North East. I have called nobody on this forum an idiot as you suggest, nor was my post criticising others on this forum, nor have I said only I have the best and exclusive properties, nor that everyone will get ripped off! Please BT, if you are going to post keep the subject line of thread in mind and use your brain to say something useful.

[KDJX]

ok I'll change the letting brief from 'surrounded with golf courses' to 'surrounded by softly undulating landscaped gardens' ....where you may just spot an occasional European smacking a small ball !!

K

[michaelbush]

Hi KDJX
Like the humour, but I was being serious. Whilst I have my point of view, I was hoping that others might like to comment on that. Really, is there anyone who believes that golf courses have a place in this Tropical paradise? I did have a thought that perhaps some floodlit driving ranges with covered practice putting greens could work, as I feel sure that the 19th hole will be calling before they past the 4th!! Not being a golfer myself, I a really not entitled to a point of view but I would hate to see all these courses that are planned get to be built and not get used enough to cover costs.

[mitico67]

Hi Michaelbush, according to a norvegian developer I spoke to in Sept when I was in Natal, as I' m skeptical as well, he reckon that lots of scandinavian are mad for golfing and the weather is not a problem at all.

[JMBroad]

Think I've posted this somewhere before, but hey... I've never played in Brazil, but I've played in subtropical locations where there really wasn't a market for it. For me it was superb because most of the days I never saw a soul on the course... I could do a full round in as long as I liked (once took 11.5 hours to do 18 hole 4 ball - was my clubs "course record") without any pressure from golfers behind me telling me to speed up.

Whenever another group did get anywhere near us, if we as much as saw them, we'd wave them through, then get back to the game. Most days though we never saw anyone. We'd amble on to the course at whatever time we liked, without booking a tee-off time then tee'd off slowly and pottered around the course at our own speed, stopped at the half way house for as long as we liked, made a day of it.

The course itself was beautiful, breathtaking views especially from the 4th green (which is now the 2nd I think)...

Of course actually playing was bloody hot and we drank a lot of water, but being able to play without any pressure was bliss. (in case you haven't twigged yet, I'm not very good at golf <understatement>).

The maximum temperature on those days was around 32 ºC and very high humidity (which means you sweat profusely and is generally uncomfortable). But I'd still much rather play in those conditions than in Scotland in the rain and fog or in Spain/Algarve with 7 4-balls queued up behind me and the ranger yelling at us from the sidelines to "hurry up or let them through".

Oh and btw if anyone wants to go play on that course, it's still open, still absolutely stunning and still hardly anyone plays it during the summer months. It's called Palheiro Golf and is on the island of Madeira, Portugal.

The challenge is to be able to make enough money to stay open and keep the course in prime condition.

[JMBroad]

Originally Posted by mitico67

Hi Michaelbush, according to a norvegian developer I spoke to in Sept when I was in Natal, as I' m skeptical as well, he reckon that lots of scandinavian are mad for golfing and the weather is not a problem at all.

The definition of most European golfers could quite easily be "mad". As I said in my post above, I love golf in the conditions mentioned but why anyone would want to play golf in any other conditions than a nice warm (although not too hot) summer day is beyond me.

When you are as good at Golf as I am, then it's basically all about getting frustrated and annoyed while doing a long walk carrying a big heavy bag. In the sunshine that can be tolerated. But anyone (primarily Scandis and Brits) who would do that in pouring rain and cold damp conditions must be off their trolley.

Don't forget that a lot of golfers are willing to start their golf game at 8 am in the morning (while on holiday) just to make sure they are the first people off and no one is in front of them, play in the rain, some even play at night or in the snow (Snow Golf in St Moritz - St Moritz or BBC Sport Academy | Golf | Features | Golf on snow? Give it a go!).

I think golfers are a mad enough breed to play in the heat of Brazil. But we'll have to see if there are enough of them living/staying in the area to make the courses financially independent.