Shimmering Rs. 3b Water's Edge development project

Special facilities to attract Golf tourism:

Hiran H. Senewiratne

GOLF TOURISM: The second phase of the Water's Edge development project will commence soon to construct an ultra modern service apartment complex to attract golf tourism to the country.

The developer of the project is Asia Pacific Golf Courses Ltd (APGCL) a subsidiary of Access Group. They will invest Rs. 3 billion for this 16-storeyed service apartment mega project to attract golf tourists internationally.

The location will be at the Water's Edge premises, which is currently managed by Access Group of companies, its General Manager Athula Wimalaratne told the Daily News.

The new apartment complex would provide accommodation facilities for prospective golf players, which will also include additional sports, and recreational facilities as well.

The management of Water's Edge will promote high-end golf tourists to the country in their 18-hole golf course at Battaramulla once it is completed, he said.

They are now in the process of teaming up with accredited golf clubs in the world to offer world-class golf tour packages throughout the world.

At present many Japanese golf players are coming into Sri Lanka in big numbers exclusively to play golf, which is one of the lucrative markets. It is said that the Japan is one of the countries that has the highest number of golf tourists coming to Sri Lanka followed by the European market.

Once this 16 storeyed apartment is completed, the company hopes to attract international golf tournaments to Sri Lanka.

Wimalaratne said the apartment would be built on a two-acre land, which will provide ultra modern facilities. Currently more than 2000 have obtained membership with the golf link and most of them are basically foreigners, he said.

The first phase of the project include the development of an 18 hole golf course, driving range, internationally standard club house and member facilities, banquet hall, conference hall, spa, beauty saloon and the company has invested nearly Rs. 2 billion. Once the second phase is completed its cumulative investment will be over Rs. five billion, Wimalaratne said.

Most of the golf players are mainly high spenders and once Sri Lanka promotes itself as the golf hub in the region, it would bring a considerable amount of foreign exchange to the country.

Sri Lanka has four golf links including Water's Edge, which has immense opportunities to promote as a major golf destination globally.