THE golf industry is booming in Bulgaria with recent construction of a driving range at the Sofia Sport Academy, as well as a multi-million dollar project underway near the Black Sea resort town of Pomorie.

Locally, anxious golfers must wait a little longer for the construction of a championship course outside Sofia, according to Assen Dyulgerov, secretary general of Sofia municipality. The contract for development of a tract of land near Gorubljane was scheduled for announcement on Monday. Instead, the municipality chose to extend the submission deadline "because only two offers were submitted," Dyulgerov said. The new deadline for submissions will be September 23.

"The municipality has three options," Dyulgerov said. "the proposed land for development is near the river Iskar and there are severe environmental issues. We believe the best possible way to restore the land is to build a golf course. So our top interests are to restore this land economically, develop and create new jobs and to attract high-class tourists to the area." The municipality hopes more proposals will be submitted by the new deadline and that construction can begin by next spring.

The Bulgarian Golf Association (BGA) lead by Krassimir Guergov has established a junior golf coaching program at its new Golf Centre located at the Sports Academy in Sofia.

Alan Egford, current Greek National Coach and PGA of Europe member, will begin teaching golf to youngsters from surrounding area schools in September. According to GolfPro News, Egford is working on behalf of the PGA of Europe with the backing of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the newly-formed BGA. The BGA is a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and therefore is responsible for administering the Rules of Golf and the Rules of Amateur Status as laid down by the R&A at the national level.

"Our goal is to bring golf to the general public and break down the image of golf as an elitist sport," says Seth Underwood, Secretary of the BGA. "That's why we are focusing on a junior programme at the moment." They plan to offer adult instruction next year.

Egford is a leader in golf development. He is scheduled to speak at the upcoming "2003 European Golf Investment and Real Estate Conference and Exhibit" in Athens on November 28 and 29. His speech entitled, "Golf Development in Bulgaria" will highlight the numerous golf investment options available.

One offering that has grabbed the spotlight is a project by multinational firm N.V. Capital Ground & Building Investment. They are to build an 18-hole golf course and housing complex near Pomorie. The total area of the golf course is 80 hectares with the length at 5840 sq m and a par 71 rating. The designer of the course is Alan Rijks, a Dutch golf architect. The resort will also consist of apartments and villas surrounding a marina, and with restaurants, shops, casino, swimming pool complex and promenade.