The Catalan, hotel-chain, Ona Hotels, has purchased the Santa Clara golf course in Otura, near Granada.
As it is today
The last company to manage the golf course closed it down in November and since then it has not had any maintenance carried out on it whatsoever.
This is not only good news for golfers, especially the ex-members of the golf club, but it is also excellent news for the urbanizacíon that was built around it.
Ona Hotels has 30 hotels in different locations on its books giving it a total of 8,000 rooms. ONA Asset management purchased the defunct golf course from Sareb, which had leased it to the company that went bust in November.
Although the new owners want the golf course up and running, the management issue of the property is in the midst of a court case.
“We acquired it in good faith and we have found some problems that originated with the previous management, who incurred in deficiencies and [contract] breaches. Our wish is for the golf course and the golf club to reopen with the correct management so that the installations will be attractive for everybody,” explained a company representative
Despite the ongoing court case, the hotel chain hopes to enjoy the support of the Unidad Urbanística de Conservación, which has been working some years to sort out the general problems that the urbanización has – problems that go back 18 years.
In fact, last year the Otura Town Hall and the UUC reached an accord to solve technical problems that arose after the urbanización fell victim to the building-bubble crash in 2008.
(News: Otura, City & Metropolitan Area, Granada, Andalucia)
Ah, come on Toby. I’m only teasing.
Yes, golf courses do add to the economy, but mostly only to the benefit of the few and those that can afford to buy or live in such areas, maybe employing a few locals to clean shoes or clear up the litter.
Still I do agree with you about the massive growing of sub-tropical fruits and the water they consume.
This Grey water you mentioned, is it the water that feeds the fields of fruit trees? So, one lot goes to making grass green, the other lot grows fruit to sell to Europe? Of course, those that can afford said crops are perhaps Golfers! This would also be the same hotel chain that owns (oh no) hotels!
Yet both consume a dwindling supply. The hotels argument I can agree with but again, It’s not my call, it’s the same types of people in charge that have allowed both hotels and golf courses. I guess it’s called Capitalism?
I’m afraid in my teasing of you. I have shown my lack of education. I’m sorry if you have taken it to heart. I’m a ex Rugby player. So your balls are a different shape and I hope smaller!
Plus Toby, your remarks about Grinches was hardly a constructive argument was it? More of a temper tantrum?
If it’s been empty and uncared for since last year. Then both grounds and buildings will have issues.
Why not let the free spirit camper vans in. Charge them a bit or not at all. Nice car parks and grounds for waste. !
Funny, isn’t it, how ‘non golfers’ immediately jump up and down because a Hotel Chain decides to purchase an abandoned golf course plus all the associated infrastructure which will benefit a whole community that has been built around it, give employment to many people plus enjoyment to thousands each year?
Because it will use too much (grey!!) water!!
They don’t however, complain at all about the councils that allow, and support, the building of at least 3 (if not more) 5* hotels that would probably use more fresh water in a week than a golf course would in a year!
Consider another problem..When you last traveled to Malaga via the A44, did you notice the thousands upon thousands of fruit trees covering vast acreage of land?
Most of those are Mangoes and Aguacate, and every tree needs at least 5 litres of fresh water per day, every day!! You might say ‘But that is food’..well, yes it is but not exactly your everyday food that will feed thousands of starving people..just expensive luxury food for those that can afford it.
Now I can see the land clearing and cultivating of these fruit trees is happening on such a vast scale it must be some big commercial venture and not just local farmers…are you lobbying or complaining about them??
So, my argument is before you slate people and poke fun at them, try considering alternatives and constructive criticism.
Not such a mug PBS (at least I can string words together to form sentences)
Toby jug.
What a mug.
Constructive criticism.
He cares not a jot.
A tequila for me Tobs
Unless your pockets are as deep as the sea. !?
I’m not a poet.
Don’t you just know it. 🙂
There is more demand for water than there is water falling out of the sky or melting from mountaintops. We’re past the rainy bit of the year for the summer and reservoirs, apparently, are not looking good. Now as far as I can gather, aquifers around these parts are a bit on the stressed side as well.
Golf courses f*** (1) through water like a caffeinated bunny, and my humble suggestion is that it may just not be what the area/province needs at this point in time.
This is totally separate from the usual objections to golf courses in that it’s a lot of land the benefits only a few people.
(1) Note to editor. This was my attempt to be a clean, upstanding, clean-talking citizen. Treasure it. Doesn’t happen often. And it was fooking hard work that time.
P.S. As to the Grinch allegations; I look more like Santa; and at my age a heart growing three sizes would be a cause for concern. And it’s rum & coffee, not scotch. 🙂
I bet Fred and Darren dress as the Grinch double act at Xmas!! Obviously drinking Scotch as water is too scarce??
No doubt it will re-open but of course it will consume large quantities of increasingly scarce water
Have they got spare water in Granada then?