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It is expected that the golf course will be 7071m long, nearly 12km in circumference and covering 870,000m2. The local municipality has promised that the golf course will meet the standards of the Professional Golfers' Association of America and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. The completion of the course has been delayed due to the economic recession.
Press statement from Nicklaus Design:
Nicklaus Design enters into agreement for its first course in Bulgaria
The game of golf continues to expand to new markets all over the world, and Nicklaus Design continues to be the vehicle to introduce that game. The latest country added to the Nicklaus Design resume of 28 countries is Bulgaria. The Ibar Golf Club & Spa will be a Nicklaus Design course, featuring Steve Nicklaus as lead designer, and will not only represent the company's first project in Bulgaria but also its first in Southeast Europe.
"Though golf is not new to the country we are delighted that Nicklaus Design will be an important part of the foundation Bulgaria is building and the legacy they are creating in Southeast Europe," said Steve Nicklaus, Ibar's lead designer and vice president in charge of business development for the Nicklaus Companies.
Nicklaus Design officials, led by Executive Vice President Tim Kenny, were on hand Tuesday 14th June 2005 in Bulgaria for a formal signing ceremony with Ibar's executive directors, Kiril Nedev and Ilia Lazarov.
Ibar will be located in Dolna Banya, about 70 kilometers from the capital city of Sofia.
Currently, there are only two golf courses open for play in Bulgaria, and developers estimate that there are less than 500 golfers throughout the country.
"We at Nicklaus Design strongly believe that golf is a global game, and we embrace each opportunity we have to introduce golf or grow it in new countries and emerging markets," Steve added.
Nicklaus Design, the privately owned firm led by legend Jack Nicklaus and the Nicklaus family, is recognized as the world leader in golf course design. Nicklaus Design, as a company, has 282 courses open for play in 28 countries and 37 states. Of those Jack Nicklaus has 235 courses open for play worldwide, including 196 solo designs, 11 redesigns and 28 co-designs. At least 45 Nicklaus Design courses have been ranked in various national or international Top-100 lists, and 77 courses have hosted a combined 500 professional tournaments worldwide or significant U.S. national amateur championships.
What Jack said:
Hi, I am Jack Nicklaus. I am sorry I can' be with you tonight on this special occasion, but my son Steve is there with few representatives of our company and I am sure that you will have a good representation from Nicklaus design there. Steve is very exited of being involved in your project, as am I. All of us at Nicklaus design love to see golf grow around the world. We have golf courses in 28 countries now and are expending. I know golf is not new in your country but is relatively new and the growth of golf in Bulgaria will happen over time and we are delighted to be part of it. So I hope that you will have a special evening this evening, you have a special golf course coming in the future and we hope that we at Nicklaus design can serve you in any way you would like. I am proud to be there and good evening.
The growth of golf in Bulgaria will happen over time and we are delighted to be part of it.
MAY 2010
Jack Nicklaus
3 august 2009
The photo above was taken July 2007 and shows the golf course shaping that is taking place
Below is the chipping green - taken May 2009
Below is one of the short game practice holes taken May 2009
Below is 4/5th fairway May 2009
Short game practice hole 6th February 2009
Below - Hole 5 6th February 2009
Photos from the course taken 7th December 2008
Photos from the course taken late July 2008
This is the area where a 6 hole practice has been built.
See other Golf properties in Bulgaria at www.golfandspabulgaria.com
