Estrela Santiago Golf Resort Course Plan

Golf resort without Golf Course in Santiago

This is the Santiago golf resort so far without a Santiago golf course. It features a set of imaginative artwork around a proposed golf course. It is being built by MARPE a Portuguese developer and the golf course is to be designed by Nick Faldo. In December 2005 Santiago Golf Resort was re-financed with capital injections from a Portuguese building supply company. Sacramento Campos Lda hoped to restart construction with Eugenio Inocencio a Cape Verdean retired diplomat . The Santiago Golf Resort project was launched in 1999, with a planned budget of €550m. But it has made little progress in a decade.The Portuguese company has now sold the Santiago Golf Resort but remains involved in construction.

For many years, there has been just a single house, surrounded by a high fence with a mature garden. There is no sign of building activity or turf laying, but the road outside the iron gates is swept daily. Maybe the new British investors will be able to kick-start the Santiagio Golf project. Plots at resale are asking £80 - £100,000. This seems highly optimistic as many more are coming onto the market at lower prices as investors go out to check on what they are buying. .

The site or at least part of it has been bought through a very complicated series of financial holding companies by three UK-based financial advisers Dr Owen Dennis, Richard Clay and Kathryn Clark who own equal shares. They planned to fund the Santiago Golf development by selling bonds tied to the value of a plot to investors. That was before the Credit Crunch.

Now belongs to Arck Leefran a Jersey co owned by an IoM co

S from Scotland comments

" I was taken by the idea of golf and horses. You can buy land for £50,000. But when I asked about access roads, they became reticent. Realistically it must be at least ten years off."

K from Dublin has been to the site and says

"There is nothing there, no water, no electricity, no drains. They are just selling land and it seems very expensive. I am not happy about selling it to our Irish customers. Nothing will happen for ten years I didn`t like Santiago. Getting there from Dublin was a 24 hour ordeal."

So has M from Tyneside

"I was outside Santiago Golf Resort 3 weeks ago. You are correct. It does not exist (except for a sign and a hut). Only the road was already built as it goes down to the desalination plant if one leaves Praia on the road to Cidade Velha after about 6km turn left at the sign that says Santiago Golf Resort. Go along that road and at about 1km on the right is a market garden growing palms . On the pink wall you'll see a sign the clearly says Santiago Golf Resort. If you peer through the gates you can see the hut. If you carry on down the same road you come to the desalination plant but there is no sign of any construction going on. Alternatively read the section in the 2002 edition of the Santiago Travel Guide promoting the Santiago Golf Resort Hotel as good place to stop from 2003! I don't want to be the sceptic but most large developments in Santiago are just pipe dreams regarding construction schedules"

T from Barcelona is an estate agent and has actually managed to meet the people behind this development.

"Santiago Golf is similar with construction just starting. Luis was a nice young man who introduced us to his father Eugenio with the crazy hair, both took a step back once we asked about guaranteeing the customers` money but after a moment of uncomfortable silence they did say that this was something the board was looking at. The project is an evolving plan but they are only selling the plots of land at the moment with no real fixed build costs for the houses. Our customers would be more interested in apartments, we spoke about the possibility of buying the land and developing the Marina area with our investors and they are open for us to discuss this further but again I feel that this may be a lot of work for the possible returns at this stage of the islands development."

C from Belgium is suspicious.

"As an addicted amateur golfer, looking to buy overseas real estate on a golf course I was told that Santiago Golf Resort on Santiago Island Cape Verde is the place to invest. In Belgium I cannot find any interesting information about this project. What I find a bit "strange" is that their site is still under construction. Can anyone give me more details about the process of buying property there? Are there already villas built? Is the golf course open yet? How many holes? "

L from Birmingham is hoping for the best.

"I'm in the process of buying some land on Santiago Golf Resort, bought through Absolute Estates. I've been asked to hand-over the final payment this week, but just thought I'd check to see what is happening but can't find any info. It is meant to have the works - marina, golf, hotel, you name it...I have just received details that 51 villas are about to start their build with some of the landscaping starting next year. Land prices still seem to be holding their value and I think have increased.
I know of others that have discussed plans with the architect ... agree that this is a long term one, but villas have to be started within 2 years and completed within 4... so should see some good progress over the next year or so. I have been keeping an eye on the market and have seen no other deal that promises such good facilities and the space available... lets hope that it comes to fruition"

M from Manchester is realistic about time-scales

"We have bought a plot of land in this Santiago Golf resort, with plans to build a villa. We have just made final payment but are still receiving very little information. However, they did pay for us to do an inspection trip and my friend went down to Cape Verde...not a huge amount there, considering the amount of time that has passed. Nevertheless a road and other infrastructure is there. I do think that this is going to be very long term...maybe another 10 years before its completely up and running"

D from Birmingham has encountered a wall of silence.

"I have reserved two plots on this Santiago Golf development many, many months ago. Its getting close to the time final payment needs to be made, however, I am starting to get concerns about the developer. I have sent a number of emails to the developers as well as making countless phone calls asking a few questions regarding the plots. Mainly why a hotel has suddenly been added to the plans directly adjacent to my plots, as well as architect`s details to progress plans, current status of infrastructure, costings for construction, etc. So far I have had no response. All of this as well as the time delay in reaching this final payment is making me feel slightly edgy. Has any other plot owner experienced the same issues or am I sailing alone in a sea of doubt?"

S from Lancs complains about charges for the boundary fence.

"We have been provided an estimate of £20,000 for a wall 190m long. This seems remarkably high, and I wondered if anyone had received any prices from local developers. I can't help but think that we are being ripped off by developers seeing an opportunity to make huge profits! "

John Pattison of ARCK prefers keeping quiet for the time being

"Whilst I can understand your motivation (ARCK`s) in wanting to set the record straight with these people I think that it would be in the best interests of the project at present for us to keep our distance until we have a fully prepared and thought out PR programme of announcements. It is important for us to avoid getting involved in any discussions concerning Santiago Golf Resort`s shortcomings. This debate about Santiago Golf Resort has been running for a number of years and appears to involve people on blogs who have bought plots in Zone 3 complaining about the lack of progress. There is a very real danger that anything that you might say or put in print will find its way into other media at some time in the future and may cause unforeseen problems at that time. I think that giving them our details is a nice idea, we just have to be sure how we intend to deal with any enquiries that might follow in a well planned and prepared manner. This type of issue would normally be dealt with via the PR company within their ‘retainer’ costs. It is one good way to get the PR people to ‘earn’ their keep! It also ensures that we have a consistent and agreed message conveyed to any and all interested parties. Clearly any communication will have a ‘spin’ in favour of our project and ambitions"

Nick Faldo comments on the golf course he has been asked to design

"One of the things that I hope I can bring to each of my designs is a certain level of strategic insight and our course at Estrela Santiago will be no exception. The terrain cascades down towards the sea from a high plateau, incorporating elements of both cliff-top and coastal design. These changes in elevation coupled with the way the course relates to the winds that cross the site will offer real strategic challenges that will certainly appeal to the thoughtful golfer. There are also a number of small water courses that filter through the site creating large, exposed rock faces that form a recurring feature throughout the design. With views over the ocean from every point of the course and puzzles that will engage high and low handicappers alike, I firmly believe that our design at Estrela Santiago will help to confirm Cape Verde’s place as an emerging golfing destination with a genuinely unique appeal."