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Santiago Golf Course Development

Golf resort, Santiago Cape Verde

This is the golf resort so far without a 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 reportedly in the hands of the English company, which developed Vila do Lobo in the Algarve.. In December 2005 it was re-financed with capital injections from a Portuguese building supply company and a Cape Verdean former ambassador to Portugal. Sacramento Campos Lda says it will restart construction with capital, that it has subscribed 75% with Eugenio Inocencio a Cape Verdean retired diplomat promising the remaining 25%. The project was launched in 1999, with a planned budget of €550m. But it has made little progress in almost a decade

Just a single house, possibly a future golf club house, surrounded by a high fence and with some mature plants and trees in the garden. There is no sign of building activity or turf laying, but the road outside the iron gates is swept daily.

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 also curious

"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...would be most grateful if any else can give me some info on this... "
M from Manchester is realistic about time-scales
"We have bought a plot of land in this 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 10 years before its completely up and running"

D from Birmingham has encountered a wall of silence.

"I have reserved two plots on this 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?"