Banten sees unprecedented growth of golf courses

Banten sees unprecedented growth of golf courses

JAKARTA (JP): West Java's Banten is facing new challenges
brought about from being one of the fastest-growing areas in
Indonesia. In recent years, the region has been transformed into
a distinctive area rich with tourism-related and industrial-
related activities.

Many will look back on the past few years as a period of
unprecedented growth of various industries and businesses in
Banten, with the region becoming a favorite location for hotels,
tourist resorts, chemical factories and other labor-intensive
plants.

Situated some 80 kilometers west of Jakarta, Banten comprises
more than two million hectares of land, or about half of the
total land of West Java province. It has four regencies: Lebak,
Pandeglang, Serang and Tangerang. Most of the large-scale
industries are located in Cilegon, Serang, and there is also a
large petroleum plant based in Merak. Meanwhile, Tangerang is
home to various smaller plants and factories.

Access to Banten has been simple and convenient since the
opening of the Jakarta-Merak toll road, which includes toll roads
linking Jakarta with Tangerang and Serang.

One phenomenal occurrence in Banten has been the development
of golf courses. Various residential areas and other real estate
developments in the region come with internationally designed
courses.

Check out some of the new golf courses in Tangerang: there is
Padang Golf Modern, Imperial Klub Golf, Gading Raya Padang Golf &
Klub and Bumi Serpong Damai Course. There is also Kedaton Golf,
Takara Indah Golf, Mega Cemara Golf Club and Padang Golf Permata
Krakatau.

Thanks to improving economic conditions in Indonesia, a number
of other companies may soon realize plans to construct golf
courses in the Banten area.

One of these companies is the BWJ Group, which is developing
Tanjung Lesung, a new mega-tourist resort ideally located in
Banten.

Chris J. Gorrill of BWJ said the golf course would complement
the resort's existing facilities.

"If there had been no monetary crisis, the golf course would
have started by now. But the development will only commence after
the year 2000," he said.

The planned 18-hole course will feature commanding sea views
and be a genuine oceanfront golf course of special interest to
players, he added.

"It will have a world-standard design, both for the leisure
and serious golfer," said Gorrill. (icn)