The question often arises why Ukraine remains one of the last countries in the region without a golf project. Russia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and even Moldova already have one or more golf courses apiece and have a combined total of some 61 courses. Meanwhile, Ukraine, which has the best land and the biggest golf tourism potential of all these countries, has none.

This situation cannot be attributed to lack of desire. Such notable figures as former Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko, Kyiv Mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko, Former Health Minister Yury Spizhenko, and businessmen Ihor Bakai, Hryhory Surkis and Ihor Didenko, not to speak of many Westerners, have all been involved in attempts to establish Ukraine's first golf club. Some have come close and some (like the author of this article) are still at it, but the results remain to be seen.

Bureaucracy and corruption are said to be the main reasons why golf is not yet a reality in Ukraine, but lack of leadership, lack of rules and land laws, and lack of serious investment have all played their part. Another unfortunate aspect of the golf business in Ukraine is that it is still viewed erroneously as a game for the very rich and not as a venue for attracting investments. All over the world, golf is viewed both as a sport and as a serious place for businesspeople to gather for private discussions, conversations, meetings and dealings. The seriousness of golf as an institution can be appreciated by looking at the great number of world political and business leaders who play. The game's standing as a serious sport will soon be enhanced when it becomes an Olympic event.

Some embassies reportedly view countries without golf facilities as "hardship" areas. Far from being humorous, this statement shows what important social concepts golf and the golf club atmosphere have become. Many corporations, embassies and businesspeople in Ukraine complain about the lack of golf facilities, but complaints can only accomplish so much.

Unless Ukraine comes to terms with all these considerations and provides the means necessary to make golf a reality, it will not only lose the opportunity to develop the next generation of Olympic hopefuls, it will also lose out on many investment opportunities from countries and corporations that view golf availability as a necessity for conducting business and that wish to provide their management with the opportunity to enjoy this most important pastime.

Walter Prochorenko has been working for the past seven years to introduce golf into Ukraine. He previously worked on golf projects in Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Guam, the Philippines, Saipan, Rota and UAE.

March 2002