The Generalitat has ruled out the construction of the third golf course claimed by the organization of the Ryder Cup tournament to bring the 2031 edition to the facilities of the Camiral Golf and Wellness complex, formerly known as PGA Catalunya, which leaves the celebration in the air of this sporting event. The president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, has argued yesterday the refusal to build another golf course due to the context of drought and environmental crisis: "We have to preserve the territory and water resources more than ever."
Sources close to the project regretted that, after so many months of work and negotiation, the Generalitat prevented the construction of this field and jeopardized the location of Ryder. The same sources indicated that next week, representatives of the Ryder Cup organization will visit the facilities and explore all the possibilities so as not to lose what is one of the most prestigious competitions in the world of golf, and that teams from Europe and the United States every two years. The position of the promoters of the candidacy is to keep open the conversations that are necessary to carry out the event in the two already existing fields in Caldes de Malavella (la Selva).
The refusal of the Generalitat occurs two months after the presentation of the project, by its promoters. The document, they explain, contemplates the construction of this third field, a Club House and accommodation for athletes, as claimed by the organizers of the Ryder Cup.
However, the Government's motive has to do with the conviction that there are already enough golf courses in Catalonia and with the current context of drought. A few months ago, the administration pointed out a supposed urban project with a hotel or apartments with 12,000 square meters of roof, although the spokesman for the promoters of the candidacy assures that the only plan presented to the Generalitat and entered in the registry does not contemplate the construction of any urbanization.
The same sources reiterate that this third field was required by the organization of the tournament due to the absence in Catalonia of one that adapts to its technical requirements.
Now, the next step is to wait for the response of those responsible for the Ryder Cup to find out if they open the door to the possibility of continuing with the existing fields, before another location is considered. At the moment they have promised to meet with the promoters of the competition in Catalonia to explore all the possible options.
In any case, the project insists that all investment will be private and adapted to environmental standards. They also recall that the candidacy has "the support of the Government of Spain, the Spanish and Catalan golf federations or the councils of Barcelona and Girona".
The economic sectors of Girona have spoken out in their favor since the start of the project and have highlighted the repercussions in areas such as the hotel industry or catering for an appointment that attracts thousands of spectators to attend this international sporting event.
At the beginning of June, some twenty economic, social and sports entities showed their support for the Costa Brava-Barcelona candidacy at a Foment del Treball event. In a manifesto they highlighted that the economic impact of this competition amounts to 1,300 million euros. "We demand the support of the Generalitat so that it keeps its word and closes the candidacy," they claimed. Two months later, the refusal to this third golf course is made official.
