the essential
Alexandre Pujol, the president of the municipal management of the Castres-Gourjade Golf course, denounces the arguments of opponents of the extension of the course from 9 to 18 holes who contest this project on “the social and environmental levels”.
“They do not look at the interest and merits of the case but are against it by default.” After the demonstration by opponents of the extension of the golf course from 9 to 18 holes which brought together around a hundred people who contested this project “on a social and environmental level”, the president of the municipal management of the Gourjade golf course decided to counterattack.
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The counter-proposal of opponents to the extension of the Castres golf course
Alexandre Pujol began by recalling that the Castres golf course has 550 members, an increase of 11% compared to last year, with a “dynamic” golf school which regularly wins national titles. “The federation estimates that a 9-hole course is saturated when there are more than 300 members,” says the president, recalling that the extension of the golf course has been planned since 2016. An attendance to which must be added the 650 golfers who come from all over France every year attend the Gourjade course. “Which is already a lot for a 9-hole course,” explains the president, who recalls that 60% of the 442,000 members of the French Golf Federation, the 4th largest individual sport in France, organize trips to 18-hole courses. According to him, the extension will therefore bring “economic added value” for the city in terms of consumption and overnight stays.
Water consumption “adjusted as closely as possible”
A project that takes into account the environmental context according to Alexandre Pujol. “The prefectural decree authorizes us a water consumption of 53,000 m3 for the 18 holes while we are not even at half today”, affirms the golfer specifying that the current consumption is 18,000 m3 for 9 holes. Hydrometric probes, new generation software and grasses that resist high heat make it possible to “adjust water consumption as closely as possible”. “In addition, the project provides for the replacement of the current irrigation network created in 1993, making it possible to change certain faulty pipes”, continues Alexandre Pujol who affirms that the route of the extension has been modified to “preserve the trees”, and that Investments are made in equipment for “more efficient and less energy-consuming” maintenance.
“Gourjade will neither be privatized nor closed!”
And to continue to respond to the project’s detractors, Alexandre Pujol insists that “the Castres golf course does not concern a caste” highlighting accessible prices. “The extension project will be financed by a loan taken out by the legally and financially independent management and by an increase in contributions from members who have validated this 50% increase. But it will remain the cheapest in the region for an 18-hole course” , he says.
This extension is planned on the Bouffanet estate, purchased by the City several years ago, currently fallow. “There is no artificialization of the land as I have heard,” protests Alexandre Pujol, who also wants to silence another rumor: Gourjade will not be privatized or closed. And the pedestrian paths will be preserved and we will even create others.”
Finally, Alexandre Pujol regrets that two young golfers from the club aged 13 and 14 were taken to task verbally and “insulted” by some participants in the rally against this extension. A project which for the moment is on standby “even if we continue to work on the budget envelope” while the administrative court rules on a request filed against the prefectural authorization by the association, Apac (Act to preserve the future in Castres).
