Jersey showing the way on golf tourism

OH HOW the other island live. In so many ways Guernsey people are perfectly happy with their lot in comparison to the les crapauds, but one area where we are lagging badly surely is golfing facilities.

This week, Jersey announced plans for a fourth full-size course to operate alongside those already well-established at Grouville, La Moye and Les Mielles.

Tommy Horton, the former Royal Jersey pro, is a key figure behind the plans for the course near the zoo in St Martin and, to their credit, all the various permission bodies support it.

'Jersey is made for golf,' said Horton.

'Golfers like good food, good hotels and good golf courses. The island can provide all of these,' he added.

Yet, 20-odd miles away, Guernsey makes do with two 18-hole courses, one of which is virtually unusable by members of the other. Crazy.

La Ramee has been identified as a suitable area for a third but in the current economic climate there seems as much chance of it happening this side of the 2012 London Olympics as a Guernseyman winning a gold medal at it.

Golf has been a card prominently played by Jersey tourism for many years and its paid dividends. But, sadly, nothing develops this side of the water.

Why? Is it a lack of vision, a lack of will, or both?

Sure, we are short of land but there is enough of it for golf and if, like Jersey, everybody got their heads around the scheme, it could happen.

But, again sadly, golf is still deemed unnecessary and a pain by so much of the Guernsey public who would rather be able to roam across the common and fly kites than see fellow islanders smack white balls vast distances.

Until its real value is realised by those that matter, I guess the situation will never change and we will be forever jealously eyeing our sister isle and the nearby French courses for our additional golfing challenges.