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Another investor eyeing Tinian golf course
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Posted on Jun 02 2004
After at least two investors tried but failed to build golf courses on Tinian, another one has come in to try its lot on the same project, according to the government.
Allen Perez of the Tinian Mayor’s Office said that Marianas Resort Development Co. Inc. is planning to build an 18-hole golf course on the same venue that was identified earlier by previous investors, including the defunct Saipan University.
“This [MRDC] is the third investor that is interested to develop a golf course. We hope it materializes,” said Perez.
Perez attended last week’s meeting of the Marianas Public Lands Authority board in support of the latest investor’s request to lease a public land on Tinian for the purpose.
About three years ago, MPLA approved in concept a proposal to build a golf course on the same location, as proposed by a Japanese company, Life Up Inc.
MPLA then was upbeat that the proposed 18-hole golf course would do wonders for the islands’ tourism industry.
For some reasons, however, the project was dropped, and another investor, a Korean, which began the Saipan University, entered and presented a plan to build a world-class golf course and university on the island, to be called Tinian University.
This plan was altogether dropped lately following discoveries of irregularities involving SU in its recruitment of students from China. SU eventually shut down while the Tinian project was abandoned.
Earlier, the Tinian Legislative Delegation was looking at attracting fresh investments into the island through the development of a golf course, a retirement home, and another casino.
Once approved, these projects are targeted to be completed within three to five years.
The delegation said that another agreement is being drawn up to request the MRDC—a leaseholder of a huge piece of Tinian property—to release half of its land to MPLA for a homestead development project.
Authorities acknowledge that despite numerous proposal, Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino has remained the first and the last foreign investor to actually set up shop on the island.
