"Golf tourism is extremely important for attracting more affluent tourists," says Kuncho Stoychev, an investor in Black Sea Rama golf course near Balchik, which is expected to open in June.

"If an average tourist usually spends about 50-100 euro (750-150 dollars) a day, a golfer might spend 400-500 euros," he adds.

Bulgaria's Black Sea coast and ski resorts have long been popular among tourists from both western Europe and the former Communist-bloc countries and Russia.

And while that has triggered a boom in the construction of low-cost hotels, affluent visitors have gone elsewhere in search of quieter and less crowded resorts.

Bulgaria's mild climate and varied landscape favour its development as a golf destination that could rival countries like Spain.

"When I first saw this patch of hilly land overlooking the sea, I knew it was destined to be a golf course," said British investor David Newman, who is building Black Sea Golf & Country Club, a golf course near the village of Kableshkovo.

Traditionally, soccer-mad Bulgaria has had little time for more upmarket sports such as golf or cricket. But three golf courses are now open, with 15 more being built.

The government is even considering pushing the sport. It sees the construction of golf courses as an alternative to the construction boom on the Black Sea and in mountain resorts.

"The aim is to turn Bulgaria into a competitive golf destination, attracting richer tourists. Golf tourism is one of the most profitable forms of tourism worldwide," a recent strategy paper stated.

More than five million foreigners visited Bulgaria in 2007, with tourism generating nearly 16 per cent of the country's gross domestic product, according to official data.
(AFP)