THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 15, 1996 TAG: 9603150003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
Virginia Beach suffers from a peculiar malady: beach envy. Myrtle Beach envy, that is.
You can hardly turn around in Virginia Beach without finding someone lamenting the fact that their Resort City is not more like South Carolina's.
For many years - especially in the aftermath of Greekfest - tourism officials at the Beach have worried that vacationers pass over Virginia Beach in favor of you-know-where.
So it's not surprising that nearly every program to enhance the resort area seems to mirror those that are working in Myrtle Beach. Nowhere is that more true than in the myriad proposals to transform Virginia Beach into a golfing mecca.
Unfortunately, the city has a long way to go to catch Myrtle Beach as a place that draws duffers from the entire East Coast. Myrtle Beach has 92 public and private golf courses. Virginia Beach has just 14.
But plans are on the board for another three to five Virginia Beach courses. Enough, experts say, to transform the city into at least a mid-Atlantic golf destination.
A preliminary study on the impact of adding five high-quality golf courses estimates that they would generate $23.9 million in new revenues every year and yield $1.8 million in sales and entertainment taxes.
The city is wise to explore plans to develop more golf courses in Virginia Beach - especially with private money. Tempting golf packages, combined with the region's other attractions, would be just one more reason for active vacationers to choose to visit Hampton Roads. by CNB