(Panama Digest) With 12 operational golf courses and two more under construction, Panama has the third most courses in the region, after Colombia (50) and the Dominican Republic (25).
Proportionally, that is 3.4 golf courses for each million inhabitants, while Colombia has one course per million, La Prensa reports.
But it is the out-of-town golfers that Panama seeks to attract. Roberto Vallarino, President of the Panamanian Golf Association, says that the only way to bring in foreign golfers is through international tournaments like the recent Nationwide Tour. Other industry experts recommend that the tourism industry push attractive golfing packages.
More golf courses in Panama, however, means a higher demand for skilled labor locally, including gardeners and mowing equipment operators. If each course requires a minimum of 50 workers, that could mean at least 700 Panamanian jobs in golf course maintenance.
Summit Golf Course, Panama