Japeri Golfe Rio de Janeiro

The Project

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Japeri Golfe is a social project providing education through sport.  It is home to Brazil’s first public golf course and runs a Golf School that has already touched the lives of around 400 children and young people from the suburbs of Rio. In over a decade of activity the project has returned good results both on and off the course and has transformed dozens of lives – not only of its students, but of their families too.

Created in 2001, the AGPJ (Japeri Public Golf Association) was conceived from the dream of a group of young caddies who worked at one of Rio’s most exclusive clubs and lived in the suburban lowlands. After persuading the Japeri Mayor’s office and gaining the sympathy of the directors of the Rio de Janeiro Golf Federation (FGERJ), the dream became reality. With the support of the FGERJ, the R&A and nationwide, the first public course in Brazil was built and shortly afterwards, the first Golf School for at-risk children and young people was founded.

 

The Course

In accordance with Law 941/2001, the AGPJ has the concession of the land – a property of more than 70 hectares (173 acres) that is recognised as an area of environmental protection. With nine holes and official course status granted by the Brazilian Golf Federation (CBG), Japeri Golfe, which is just 50 minutes from the centre of Rio, is open to the public and offers a Driving Range and equipment rental for those who want to play.

Socio-economic Impact: the implementation of this course provides an opportunity to play and develop the sport in the region, attracts investors, contributes to the local economy by generating both direct and indirect employment, offers a new perspective for the population of the area and provides a significant improvement in the quality of life in Japeri.

Environmental Impact: the Japeri course protects over 70 hectares of land. It provides certainty in the preservation of nature and perfect environmental equilibrium, with reforesting programmes and implementation of a green area, which preserves the biodiversity and has created a sort of “Ecological Sanctuary” – a first in the region. The AGPJ has adopted effective environmental controls and constant monitoring of the project, during and after its inception and furthermore, fosters the children’s environmental awareness through the “Young Environmental Agents” course.

 

 

 

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