History
Japeri Golf is a social education project through sport that accommodates the first public golf course in Brazil and maintains a Golf School, through which about 400 children and young people, residents of Baixada Fluminense, have already passed. In over a decade of operation, the project has had good results on and off the course, and has already transformed dozens of lives, not only of the students, but also their families.
Created in 2001, the Japeri Public Golf Association – AGPJ was born from the dream of a group of young caddies – club carriers – who worked at a renowned club in Rio and lived in Baixada Fluminense. After convincing Japeri City Hall and earning the affinity of leaders of the Rio de Janeiro State Golf Federation, the dream became reality. With the support of FGERJ, R&A and Nationwide, the first public golf course was built in Brazil, and, soon after, the first Golf School for socially vulnerable children and young people was founded. Since then, the project has also received support from Granado Pharmácias.
Course
In accordance with Law 941/2001, the AGPJ has the land concession for over 70 hectares, recognized as an environmentally protected area, where the first public golf course in Brazil was built. With nine holes and official course status, recognized by the Brazilian Golf Confederation – CBG, Japeri Golf is open to the public, is 50 minutes from the centre of Rio, close to Nova Dutra, and has a Driving Range (practice area) and equipment for rental by those who want to play.
Socio-economic impact: the establishment of this course enables the sport to be practised and carried out in the region, attracts investors, contributes to the local economy by generating direct and indirect new jobs, offers a new perspective for the population of the municipality and provides a significant improvement in the quality of life in Japeri.
Environmental impact: the Japeri golf course protects more than 70 hectares. It undoubtedly preserves nature and provides a perfect ecological balance, with reforestation and the establishment of a green area, preserving the biodiversity and creating a kind of unprecedented “Ecological Sanctuary” in the region. The AGPJ has adopted efficient controls and continuous environmental monitoring of the project during and after the establishment and also works on the environmental awareness of children through the course “Little Environmental Agents”.