Shiga Prefecture began operation of a giant sewage disposal plant on a 180-acre man-made island in Lake Biwa, Japan`s largest lake, in April, 1982.
The prefecture had promised to build a short golf course on the island to placate residents.
The golf course was almost completed in February, 1987, when prefectural officials learned that a 1974 environmental guideline banned operation of golf courses in national parks. The man-made island is well inside the Biwa Quasi- National Park.
Undaunted, the prefecture`s sewage department had a brainstorm that enabled it to restart the golf course project. It completed a nine-hole course and plans to open it to the public in April.
A department spokesman explained how the prefecture got around the agency guideline.
”It uses balls that weigh only half as much as normal golf balls, and they can`t fly as far.”
