The Best of the Best Golf Courses and Golf Properties to Satisfy the Discerning Golf Traveller
There are certain facts about golf and golf based travel that are significantly striking and which mean that globally speaking, where a country or a location depends heavily on tourism related revenue for economic success and development, focusing on golf based tourism and developing golf centred holiday and residential resorts make sound fiscal sense.
For example, globally speaking golf tourism is worth in the region of ten billion euros annually; and as a leisure sector, golf tourism is growing at a rate of up to two and a half times faster than other leisure based travel sectors. Adding to these obvious attractions of targeting the golfing traveller is the fact that the sport draws affluent individuals who spend significantly more per capita, per day’s travel in the resorts that they frequent than other types of visitor.
Additionally, golf tourists are considered to be consistently loyal and likely to revisit favourite destinations frequently.
But golfers are highly discerning individuals and they are not only looking for the best golf courses, they want the best hotels or the best private accommodation as well as the best amenities and facilities – which is why they are attracted to some of the most famous locations in the world which manage to combine some of the most fabulous and challenging golf courses with fantastic real estate and amazingly well equipped luxury resorts.
Locations such as Grand Bahama, La Gomera, St Lucia and Majorca have really managed to achieve the balance perfectly so that golfers, golf widows and their families and friends can all enjoy the ultimate travel experience, both individually and on a group basis.
The Best Golf Courses
One of the thrills of golf based leisure for the avid and experienced golfer is encountering some of the best courses in the world for the first time, and many of the best courses happen to be located in the most fabulous island locations because of the natural attributes that such terrain presents course designers.
These types of course are known as ‘links golf courses’ and they are considered by the majority of golfers to be the most challenging and rewarding. They are found on islands and on headlands where the land used for the course actually links the mainland to the ocean – hence the name ‘links golf.’
These types of course are typically less manufactured than parkland courses, rather they follow the natural terrain of the landscape, they are exposed to the natural elements and they afford the golfer incredible views and demanding challenges. What’s more, they really require the golfer to use a mixture of skill and imagination to come in on par.
The Best Locations
As stated, many of the world’s best links courses are in fantastic island locations because the terrain and environment in these locations is perfect for the creation of the ultimate course.
Locations now famous for their thrilling courses include St. Lucia in the Caribbean where Greg Norman has added his signature to a course at Le Paradis Beach, Golf and Marina Resort where it is reputed the 14th hole will become one of the most photographed in the world. It’s a 175 yard one-shotter on to an infinity green that seems to give way to the beautiful Galet Bay beneath it. On three sides of the hole the golfer is looking down a 100 foot rugged cliff drop to the stunning ocean, meaning that even if they miss the shot they will not go home disappointed.
The Best Amenities and Facilities
The Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer golf courses at the Ginn Sur Mer resort on Grand Bahama may be world class, unique and specifically designed to enhance the game of golf, but the courses are merely a small element in terms of the leisure amenities and facilities available at this one of a kind mega and luxurious resort.
For golfers, golf widows, their friends and families the Ginn Sur Mer resort has to be seen to be believed – it offers everything from casinos to a marina, from spas to a private airport, from a beach club to a kids club, gardens, fountains and pools, multiple fine wining, dining and retail experiences to a Grand Canal which will intricately link the multiple elements of this 2,200 acre resort and provide stunning and practical waterways which will be alive with maritime activity.
The Best Properties
In each of the above mentioned resorts there are incredible real estate options available which are appealing to keen golfers, those seeking a holiday home in a stunning overseas location and people who want to live within an incredible community. What’s more, the real estate options are also appealing to savvy property investors well aware that such resorts make the very best investment locations for both a high yielding rental strategy and a strategy relying on consistent capital appreciation and consistent resale demand.
For example, at Le Paradis Beach, Golf and Marina Resort on St. Lucia you can buy lavish one, two and three bedroom residences starting from £385,000 / €582,100 and be buying into a resort with not only the aforementioned amazing golf course, but a spa, concierge services and direct access to fabulous, unspoilt, white sandy tropical beaches.
At the Ginn Sur Mer resort there are even more property based options and you can even buy your very own piece of land and build a bespoke villa or mansion on it! Ocean front or golf course facing plots of land are available for sale from £310,000 / €407,600 and they go on up to £750,000 / €986,100.
Other seriously attractive locations that offer the best golfing, the best amenities and the best property options include: –
Costa Teguise Golf in Arrecife on Lanzarote which features an 18 hole course designed by the US amateur champion golfer and landscape architect John Harris. Located at the foot of a dramatic volcano and with breathtaking ocean views, this resort is also home to multiple sport areas and hotels, open green areas, two shopping centres, leisure areas and a large communal central square for social and cultural activities. Properties available include apartments, town-houses and luxury villas and they are priced from £156,700 / €199,000.
Fuerteventura Golf Resort at Caleta de Fuste which is set around a well established course which was home to the Canaries Spanish Open in 2004 for example. Here buyers can purchase front line golf duplexes and apartments or 2 and 3 bedroom villa homes priced in the region of £146,000 / €184,322 to £177,000 / €223,459.
Pueblo Don Thomas on La Gomera in the Canary Islands in Spain where buyers are being invited to buy bespoke villas off plan within a resort where they can become members of the Country Club and benefit from amenities such as swimming pools, putting greens, bars and restaurants. The villa properties for sale are all customisable and come with a range of base designs which start from £652,000 / €850,000.
And finally the highly exclusive Rotana Villas development on Majorca in the Balearic Islands of Spain which comprises of just two unique and totally bespoke villas on plots of either 15,000sqm or 20,000sqm. The villas are set around a private golf course for the exclusive use of the residents of the homes as well as the guests of the small 23 room luxury boutique hotel which is also on site. One of the villas comes with its own vineyard and full concierge services are available to all villa owners and their guests. Services available include having private chefs, waiters or gardeners on hand for example. There is also a heliport on site at the Rotana Villas development, and the properties are priced in the region of £2,680,900 / €3,500,000.
For more information about golf properties around the world please contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visit www.bw-international.com.