MALLORCA, the Costa Blanca, Tenerife and the Costa del Sol have all earned a place in the top 10 best golfing destinations in Europe, with the outright winner being Palma, the Balearic Islands' capital, according to a recent survey.
The Avios Airmiles Value Tracker poll put the province of Alicante third and, although the Region of Murcia does not get a mention, it has long been considered one of Spain's best locations for a round of golf.
Likewise, the province of Valencia is hugely popular with those who enjoy practising their swing: Oliva Nova, a resort on the southern border, is a venue for international tournaments and local amateurs alike thanks to its course designed by the late golfing legend Severiano Ballesteros – and the complex has the added bonus of hosting global-level showjumping and dressage events throughout the spring and autumn, bringing in Olympic and Nations' Cup riders from every continent.
Gibraltar, the Algarve and Lisbon came second, fourth and sixth respectively.
In fact, properties near golf courses hold their value – and increase in price, having continued to climb even during the housing market crash – second only to those right on the seafront in popular beach resort towns.
Investing in a property next to a golf course means lucrative holiday guests as well as a perfect location for practising – figures from over 3,000 estate agencies specialising in homes in Spain show that when fans of the sport choose a quality destination for their getaways, they tend to be prepared to push the boat out.
They are often tourists with a high level of spending power, or at least those who save up all year to ensure they do not have to scrimp during their holiday – restaurants, spas and shops in golf resorts all report buoyant takings from golfing visitors.
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