However, golf is widely considered to be a Scottish invention and in the 1300´s historians state that the game was played on the site of St Andrews University. It is also documented that Royalty enjoyed a game of golf every Sunday and that Mary Queen of Scots was a keen player.
Its very royal connections can perhaps, in part, help to explain its great appeal to affluent males. A recent surge in the popularity of golf can also be attributed to a number of factors.
The rebirth of Golf
Satellite television now beams every golf tournament that takes place around the world right into our living rooms. More people than ever watch golf tournaments and there are numerous television stations purely dedicated to all things golf with programmes about correct golfing etiquette, latest golfing techniques, golfing personalities and even the latest in golfing fashion!
The number of golf courses being constructed around Europe has increased, making the sport more accessible to thousands. More and more people want to learn to play golf and many excellent golfing academies, schools and driving ranges have sprung up and are crammed with would-be Tigers practising their swing.
Golf has always been a high profile sport and in recent years the number of celebrities who are now avid golfers and participate in pro-ams and charity golf events has risen sharply. High profile celebrities who are regulars on the golf course include singers Robbie Williams and Ronan Keating, actors Tom Cruise, Samuel L Jackson and Hugh Grant and not forgetting the ladies, models Cindy Crawford and Jodie Kidd. It’s become more fashionable than ever to pick up a club and take to the course and it is just another reason why more and more young women and men are taking up the sport.
The new generation of golfers
Golfers have always travelled to play new courses in more favourable weather conditions and many now combine their annual holidays with their hobby. Cheaper air travel and the demand for luxury golf holidays has led to the development of five star resorts with professional golf courses and superb additional amenities, especially designed to appeal to golfers and their families.
Nowadays 60% of all golf courses constructed also have residential property as a part of the overall plan. For developers it’s a no-brainer - a property which overlooks the fairways and the lakes of a magnificent golf course can add a huge bonus in terms of price and prestige. A development with a golf course attached designed by any of the golf world’s big names can add a premium of between 15 and 25% to the sales value of an apartment or villa.
No surprise, then, that celebrity endorsed golf courses are all the rage.
Relatively new golf course designers on the block such as Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros have joined the stalwarts of golf design such as Arnold Palmer and Garry Player in designing new and challenging courses with luxury properties attached across Europe.
The benefits to the prospective buyer, property owner and developer are clear. World class golfers are easily recognisable and offer not only their individual golfing experience and expertise in the design of the course but also their high profile as sporting heroes. The combination of a world class golfer who can create a challenging golf course with the skills and experience of an established developer is a proven recipe for success.
Many golfers bring their families with them on such holidays; they demand the highest level of services and amenities and traditionally spend more money than the average holidaymaker. While using their property as a holiday home they can also rent their property out to the large number of tourists who come not just for the golf but also for the superb facilities available on site.
Most resorts feature luxurious five star hotels, exclusive spas, beauticians, crèches, sporting facilities and town centres with sophisticated bars, restaurants and upmarket shopping.
Owners and their guests can also benefit from having a golf share membership, which often comes with the property purchase, preferential rates and the best tee times.
So it really is a win, win situation for all involved.
The new wave of luxury Golf resorts in Europe
At Bansko and Balchik in Bulgaria, two new courses designed by Ian Woosnam will help to create year round tourism when previously these resorts were predominantly only very seasonal destinations.
Portugal is famed for its superb golf courses and two golfers who have recently lent their expertise and kudos to a fantastic new golf resort in the Algarve are Nick Faldo and Christy O´Connor Junior.
Spain has long been British and Irish holidaymakers favourite golfing destination and it too has benefited significantly from the trend for celebrity golf courses. Spain is no stranger to world class golfers and has produced such household names as Seve Ballesteros, Sergio García, Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angél Jimenez. There are many excellent golf courses to choose from and the most popular golfing areas are the Costa del Sol, Costa de la Luz and Costa Blanca.
An exciting new and emerging area is the Costa Cálida in Murcia. And it is here that the developer Polaris World has revolutionised the golf resort property market.
With a distinct American style, the secure gated resorts feature plenty of wide open spaces, broad leafy avenues, low density, luxury housing and every possible amenity you could imagine. Each resort will feature a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course and when completed Polaris World will enjoy the highest concentration of Nicklaus designed courses outside of the US.
Nicklaus is very much hands on with the Polaris World project - he oversees the design and development of each course and he will also create two courses called “Bears Best” which will contain what he considers to be the best holes he has ever played.
Purchasing a property within one of this fantastic golf resorts is an excellent investment opportunity for those looking to invest overseas.
This article has been submitted by Louise Gannon from Sunseeker Homes