Costa del Sol golf properties boom fed by British players
BRITAIN’S enduring passion for golf has played a pivotal role in our love affair with Spain.
And, these days, the nation’s fervour for golf and dreams of a frontline home on thefairway are helping to boost Spain’s resurgent property market as the country starts to exit the savage recession.
And for some, living within driving distance of the driving range isn’t enough. More and more expats are choosing to live in properties a mashie niblick-length from the course itself.
They’re not alone. An estimated 160,000 British people own holiday homes near golf courses and, with nearly 60 courses on the Costa del Sol, southern Spain is high on the list of popular destinations.
Gareth Bale and friends on a Costa del Sol golf course
The constellation of star names who have teed off on local courses include Real Madrid galactico Gareth Bale and former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar.Premiership footballing alumni David Bentley and Steven Carr love the game so much, they can often be found swinging their clubs on courses around Benahavis, while their La Sala chief associate Ian Radford loves Guadalmina.
Such is golf’s continued allure, Taylor Wimpey is spearheading a joint development plan with La Cala Resort for two new golf home enclaves: Miraval in Mijas, a luxury development of 60 apartments, and a townhouse urbanisation christened Horizon Golf.