Hello, tonyprice!
I must say, this question has taken me on quite an adventure!!!
I wish I could provide a simple answer to your question, consisting
of a few recommendations for the best golf courses and communities in
Spain, Portugal and France. Unfortunately, as my lengthy response
reveals, it is not that easy! I am afraid there are as many opinions
about the best golf courses as there are golfers!
One advantage of the internet is that you have the opportunity to
research potential investment locations to get ideas without the
pressure of a sales agent. You can research regions of each country,
get specifications about golf courses, and narrow down areas that
interest you. When the time comes to act, you will have a fairly
definite idea of where you want to purchase. Then, with some firm
direction, you can start working with a real estate agent.
I have tried to take this complex question and tackle it in segments.
For each country, I have started with a "golf overview," compiled
information on buying property, highlighted the most popular golfing
locations, referenced articles describing specific regions and golf
courses, provided complete golf course listings and finally, included
a few online real estate listings for a basic background on area
pricing.
I have also included some references for International Realtors as
they would be a good source for an unbiased opinion. Hamptons
International also offers some good publications as you can see from
the Press Release concerning Costa del Sol. I am sure they would be a
wonderful company to work with in terms of narrowing down your
options.
The GolfEurope listings under each country include descriptions of
every golf course as well as golfer reviews. These reviews, coupled
with the names of golf courses highlighted in various articles, should
help you narrow down good-quality courses in specific areas of each
country. It is a large chunk of information to wade through, but it
is hard to get more specific without visiting the actual courses.
Ultimately, the decision about where to purchase a second home will
be defined by the areas that appeal to you the most. Once you decide
on a few locations, you can look further into the issues surounding
capital appreciation and building quality. You can also visit and get
"insider" opinions from homeowners (or knowledgable realtors). As you
have alluded to in your question, getting an objective opinion from a
golf resort representative is unrealistic!!
This question was so broad in scope it was hard to answer without
"drowning" you in pages of references. I sincerely hope you can glean
some good and useful information from the following and come a bit
closer toward making a decision about where to purchase a second home.
******
SPAIN
******
MAP OF SPAIN
=============
http://www.spanishpropertysearch.co.uk/Map.htm
OVERVIEW OF GOLF IN SPAIN
==========================
Excerpt from Golfissimo website:
http://www.golfissimo.com/ (From home page, click on Search...on next
page, click on link for Spain)
"The most famous golf destination in Spain is the Costa del Sol, but
there is much more golf in the country. The offer is basically divided
between private, member clubs around the big cities and green fee
facilities on the Mediterranean coast, the Balearic and Canary
islands. There are several top courses around Madrid, such as the Club
de Campo Villa de Madrid, Puerta de Hierro, La Moraleja or the Real
Sociedad Hipica, all ranked amongst the best in Europe, but these are
private courses although it is usually possible to play with a letter
of introduction."
"The famous Costa del Sol that stretches from Malaga west to Gibraltar
is a treasure trove of fantastic courses. Unofficially known as the
"Costa del Golf", for it has more than 30 golf courses, the coast has
several Top 100 European courses such as Robert Trent Jones designs at
La Brisas, twice venue of the World Cup, Sotogrande or Valderrama,
venue of the 1997 Ryder Cup. The coast has also some terrific golf
resorts such as La Cala, Almenara or San Roque. An excellent and less
crowded alternative to the Costa del Sol is the adjacent Costa de la
Luz, in the Atlantic province of Cadiz, with a Nicklaus’ design at
Montecastillo and a Ballesteros’ layout at Novo Sancti Petri. These
coasts are truly year round destinations but the Costa de la Luz is
cooler in summer than the Costa del Sol, thanks to the Atlantic
breeze.
"Golfing highlights on the Mediterranean coast include the several
courses of the Costa Brava, between Barcelona and the French border,
with such gem as Pals and Emporda or the new PGA Golf de Catalunya,
venue of the Spanish Open. Further south down the coast, El Saler
splendid links in Valencia is ranked amongst the top courses in the
world, and La Manga resort in Murcia boasts no less than three courses
and a Hyatt hotel. Off the coast from Valencia, the Balearic island of
Mallorca has well over ten excellent courses. Son Vida is the eldest
course on the island and has recently been joined by a younger
brother, Son Muntaner, reserved exclusively to resort’s guests. The
best season to play these courses on the Mediterranean is spring and
fall, as the winter can sometimes be cool or windy and the summer very
hot and crowded."
"Off the coast of Africa, south of Morocco, the Canary islands has the
oldest club in Spain, the Real Club de Golf Las Palmas, founded in
1891 in Gran Canaria, and the highest peak on Spanish soil, El Teide
in Tenerife. The island of Tenerife also has a vintage club, the Real
Club de Golf de Tenerife, and five resort layouts in the south of the
island. These islands, known as the "Fortunate Islands, enjoy a sub
tropical climate and the best year round climatic conditions in Spain
to play golf, as it is warmer than on the peninsula in winter and
cooler in summer."
"Golfers should not overlook the northern Atlantic coast with such
gems as Real Santander, Seve Ballesteros’ home club, Neguri, founded
in 1911, or San Sebastian, Olazabal’s home club."
BUYING PROPERTY IN SPAIN
=========================
"Buying Property in Spain." Spanish Property Search
http://www.spanishpropertysearch.co.uk/Buying%20property%20in%20Spain.htm
Information on dealing with private advertisers versus estate agents,
types of properties, paperwork, financing, costs and legal
implications.
"Buying Real Estate in Spain." Overseas Property Online.
http://www.reeu.com/english/spain.html
"Purchasing a Property in Spain." Gatehouse International Property
Consultants.
http://www.spanishprop.com/Local_Information/Buying_property.asp
AREAS FOR CONSIDERATION
========================
COSTA DEL SOL
==============
123 Property News is a good source of information
http://www.123propertynews.com/index2.html
See index of current issue
123 News
http://www.123propertynews.com/latest/news.html
A good source of information - especially concerning "fruadulent
developments"
From "123 Focus." 123 Property News. (Sept/Oct 2003)
http://www.123propertynews.com/latest/focus.html
Excerpt:
"There is now a new breed of golfer other than the local and the
visitor - the one who also hopes to make an investment by purchasing
his dream property close to a golf course. What could be better than
buying property just a step away from the first tee - that's every
golfer's dream! The opportunities are there for those who want to make
that dream come true, and over the next six issues of 123 Property
News we will be taking a closer look at areas along the Costa del Sol
where residential property and golf go hand in hand."
"Those of us who have been resident in this area for some time cannot
help but notice the number of properties that have been or are being
built. It seems wherever you look new developments appear, and often
proximity to a golf course is the main selling point. Golf has played
a big part in creating the demand."
"Homebuyers are of all nationalities, and more and more of them are
looking at the Costa del Sol to fulfil the dream of owning property
with the added benefit of some excellent golfing facilities. There is
no doubt that this part of the Costa del Sol has moved with the times
and has all the ingredients to satisfy those dreams. Where else can
you find developments and golf working so closely together? With easy
access to Gibraltar and Malaga airports and with the new motorway
making life that much easier for travellers, this part of the coast
should continue to attract the right investment so we can all pursue
our dreams."
(Read More)
=
From "Golf in Spain." Europe Golf
http://www.europegolf.com/golf-destinations/spain.htm
"A longtime favorite of Europeans, Spain's Costa del Sol is home to
one of the highest concentrations of world-class golf courses to be
found anywhere in the world."
"Located in the Andalucia region of southern Spain, the Costa del Sol
is often referred to as the Costa del Golf - 'the Golf Coast',
offering no less than sixty courses within a small geographic area. If
linked together in a straight line, the courses would stretch from one
end of the Costa to the other, but designed by famous names such as
Nicklaus, Ballesteros and Olazabal, the holes zigzag from the beaches
to the hills, through forests and over lakes."
=
"Buying and Selling Costa del Sol Property." Premier Property
http://www.premiermarbella.com/buying_selling_property_costa_del_sol.htm
CATELONIA
=========
(Includes the regions of Pyrenees, Costa Brava, Barcelona, Costa
Dorada)
Catelonia Golf Holidays
http://www.ukschoolofgolf.com/index.html
"Unlike many places in Spain and elsewhere, Catalonia is no
purpose-built, manufactured golf tourist destination. The place is
steeped in tradition and culture, an identity established over
hundreds of years. Golf is a new addition, which has opened up this
remarkable place for golfers to come and really discover Catalonia for
the very first time.
http://www.ukschoolofgolf.com/aboutcatalonia.htm
"The Association of Golf Tour Operators voted the Costa Brava as the
‘Best Emerging Golf Destination Worldwide’. The PGA European Tour
consider Emporda & Pals Golf Courses good enough to host there annual
Final Tour Qualifying School. Five golf courses have been voted in the
top 50 in Europe by Golf World. Its fair to say the golfing fraternity
consider Golf in Catalonia as exceptional."
http://www.ukschoolofgolf.com/golfcourses.htm
"Many of our customers fall in love with Catalonia after their first
visit. Some return and look for a property either to live in
permanently or as a holiday home. We have negotiated partnerships with
some of the leading Catalonia property developers and estate agents
chosen by us for their quality build, reputation, location and
relationship with some of the golf complexes in the region."
http://www.ukschoolofgolf.com/realestate.htm
COSTA BLANCA
============
Read "Why the Costa Blanca?"
http://www.spanishproperty-site.co.uk/4682.html?*session*id*key*=*session*id*val*
COSTA CALIDA
============
Read "Why the Costa Calida?" by Cheryl Taylor. Times Online (Oct 2002)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7455-732808,00.html
An excerpt follows:
"Property prices on Spain’s Costa Calida are rising faster than in
Britain, having gained 40 per cent in the past year. The area remains
largely unspoiled and affordable, however. The Murcia region is
popular with Spanish holidaymakers but until recently stayed
undiscovered by foreign buyers."
"Now several golf courses and low-rise housing developments are being
built. A shortage of land for development between Mar Menor, Spain’s
largest inland sea, and the hills behind, is pushing up prices."
(Read More..)
GOLF COURSES IN SPAIN
=====================
"Spain Golf Courses.: GolfEurope.com
http://www.golfeurope.com/euro_clubs/spain-golf-courses.htm
(by region, with descriptions and some golfer reveiws)
"Golf Courses in Spain." Spanish Property Search
http://www.spanishpropertysearch.co.uk/Golf%20Spain.htm
ONLINE PROPERTY LISTINGS
=========================
"Buying Real Estate in Spain." Overseas Property Online.
http://www.reeu.com/english/spain.html
(From this page, you can click on the links at the bottom for areas
of interest)
For example, clicking on the link for "Costa Del Sol Property" will
take you to an informative page about the area:
http://www.real-estate-european-union.com/costadelsolproperty/andalusia.html
From here, you can link to available properties, including golf
properties:
http://www.real-estate-european-union.com/costadelsolproperty/golf.html
(Unfortunately, this link merely has descriptions of each course - not
properties available. However, you will have an idea of what each
course offers.)
==
Overseas Properties Co. UK
http://www.overseas-properties.co.uk/
Golf properties:
http://www.overseas-properties.co.uk/golf.htm?
Costa del Sol Online Properties
http://www.findahomeinspain.com/
"Costa del Sol property - real estate index."
http://www.property-spain.com/index.html
New property developments
http://www.property-spain.com/new-developments.htm
Descriptions of new developments
********
PORTUGAL
********
MAP OF PORTUGAL
===============
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/europe/portugal/portugal.htm
GOLF OVERVIEW
=============
"With its privileged climate, Portugal has long been a winter retreat
for tourists from northern Europe, and especially for golfers. Most of
the country’s golf offer is concentrated around Lisbon and in the
Algarve, but there are some excellent courses as well in Oporto,
Madeira island and the archipelago of Azores."
"Lisbon and the Estoril Coast has a mix of private, member clubs and
typical green fee resorts. The best layouts are Robert Trent Jones
Senior design at Quinta da Marinha and Troia, R.T. Jones Junior at
Penha Longa, the vintage Mackenzie Ross course at Estoril and the two
courses at Aroeira, considered as the Augusta of Portugal. Quinta de
Marinha and Penha Longa are both full golf resorts with five star
accommodation. Golf can be play year round in Lisbon, but it can get
pretty wet and windy in winter, although mild, and week ends are
crowded with golfers from the capital."
"North of Lisbon, there is an excellent new course at Praia d’el Rey,
near Obidos. Further north, around Oporto, famous worldwide for its
Port wine, there is a couple of excellent links such as Oporto,
founded in 1890 and the third oldest golf course in continental
Europe. These courses are definitively worth a visit, although rather
off major touristic routes."
"At the southern tip of Portugal, the Algarve has an amazing range of
golf courses and golf resorts stringing its sandy coast that have made
the region a favourite destination amongst golfers from all over
Europe. The unquestioned star amongst the over twenty courses in
Algarve is San Lorenzo, the only Portuguese layout to be ranked
amongst the best in the world. But there are several other fabulous
resorts in the area, most of them near Faro and within half an hour
drive of each other. Vilamoura has no less than four courses, Quinta
do Lago another four, including San Lorenzo, and Vale do Lobo two.
Further down the coast, Penina has been a long time favourite resort,
boasting 36 holes of golf designed by Sir Henry Cotton. The Algarve is
a year round destination and the weather is ideal to play golf at all
seasons."
"Offshore from mainland Portugal, the Madeira and Azores islands are
two excellent golf destinations. Off the coast from Africa, Madeira
enjoys a sub tropical climate ideal to play golf all year long on one
of its two spectacular courses. The island has been a favourite
holiday destination with the British since the 19th century as a port
of call and climatic station to the colonies."
"Much more secluded and off the beaten tracks, the archipelago of
Azores lies in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean, halfway between Europe
and America. It is nevertheless well worth discovering and the
archipelago has two excellent clubs in Terceira and Sao Joao islands,
the later designed in 1936 by Mackenzie Ross and boasting two 18 hole
courses. In these secluded volcanic islands, the Azores anticyclone
dominates most of the time, providing for a mild climate and perfect
golfing conditions year round, in a scenic setting."
BUYING PROPERTY IN PORTUGAL
============================
"Buying real estate in Portugal." Overseas Property Online.
http://www.reeu.com/english/portugal.html
"Blue chip investments in Portugal's golf mecca," by Diana Wildman.
Times Online (10/2002)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7457-732848,00.html
(Information on investment risks, best locations, emerging markets,
"catches" and hidden costs.)
"Why invest in Portugal Property?" by Peter Jones. Extract from
Portugal Property Secrets
http://www.ukpropertyweb.co.uk/Property_Investment_Portugal.htm
"Even in 2002 there have been hefty gains in many places despite the
pause in the market after September 11th 2001. In some areas, such as
the Algarve, there were price rises of 25% or more in 2002. These
price rises were location specific, being predictably in those areas
where demand for second homes is greatest. As we have already seen,
these price rises in part reflect demand from
UK buyers. Demand from British buyers has remained high, and also
because of falling interest rates, demand from the UK is increasing.
The result is a high demand for properties with many properties on new
developments selling out long before the last unit is completed."
"... a strong and growing demand from Portuguese second homebuyers.
Owning a holiday apartment on the coast is popular with better off
city dwellers, who use it at weekends and during the traditional
holiday period in August. Traditionally the Portuguese have bought on
the coast to the north and west of Lisbon, but the Algarve is becoming
increasingly popular."
"However, there are also other trends becoming apparent which are
hidden within these statements:"
"First: an increase in numbers of non-Portuguese buyers purchasing for
investment reasons. Just as Buy to Let seems to have caught the public
imagination over here, property investing in Portugal, by
non-Portuguese investors, is a growing business."
"Second: an increase in non-Portuguese buyers from countries where
demand has traditionally been limited."
"For example, in the recent past many Irish buyers have been active in
Portugal. Irish buyers entered the market strongly in 2002, partly as
a reaction to tight fiscal measures at home introduced by the Irish
Government. This trend is likely to continue throughout 2003 as the
Irish Government is set to introduce more legislation making property
investing at home far less attractive. My tip is to watch the increase
in Irish euros being spent on the Algarve."
"The increase in prices also reflects the pressure on supply of new
properties. This has been caused, in part, by the Portuguese
authorities who, since the early 1990s have controlled development to
avoid a repeat of the over-development that occurred on the Spanish
Coast. This has limited the amount of available land for development,
and the size of the developments themselves."
"The effect of continued demand for properties on the Algarve, along
with the restricted scope for developing further in the already
established areas, means developers are looking further afield for
development opportunities. This has been encouraged by improvements to
local infrastructure. We’ll look at this in more detail later when
looking at ‘boom signals of the local area’."
"The rise in property values is most easily illustrated by looking at
what has happened on new developments, where it is possible to make a
straight like-for-like comparison between identical properties."
(Read More...)
AREAS FOR CONSIDERATION
========================
Overview:
========
"Golf and Sports." Portugal Travel Team
http://www.portugal-travelteam.com/services/services.html#Golf%20and%20Sports
"It is no exaggeration to describe Portugal as a golfer's paradise.
The main focus of attention is in the Algarve where there are 20
championship standard 18-hole courses spread along the 150 kms
coastline and a number of others under construction or in the
pipeline."
"Portugal's west coast and the Lisbon coastline stretching northwards
as far as Obidos also boasts some fine courses and are ideal venues
for visitors flying into Lisbon for short breaks or business
conferences while the north of the country can also offer a number of
well established clubs."
"Most serious golfing enthusiasts, however, head for the Algarve where
the gentle climate makes it possible to play virtually all the year
round and where the long established tourist infrastructures provide
all the ingredients for the perfect holiday or business trip."
"Many of the courses are located on sophisticated leisure resorts with
five star facilities including de luxe hotels, luxury villas to rent,
high class restaurants, nightclubs, discos and bars and other sporting
facilities."
==
"Portugal Golf Courses." GolfEurope.com
http://www.golfeurope.com/euro_clubs/portugal-golf-courses.htm
"Portugal with its sunny climate and stunning landscapes has long been
a popular tourist destination for Europeans, especially the Algarve.
To cater for a sizeable ex-pat and tourist interest, notably from the
UK , Portugal has a fine selection of golf courses in the popular
areas."
"While golf in Portugal lags behind that of Spain, Portugal still
offers the tourist a fine selection of courses. The Algarve in the
south and the most popular tourist area, has the greatest number of
courses with more being built.
** "Notable golf clubs are Pine Cliffs, Salgados, Parque da Floresta
and Palmares." **
"Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is also well served with several
courses along the coast. Other areas of Portugal including the island
of Madiera, are well served with a small number of good quality
courses."
==
"San Lorenzo represents cream of Portugese golfing crop," by David
Brice. Golf Web. (Dec.2002)
http://www.golfweb.com/u/ce/multi/0,1977,6069191,00.html
"...Portugal has a glass slipper and in this story, the glass slipper
comes in the form of golf.
There are more than 50 golf courses located here, the majority of
excellent quality and most are conveniently concentrated in two
distinct clusters.
"The first cluster is contained within a 25-mile radius of the capital
city of Lisbon, an area commonly known as The Lisbon Coast. It
includes the resort towns of Estoril and Cascais and a good selection
of excellent layouts."
"The second cluster lies just 150 miles south of Lisbon in the
Algarve, Portugal's spectacular Southern coastline, which is popular
with Northern Europeans for winter sunshine vacations. Thanks to the
recent completion of a super highway, the drive will take but a scant
2 hours, making the possibility of a two-center golf trip and the
opportunity to experience the very best of Portugal's golf, not only
practical but enticing for even the most jaded golf traveler."
"It is the Algarve where the largest number of courses is to be found
and among them, the pride of Portuguese golf, San Lorenzo.
Unquestionably the cream of the crop, San Lorenzo, consistently ranked
among the top 5 courses in Europe, is an amazing experience and
nothing less than the showpiece of the Algarve. Back in 1986, American
designer Joseph Lee was presented with a piece of pristine Algarve
real estate, which formed a part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park and
told to design the best course in the country. Joe delivered and in
1988, San Lorenzo opened to universal acclaim."
"In 15 years, this child star has matured into an even better course
and achieved the prestige and position of one of the best in the
world."
THE ALGARVE
===========
"Portugal Golf". Golf Europe.
http://www.europegolf.com/golf-destinations/portugal-golf.htm
"For such a small country, Portugal's sheer variety of landscapes
comes as a surprise. Blessed with year-round sunshine, it is bordered
from south to north by the blue waters of the ocean, and is a true
golfers' paradise. The Algarve Coast of Portugal, like it's Spanish
neighbor the Costa del Sol, can boast of having some of the finest
championship courses in the world.
* Highlights of the Algarve include San Lorenzo, Quinta do Lago and
the three Vilamoura courses.*
=
"Portugal - The Perfect Location." Hamptons International
Publications(9/2002)
http://www.hamptons.co.uk/ (Under News & Publications, click on
"Monthly Report:)
"The Western Algarve, furthest from Faro International Airport,
remains the least developed part of the coast and the area that most
appeals to those looking for tranquillity and the chance to experience
real Portuguese life without the trappings of mass tourism. With the
completion of a new motorway from the airport right through to Lagos
next year, travelling time will be cut down to 45 minutes, making the
journey even easier."
"Hamptons could not be in a better spot on the main palm-fringed
avenida in the Moorish meets Roman town. Prospective buyers can check
out whitewashed cottages, commanding villas and contemporary resorts
for sale in cobbled winding streets and the surrounding rolling
countryside. Visitors decide they want to remain here, after
experiencing blissful days on long clean white beaches in hidden coves
encircled by rocky cliffs,
* rounds on top-notch golf courses, from the gentle Palmares to the
more challenging hillside courses of Parque da Floresta, *
and the cosmopolitan atmosphere of bars and nightclubs in centres that
come alive from dusk til dawn."
"Nick Sadler, manager of the new Portugal office, says, ‘Buyers are
keen on the Algarve because of the hot climate, relaxed lifestyle,
good communications, new marina and the fact that they get more land
for their money compared to places like Spain."’
"There is a large mix of people of all ages buying houses:
professional footballers, City businessmen, investors, the retired and
increasingly, younger couples who divide their week between sunny days
on the terrace and meetings in London."
"Despite being so near to all mod con’s, wild and still unexploited
territory runs from Lagos to Cabo de Sao Vicente, the most
south-westerly point of the European mainland. ‘Planners are cautious
here, having learnt from others’ mistakes,’ adds Sadler. ‘The whole
west coast is part of the Costa Vicentina Nature Reserve, a green zone
of great environmental importance."’
"Currently Hamptons is selling 16 high-specification villas from
£750,000 upwards next to Boavista golf course on the Funchal Ridge.
These spacious homes have large expanses of outdoor terraces and
wraparound views of the hills and sea."
"Ideal for holiday or second homes overseas, the Parque da Floresta
Resort is a great all-round destination, with spectacular golf course
and academy, tennis, archery, heated pool, children’s pool and beauty
spa. Three-bed town houses cost around £235,000 and villas with
private pools range from £395,000 to £750,000."
=
"Useful Information."
http://www.spentool.com/portugal/guide.htm#building
Includes information on buying land, building costs, taxes and
property purchasing procedures.
ESTORIL COAST
=============
"A Guide to Lisbon Coast's Best Golf Courses." Portugal Travel Team
http://www.portugal-travelteam.com/overview/lxgolf/golflx.html
=
"Estoril and Sinatra Golf Coast."
http://www.estorilsintragolf.com.pt/index_2.html
(Click on course links for full descriptions)
=
"Golf In Lisbon." GolfTravelClub.com
http://www.golftravelclub.co.uk/details.php?location1=Lisbon
"Magnificent beaches, lively ancient towns and no queues on the golf
courses: the Lisbon coast is fast becoming one of Europe’s best golf
regions. The familiar umbrella pines of the Algarve are replaced by an
altogether greener landscape leading into the hills around Sintra. The
golf courses benefit from this glorious rolling countryside: indeed
seven of the top 12 rated golf courses in Portugal are in the Lisbon
area, including the excellent Penha Longa which has played host to the
Portuguese Open. The old fishing village of Cascais, now a thriving
resort town, and the neighbouring grand resort of Estoril, offer
excellent opportunities for good food, wine and evening entertainment.
Culturally, a visit to Sintra, a World Heritage site, or a trip to the
most westerly point of Continental Europe at Cabo da Roca, makes for a
welcome break.With regular scheduled flights taking just two hours
from London into Lisbon, the Lisbon coast courses should now be top of
your list for a golfing break."
=
"Portugal Golf". Golf Europe.
http://www.europegolf.com/golf-destinations/portugal-golf.htm
"Likewise, the Estoril Coast area, just outside Lisbon, is the perfect
place to combine great golf with sightseeing in one of Europe's most
historic capitals."
** "Belas, Praia del Rey and Penha Longa, ** past site of the
Portuguese Open, are but a few of the venues that are definitely worth
testing your skills on in the Estoril area."
=
"The Region." Costa do Estoril
http://www.costa-do-estoril.pt/uk/regiao.asp
Sports (including course descriptions)
http://www.costa-do-estoril.pt/uk/desportos.asp
GOLF COURSES IN PORTUGAL
========================
"Portugal Golf Courses." GolfEurope.com
http://www.golfeurope.com/euro_clubs/portugal-golf-courses.htm
**** Includes golfer reviews ****
=
"Golf Courses of Portugal." WorldGolf.com
http://www.worldgolf.com/courses/portgcs.html#sanlourenco
ONLINE PROPERTY LISTINGS
=========================
Portugal - Golf Properties (From Gatehouse International Property
Consultants)
http://www.portugalprop.com/The_Resorts.asp
Portugal Real Estate
http://www.expatlink.com/html/real_estate_portugal.html
*******
FRANCE
*******
MAP OF FRANCE
=============
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/europe/france/france.htm
France is a bit different from Spain and Portugal, as no one area
seems to jump out. Many of the golf courses are old and established,
with hotel accomodations rather than private villas. Therefore,
purchasing a second home near a golf course would, in the majority of
areas, involve buying in the nearby town as opposed to within a "golf
resort/development."
GOLF OVERVIEW
==============
Excerpts from Golfissimo - France
http://www.golfissimo.com/ (From home page, click on Search link. On
next page, click on France on the right-hand column)
"A leading tourist destination for years, France is now also seriously
considered as a golfing destination. The country boasts an astonishing
golf offer and with over 500 golf courses, France is the major golf
country in Continental Europe, although Sweden or Germany might have
more golfers."
"The major golf destinations in France are Provence and the
Mediterranean coast, blessed with a mild climate all year, the
southern Atlantic coast between Biarritz and Bordeaux, also with a
mild although more humid climate, and the northern Atlantic coast
between Brittany, Normandy and the English Channel, most popular with
British golfers. But to these traditional destinations, serious
golfers should consider the region around Paris or Lyon and the Alps,
both endowed with a wide array of fantastic golf courses."
"Off the beaten track golf destinations include the Corsica island in
the Mediterranean, the Alsace on the banks of the Rhine river
bordering Germany and the Loire Valley for some first class courses
and "chateau accommodation". Gourmet golfers can combine their
favourite game with wine tasting at Bordeaux, Cognac, Beaujolais,
Bourgogne and Champagne golf clubs, all named after the famous
vineyards surrounding them."
"France boast no less than thirteen golf courses ranked amongst the
Top 100 in continental Europe, half of them around Paris and three on
the Channel coast."
(Read more...)
BUYING PROPERTY IN FRANCE
=========================
"Buying Real Estate in France." Overseas Property Online.
http://www.reeu.com/english/france.html
GOLF CLUBS IN FRANCE
====================
From the Golfissimo website:
http://www.golfissimo.com/
(From the home page, click on the Search link. On the next page, click
on France on the right-hand list. From there, click on Regions (to
search clubs by region) or Golf Clubs for individual names.
"France Golf Courses." GolfEurope.com
http://www.golfeurope.com/euro_clubs/france-golf-courses.htm
**** Includes golfer reviews ****
ONLINE PROPERTY LISTINGS (only two golf "developments" surfaced)
========================
'Royal Park', Golf de Pont Royal en Provence
http://www.pdfparis.com/properties/property_detail/cid/33/pid/1212/tid/1
'Residence Riviera Golf'
http://www.pdfparis.com/properties/property_detail/cid/33/pid/1187/tid/1
*******************
INTERNATIONAL REALTORS
======================
International Real Estate Directory
http://www.internationalrealestatedirectory.com/
Hamptons International
http://www.hamptons.co.uk/
"Our award-winning website is the perfect way to start searching for
your new home and to find out about our other property services, as
well as accessing local area information, market trends, monthly
market reports, a mortgage calculator, helpful property guides, and
much more."
Overseas Property Online
http://www.reeu.com/
***************
PUBLICATIONS
============
Hamptons International provides some good resources offering market
research and advice. From their homepage at
http://www.hamptons.co.uk/, click on the Publications link on the left
side.
Market Comments
---------------
(An example follows from Spring 2003 "Costa del Sol Market Comment"):
"Nueva Andalucia is commonly referred to as the ‘Golf Valley’ due to
the five golf courses situated within it. Nueva Andalucia is bordered
by the world famous marina of Puerto Banus to the south, the motorway
to the north, the town of San Pedro to the west and the Rio Verde
River to the east. The area as a whole represents one of the most
mature residential markets on the Costa del Sol, with excellent
shopping and entertainment facilities all year round. Two years ago,
Hamptons Fielding International undertook extensive residential
property research on both the resale and new development markets in
Nueva Andalucia. We have now updated this research in order to
ascertain what has actually happened over the past two years."
The Resale Market
"Our research into the resale market shows the correlation between the
average built size and price of the different types of residential
property available in Nueva Andalucia (apartments, townhouses and
villas) as at January 2003. The average price of residential resale
property in the valley now equates to 2,516 per m². The large
variation in price ranges for particular properties can be attributed
to different locations within the valley, the age of the properties,
and the built size of the particular property. For example, some
2-bedroom apartments may only be 70m², whilst others built more
recently can be as large as 220m². Since 2001, resale prices have
increased on average by 32%, or 16% per annum, with the greatest
increase - in price and demand - for townhouses."
New Developments
"Two years ago there were some 28 new developments under construction
or nearing completion in Nueva Andalucia. There are now only 17 new
apartment, and 2 new townhouse developments nearing completion or
under construction. This fall in supply is due to the fact that there
remain very few areas of land within the valley upon which new
developments can be built. This key fact will benefit investors
looking for capital growth within the area.The new developments
represent a total supply of 2,075 units, of which 974 have already
been sold or reserved. We would expect the remaining units to be taken
up over a 2 to 3 year period. Overall, prices on new developments have
increased by 40% over the past 2-years, or 20% per annum. One reason
for this (other than continuing demand) is that developers tend to
offer 20% discounts to purchasers buying off plan, against the present
day values of the properties if they were actually built."
Rentals and Investment
"The rental market has 2 distinct market places: the short-term
holiday rental and the long-term rental. The former can produce higher
returns for the investor but carries more risk and is management
intensive. The latter is more risk adverse and the demand for
long-term rentals has increased year on year. More people are looking
to rent before they buy and demand for high quality villas to rent
outstrips supply, particularly in Nueva Andalucia. However, an
investor should take highly professional advice before buying for
investment in order to make the right purchase. For example, it should
be noted that there is currently a large oversupply of 2-bedroom
apartments to rent. In addition, the law has always favoured the
tenant in Spain, and the investor/landlord should make sure that his
or her agent is providing the correct legal and tax advice."
Summary and Outlook
"The past year has seen a steady demand for property in Nueva
Andalucia, with the majority of buyers still originating from the UK,
followed by other Northern European countries such as Ireland,
Holland, Norway and Sweden. We expect demand to continue on a more
even basis this year, due to current uncertainties in the world
markets. There remains a large amount of stock on the market and this,
combined with the above, will slow price inflation. We would expect to
see price rises of no more than 8-10% in the resale market and 10-14%
in the new homes market. The investment market will continue to
strengthen as investors turn to property as a hedge against the
world’s falling stock markets."
=============
International Resorts Guide - Spring-Summer 2003
http://www.hamptons.co.uk/int_index.asp
"The International Resorts Guide is the 'shop window' of our rapidly
expanding network of offices in many of the world's premier resort
locations, including the Cote d'Azur, Marbella and the Costa Del Sol,
The Algarve and Barbados. The magazine includes literally hundreds of
new and re-sale properties for sale and rent, together with market
research and advice."
POSTING ON A GOLF CHAT FORUM
============================
For some feedback concerning opinions about investments in European
golf communities, you might try posting on a chat forum.
The "Europe Golf" forum at GolfBoards.com has sporadic activity.
However, certain topics tend to invite a lot of responses (for
example, "Courses in Ireland")
http://www.golfboards.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID42
All the chat boards may be found at the following link:
http://www.golfboards.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi
==========
I have given you an enormous amount of information to digest, I know!
Once again, I am sorry to have provided what may actually be "too
much" information. However, with the broadness of your question, I
could see no other way. If any of the information is unclear, please
let me know and I will try to help as best I can.
Good luck in your search!
umiat-ga
Search Strategy
===============
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