Houses with golf on tap have still got that swing
GOLFERS know there is nothing better than waking up and strolling straight out onto the first tee. Developers know this too, of course, and for years, they have built properties all over the world where you can roll out of bed and start swinging straight away.
Traditionally, the guaranteed sunshine of Portugal and Florida have made them hot-spots for this sort of property, and for many they still are. But if golf is a requirement in your property search, you needn’t be constrained to those two countries. Where there are golf courses, then desirable homes are not far away.
For example, those who want to walk in the footsteps of Tiger Woods could be interested in a property currently on the books of Savills’ Chester office, a £2.25m house with rare right of way on to the Open Championship course of Royal Liverpool, better known as Hoylake.
Those who want to stay just a drive, chip, and a putt away from London, the same estate agent has flats in restored Grade II-listed coach houses overlooking Sundridge Park golf course in Kent, on the market for between £550 and £650,000. They’re just 10 miles from town, making a game before work an option for early birds.
VARIETY CLUB
Some golfers don’t want to be tied to the same course all the time, though. For such people, golf course developer Oceanico has recently introduced a rather nifty fractional offering, called the Oceanico Prestige Residence Club.
The way it works is that you buy a share of a residence at your “home club”, and as well as getting to stay there, you get membership at seven courses around the world, all with top-notch designers such as Nick Faldo, Arnold Palmer or Seve Ballesteros. Pay a bit more, and you can go and stay in the residences at those, too.
Among the most attractive properties are those at Waterford Castle in Ireland (which is on its own private island, no less), the Little River Golf Resort in North Carolina, where they have a Dan Maples-designed course, another in Ontario, Canada and three in the Algarve – just for those who can’t stay away from Portugal.
THE COACH HOUSES
Price: £550,000-£650,000
Close to London in Bromley and set in six acres of grounds, these Grade II-listed coach houses overlook Sundridge Park golf course
Contact: Savills on 0208 313 7468
HILSTONE GRANGE
Price: £2.25m
Period home which backs on to Hoylake and has a right of way right across the course.
Contact: Savills Chester office, tel: 01244 323232
WATERFORD CASTLE & GOLF RESORT
Price: Starts at €150,000 for a three-bedroom townhouse.
On an island, with an 18-hole course nearby.
Contact: Oceanico Prestige Residence Club on 0871 990 3388