Would You Buy A House On A Golf Course?

Golf properties represent an exciting new trend in the world of second homes, says Anna Tyzack.

The Latest Property Trend: Second Homes On Golf Courses

When Jon Harvelle bought a golf property in the south of France in the nineties, his teenage children were not impressed. The four-bedroom house was good for one thing – golf – which wasn’t of interest to anyone in the family except Jon. ‘The only way of walking to the local village was across the golf course, which got us in trouble with the golfers,’ his eldest daughter, Jessica, recalls. ‘If we walked back late at night, we’d get soaked by sprinklers.’

Fast-forward 25 years and Jessica is married to an amateur golfer and has two children – her eight-year-old son is serious about golf. Much to the amusement of her father, her family is looking to buy a golf property, ideally in Scotland, where Luke’s family is from. ‘It’s a completely different proposition these days – with the kind of golf property we’re looking at there’s plenty for my daughter and me to do, too,’ Jessica says.

Ben Wescoe of Cabot, which owns exclusive golf destinations in Canada, the Caribbean, Florida and Europe, agrees that golf property ownership has changed dramatically, and so too have buyers. They’re younger these days, with young families. They want to be active during their holidays, while also unwinding and playing some golf. In response, golf communities have widened their appeal to include state-of-the-art sport facilities. At Gleneagles, the historic Perthshire hotel, with three golf courses and a small selection of residences, the Sporting Club offers tennis, padel, bouldering and a kids club, plus salmon fishing, riding and shooting. At Quinta do Lago in Portugal, the Campus is a professional-standard sporting facility with gym, pool, padel, tennis, football and kids’ camps.

Cabot Revelstoke, British Columbia

‘Golf has become the backdrop for a new style of second-home ownership,’ Ben says. ‘At our properties, buyers enjoy the stunning scenery and wide-open spaces of a world-class golf course, as well as numerous other relaxing activities.’ In line with the ideology of these younger buyers, golf developments increasingly prioritise sustainability and nature, he adds, promoting biodiversity and energy efficiency at both golf courses and second homes.

In Scotland, Jessica and Luke began their search in St Andrew’s, as Luke was keen to buy on a links course, but they soon decided they’d rather be on a purpose-built golf development surrounded by countryside. ‘I don’t want to be in a town,’ Jessica says. ‘I want entertainment for the children and maybe a spa, and a management team to look after the place when we’re not there.’

Jessica and Luke are not the only ones to have come to this conclusion. Buyers are prepared to pay 19 percent more to live within a golf destination according to the European Tour Destinations study; they like the way resorts will manage their homes when they’re not using them and even rent them out. At Gleneagles, Glenmor Lodges, with up to four bedrooms, are set on a private village green 10 minutes’ walk from the hotel’s golf courses and facilities, including nine restaurants and bars. Edinburgh and Glasgow are an hour’s drive away. The properties are designed for the outdoor lifestyle, with a drying cabinet, two mountain bikes, and complimentary golf for one person on all three courses. They’re available to purchase on a fractional ownership basis from £10,000 for an annual week.

Exciting real estate opportunities will soon be coming to Cabot Highlands, near Inverness, home to the renowned Castle Stuart Golf Links, which has a Tom Doak-designed second 18-hole course, Old Petty, opening next year. The resort will include a collection of residential properties with wonderful views overlooking both fairways and the Moray Firth, as well as a range of amenities.

Luštica Bay, Montenegro

Demand for high-quality overseas golf properties is flourishing, according to research by Savills. Post-pandemic, buyers are prioritising quality of life, with keen golfers opting to work from home during winter months at a second property in Portugal, Spain or the Caribbean. As such, the prices of properties at Quinta do Lago have increased by 30 percent in the past year, says Savills, while in Spain homes at La Zagaleta, a 900-hectare golf community on a former hunting estate near Marbella, are now the most expensive in the country.

The uplift on properties at these established golf communities is prompting the next generation of buyers to look to the destinations of the future. In St Lucia, the customisable residences at Cabot St Lucia, a Coore & Crenshaw-designed 18-hole course on a dramatic 375-acre peninsula, are attracting interest from British buyers who want world-class golf and winter sun with a laidback Caribbean vibe. Meanwhile, there’s increasing demand from Brits for homes at Greece’s first major golf community, Costa Navarino on the western Peloponnese, where there are four new golf courses surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, plus a tennis centre, padel courts, pools, shops, restaurants and an enormous kids’ club. The residences, which cost from €1.5 million, are future-proofed against the changing climate (positioned on the hillside, for example, out of the hot sun) and many have direct beach or golf access. Owners can also select to have their own private vegetable garden at their house.

British buyers are also circling properties at Montenegro’s first golf course at Luštica Bay, an expanding traditional Montenegrin village with a new marina and five beaches, 20 minutes from Tivat airport. The Gary Player-designed course is in an area known as the Peaks and, when complete in 2028, will have views of the Adriatic from every hole. Prices for apartments in the Peaks’ first neighbourhood, Botanika, start at €740,000 and there are also townhouses and villas.

Jessica and Luke can see the appeal of an overseas golf property, particularly in the winter. However, they’re determined to stick with Scotland as they want their second home to be accessible for weekends and half-terms without needing to fly. ‘I never thought I’d hear myself saying this but there’s something comforting about buying in a golf development,’ Jessica says. ‘The place always looks immaculate, there’s always somewhere to have a good coffee and there are always friendly faces around. This is definitely not the norm for second-home ownership.’

Three Golf Homes On The Market Now

Costa Navarino, Messenia, Greece

Olive Grove villas at Costa Navarino are perched among olive groves in a quiet neighbourhood overlooking the Dunes golf course and the sea, while also being close to the beach and sports facilities. They’re designed by architects K-Studio and have seamlessly integrated indoor/ outdoor living spaces, five bedrooms and private pools. From £4.3 million, costanavarino.com

Luštica Bay, Montenegro

New-build apartments, villas and townhouses in the Peaks development blend Mediterranean style with modern amenities such as golf storage and pools. Enjoy Adriatic views and easy access to the Gary Player Signature Design golf course. They feature open-plan living spaces and maximise indoor-outdoor living with terraces with lounge seating and dining areas. From €740,000, lusticabay.com

Cabot Citrus Farms, Brooksville, Florida

The first phase of golf cottages at Cabot Citrus Farms sold out but a second phase of two- and four-bedroom cottages is now available. They’re set within 1,200 acres of rolling hills, previously known as World Woods Golf Club and have access to two revitalised 18-hole golf courses, one 9-hole course, an 11-hole par-3 course plus a new clubhouse and sporting club. From $1.8 million, cabotcitrusfarms.com