Spain top for golfing destinations, where properties hold their value

The Avios Airmiles Value Tracker poll put the province of Alicante third and, although the Region of Murcia does not get a mention, it has long been considered one of Spain's best locations for a round of golf.

Likewise, the province of Valencia is hugely popular with those who enjoy practising their swing: Oliva Nova, a resort on the southern border, is a venue for international tournaments and local amateurs alike thanks to its course designed by the late golfing legend Severiano Ballesteros – and the complex has the added bonus of hosting global-level showjumping and dressage events throughout the spring and autumn, bringing in Olympic and Nations' Cup riders from every continent.

Gibraltar, the Algarve and Lisbon came second, fourth and sixth respectively.

In fact, properties near golf courses hold their value – and increase in price, having continued to climb even during the housing market crash – second only to those right on the seafront in popular beach resort towns.

Investing in a property next to a golf course means lucrative holiday guests as well as a perfect location for practising – figures from over 3,000 estate agencies specialising in homes in Spain show that when fans of the sport choose a quality destination for their getaways, they tend to be prepared to push the boat out.

They are often tourists with a high level of spending power, or at least those who save up all year to ensure they do not have to scrimp during their holiday – restaurants, spas and shops in golf resorts all report buoyant takings from golfing visitors.

Curiously, many property owners in and visitors to golfing resorts do not actually play the sport – they are merely attracted to the luxury these areas offer, the huge expanse of green surrounding them which makes them attractive and calm places to live or travel to, and the superior facilities and infrastructure found in golfing resorts because of their being very geared up to tourists from all over the world.

Golf resorts are ideal retirement locations because all necessary facilities are already on site and close at hand.

And in Spain, there is no shortage of properties near golf courses to choose from – ranging from luxury villas to small apartments, and many near the coast allowing residents and visitors to enjoy the best of both worlds, once you have decided to buy a home near a green the only problem you'll face is trying to decide from the massive selection of perfect abodes on sale.