The green, green grass of golf

When you live putting distance from a golf course, you are assured of verdant vistas as well as a game; Mary Wilson reports

There are several advantages to buying a new home alongside a golf course. Firstly, if you are a passionate golfer, just being able to nip round to the club for a round of golf must be a great plus, although this might mean your spouse becoming even more of a golf widow (or widower) than before. And at some developments, a deal is done with the golf club so that new purchasers are given anything from free membership for life to a discount on green fees. Secondly, whether you are into golf or not, owning a home right alongside a golf course means a green view, and a guarantee that no houses will be built on the fairways to ruin it.

The most generous deal on the market at the moment is in Southern Ireland. Here, the developers of Churchtown Park in Beaufort, near Killarney, Co. Kerry, have struck a wonderful deal with the adjacent Beaufort Golf Club, a good mid-ranking course. Here, the purchaser of each house is given a two-person ten-year membership of the club. Also, all members of golf clubs in Co. Kerry receive a Kerry Card, which enables them to play all the other courses in Kerry at half price.

There will be 12 detached houses, all with stunning views of the Macgillycuddy Reeks and the Gap of Dunloe. The club is just across the road and is in one of the most picturesque areas of southern Ireland. Each house will have four en-suite bedrooms a drawing room, dining room and study and double garage and are priced at €395,000 (approx £270,000).

For anyone thinking about buying a home here as a weekend getaway, there are direct flights from London to Kerry Airport. "We have sold one house to a producer of a sports programme, who is based at Heathrow. At the moment, he commutes from Hertfordshire and his journey can take up to two hours. From Kerry, it will only take 45 minutes, so he is moving his wife and family over there" says James Grillo of agent Lane Fox (020-7499 4785). "He is a golf nut and particularly liked the development because as well as the peace and quiet, it is adjacent to the golf course. He also is looking forward to being able to play on some of the more famous courses in Kerry."

Not far from Glasgow, a development of very ritzy four- and five-bedroom detached homes alongside the Bothwell Castle Golf Course is planned. Karen Mackenzie of Knight Frank (0141-221 9191), says that at around £1m per house, she expects them to sell to the likes of top footballers. Every owner will receive a year's free membership to the golf course and the development builders, Southplace, are rebuilding the golf club, too.

Alister and Isabel Morrison have moved just two miles to a new home at Bro Radyr, a development by Redrow Homes in Cardiff. The couple are mad keen golfers and they have bought a house at the development because it backs onto Radyr Golf Club: "From our new home, we can see the golf club and the first tee" says Alister. They have bought a five-bedroom detached house and are looking forward to a few rounds of golf, without having the hassle of having to heave their clubs into the car every time they fancy playing. The remaining properties are priced at £480,000 for a four-bedroom house and £499,950 for a five-bedder. (Regional sales office, 02920 549 103).

Delves Keep is a development by Countryside Property of 100 houses built around a new golf course at Wychwood Park in Cheshire. The course, which has been designed to European PGA standards, was opened last year and the first phase of these large four-bedroom detached houses are located between the 10th, 11th, 12th and 18th holes. Prices range from £500,000 to £750,000 (Jackson-Stops & Staff, 01625 540340).

At Billingham in Teesside, there is a development of detached houses by Charles Church on the edge of Wynyard Park golf course. A second phase of 24 four- and five-bedroom houses will be launched at Easter. Some of these new homes will overlook the 14th and 15th fairways of the Wellington Course, and prices start at £254,995 (local sales office, 01740 744793).

For anyone after a magnificent, individually designed detached home alongside Leatherhead Golf Club in Surrey, Grenville Homes has built a fine five-bedroom house in Pachesham Park. There are no discounts on offer here, but the house has glorious views over the 17th fairway. With four reception rooms, a games room, exercise room and triple garage, it is on the market through Hamptons (01372 360078) for £2.25m.

And in the grounds of the exclusive Hanbury Manor Golf & Country Club near Ware, Hertfordshire, Mullucks Wells (01279 755400) is selling an attractive Dutch gabled house built at the end of the 1990s. The house borders the golf course and owners can also use the health and beauty facilities of Hanbury Manor, although no discounts are offered. With four bedrooms, two reception rooms, conservatory and double garage, it is on the market for offers in the region of £995,000.