GOLF THE NEW MONEY MAKER FOR INVESTMENT AND PROPERTY RENTALS

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The Turkish Golf Federation has plans to add 100 new golf courses to Turkey's current scanty tally of less than 20. It is set to boost golf tourism in the country and increase property values near courses.

Golf tourism is already experiencing strong growth in Turkey and revenues should hit €500 million by 2012. Turkey intends to take golf giant Spain on head-to-head with the Aegean province of Mugla as its secret weapon.

There were 359 federated golf courses in Spain at last count, around 60 of these concentrated along the Costa del Sol generating Málaga province alone €920 million in 2008.

With the number of golf courses rising exponentially Turkey will become on a par with the Costa del Sol as a serious destination for UK and Ireland-based golfers who will pay considerably less than the average £65 for a round on the Costas'.

The Mulga area is a 'classic lifestyle investor's destination' where personal use is the key driver but with the added bonus of rentals and increased property values. 'Those who get in early in prime projects will enjoy significant price rises over the next five to ten years. We're already experiencing capital appreciation around 2% per annum even during the recent Global property recession, largely thanks to recent infrastructural improvements.

Until now Turkey's golf has been concentrated in two regions – Istanbul, which has three and Mediterranean Belek with around a dozen. Experts say the southwestern province of Mugla is one to watch. It is a holiday hotspot taking around 70% of all tourist arrivals, has over 1,100km of coastline punctuated with chic marinas but until now very little golf.

At present The New Dalaman Hilton and Spa Resort will boast a brand new 18 Hole golf course set for completion in 2010. And thanks to a joint venture between two large groups of companies, no less than 18 courses are now their way to help make turkey a leading golf destination.