Try Greece if you are looking for a combination of golf and real estate..

In Greece, new golf courses are being built or have recently opened, while existing courses have undergone renovations. And according to Michael Valdes, president of real estate firm eXp Global, the sport is driving growth in the real estate market, which is attracting buyers from the UK, US, Scandinavia, Germany and France. "Golf is a new discovery in Greece and an additional reason to buy property in a country that already has a lot to offer," Mr. Valdes said. "Ten years ago, people were aiming for the Algarve in Portugal or southern Spain when they wanted to buy a golf home combined with other leisure activities. Now they are turning to Greece."

According to Katerina Katopis-Likiardopoulo, an Athens-based hotel and real estate consultant, Greece's affordability compared to other European destinations for secondary housing is helping the market develop. "Your money will go much further here than in many other countries," she said.

Greece's high quality of life is also attracting secondary home buyers, according to New York-based Greek chef Maria Loi, who is filming a series for PBS in Greece called "Loi's Life: Secrets of the Mediterranean." "The weather here is mostly sunny year-round, the food - vegetables, meat and seafood - is fresh and healthy," Ms. Loi said. "Plus, the locals can be friendlier and the infrastructure is strong with good roads and hospitals."

According to sothebysrealty.com, searches for Greece and the golf lifestyle rose 205 percent from January through July this year compared to the same period in 2021. In addition, Savvas Savvaidis, president and CEO of Greece Sotheby's International Realty, said the company sold $50 million worth of properties in Greece in 2022 in areas or complexes where golf is a major interest, up from $10 million in 2017.

Most of the golf house market in Greece is concentrated in the Peloponnese, but Glyfada, a suburb of Athens, and the island of Crete are also on the list.

Peloponnese

The Peloponnese is located in southern Greece and covers an area of more than 8,200 square miles. "It is an incredibly beautiful area and definitely the heart of golf and golf homes in Greece," said Ms. Katopis-Likiardopoulo.

Costa Navarino, in the southwestern Peloponnese in the Messenia region and about a three-hour drive southwest of Athens, is a nearly 2,500-acre dedicated golf complex with four 18-hole courses. The Dunes course, with mountain views and high sand dunes designed by German professional golfer Bernhard Langer, opened in 2010 along with the first phase of the resort. The Bay course, designed by Robert Trent Jones II and featuring unobstructed sea views, opened the following year.

Two more courses, designed by Spanish professional golfer Jose Maria Olazabal, opened in February and have views of the Ionian Sea and Navarino Bay. Nuno Sepulveda, general manager of Costa Navarino Golf, said that while the courses are private, no membership is required to play; the cost is about $240 per round. "Everyone is welcome," he said.

Costa Navarino also has three hotels: the Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort; the Westin Resort Costa Navarino; and the W Costa Navarino.

Eugene Dendrinos, the resort's director of real estate, said the development offers residential units that are branded (linked to the hotel brand) and unbranded. Currently, eight apartments and ten villas are ready, with a further 43 villas due to be ready by early next year.

The apartments are part of the Residences at the Westin Resort Costa Navarino and average 1,200 square feet. They have sea views and a modern design inspired by local architecture with elements such as stone walls and arches; prices start at $700,000 for a two-bedroom unit.

Villas range from 2,500 to 12,000 square feet and feature three to seven bedrooms, private pools and large patios. Eco-friendly features include green roofs that naturally cool homes and minimize the use of air conditioning, recycled and local building materials, solar water heaters, recycled water and ample natural light to reduce reliance on artificial lighting. Prices start at $1.3 million.

Property owners in Costa Navarino have access to amenities such as several restaurants, a spa, two gyms, concierge services, a tennis center with 16 courts, a kids club and a water sports center.

Glyphada

Glyfada is a 20-minute drive south of central Athens, it is a suburb that is part of the Athens Riviera because of its location along the Mediterranean coast. Elegant and spacious, it has luxury stores, picturesque beachside restaurants and cafes and stylish bars.

Glyfada is also home to the oldest golf course in the country, open since 1962 and part of the Glyfada Golf Club of Athens. Overlooking Mount Imittos, it is a forest-like area with an abundance of pine and olive trees and was renovated last year.

Glyfada offers apartments in luxury complexes, some of which have swimming pools and gardens. There are also private homes in the suburb, but Mr. Spiliotopoulos said many have been demolished over the past decade to make way for new apartments, which are mostly four-story buildings. He said apartment prices start at $557 per square foot and go up to $836 per square foot for sea-view apartments on the top floors with private pools.

In addition to golf, Glyfada offers many activities for property owners, with beach vacations being a priority. Mr. Spiliotopoulos said that the beach season runs from April to November. Outside of these months, property owners can enjoy the culture in Athens by visiting places such as the National Archaeological Museum, the new Goulandry Museum of Modern Art and the renovated National Gallery of Athens.

Crete

Crete, the largest of the Greek islands, is located south of the mainland and is easily accessible thanks to two airports that serve flights between Athens and cities throughout Europe.

Crete's premier golf course is located at Crete Golf Club, a private club near the capital Heraklion. Open since 2003 and designed by golf architect Bob Hunt, it was built on a hilly piece of land and has views of the nearby mountain range and the Aegean Sea.

The club's owner, Eftychios Vassilakis, said the course was completely renovated in 2018 with new landscaping, trees and water features, and that most members are vacationers or secondary homeowners who own property in the area.

Savvas Savvaidis, a representative of Greece Sotheby's International Realty, said there is a rapidly developing real estate market near the club. “People, mostly Europeans, have always bought property in Crete because of the scenery and beaches, but golf is mesmerizing new buyers,” he said.