British buyers may be seeking out golfing hotspots around the world, but there are still two favourites closer to home which regularly top the list – Spain and Portugal.

But lately, Spain hasn't had the best media coverage. Reports of corruption leading to illegal building have made buyers nervous. If that wasn't enough, the oversupply of new build, especially on the Costa del Sol, and the general downturn in the Spanish market have made buyers wonder whether investing here is sensible, yet reports vary wildly. Spanish Property Insight, a website devoted to the vagaries of the Spanish market, recently published a report by Caixa Catalunya, one of Spain's leading banks, forecasting that average Spanish property prices will fall by 2.2 per cent in 2008. Mark Stucklin, who runs the site, believes this figure is too conservative: "We know that the market is plunging, with developers' sales down 70 per cent plus, overall transactions down by close to 50 per cent in key regions such as Catalonia, and yet the best the suits can come up with is a fall of 2.2 per cent."

Reports of the downturn fluctuate, yet some regions seem more unaffected. According to the report, Murcia was one of the least affected regions but Bridget Rosser of the Almanzora Group who sells here admits that the current situation is "difficult": "Anyone who says otherwise is kidding themselves. But hopefully the political situation is changing, there will be a clean- up and the country will regain its popularity." Rosser argues that, for many Brits, no other country offers an equivalent lifestyle: "Spain has the best infrastructure of anywhere in Europe and it's only two and a half hours from the UK."

And the Almanzora region is certainly accessible to the UK, with a choice of three international airports. Current journey time from Almeria international airport is around 50 minutes by road. Murcia airport is around 75 minutes by car on the recently opened new toll motorway direct to the Almanzora Valley and Alicante airport is under two hours. Here the Almanzora Group is marketing their Desert Springs Golf and Leisure Resort. Formerly farmland planted with melons and tomatoes, the site occupies more than 300 hectares (740 acres) on an elevated plateau near the town of Cuevas del Almanzora. Completed in 2001, the 72-par, 18-hole USGA Indiana golf course, inspired by the desert courses of Arizona and California, was designed by former Great Britain and Ireland Golf team captain Peter McEvoy.

Desert Springs has everything for the golf-obsessed. It regularly hosts tournaments and golf club joining fees for non-resident membership are waived for owners. There is also a golf academy and Caddy Master's Pavilion offering US-style "bag drop" facilities. A second 18-hole course is planned, construction is hoped to start when the initial course reaches 50 per cent capacity, but there are also many amenities for non- golfers, including a hotel, restaurants, spa and many children's activities. Ultimately, Desert Springs will contain over 2,000 apartments, townhouses and villas. So far, over 300 have sold and 70 per cent of buyers are British. Prices start from €150,000 (£125,000) for a two-bedroom apartment.

With six full golf courses in the Almeria region and a further six at planning stages, the area is fast gaining a reputation among golf lovers seeking variety. Knight Frank are selling Las Colinas de Campoamor Golf Resort, which lies in the Dehesa de Campoamor, between Alicante and Murcia. This mixed-use scheme contains a mix of two- and three-bedroom apartments, penthouses and villas. Facilities include an 18-hole championship golf course, five-star hotel, beach club, tennis and sports centre. Two-bedroom apartments start from €218,000 (£181,600).

But for some buyers, only the Costa del Sol will do. With its great climate and unbeatable number of golf courses, entry level is still affordable but, despite the downturn, prices still soar into the multi-millions. Chesterton International are about to start selling Residencial Las Mimosas, in the pleasant coastal town of Estepona, where restaurants and bars line its promenade. This new golfing development has 119 units, with a first phase containing 29, one- and two-bedroom apartments, which will cost from €176,229 (£146,666). At the other end of the scale, Aylesford International are selling a nine-bedroomed modern villa on La Zagaleta, an exclusive country estate in Marbella, which has an 18-hole golf course with a second under construction. This hilltop estate is on the market for €11.5m (£9.8m).

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