ASK any successful businessman to describe his dream of the future and you’ll almost certainly get the reply: “I’d like to retire to the sun and play golf every day.”

Golf is enjoying the biggest burst of enthusiasm the sport has ever known and the game is now played on about 32,000 courses in 184 countries from North Korea to Christmas Island. This remarkable global popularity has created a property boom all its own - golf developments

Tourist bosses and developers alike in Spain and Portugal were quick to spot the possibilities. Consequently, tourism and golf in these two countries have developed in parallel. Elsewhere, greenside properties are proving vital to the overseas holiday market. The Dallas-based Golf Research Group, a sports business consultancy, estimates that 60 per cent of all golf courses have villas, houses or apartments within their boundaries.

In promoting golf course resorts, developers are simply following the money. As one golf real estate expert said: “The spending power of golfers is far higher than that of non-golfers, so developers want a share.”

About 30 golf developments have been built in the Algarve in southern Portugal since 1965 and Jeff Hart, a British estate agent involved in this market, says: “We sell a lifestyle. For Brits on the Algarve, it’s golf in the morning, tea in the afternoon, G&Ts in the evening - and a villa in retirement.”

Countries traditionally popular with golfers include Italy and France. The development at the Arnold Palmer course at Ca’ Della Nave, near Venice, was a sell-out and the Swiss developer Dr Amann & Co, opened the Cote d’Azur’s first five-star golf resort, Le Roc, between Cannes and St Tropez, featuring a five-star hotel, spa centre and restaurants, with properties now nudging up towards the £2million mark.

America has almost 60 per cent of the world’s courses with Florida the most popular buying location. Grand Haven Golf Community on the Palm Coast is typical. It has three Jack Nicklaus 18-hole courses, Olympic-size swimming pools, 12 tennis courts and a vast clubhouse. Villas start at about £250,000.

In South Africa, there are now 16 18-hole courses around Cape Town, with another 30 golfing venues elsewhere in the province making it the country’s main golf region.

Pezula Private Estate deservedly won Best South African Development in last year’s CNBC International Property Awards in London. It is a 255-home luxury layout built around an 18-hole course overlooking the Indian Ocean on the southern Cape - and even has the added plus of new habitats for local wildlife.