Patiently waiting for the others in my group to collect their luggage from the baggage carousel at Alicante airport, one thing is increasingly obvious. Golf is big in this part of the world. Very big.

Dozens of passengers were battling through the crowds with their golf travel bags – men with their clubs slung over their shoulder and women pushing theirs on a trolley. All desperately trying to escape the arrivals hall, sunglasses on top of their head in preparation for the awaiting sunshine.

Now don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t surprised at all by this. The Murcia region is a golfer’s paradise but this is the scene almost every day of the year – British golfers escaping from work for a few days to play on some of Spain’s finest courses

Polaris World is the undisputed No.1 in luxury Spanish property offering a range of apartments, town houses and individual homes on four developments in Murcia.

Each resort has bars, restaurants and an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed course. All Polaris World golf resorts are situated in Murcia, a province in the south east of Spain, basking in more than 300 days of sunshine a year.

Forget anything that is etched into your mind about Spanish developers. Forget about low quality construction and unfinished developments.

Polaris World is different – totally different – and supported by names that are world famous for quality and integrity. Jack Nicklaus, InterContinental Hotels, ESPA and the companies of internationally famous architectural designers.

Polaris World was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the Spanish property boom but like the rest, suffered in the depression.

However, unlike most of its rivals, Polaris World is still operating and building new properties.

Jose Luis Hernandez, CEO, said: “Like everyone else, we had a hard time in 2008 until maybe six months ago when we began to see a small upturn.

“It has been difficult to survive and I look around at the companies we used to compete with and they have all either gone or are what you might call asleep.”

La Torre Golf Resort is arguably the most complete resort in southern Spain.

The magnificent five-star 200-room InterContinental hotel is set around a spectacular lake. For entertainment, you can choose from a spike bar, an Irish Tavern, the residents’ clubhouse and sophisticated restaurants offering everything from up-market Italian to speciality pizzas.

Bamboo is a fabulous cocktail bar overlooking the water to rival the most upmarket sun-kissed Ibiza offering – a wonderful way to relax, have a snack, read or watch the sun go down.

The InterContinental has a covered pool and 14 treatment and relaxation rooms in the spa facility. Having opened in late 2008, it is the finest hotel in the region.

Located only a few kilometres from the best beaches of the Mar Menor, La Torre bustles with life and activity.

It is easy to get carried away with superlatives when describing resorts like Polaris World.

Luxury is, without doubt, par for the course.

Let’s keep it nice and simple when summing up this undoubted jewel in the crown of southern Spain golf resorts.

Spectacular.

Yes, that will do nicely.

When the Polaris World project was started in 2002 there was only one choice for the overall responsibility of delivering some of Europe’s finest courses – Nicklaus Design. With a dream to create the most spectacular collection of courses possible, it was always clear that the handprints of Nicklaus Design, and, in particular, Jack Nicklaus himself, would be an integral part of the Polaris World experience.

Polaris World CEO José Luis Hernandez said: “The name Nicklaus has long been associated with greatness on the golf course. The 20 major championships, the sheer will to win. Jack’s achievements are legendary.

“However, the name Nicklaus transcends his dominance as a player and extends far beyond Jack alone. Today, Nicklaus also stands for outstanding course design, a result of Jack’s more than three decades as a renowned golf course designer and his sons’ and son-in-law’s burgeoning reputations as designers themselves. We believe that Nicklaus Design has elevated the standards of golf course design worldwide.”

“Nicklaus Design has now created close to 300 spectacular courses worldwide. Each design is unique but they all share Nicklaus’ philosophy of enhancing the natural environment and creating courses that are both challenging and enjoyable for players of all skill levels.

“Visitors to Polaris should never get bored playing them.”

LA TORRE

Three large lakes come into play on six holes. The shorter length of La Torre makes the course more playable for the average to higher-handicap players who will certainly appreciate the four sets of tees, wide fairways, and beautiful setting.

At the same time, La Torre Golf Resort incorporates a great deal of strategy, so when played from the back tees, the course will still be interesting to better players who will enjoy the variety of shots required to successfully play the course.

A pleasant stop for golfers along the Nicklaus Golf Trail.

EL VALLE

This par-71 course, is situated in a beautiful natural desert valley. The course groups several holes together while keeping the surrounding development on the perimeter. This means many holes border other golf holes and not houses, creating a more open and natural golf experience.

The course puts the premium on accuracy, rather than power and features many “crowned” greens surrounded by large mowed chipping areas. El Valle takes full advantage of its desert setting with numerous holes playing adjacent to naturally existing rock-outcroppings and ridges. To further enhance the desert theme, the course is landscaped with many species of native shrubs, grasses and other desert plants.

HACIENDA RIQUELME

The Hacienda Riquelme course weaves its way through and around groves of olive trees, wildflower meadows and large lakes and water features.

Taking advantage of the site’s larger scale, Hacienda Riquleme features wider-than-average fairways, boldly contoured greens and large dramatic bunkers.

Like all Nicklaus Design courses, the course provides enjoyment and challenges to golfers of all abilities.

For further details contact:

www.polarisworld.com

www.nicklausgolftrail.es

www.intercontinental.com/latorre

winning low fares airline Monarch offers flights to Alicante from Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester airports with fares, including taxes, starting from £37.99 one way (£59.50 return).Award

For more information or to book, visit www.monarch.co.uk