Spain to the FORE! Print E-mail

Sat. August 29th, 2009
Calgary Herald
By Kathy McCormick

Sometimes, things happen for just the right reason.

Take the case of John and Jimmie Knoeck.

Once work was done, the retired couple moved to the quiet solitude of a ranch near Lundbreck Falls in southwestern Alberta. They were exploring the possibility of buying a recreation property in Mexico for investment when theywent to the Calgary Herald's Recreation and Investment Properties trade show in January, where they won a trip to Spain through Seekers Canada.

"We have never been anywhere more comfortable and never felt at home as fast as we did on that trip," says John, 66. "It's ironic—and we spent most of the week looking at properties there."

From left, Jimmie and John Knoeck won a trip to Spain offered last year by Seekers Canada. Photo courtesy Seekers Canada.
It didn't take long to convince the couple that La Torre Golf Resort, by developer Polaris World near the city of Murcia in southeast Spain, was the property they wanted. "We are very interested in golf and now we have a two-bedroom, two-bathroom townhouse that's on a Jack Nicklaus golf course and just 15 minutes from the beaches," says John.

The property is one of eight that will be part of the Jack Nicklaus Trail, all with Nicklaus-designed golf courses in communities by Polaris World. Six are already built and all will be within a 25-kilometer radius of each other.

"If you're a member of one, you're a member of them all," says John.

The couple bought a penthouse apartment overlooking the 10th hole of the golf course. The resort is large with a total of 2,648 properties planned by completion. It has a town centre that includes a five-star hotel, bars and restaurants on the shore of a lake.

Housing includes two-bedroom apartments with views of the golf

THE BUYERS: John and Jimmie Knoeck.
AGES: 66 and61.
BACKGROUND: The couple moved to a large ranch in southwestern Alberta once they retired and had contemplated buying an investment recreation property, perhaps in Mexico. Then they attended the Calgary Herald's Recreation and Investment Properties trade show in January and won a free trip to Spain from Seekers Canada, a company that develops investment opportunities in Europe for clients. The couple ended up purchasing a town house in La Torre Golf Resort by Polaris World in southeastern Spain. The resort, which will have 2,648 properties by completion, a town centre with a five-star hotel, restaurants and bars, is part of the Polaris World Jack Nicklaus Trail, where eight Nicklaus designed courses, all in Polaris communities, are within a 25- kilometre radius. The couple worked with Seekers Canada's Spanish division, Maple Global Property Services.
INFORMATION: Visit www.polarisworld.com/ polarisworld/en/resorts/ La-Torre-Golf-Resort or http://www.maplegps.com
course and swimming pool, two storey townhouses with private gardens and optional swimming pools, and two- or three-bedroom villas on large plots. The gated resort is halfway between the beaches and the city of Murcia, which has an international airport. The beaches are at Mar Menor, the largest saltwater lake in Spain — a lagoon separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a 22-kilometre sandbar. The Knoecks plan to spend January in their new home. With seven children, 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, they expect the resort property will be well-used.

"We'd never been to Spain before and were quite taken with it," says John.

"This will be a base to travel around Europe, too. It only takes a couple of hours to drive to the southern part of France from here, or even northern Italy or Portugal." The couple worked through Maple Global Property Services, the Spanish division of parent company Seekers Canada, which develops investment opportunities in Europe for clients.

Seekers Canada will once again be at the Calgary Herald's third annual Recreation and Investment Properties Show this January. The company will again offer a free trip to Spain. Registration for the draw can be done through www.seekerscanada.com, but the winner must attend the show to claim the prize.
 
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