Real Life Stories Buying A House In Tenerife

Date Published:

09/07/2008

Golfer Lee Westwood is ranked 20th in the world, has played in the Ryder Cup five times – and has an impressive property portfolio. We find out about his most recent purchase, a holiday home in Tenerife.

Tell us about your new purchase...

I bought an off-plan three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment in the El Barranco resort in San Miguel de Abona, Tenerife. El Barranco is home to the Almarilla golf course, which I haven’t played on yet so I’m looking forward to testing it out the next time I visit. My wife, Laurae, loves the sun, while my son, Samuel Bevan, seven, has just started playing golf and my daughter Poppy Grace, three, will love playing in the pool so it makes the ideal family holiday home.

Why did you buy in Tenerife?

I used to holiday there when I was an amateur golfer. It’s perfect for golf because the weather is guaranteed to be warm and dry all year round. Tenerife’s only a three-hour flight away from the UK, so we can have weekend breaks there. I travel 32 weeks a year, which means 20 weeks of holiday a year. Then again, I’ve got a long list of family and friends who want to visit, so I think it’s going to be booked up for the next few months!

Are you worried you’ll get mobbed by fans when you’re on holiday?

Not at all. I get a lot of people approaching me, asking me for autographs and advice and I really enjoy it. When we visit El Barranco, we’ll be using the pool and facilities with everyone else. I hope people recognise me and find me approachable – if they didn’t, I’d be worried I was doing something wrong!

Where else do you own property?

I live in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, and I also have homes in the Bahamas, Barbados and Portugal. I am working on building up my property portfolio. I think there is massive value in property, and at the moment you can get a lot for your money.

Apart from property, what’s your most extravagant purchase?

I bought shares in a jet with my friend. It’s proved a very handy investment and saves me a lot of time – I often use it to get to and from games and it means I get home to my family quickly.

What’s your next tournament?

I’m playing at the US Open in San Diego from the 12th to 15th of June. I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve been playing well recently, and at the US Open there’s a focus on accuracy, which suits my game.

How do you relax after a big game?

I can’t play other sports because, as a golfer, I have to look after my hands, but I do have shares in 18 racehorses and that gives me a great buzz. I’ve been lucky with them – I’ve had wins in races in Dubai and Cape Town.

For more on El Barranco, contact Your Place Abroad on 0800 731 0837, or visit www.yourplaceabroad.com.

Why not see how far your money might go if you buy abroad? Search for your dream overseas property on aplaceinthesun.com

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