If you’re considering investing in a golf property, or buying a home near a golf course, it can be mind-boggling trying to decide where to choose, as there are so many top notch overseas golf courses these days. But inspiration is at hand, thanks to the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), who’ve recently assessed thousands of courses around the world and named the winners in their prestigious annual awards.

The annual IAGTO awards recognise the outstanding golf destinations in five regions of the world – Asia and Australasia, Africa, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf States, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America and Europe. In addition, the International Association of Golf Travel Writers, a sister organisation of IAGTO, which represents over 100 members in 27 countries, awards a prize for the Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year.

The awards celebrate the destinations which are making waves in the golf tourism world and the results are invariably of interest to property investors, as they highlight areas where golfing properties may do well, either currently or in the future.

The results of the 2009 IAGTO Awards are in:

New Zealand picked up the award for the Golf Destination of the Year: Asia and Australasia.

The European award went to Andalucia, in Spain (no surprises here).

The Africa, Indian Ocean and Gulf States award was picked up by Dubai.

The Latin America and Caribbean award went to the Dominican Republic.

The North American prize went to South Carolina.

As for the Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year, it went to Kenya, which was noted for having 40 golf courses across the county, located in very diverse areas and with wonderful wildlife in close proximity.

George Hamilton... love that Fanta glow

If you need any more evidence that it’s a buyer’s market in the United States as well as Britain, put on some sunglasses and cast your eyes towards perma-tanned American actor George Hamilton. George closed a (literally) sweet property deal this week on a luxury condo in Los Angeles, but only after insisting his estate agent throw a year’s supply of cookies into the mix.

That’s right – cookies. A dozen a month.

We’d LOVE to pretend that what shall herein be referred to as ‘The Cookie Clause’ was merely the casual whim of an ageing orange soap opera star – you know, in the same way that J-Lo might demand twenty-seven thousand fresh gardenias on her backstage rider, or Jim Carrey might insist on a vegetarian chef for his pet iguana (this one from the ‘ridiculous but apparently true’ files). But actually it seems the unusual purchase condition stemmed from George’s discovery that his estate agent’s wife owns a local bakery.

This strange turn of events has got us thinking, though. If American estate agents will crumble under a demand for cookies (if you’ll forgive that horrendous pun), what else would they give in to?

So in the spirit of pushing boundaries and making childish demands, we’ve compiled a list of Other Freebies That Desperate Californian Estate Agents Might Be Willing to Throw Into the Deal:

• A year’s supply of Botox injections
• A walk-on role in Desperate Housewives
• Surfing lessons
• A shopping spree on Rodeo Drive
• An invitation to one of Hef’s infamous shindigs at the Playboy Mansion
• An apparently rare-as-hen’s-teeth place in a good LA school for your child (you never know, they might even surrender their own child’s place at Beverly Hills High or similar, forcing the poor kid into home-schooling and a wretched life of minimal social interaction. Hey, desperate times…)

Are there any opportunities for estate agent exploitation we’ve missed? Let us know.