Polaris World

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Polaris World is a series of 7 golf resort developments in Murcia, Costa Calida, Spain. It is owned by Polaris World Development, S.L. (which owns a number of related companies - e.g. Polaris World Telecom) and is marketed through independent agents throughout Europe - although their presence is perhaps most prominent in the UK and Spain (plus Ireland & Scandinavia).

The concept of the developments is centred around golf courses designed by Nicklaus Design - the golf course design and development firm set up by Jack Nicklaus and his sons. Around each golf course are a number of large-scale apartment, townhouse and villa developments with facilities such as supermarkets, restaurants, laundry services and so on all run by the Polaris World family of companies (although full facilities will be available after the first properties are completed).

Polaris World are the largest golf resort developer in Murcia but there are a number of others. The seven Polaris World resorts range in size from 55 hectares up to 900 hectares. Most are around the 100 to 150 hectare size. Mar Menor was the first resort completed (although in 2008 is being extended). La Torre is fully developed and a good example of what Polaris World has to offer. El Valle has been mostly completed and contains mostly villas (whereas the other resorts, apart from Mar Menor, are mostly apartments). Condado de Alhama is the largest development (900 hectares and 3 golf courses) and will be the equivalent to a medium sized town when fully complete (after 2010).

Polaris World are heavy advertisers on UK television. To date, there have been two major campaigns - one using Jack Nicklaus and more recently a series featuring the president of Polaris World, Jose Luis Hernandez. From 2002 till 2006, Jack Nicklaus was used as the figurehead for the company in TV advertising. A series of adverts shown on UK TV were based around a family taking a holiday at a Polaris World resort and being badgered by Nicklaus to play golf, but unable to do so because there were so many other attractions and facilities. In 2006, the president of the company, Jose Luis Hernandez, is featured with existing Polaris Resorts, such as La Torre (and more recently - Spring 2008 - the show apartment block at Condado de Alhama), in the background.