The five times championship master bought the 635,000 detached house, initially as an investment, just over two years ago, while he was in Ireland working on the creation of the new course at The Heritage in collaboration with Jeff Howes Design.

The 18-hole championship course is a major attraction of the overall development, which includes a five-star hotel, 3,437sq m (37,000 sq ft) spa and numerous sporting amenities, as well as large detached houses and luxury 186 sq m (2,000 sq ft) penthouses.

Buyers of the properties also receive a course membership worth an estimated 40,000.

Ballesteros has obviously taken the new lifestyle trend for "on-course living" to heart and is now something of a regular resident at Killenard, having had his 3,000sq ftplus house given an interiors makeover by the same designer who gave the hotel its neo-classical look.

Finding favour with him also is the capsule collection of art works and antiques at the nearby Gandon Gallery, run by David Keane, son of the owner of the Killenard development, Tommy Keane, pieces from which now combine with some of the golfer's own furniture for an artistic new look.

Ballesteros, who, in his mid-50s, continues to play by invitation at European Tour golf tournaments, learned the game as an enthusiastic seven-year-old on the beaches near his Spanish family home, using a cut-down three iron given to him by his older brother, a gold professional.

By age 13, Ballesteros . . . a naturally gifted player . . . was already winning events, but he is as famous these days for his thriving business in golf course design as for his gradually waning competitive participation in the sport.

Ballesteros, married with three children, is often accompanied by his eldest son, who is in his late 20s, on his increasingly regular sojourns to Co Laois . . . and to a home that is decidely more 'heritage' than hacienda in style.