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~ Winners ~

Golf Communities, Golf Course Rankings
& Golf Community News

Welcome to the Winners section, where you will find articles on golf course rankings, places to go near your golf course home, golf community news and other information. Click on a link below to go to the article you wish to read.

Golf Community News Update - New Real Estate Opportunities, Special Events & More!

New! GolfCourseHome's "Best of the Best Rankings"--Where Golf & Living Are No. 1

Women- and Family-Friendly Golf Communities, Part III

New! Where to Retire's 2007 "America's 100 Best Master-Planned Communities"

GolfCourseHome.net Selects '18 Residential Golf Course Dream Holes'

Women- and Family-Friendly Golf Communities, Part I

Why Jack Nicklaus-designed Courses Add the Most Value to Your Golf Course Home

Golf Digest's 2007 "America's Great Courses & Greatest Public Courses"

Updated, More Communities! About Vero Beach and Florida's Treasure Coast

Links Magazine's 2007 "100 Premier Properties"

Golf Digest's 2007 "Best Public, Resort and Private Courses"

Golfweek's 2007 "Best Modern Golf Course Top 100" Rankings

Golfweek's Best New Courses 2007

Golfweek’s 2007 America's Best "Top 100 Residential Golf Courses"

T+L Golf Magazine's 2007 "Top 100 Golf Communities"

How the Audubon Environmental Program Works 
and Is Your Club A Member?

Golfweek’s 2006 America's Best "Top 50 New Courses"

Golf Magazine's Top 100 Courses You Can Play & Live On

T+L Golf Magazine's 2006 "Top 100 Golf Communities"

Luxury Golf & Travel's Top 25 Private Golf Communities

Places to Go, Things To Do, Near Your Community

The LandMar Golf Advantage Program

The 10 Commandments of Golf Real Estate Buying by David Lott

What Do You Want in a Golf Course Home?
15 Questions You Must Answer First

"America's 100 Best Master-Planned Communities" by Where to Retire

Buying in Mexico? Read These First!

Golfweek’s 2005 America's Best "Top 100 Residential Golf Courses"

Golf Digest's State Golf Course Rankings

Live at a Golf Community that Features a Top-Ranked Golf Instructor

 

Oldfield Awarded Audubon Sanctuary Status

New Feature! Send Us Your Golf Course Home Photos!

Live on a Golf Digest 100 Greatest Public Course

Gift Books on Golf Course Architecture!

7 Fabulous Books on Retirement Places with Ratings & More

"The Golden State of (California) Golf" by David Lott

Other Golf & Real Estate Links

"America's Best Places to Live Rated"

The Best 36
Golf Counties in America

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Community News Update
All about new courses, special events, new homes and new real estate opportunities

Use the highlighted links to learn more about the communities and to email a request for more information. If your community has something new to announce, please send your news to the Editor.

HeadlinesMI NEWS  PA NEWS  CO NEWS  TX NEWS  FL NEWS   GA NEWS  NC NEWS  SC NEWS  VA NEWS  CO NEWS  MT NEWS  CAN NEWS

CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWS

Sunset Dunes on Prince Edward Island, Canada, announces new financing rates. Enjoy a low mortgage rate of just 4 percent when you pay a down payment of 25 percent. With lots starting as low as $59,900 Canadian, a lot can be yours for around $15,000 down. Named one of  the "World’s Top 10 Destination Islands," by Travel + Leisure, Prince Edward Island offers wonderful water views and is a historic seafaring center and a gateway to the popular destinations of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island. Click here for more information about Sunset Dunes!

MICHIGAN GOLF COMMUNITY NEWS

The Villages at Tullymore in Stanwood, MI, has announced a stunning limited time offer on its condominiums, custom homes and homesites. Putting 30 percent down on a purchase gets you 0 percent financing and no payments for two full years. Also included is membership at two of the country’s finest golf courses, Tullymore and St. Ives. Luxury condos start in the $270,000s; custom homes begin as low as $300,000 and homesites start at from $60,000. Click here for more information about Tullymore!

PENNSYLVANIA GOLF COMMUNITY NEWS

If you missed Penn National's recent Discovery Weekend, don't fret. You have another chance April 11-12. Costing just $99 per couple, the weekend includes a stay at the Penn National Inn, welcome reception and  dinner, breakfast, property tour, and playing any of its many amenities,  including its two championship golf courses, spa, tennis, hiking and more. Click here for more information about Penn National!

MONTANA COMMUNITY NEWS

Black Bull, MT reports the continuation of a whimsically named but financially significant program called the “Sixty Days of Snow and Cold Offer” for alert buyers who purchase lots in this 485-acre Rocky Mountain community during the snowy months of February, March and April. Benefits include a 7% discount off the lot price plus a waiver of HOA dues for 24 months and a golf membership  price lock at $30,000. Offer runs through April 15. Click here for more information about Black Bull!

Black Bull, MT recently unveiled a major, original, on-site sculpture installation depicting five black Angus bulls. Black Bull commissioned world-renowned artist Jim Dolan to craft creative renderings of five bulls that would welcome visitors and members to the community. The bulls represent the heritage of the development, harkening to its days as the now-historic Leachman Angus Ranch. Click here for more information about Black Bull!

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TEXAS COMMUNITY NEWS

Sun City Texas, TX offered a special offer and event on the weekend of April 4-6. Homebuyers are invited to enter into contract for a home on those dates and receive a special $2,000 bonus. The community is adding a third 18-hole golf course, a new 20,000-square-foot amenities center with fitness club, a new outdoor swimming pool and a fully stocked fishing pond—all these amenities coming soon. Click here for more information about Sun City Texas!

The Reserve at SugarTree, TX ended its incentive program on never-before-seen homesites on Sunday, March 9. The incentive was on one- to three-acre wooded homesites, offering adjacency to a private ranch, close golf proximity, as well as other coveted sitings. The Reserve at SugarTree is a golf community on the of the Brazos River near Weatherford, Texas. Click here for more information about The Reserve at SugarTree!

COLORADO COMMUNITY NEWS

Four Mile Ranch, CO announced earlier this week that a new and important phase of construction that will bring roads and utilities to 85 new golf course homesites. The lots encircle an area known as the “Magnificent Seven,” indicating the spectacular views they afford of the first seven holes of the community’s Jim Engh-designed golf course. Click here for more information about Four Mile Ranch!

The Enclave at Broadlands, CO, located within easy commuting distance of Denver, Colorado, reports that only nine homesites remain available for purchase at the Toll Brothers-developed neighborhood.Buyers can choose from six floor plans, ranging from 3,200 to 4,200 sq. ft. Luxurious features include lavish master baths, designer gas fireplaces, hardwood flooring, and 3-car garages. Homes are priced from the low-500,000s. Click here for more information about The Enclave at Broadlands!

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FLORIDA COMMUNITY NEWS

Lake Blackshear Plantation, FL, announces the appointment of James Greer as new head professional at the community’s Ironwood Golf Course. Greer, of Sante Fe, New Mexico, most recently served as head professional at Sedona Golf Resort, where he held the course record of 65. Click here for more information about Lake Blackshear Plantation!

Willoughby Golf Club, FL unveils a new three-day, two-night Discovery Tour visitation package. Visitors can stay at the community’s luxurious, 3,200-square-foot accommodations directly opposite the club, enjoy a round of golf at the Arthur Hills-designed golf course, a pampering sports massage at the Woodhouse Day Spa, dinner at the Willoughby clubhouse prepared by Chef Jimmy, plus tennis, swimming and optional tours. Click here for more information about Willoughby Golf Club!

Admirals Cove, FL has appointed Jeremy Pettit as new manager of the community's popular Bayside Grille restaurant. Pettit had most recently served as assistant manager of Atlanta's Cherokee Town and Country Club. Prior to that position the Plano, Tex. native and Texas Tech University graduate had worked in the management group at Dallas Country Club. Click here for more information about Admirals Cove!

Mission Inn’s Las Colinas, FL announces March 2008 Getaway Specials for resort guests who may be interested in touring the property and learning about home purchase options. The Match Play Getaway provides one room-night and one round of golf from $149. This special rate is subject to dates and availability,  based on per-person, double occupancy, plus gratuity and tax. Click here for more information about Mission Inn’s Las Colinas!

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St James Golf Club, Port St. Lucie, FL, announces price reductions for its seven remaining homes. The amounts deducted from the existing prices range from $29,000 to $75,000. Prices on the homes now range from just $259,900 for a four-bedroom home with a golf course view to a four-bedroom home with a lake view for $409,900. Click here for more information about St. James Golf Club!

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GEORGIA COMMUNITY NEWS

Reynolds Plantation, GA announces the successful sell-out of the first-ever release of lake-access homesites at Reynolds Landing, located on Lake Oconee. The lots were sold in a drawing, giving interested buyers an equal chance to obtain one. Three homesites are still available at The Enclave in Reynolds, directly on Lake Oconee. Click here for more information about Reynolds Plantation!

Reynolds Plantation, GA announces the start of its year-long celebration of the resort community’s 20th anniversary. Reynolds Plantation, founded in 1988, will sponsor special merchandise offers and other events leading up to the official anniversary in October. Televised, high-profile events like the Chick-Fil-A Bowl Alma Mater golf tournament and the PGA of America’s Professional National Championship are part of the celebration. Click here for more information about Reynolds Plantation!

Reynolds Plantation, GA  announced that its new Travel + Leisure Golf Cottage was now open for tours by interested visitors to Reynolds Plantation.The upscale cottage is the 4,000-square-foot model for the Creek Club Cottages and is designed to exemplify a new sporting lifestyle. The community’s partnership with the influential and upscale Travel + Leisure Golf magazine ensures high visibility for the cottages. Click here for more information about Reynolds Plantation!

Lake Blackshear Plantation, GA announces a special offer to prospective home buyers. For a limited time, golf membership to the community’s Ironwood Golf Club will be included with the purchase price of a homesite. Golf course lots are priced attractively, starting at just $50,000. Click here for more information about Lake Blackshear Plantation!

VIRGINIA COMMUNITY NEWS

Homestead Preserve, Warm Springs, VA announces a limited release of just 26 homesites at its celebrated Delafield Rise and Warm Springs Farm neighborhoods. Special prices and incentives will make a number of these select properties available for as little as $350,000. Homesites offer wooded settings plus meadow and mountain views and range in size from 1.6 to 11 acres and includes the full initiation fee at The Homestead® Golf and Tennis Club. Click here for more information about The Homestead!

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NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY NEWS

Brunswick Forest, located on North Carolina’s Cape Fear Coast and spurred by strong sales recently, announces the opening of three new neighborhoods representing more than 200 new homes. Six new model homes are already open, the first of 11 new models to be ready in the next three months. The six new decorator-furnished model homes will open in the Villamar, Gardenwood and Belshaw neighborhoods. Click here for more information about Brunswick Forest!

Anderson Creek Club, NC debuted its new and unique “Go-Quet” (pronounced go-cay) amenity, a cross between miniature golf and croquet. The community’s Go-Quet course is a lush, nine-hole, par-36 layout. The new sport, invented at Anderson Creek, uses croquet mallets and arched wickets along the fairways. It is challenging enough to be fun for adults and easy to learn for kids. Click here for more information about Anderson Creek Club!

St. James Plantation, NC announced that it had broken ground on HarborWalk, its newest marina-living neighborhood, sited within walking distance of the community’s full-service marina. Along with the on-site conveniences of HarborWalk, owners will have easy access to the planned retail and dining elements of HarborSide, where a grocery, boutique and waterside grille are being built. Click here for more information about St. James Plantation!

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SOUTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY NEWS

Daniel Island, SC is conducting final preparations for The Family Circle Cup, Charleston's premier sporting event. This landmark tennis tournament returns to Daniel Island from April 12-20, when some 90,000 fans are expected for the event's 35th anniversary. Six of the WTA Tour's Top 10 ranked players are scheduled to be in the field. Click here for more information about Daniel Island!

Callawassie Island Club, SC has announced the appointment of Brian Lasota as general manager of the club. Lasota comes to Callawassie from Itasca Country Club in Chicago. Prior to his tenure at Itasca, Brian served as a manager at Inverness Golf Club and is known for his superior interpersonal skills and ability to motivate staff members. Click here for more information about Callawassie Island!

Palmetto Bluff, SC reports a robust 2007 sales year and the completion of  new facilities is on or ahead of schedule. Total 2007 real estate proceeds topped $93 million at the community. Meanwhile, the following amenities are now in operation: the Wilson Lawn & Racquet Club, the Wilson Landing Dry-Stack Boat Storage, RT’s Market, and the South Wilson Parks and Streetscape, consisting of landscape, sidewalks, gas lights and trails. Further announcements of completed projected are expected soon. Click here for more information about Palmetto Bluff!

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Click here for more Community News Updates!

Golf Digest's "America's 100 Greatest
Courses & 100 Greatest Public Courses"

Two of the most important rankings in all of golf, the biennial Golf Digest compilations of "America's 100 Greatest Courses" and "America's 100 Greatest Public Courses," were recently released--and you can live on many of them. Joining them here are the annual LINKS Magazine roster of "100 Premier Properties."

To arrive at their rankings, Golf Digest maintains a rating panel of more than 800 low-handicap men and women who are dispersed throughout the U.S. These raters evaluate courses on seven criteria: Shot Values; Resistance to Scoring; Design Variety; Memorability; Aesthetics; Conditioning; Ambience. Compilers average the scores with Shot Values counting double.

Below are all the communities on the GolfCourseHome Network that earned a spot on the Golf Digest and LINKS rankings--40 in all. You can click on any community name to get more information about real estate offerings, amenities, local weather, prices, photos and more.

Golf Digest's "America's 100 Greatest Courses"
(Great Courses You Can Live On)

78. Long Cove Club, Hilton Head, SC; Pete Dye Coming soon!

93. Harbour Town Golf Links (Pete Dye & Jack Nicklaus) – Sea Pines Plantation, Hilton Head, SC

97. Homestead (Cascades Cse.- William Flynn) – Homestead Preserve, Warm Springs, VA

Golf Digest's "America's 100 Greatest Public Courses
(Great Courses You Can Live On)

15. Harbour Town Golf Links (Pete Dye & Jack Nicklaus),  Sea Pines Plantation, Hilton Head, SC

16. Homestead (Cascades Cse.- William Flynn), Homestead Preserve, Warm Springs, VA

38. Paa-Ko Ridge, Sandia Park, NM

53. Barefoot Resort (Davis Love Cse.), North Myrtle Beach, SC

58. Cuscowilla (Bill Coore-Ben Crenshaw), Lake Oconee, GA

66. Running Y Ranch (Arnold Palmer), Klamath Falls, OR

83. Barton Creek Resort & Spa (Fazio Canyons Cse.), Austin, TX

92. Barefoot Resort, North Myrtle Beach, SC (Tom Fazio course)

97. Reynolds Plantation (Great Waters Cse. – Jack Nicklaus), Greensboro, GA

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Links Magazine's 2007 "100 Premier Properties"

Though not as well-known as Golf Digest, LINKS enjoys a growing reputation in the world of golf real estate. Since 2003, LINKS has published an annual Premier Properties issue containing descriptions of 100 selected U.S. golf communities.

Editors determine the list “based on surveys filled out by hundreds of communities, and each listing provides key data—golf information, membership requirements, initiation fees, price ranges for real estate, amenities and future developments.” Nearly a third of the LINKS 100 (below) are featured on GolfCourseHome.net. Click on the community names to find out much more about each. 

ARIZONA
Desert Mountain, Scottsdale
The Mirabel Club
, Scottsdale

CALIFORNIA
Winchester Country Club
, Meadow Vista

COLORADO
Glacier Club, Durango

FLORIDA
The Founders Club, Sarasota
Isleworth, Windemere

Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, Orlando
Quail West, Naples 

Reunion Resort & Club, Orlando 
Tesoro , Port St. Lucie 

Wild Heron, Panama City Beach

GEORGIA
Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro
The Ford Plantation, Richmond Hill

The Landings on Skidaway Island, Savannah

NORTH CAROLINA
The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Asheville     
Mountain Air, Burnsville

SOUTH CAROLINA
Belfair, Bluffton
Colleton River Plantation, Bluffton

Daniel Island, Charleston
Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach

Long Cove Club, Hilton Head Coming soon!
Oldfield, Okatie

Reserve at Lake Keowee, Sunset
Spring Island, Spring Island 

The Cliffs at Glassy, Landrum
The Cliffs at Keowee, Lake Keowee

VIRGINIA
Ford's Colony, Williamsburg

WASHINGTON
Suncadia, Roslyn 

WYOMING
The Powder Horn, Sheridan 

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Golf Digest's 2007 Best New Public,
Resort and Private Courses

The grandaddy of golf course evaluators, Golf Digest, provides its top picks in public, resort and private courses. Here we list the magazine's choices of these courses on which you can both play and live. Click on the highlighted links below to learn about each community and to request more information about real estate offerings, fees, site plans, home designs, amenities and more. In the public category, the fee for 18 holes is indicated.

GOLF DIGEST's BEST NEW PUBLIC $75 AND OVER

3. Bay Creek Golf & Marina Resort (Nicklaus)
Cape Charles, Va. • 7,417 yards, par 72, $95 • Jack Nicklaus

7. The Prospector at Suncadia
Cle Elum, Wash. • 7,112 yards, par 72, $95 • Arnold Palmer, Ed Seay, Erik Larsen

GOLF DIGEST's Top 75 Resorts ( ) = previous ranking

18. The Homestead (9) Hot Springs, Va.

47. Barton Creek Resort & Spa (37) Austin, Tx.
 

GOLF DIGEST's Best New Private CourseS

7. Tumble Creek Golf Course at Suncadia
Cle Elum, Wash. • 7,070 yards, par 71 • Tom Doak • Fee: $60,000

8. Daniel Island Club (Ralston Creek Course)
Daniel Island, S.C. • 7,446 yards, par 72. • Rees Jones. • Fee: $65,000 (property owner), $90,000

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2007 Golfweek’s Best Modern Courses Rankings

Golfweek Magazine's latest rankings list the Top 100 Best Modern Courses built from 1960 to the present. You can live on several of them. Look below for links to the communities with which the courses are associated. Designer and year opened are noted along with location.

No. (2006 rank)                               Raters avg.

29. (27) Harbour Town Golf Links (r) 7.38
Hilton Head, S.C. Pete Dye, 1970

33. (14) The Golf Club at Cuscowilla (p) 7.33
Eatonton, Ga., Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, 1998

39. (40) Long Cove Club (p) 7.17 - Coming Soon!
Hilton Head, S.C., Pete Dye, 1982

40. (37) Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club (d) 7.16
Sandia Park, N.M., Ken Dye, 2000

68. (82) The Powder Horn (d) 6.89
Sheridan, Wyo., Dick Bailey, 1997

(d) daily fee; (p) private; (r) resort
* first time in top 100; **returns to top 100

Golfweek's Best New Courses 2007

Herewith, Golfweek magazine has its say about the best new courses for 2006-07. Designers are noted along with the year the course opened.

Golfweek Best New Courses

15. Members Club at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Nick Price & Craig Schreiner, 2005

17. Morgan Creek Golf & Country Club, Roseville, Calif.
Kyle Phillips, 2004

23. Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Arden, N.C.
Jack Nicklaus, 2004

24. Desert Mountain ­ Outlaw, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Jack Nicklaus, 2004

39. Southern Hills Plantation Club, Brooksville, Fla.
Pete Dye, 2005

47. The Patriot Golf Course at Grand Harbor, Ninety Six, S.C.
Davis Love III, 2004

50. Suncadia ­ Prospector Golf Course, Roslyn, Wash.
Arnold Palmer, 2005

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Where to Retire Magazine's 2007
"America's 100 Best Master-Planned Communities"

Where to Retire magazine's 2007 annual listing of "America's 100 Best Master-Planned Communities" features a number of communities with excellent golf courses. In fact, 21 of these communities, representing nine states, are featured on GolfCourseHome. Please see the links below to learn more about these fine properties.

"America's 100 Best Master-Planned Communities"
       As Selected by Where to Retire Magazine

ARKANSAS
Hot Springs Village, Hot Springs Village

FLORIDA
Terra Vista of Citrus Hills, Crystal River - Inverness
Mission Inn's Las Colinas, Howey-in-the-Hills

Terra Vista of Citrus Hills, FL
Terra Vista of Citrus Hills, FL: A Top 100 Community.

On Top of the World Communities, Ocala
GlenLakes, Weeki Wachee

GEORGIA
Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro

Osprey Cove, St. Marys
The Georgia Club, Statham

NORTH CAROLINA
Anderson Creek Club, Spring Lake
Ocean Ridge Plantation, Sunset Beach

River Landing, Wallace

Penn National, PA
Penn National, Fayetteville: Pretty in Pennsylvania

PENNSYLVANIA
   
Penn National, Fayetteville

SOUTH CAROLINA
Woodside Plantation, Aiken
Daniel Island, Charleston

Wyboo Plantation, Manning
Mount Vintage Plantation, N. Augusta

Oldfield, Okatie (near Beaufort)

TEXAS
Sun City Texas by Del Webb, Georgetown

VIRGINIA
Bay Creek Golf & Marina Resort, Cape Charles
Ford's Colony, Williamsburg

WYOMING
The Powder Horn, Sheridan

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Golfweek’s America's Best
"Top 50 New Golf Courses"
As selected by Golfweek Magazine for 2006

Nine of Golfweek magazine's "Top 50 New Courses for 2006" reside within golf communities featured on GolfCourseHome.net. Click on the highlighted links below to learn more about each community and to request more information about real estate offerings, club and association fees, site plans, home designs, amenities and more. The listings below include ranking position, community name and/or course name, city and state, designer and year opened.

Golfweek’s 2006 America’s Best
Top 50 New Courses

8. May River Course at Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, S.C.
Jack Nicklaus, 2004

15. Members Club at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Nick Price & Craig Schreiner, 2005

17. Morgan Creek Golf & Country Club, Roseville, CA
Kyle Phillips, 2004


23. Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Arden, N.C.
Jack Nicklaus, 2004

24. Desert Mountain ­ Outlaw, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Jack Nicklaus, 2004

39. Southern Hills Plantation Club, Brooksville, Fla.
Pete Dye, 2005

47. The Patriot Golf Course at Grand Harbor, Ninety Six, S.C.
Davis Love III, 2004

50. Suncadia ­ Prospector Golf Course, Roslyn, Wash.
Arnold Palmer, 2005

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Golfweek’s America's Best
"Top 100 Residential Golf Courses"
As selected by Golfweek Magazine for 2007

Golfweek's special annual issue, America's 2007 Best Residential Golf Courses, features its rankings of the "Top 100 Residential Golf Courses." Listed below are the Golfweek Top 100 courses that are featured on GolfCourseHome.net. The name of the course designer and the year the course opened are indicated beneath the name of the community.

Click on the highlighted links below to learn about each community and to request more information about real estate offerings, club and association fees, site plans, home designs, amenities and more. The listings below include ranking position, community name, course designer and course name, year opened, city and state.

Golfweek’s 2007 America’s Best
Top 100 Residential Courses

2. The Golf Club at Cuscowilla, Eatonton, GA
Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw, 1998

8. Long Cove Club, Hilton Head, SC  Coming Soon!
Pete Dye, 1982

24. The Powder Horn GC, Sheridan, WY
Dick Bailey, 1997
 

39. Winchester Golf Club, Meadow Vista, CA
Robert Trent Jones Sr. & Jr., 2000

44. Colleton River-Nicklaus, Bluffton, SC
Jack Nicklaus, 1992

48. Desert Mountain-Outlaw, Scottsdale, AZ
Jack Nicklaus, 2004

53. Montreux, Reno, NV
Jack Nicklaus, 1997

55. Desert Mountain - Chiricahua, Scottsdale, AZ
Jack Nicklaus, 1999

56. Reunion - Independence, Davenport, FL
Tom Watson, 2003

61. Reynolds Plantation - Great Waters, Greensboro, GA
Jack Nicklaus, 1992

62. Desert Highlands, Pinnacle Peak, AZ
Jack Nicklaus, 1984

63. Belfair-West, Bluffton, SC
Tom Fazio, 1996

65. Twin Creeks CC, Cedar Park TX
Lee Schmidt, Brian Curly & Fred Couples, 2003

67. Colleton River - Dye, Hilton Head, SC
Pete Dye, 1998

72. Belfair-East, Bluffton, SC
Tom Fazio, 1999

73. Old North State Club - Uwharrie Pt., New London , NC
Tom Fazio, 1992

75. Desert Mountain-Renegade, Scottsdale, AZ
Jack Nicklaus, 1987

76. Desert Mountain-Geronimo, Scottsdale, AZ
Jack Nicklaus, 1989

77. Southern Hills Plantation, Brooksville, FL
Pete Dye, 2006

89. Golf Club at Fiddlers Creek-Creek, Naples, FL
Arthur Hills, 2002

91. The Mirabel Club, Scottsdale, AZ
Tom Fazio, 2001

95. Reynolds Plantation - Oconee, Greensboro, GA
Rees Jones, 2000

97. Desert Mountain - Cochise, Scottsdale, AZ
Jack Nicklaus, 1987

100. Grande Dunes GC, Myrtle Beach, SC
Nick Price & Craig Schreiner, 2005

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T+L Golf Magazine's 2007
"Top 100 Golf Communities" Rankings

Here GolfCourseHome highlights "America's Top 100 Golf Communities" from the second annual set of rankings issued by Travel + Leisure Golf magazine. Regular GolfCourseHome contributor David Gould prepared the article. Listed below are the Travel + Leisure Golf Top 100 golf communities which are featured on GolfCourseHome.net.

ARIZONA
DESERT MOUNTAIN Scottsdale
Borders a national forest, six golf courses, nine miles of hiking trails,
spa and concierge services. Homes from $600,000

MIRABEL Scottsdale
Spa and fitness center. 18 holes/Tom Fazio.
Homesites from $399,999, homes from $1.45 million

FLORIDA
THE FOUNDERS CLUB, Sarasota
Just 262 homes are planned for this 700-acre site., 24,000-square-foot Golf Hall
clubhouse. 18 holes/Robert Trent Jones Jr. Homes from $1.2 million

FRENCHMAN’S RESERVE, Palm Beach Gardens
Toll Brothers community, spa and fitness center, multiple dining options, swimming
and tennis centers. 18 holes/Arnold Palmer. Homes from $1 million

ISLEWORTH, Orlando
82,000-square-foot clubhouse, wellness center, art exhibitions by Sotheby’s,
18 holes/Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay. Homes from $2 million

TESORO, Port St. Lucie
Ginn Company community, swim/racquet club about to open, 18 holes/Arnold Palmer
and 18/Watson (nearly complete). Homes from $1 million

GEORGIA
THE FORD PLANTATION, Richmond Hill
Former Henry Ford retreat, equestrian, marina, hunting/fishing grounds, spa and sports
complex, 18 Holes/Pete Dye. Homes from $1.2 million 

REYNOLDS PLANTATION, Greensboro
New members-only Creek Club, five courses, Ritz-Carlton lodge, on Lake Oconee.
Cottages from $260,000, homes from $479,000, homesites from $115,000

NEVADA
MONTREUX, Reno
PGA Tour’s Reno-Tahoe Open, 34,000-square-foot private clubhouse with wine cellar,
18 holes/Jack Nicklaus. Homes from $900,000

NORTH CAROLINA
JEFFERSON LANDING ON THE NEW RIVER, Jefferson
Art galleries, hiking, canoeing and fly-fishing, 18 holes/Larry Nelson.
Homes from $200,000

SOUTH CAROLINA
BELFAIR, Bluffton
Lowcountry community with a spectacular golf practice center, 36 holes/Tom Fazio
Homes from $600,000

THE CLIFFS COMMUNITIES, Travelers Rest
Multiple communities in a 30-mile sweep around Greenville. Wellness and
luxury a theme, 72 holes w/2nd Nicklaus 18 coming. Homes from $650,000

Colleton River Plantation, Hilton Head Island

DANIEL ISLAND PARK, Charleston
36 holes/Tom Fazio, Rees Jones, 17-court tennis center, 23 miles of rivers/creeks,
boat ramps, boat docks & crabbing docks, parks. Townhomes/condos $200,000s,
homesites from $300,000s, homes from $400,000s

PALMETTO BLUFF, Bluffton
Award-wining golf & resort amenities overlooking May River, 18 holes by Jack Nicklaus, 20,000-acre retreat between Hilton Head Island and Savannah, Georgia, The Inn at Palmetto Bluffs by Auberge Resorts, spa & fitness center, homesites from mid-$300,000, homes from $1 million

THE RESERVE AT LAKE KEOWEE, Sunset
Private 3,900-acre on the shores of Lake Keowee in the foothills of the Blue Ridge
Mountains, 18 holes/Nicklaus, 27 planned holes/Palmer. Mountain view homesites
from $175,000, waterfront homesites from $350,000, golf homesites, $175,000

SPRING ISLAND, Spring Island
Palmer’s renowed Old Tabby course, equestrian, fishing, nature center, boating, sporting clays 18 holes/Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay). Homesites from $250,000, homes from $580,000

TEXAS
BARTON CREEK, Austin
Full-service Luxury resort spa, top-rated resort, 72 holes, tennis, health & fitness center. Homesites from $300,000, homes from $500,000

WASHINGTON
TUMBLE CREEK Cle Elum A community within the Suncadia complex, Tumble Creek is 2,600 acres of meadows and brooks. On the edge of the Wenatchee National Forest, it’s a true hiker’s paradise. Plus, there’s a private Tom Doak course and abundant fly-fishing. 18 holes (Tom Doak). Recent Home Listings (lots only): $400,000 to $1.2 million

WYOMING
THE POWDER HORN RANCH, Sheridan
Western lifestyle of golf, fishing and other outdoor activities with luxurious surroundings,
27 holes/Dick Bailey. Mtn./golf homesites from $80,000, Deck Homes from $400,000, cottages from $495,000

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Golf Magazine's Top 100 Courses
You Can Play & Live On

Every two years Golf Magazine publishes its ranking of the "Top 100 Courses You Can Play," and often these world-class layouts have a golf community to go with them. In the latest set of rankings, seven of these courses are set in a golf community that is featured on GolfCourseHome.net. Since they are open for you to play, it makes it easy to try out the course and see the community in action.

Click on the highlighted links below to learn more about each community and to request more information about real estate offerings, club and association fees, site plans, home designs, amenities and more. The listings below include current  and former ranking position, community name and/or course name, city and state, designer and greens fees.

2006-2007 Golf Magazine's Top 100 Courses You Can Play

2006 Rank   2004 Rank   Course   Location      Designer      Greens Fees

18  23 The Homestead (Cascades) Hot Springs, Va. William Flynn $210-$261

19  22 Cuscowilla Eatonton, Ga. Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw $89-$150

43  51 Reynolds Plantation (Great Waters) Greensboro, Ga. Jack Nicklaus $125-$195

60  67 Reynolds Plantation (Oconee) Greensboro, Ga. Rees Jones $135-260

68  62 Barton Creek (Fazio Foothills) Austin, Texas Tom Fazio $135-$240

69  58 Barton Creek (Fazio Canyons) Austin, Texas Tom Fazio $135-$240

95  NR Barefoot Resort (Love) North Myrtle Beach Davis Love III $75-$155

    NR= not previously ranked

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How Much Value Does a Golf Architect
Add to Your Home?

GolfCourseHome.net's continuing series on how a top golf course architect can add value to your golf course home looks at marquee names such as Jack Nicklaus--the No. 1 value enhancer, Tom Fazio, Arnold Palmer and others. These articles appear in our weekly newsletter, "New Communities," which you can subscribe to by clicking here. Watch future issues for spotlights on other stars such as Bob Cupp, Arthur Hills and Pete Dye!

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Places to Go, Things To Do
Near Your Community
Museums, sporting events, universities & more within
50-75 miles of your new golf community

Increasingly, what's available outside the limits of your master-planned community play an important part in your decision to buy. Today's buyers want to stimulate their minds and bodies and have things to do when relatives, grandchildren and children visit them. 

This new feature provides a sampling of restaurants, museums, cultural opportunities, pro sports teams, universities and outdoor recreation that are available within 50-75 miles of Featured Communities on The Golf Course Home Network. Our first few cities appear below, watch for additions to come in the future!

Florida
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
 
Naples, Florida 
Tampa, Florida     

Georgia           
Savannah, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia

North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina

Pennsylvania
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia             

Washington, DC
Washington, D.C.                

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About Vero Beach and Florida's Treasure Coast

Florida's Treasure Coast is the region between the Jupiter Inlet and north to the Sebastian Inlet and consists of four counties, from south to north, Palm Beach County, Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River County. Treasure Coast towns are rich in world-class golf communities and include Stuart, Palm City, Port St. Lucie and Vero Beach.

Vero Beach is located in Indian River County and features 26 miles of unspoiled beaches and is a nesting ground to such creatures as the Loggerhead sea turtle and 35 other rare and endangered species.

Vero Beach
Vero Beach is known for its unspoiled beaches and wildlife.

Nationally ranked 12th in "The Rating Guide to Life in America's Small Cities," Vero Beach has retained its small town charm, intimacy, and character. That's not to say that Vero Beach is a sleepy little town. On the contrary, Vero Beach has become an exciting and invigorating place to live with arts, entertainment, and state-of-the-art medical facilities.

Treasure Coast Map
Port St. Lucie, the heart of the Treasure Coast.

The area has become famous for golf, culture, shopping and dining, as well as for its unspoiled waterways, breathtaking beaches and preserved environment. Often called "the best little town in Florida," Vero Beach has average temperatures in the low 70s and an above average community spirit. Check out the following Treasure Coast communities in Vero Beach and neighboring towns: 

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2006 "Top 100 Golf Communities" Rankings
by T+L Golf Magazine

Another golf publication has jumped into the ranking business. This time it's Travel+Leisure's Golf magazine, which has announced in its Jan/Feb 2006 issue its first-ever ranking of the "Top 100 Golf Communities in America." You'll be pleased to find that nearly a quarter of this esteemed collection of golf communities is featured on GolfCourseHome.net (with more to come) and the GolfCourseHome®Network.

Please see below the list of the tantalizing 22. Note that only the top 25 are given a numerical ranking, with the remaining communities simply listed as among the top 100. Click on the highlighted links to obtain more information.

  3. New! Isleworth, Orlando, Florida

  9. The Cliffs at Glassy, Greenville, SC

  9. The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Asheville, NC,

  9. The Cliffs at Lake Keowee, Lake Keowee, SC

11. New! Palmetto Bluff, Beaufort, SC

16. New! Colleton River Plantation, Hilton Head Island

25. Mirabel Scottsdale, Arizona

ARIZONA
Desert Mountain, Scottsdale, AZ

FLORIDA
Frenchman's Reserve, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Tesoro, Port St. Lucie, FL

GEORGIA
Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee, Eatonton, GA

Ford Plantation, Richmond Hill, GA

Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, GA

NORTH CAROLINA
Jefferson Landing On The New River, Jefferson, NC

SOUTH CAROLINA
Daniel Island, Charleston, SC

The Reserve at Lake Keowee, SC

New! Spring Island, Spring Island, SC

TEXAS
Barton Creek, Austin, TX

New! Horseshoe Bay Resort, Horseshoe Bay, TX

WISCONSIN
Horseshoe Bay Farms, Egg Harbor, WI

WYOMING
The
Powder Horn Ranch and Golf Club, Sheridan, WY

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"Luxury Golf & Travel" Magazine Names Its
Top 25 Private Golf Communities

Luxury Golf & Travel Magazine announced in its March/April 2006 issue its inaugural list of the "Top 25 Private Golf Communities" (Diamond Award Winner). An expert panel of six judges, who “weighed equally every criterion from services to scenery,” included in their list of the Top 25 six golf communities that are featured on the GolfCourseHome.Network. See below for links to these award-winning communities.

New! Colleton River Plantation, Hilton Head Island, SC

The Cliffs including:
     The Cliffs at Glassy, SC
     The Cliffs at Keowee, SC
     The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, NC

Desert Mountain, AZ

Reynolds Plantation, GA

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The LandMar Golf Advantage Program

At LandMar, the purchase of a new property is your ticket to one of the best club environments anywhere, because membership incentives and numerous privileges are included.*

The LandMar Resident Golf Membership Advantage offers a valuable package designed to allow everyone in the family an opportunity to enjoy the game of golf, the pleasures of a casual club lifestyle and the opportunity to extend the membership to all of LandMar's golf courses. Advantage benefits include:

  • A Home Course for primary membership
  • Access to reciprocal golf to play selected Hampton Golf courses at Preferred Rates
  • Access to reciprocal golf at Crescent Communities, some of the best clubs in the nation, many of which are private clubs not open to public play
  • Courses designed to be as challenging as you want, most with five tee boxes plus our exclusive Family Tees™ to accommodate beginners of all ages
  • QuickStart2Golf™ program where our PGA Professionals provide a free introduction designed to get you on the course and enjoying the game
  • Friendly Clubhouses to gather with neighbors for socializing, casual dining and private events
  • Member events that create fun inter-club activities and the opportunity to make friends with residents from other LandMar communities
  • Competitive membership dues that make the Advantage an even greater value

LandMar golf course communities featured on GolfCourseHome.net include:

FLORIDA

Grand Haven, Palm Coast     

River Hall, Ft. Myers 

Southern Hills Plantation Club, Brooksville

Sugarloaf Mountain, Clermont

GEORGIA

Osprey Cove, St. Marys

*Offer varies and may not be available in all communities. Initiation fee waived with the purchase of a new homesite or newly constructed home. Completion of a membership application and activation of membership by paying applicable dues required within 30 days of closing or certificate of occupancy. Type of membership and benefits may vary by Club and some restrictions apply. Fees apply for reciprocal play at other courses and play is subject to availability. Offer is subject to change or cancellation without notice. See rules and regulations at landmargroup.com for complete details. This offer is not redeemable for cash.

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The 10 Commandments of 
Golf Real Estate Buying
 by David Lott

The stars that dance in a golfer’s eyes when you start talking about fairway living are often bright enough to obscure even the most cautionary road signs. But developers, marketers, agents and builders alike advise prospective buyers to do their homework first. 

According to the National Golf Foundation, today’s golf community market is "more active than ever," having come back strongly from the chill that gripped the golf real estate market in the early 90s.

"Roughly 40 percent of new courses are associated with real estate," says Steve Singer a consultant at the NGF, "which is where it was before the early 90s." That means you have more choices than ever in locations as diverse as Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, Connecticut and Rhode Island in addition to the usual spots such as Florida, North Carolina and Arizona.

Do Your Homework
This abundance also means that while it’s great fun to vacation and shop for a home at the same time, you don’t have time to check out all the possibilities personally. Do your homework and arrive at your destination prepared.

To help you arm yourself with the facts, we’ve put together The 10 Commandments of Golf Real Estate Buying. Half the battle of information gathering is knowing the right questions to ask. And like any investment decision, you need to be aware of the pitfalls and hazards. Follow these commandments and you’ll be successful in finding the fairway home that best suits you.

The 10 Commandments of Golf Real Estate Buying

  1. Create Your Best Case Scenario <==Click here to go to a special questionnaire to help create your vision!
  2. Use the Inside Sales Team
  3. Consider the Resale Value
  4. Eliminate the Ultimate Surprise
  5. Ask About the Homeowners Association
  6. Ask "How Private Is it Really?"
  7. See If the Club Lives Up to the Marquee Designer’s Name
  8. Find Out What the Amenities Will Be & When They Will Be In
  9. Visit More than Once, and Talk to Owners
  10. Investigate the Surrounding Area

For the complete text of this article, click here. 

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What Do You Want in a Golf Course Home? 

15 Questions That Will Help You Find Out

by David Lott

The first step in finding your perfect golf course home is to determine what you want at the outset and then look for it. 

Use the questionnaire below to help get you thinking about what’s important in your golf course community. 

Circle your answers and use them as a template when you start looking at specific communities.

1. The main reason you want to live in a golf course community is:
  1. To play as much golf as I can
  2. To learn the game & make friends
  3. Not to play, but to enjoy the golf course view
  4. Because my spouse wants to live on a golf course
  5. To be near my children and grandchildren

2. What kind of community do you want to belong:

   A. Private, equity club
   B.
Private, no equity
   C.
Semi-private
   D.
Public  

3. How much can you afford? 

   A. Up to $250,000
   B. Up to $500,000 
   C. Up to $750,000 
   D. Up to $1 million+

4. Where do you want to live, in general terms?

  1. Beach
  2. Mountains
  3. Desert
  4. Lake
  5. River
  6. Rural
  7. Metro-area

5. Where do you want to live within the golf community? Overlooking:

  1. Fairway
  2. Green
  3. Marsh
  4. Lake
  5. Lagoon
  6. River
  7. Beach
  8. Desert
  9. Mountain
  10. Not on the course, but with a golf course view
  11. Just within the community, golf view not critical

6. You’ve chosen one of the areas above, but you also want to want to live within 30-45 minutes of one of the areas below. For example, you want to live in/near a metro area, but want to be able to drive to the beach within 30 minutes.

  1. International airport
  2. Beach
  3. Mountains
  4. Desert
  5. Lake
  6. River
  7. Rural
  8. Metro-area  

7. In which region of the U.S. would you like to live?

  1. New England
  2. Mid-Atlantic
  3. Southeast
  4. Mid-West
  5. South Central
  6. Pacific Northwest
  7. West
  8. Southwest

8. Do you want to be near:

  1. Cultural centers
  2. University town
  3. Health Care Facilities
  4. Shopping Centers
  5. Airport
  6. Other golf courses
  7. My grandchildren/children/family

9. A "name" golf course designer is important

   Yes       No

10. Other amenities that are important check all that apply

  1. Golf practice fa