The GolfCourseHome Life

Golf Architects Officially Add Pace of Play to Golf Course Design

World Golf Village, FL: Two courses, Hall of Fame & more.

One of the oft-heard remarks about playing 18 holes of golf is
that it takes too long--four hours or more. In today's fast-
paced, always connected world that can be a lifetime. The
members of the American Society of Golf Course Architects
(ASGCA) know this fact well and while the golfers themselves
are part of the equation, the course designers can help them
along with design strategies aimed at speeding up play.

“A properly designed, well-drained course with ample playable
areas, properly placed bunkers, visible water hazards and
smaller greens usually plays fastest,” explains ASGCA
President Steve Forrest. “ASGCA architects work with
developers to design courses that are challenging but not
overwhelming. This keeps play moving without detracting
from the player’s overall experience.”

Courses offering faster play usually benefit from a
combination of factors including quality professional
management, and the cooperation both of those playing and
those directing play.

However, according to Forrest, faster play also results from
course designs that pay special attention to routing designs
and tactical layouts of tees, greens and fairways.

“Common sense tells us that shorter, wider courses will play
faster than longer, narrow ones, particularly for the average
and beginning players,” notes Forrest. “But, other design
elements should also be taken into account.”

When you are investigating a master-planned community's golf
course, here are other design elements which, considered
along with the myriad other design issues, can work to speed
up your play and get you off to the tennis court, marina or
other activity more quickly. And, of course, you can always
play just nine holes.

Multiple tees: Another common sense element—but one that
must be considered in conjunction with how tee placement
and length affect proper shot alignment—is the number and
placement of multiple tees.

Flatter, Smaller Greens: When greens have fewer severe
undulations, three putt frequency is reduced. Smaller greens
also lessen the number of three putts, and reduce the time
spent lining up putts.

Strategic Fairway Mounding: Fairways can be designed to
contain slightly errant shots by strategic mound placement.

Easily-Visible Yardage Marking: Vertical yardage markers, or
markers that are otherwise quickly identifiable, with accurate
yardage information will speed play.

The ASGCA has a number of publications that address design
considerations. For a list of free publications on golf course
remodeling, development, master planning and golf course
architect selection, contact ASGCA at 262-786-5960 or
info@asgca.org. To see the list of more than 75 golf course
architects that have designed for GolfCourseHome
communities and a list of their course, click here.

The Highlands, VA, Offering 3,100 Acres, Golf & More, Joins GolfCourseHome.net

The Highlands, VA: Rural beauty close to Richmond.

The Highlands, a planned community spread across 3,100
acres of serene, natural landscape near Richmond, VA, has
joined the GolfCourseHome Network. Featuring a 65-acre
lake, an 18-hole championship golf course and homesites
rangingfrom one to five acres, the community combines
rural beauty with an easy commute to the conveniences of
the city of Richmond.

The dramatic contours of the 1995-vintage Highlands golf
course were designed by Barton Tuck. His tree-lined layout
measures 6,711 yards from the back tees. the Signature hole
is the par-5 14th, with its downhill drive, sweeping dogleg and
semi-island green.

The 65- acre Highlands Lake is a popular recreational amenity
for property owners and their guests. Boats up to 18 feet in
length are permitted on the lake, and for power craft only
electric motors are allowed. Virginia fish and game laws are
observed on the lake.

Walk on Down a Country Road: Whether you’re a novice
hiker or an experienced trekker of trails, the community
offers milesof preserved woodlands with the right terrain
to fit any endurance level.

Real Estate

• Planned for 900 homes, with new neighborhoods being added

• Most homes on acre-plus lots in cul-de-sac neighborhoods

• Homes are 3,600-plus square feet, some with three-car garages

• Priced from the upper-$400,000s

• Homesites priced from the $110,000s

• Click here for more information about The Highlands!

Bright's Creek, Offering Golf, Mtns and Equestrian, Joins GolfCourseHome

Bright’s Creek, NC: A Blue Ridge Mountain beauty.

Bright’s Creek, an exclusive 5,000-acre property carved into
the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, has joined the
GolfCourseHome Network. Featuring estate homesites that
offer long views of Tom Fazio golf and pristine mountain
ranges and Creekside Marina, the community is ideal for
those with a wide range of active interests.

Plans for this community are ambitious. Already completed
are an award-winning Equestrian Center  and Members’ Lodge,
and there are plans for two additional Fazio championship
courses, a swim and tennis center, clubhouse and
fitness center, extensive hiking trails and Rod & Gun Club.

Take Aim with Clubs, Racquets and Rifles: Sprawling and
lavishly equipped, Bright's Creek is a club community that
appeals to the avid golfer, equestrian, marksman and nature
enthusiast.

Real Estate

• Approximately 1,300 homesites to be developed

• Homesites range in size from a half-acre to five acres

• Homesites start at $175,000

• Custom homes start in the $900,000s

• Click here for more information about Bright's Creek!

Branson Creek, MO, Offering Golf & Marina, Joins GolfCourseHome.net Today

Branson Creek. MO: 7,500 acres, golf and marina, too.

The Communities at Branson Creek, part of a master-
planned, multi-use, destination property on 7,500 acres of
natural surroundings in the popular Ozarks highlands region,
joins the GolfCourseHome Network today.

Already home to Murder Rock Golf Club and the golf course
at Branson Creek Golf Club—one of America’s Top 100 public
courses—this development will include resort hotels,
convention centers, retail, restaurants, theaters and other
attractions.

Lakefront Too: Creekside Marina is another important
community amenity. Set on Table Rock Lake—which is known
throughout the central U.S. as a boater's paradise—the marina
features night slips, boat rental, a fuel dock and a full-service
marina store.

Real Estate

• Located off SR 65, south of Branson

• A variety of homes in five neighborhoods

• Prices start in the $200,000s

• Click here for more information about Branson Creek!

Tennessee National Fills Summer Bill with Prestigious Golf Tournaments

Tennessee National: Home to quality summer golf events.

The upcoming golf season at Tennessee National in Loudon,
TN, promises to be full of great events for men, women and
juniors. Several golf organizations, including the United States
Golf Association, have recognized the high quality of the Greg
Norman Signature Golf Course and have rewarded it with
several prestigious events.

Beginning in April, the club will host the 2008 SEC Women’s
Golf Championship, April 18-20. The tournament will be
followed by a U.S. Open Qualifier on May 19. 

Tennessee National will round out the summer by hosting the
AJGA Knoxville Junior Open, August 4-7, along with a U.S.
Mid-Am Qualifier taking place on August 11.

For those who haven't heard about this master-planned
waterfront and golf community, Tennessee National is tucked
into the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains where the
community offers a private sanctuary on historic Watts Bar
Lake. Homesites are accented by a broad selection of
premium amenities, architectural styles and community
activities.

This Weekend is Penn National's Discovery Weekend for Just $99 Per Couple

Penn National, PA: Accommodations, golf & more for just $99.

This weekend is Penn National's Discovery Weekend, running
from Friday March 28 to Saturday March 29, 2008. It's your
opportunity to learn about this award-winning community
located near the Civil War battlefield of Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, tour the property and enjoy some of its many
amenities, including its two championship golf courses and
spa.

The best part is that the weekend costs only $99 per couple.
Stay at the Penn National Inn over Saturday night and it's just
another $59. You'd have to work pretty hard to beat this offer.
See below for details and schedule of events. And don't worry
if you miss this weekend, you have another chance on April
11 and 12 with the same price and event line-up.

FRIDAY, MARCH 28
• COME VISIT. Check-in to the Penn National Inn. A welcome
reception & dinner with Resident Ambassadors is a perfect
opportunity to meet new friends and learn about life at
Penn National.

SATURDAY, MARCH 29
• Breakfast. Enjoy a hearty breakfast and a casual
    presentation by the Developer of Penn National

• Tour. Scheduled community tours to see available properties.

• Lunch. Lunch kicks off the afternoon of fun & festivities.

• Play Golf/Use Amenities. Choose your fun

• GOLF. Play 18-holes on either 4-star championship golf course

• NATURE WALK. Explore the trails around Penn National for a
     peaceful & inspiring afternoon

• SPA TREATMENTS. Enjoy a 30 minute massage by 
     professional massage therapists

• EXPLORE HISTORY. Explore Gettysburg National Park, just
     25 minutes away. Or take a walking tour through historic
     Chambersburg.

• RELAX. Kick back & relax at Penn National

• TENNIS

• ART TOURS

ALL INCLUSIVE cost for the weekend: $99 per couple

To confirm your reservation, call 800.338.7523. Or reply to
the community via its information request form.

The $99 per couple fee includes Friday overnight
accommodations at the Penn National Inn, activities, meals,
seminar, taxes & gratuities. Space is Limited. Reservations
are required. You and your spouse/guest are required to tour
the community with a Penn National Sales Associate.

Stars & Evolving Stars Converge on Amelia Island for Bausch & Lomb Championships

Amelia Island Plantation: Veteran & up-coming stars converge

It's that time of year again. Time for an unknown woman
tennis player to fashion spectacular tournament upsets and
catch the attention of the world that another star player is
about to be born. For the past 29 years, the place that these
shinning moments have been taking place is the Bausch &
Lomb Championships held every April at at Amelia Island
Plantation

For 2008, the world's top women top players will once again
will converge with the up-and-coming stars of the professional
women’s tennis tour at Amelia Island Plantation on April 7
to 13.

One of the most anticipated stops on the Sony Ericsson WTA
Tour for both players and fans, residents and guests are
looking forward to seeing top 15 players, including past
champions Venus Williams, Lindsay Davenport, and Elena
Dementieva, defending champion Tatiana Golovin, plus Anna
Chakvetadze, Marion Bartoli and Nicole Vaidisova.

For more detailed tournament information, call
1-800-486-8366 or visit blchamps.com. To make
reservations at Amelia Island Plantation for the action, call
1-866-213-8045.

Willoughby Golf Club Announces New Discovery Tour Package with Golf, Dining & More

Willoughby Golf Club, FL: Tour includes golf on Arthur Hills 18.

Willoughby Golf Club, FL, announces its new 3-day, 2-night
Discovery Tour. Stay at the community’s luxurious 3,200
square foot accommodations located directed opposite
the club.

Your package includes a round of golf at Willoughby’s Arthur
Hills-designed golf course and a pampering sports massage
at the Woodhouse Day Spa, complements of Willoughby Golf
Club.

Then you'll enjoy a dinner at the Willoughby clubhouse
prepared by Chef Jimmy. During your stay you can also play
tennis on Har-Tru courts, swim in the pool or just relax.
Also included in your stay is a private real estate tour of
Willoughby or a tour of downtown Stuart.

Willoughby Golf Club is a 403-acre, private golf community
located in the charming south Florida town of Stuart. The
golf club is limited to just 300 equity memberships who
enjoy a challenging, par-72, championship golf course
designed by Arthur Hills.

Accommodations are limited, so call Maria Reich,
Marketing Director today at 772-220-6000, ext. 218.

$1 Custom Upgrades, New Fitness Program, Homesite Release, Jim Furyk Course & More

Beacon Point, CO: New homesites now available.

The Club at Olde Stone, Alvaton, Kentucky, announces its
new Fitness Program. The program is modeled after the
Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) in Oceanside, CA, which
has been highlighted on the Golf Channel. The program is not
only for the golfers who already work out, but also for those
who have injuries or joint/muscle limitations. Click here for
more information about River Strand!

Hampton Pointe, located near Bluffton, SC, announces a
limited-time offer to home buyers who seek major custom
upgrades for next to no cost. For the next 10 days, at a cost
of just $1 each, buyers at Hampton Pointe can choose from a
Palm Beach Sun Room, an Expanded Family Room or Master
Bedroom, a deluxe Kitchen Package and many more choices.
Offer ends on March 31. Click here for more information
about Hampton Pointe!

Beacon Point, CO announces a new release of homesites now
available within the community’s Chandelle Collection, plus a
limited-time offer of significant savings on home purchases
throughout Beacon Point, where residents find sailing, fishing
and other outdoor recreation close to their own backyard.
Click here for more information about Beacon Point!

The Settings of West Point Lake, GA has announced the
completion of permitting and start-up of construction for the
first 10-slip dock at the community marina. The project, to
be completed in mid-May, is part of a master plan that calls
for every homesite—both waterfront and interior—to have its
own covered boatslip, maintained by the homeowners’
association. Click here for more information about The
Settings of West Point Lake!

Sawmill Creek, FL will soon be breaking ground on its new
Jim Furyk Signature golf course. Furyk, the 2003 U.S. Open
champion, designed the 18-hole course for Sawmill Creek.
Working with co-designer Michael Beebe, he drew on years of
golfing expertise and design experience in developing the
course, which will be built according to Audubon
International’s Silver Signature Program. Click here for more
information about Sawmill Creek!

River Strand, Bradenton, FL pulls out all the stops for a high-
excitement Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday, March 22. Some
5,000 hidden eggs—including one special golden egg—will be
tucked into hiding places on community property. Families
will gather for the egg hunt, a trolley ride, face painting, a
putt-putt egg contest, kids’ races and other festivities. The
Golden Egg Basket presentation takes place at 10:30. Click
here for more information about River Strand! 

For Just $1--Hampton Pointe Offers New Home Options (Deluxe Kitchen & More)

Hampton Pointe: Buy the home, add deluxe kitchen for $1.

Hampton Pointe, a Toll Brothers golf community located just
15 minutes west of Hilton Head Island, SC, announces a new
incentive: Now through March 31 Only - For just $1 each,
you can choose from a variety of exciting options (noted
below) to create your dream Toll Brothers home including:

• Palm Beach Sun Room
• Expanded Family Room or Master Bedroom
• Deluxe Kitchen Package
• Much More

For more information, call a sales representative at
1-866-375-8655

For Fast Information, click here to email the Hampton
Pointe Sales Team!

Options for this promotion vary by home collection and
community. And this option sale is valid only for new buyers
who purchase a home Hampton Pointe. The $1 option limited
to one option only. This offer is subject to change without
notice.

About Hampton Pointe
Hampton Pointe is a new, gated, master-planned country club
community by Toll Brothers. Located 15 minutes west of Hilton
Head Island and convenient to Interstate 95 near the vibrant
SC-278 corridor, the community’s 850-acre Lowcountry site is
surrounded by 15 large and small lakes that border green
fairways and residential neighborhoods.

Residents will enjoy a new, Nicklaus Design golf course and
other top-tier recreational amenities. The community’s
health and fitness center will include state -of-the-art
exercise facilities, yoga and activity rooms, a full menu of
professional spa services, plus luxurious men's and women's
locker rooms.

Construction of 10-Slip Dock Begun at Settings of West Point Lake, GA

The Setting of West Point Lake, GA: Docks ready for spring.

Get your boats ready, docks have started going in at The
Setting of West Point Lake. All permitting has been completed
at the LaGrange, Georgia, community and construction of the
first 10-slip dock was started last week and will be ready in
mid-May.

The Settings, located on the shores of West Point Lake, offers
an innovative plan in which every homesite at the
community—both waterfront and interior—comes with its own
covered boat slip.

This kind of access is unprecedented in the development
industry, according to the community developers. Boat slips
will be built for each property owner and maintained through
The Settings of West Point Lake’s HOA.

About The Settings
The Settings of West Point Lake stretches across its 479-
acre landscape on the shores of West Point Lake. Homesites
are carefully positioned to help residents make the most of
their pristine surroundings, with some 30 percent of the
community preserved as greenspace.

Proposed amenities include a lakeside clubhouse, community
docks, a swimming pool, tennis courts, nature trails,
wilderness parks and storage for RVs and boats.

Golf Architect Pete Dye: Lifelong Innovator (Part-Time Intimidator)

PGA Village, FL: A Dye course and famous golf school.

Pete Dye: Lifelong Innovator
(Part-Time Intimidator)

Welcome to the seventh installment in an ongoing series of
articles on golf course designers and the style and value they
bring to a golf community. Past installments have focused on
Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Arnold Palmer, Arthur Hills,
Robert Trent Jones II, Bob Cupp and Tom Jackson.

Forget railroad ties, island greens and “Dye-abolical” course
layouts that all the “experts” cite in summing up Pete Dye’s
mark on golf course design. Dye’s career makes sense only
if you understand that in the late 1960s and ‘70s  he
re-introduced the strategic subtleties of British links golf into
American golf course design, and in doing so, changed
American golf forever.

Now in his 80's and still designing, Dye grew up playing a nine-
hole course on his family’s farm in Urbana, Ohio. He won the
Ohio State High School Championship and continued to
compete in amateur events for decades.

FLORIDA: Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club

The architect’s life and career changed in 1963, when he took
his first trip to Scotland. That visit freed Pete Dye to bring a
sense of mystery and natural, free-form randomness to the
fairways and greens he would build.

Dye had none other than Jack Nicklaus along as a rookie
assistant designer when he built the world-famous Harbour
Town Golf Links within Sea Pines Plantation on HIlton Head
Island. Site of an annual PGA Tour event, the Harbour Town
course was Dye’s first visible statement of how British
linksland design elements would influence him from that
point on.

GEORGIA: Marina Cottages at The Ford Plantation

Almost every type of terrain has golf potential, in Dye’s view,
but he is particularly fond of Carolina Lowcountry marsh.
Colleton River Plantation, where a bold and fast-running Dye
layout complements a Nicklaus-designed course, is an
excellent example of the “ground movement” Dye creates.

One Pete Dye golf course that the game’s top players have
always felt confident on is the River Course at Kingsmill on
the James, in historic Williamsburg, VA. With Michelob as a
title sponsor, both the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour have
staged exciting tournaments on Dye’s smooth fairways and
carefully perched greens.

 Despite the long association between Dye’s designs and tour-
level competition, Pete is just as pleased and challenged to
design a purely recreational course. His 18-hole, championship
golf course at Hampton Hall, SC, is a case study in hole
variety, switching its requirements from power to positioning
and back again.

Dye is known for staying on site over long stretches and even
operating the shaping machinery himself. By being so hands-
on, he was able to master an eco-friendly approach that
controlled water use and made it possible to work in sensitive
environments. The courses he built at Amelia Island
Plantation, FL, in the 1970s with Bobby Weed are prominent
early examples.

One of Dye’s design ideas is that private courses should have
hard-to-read features that baffle a newcomer but become like
quirky old friends to the golfers who encounter them time and
again. At the Southern Hills Plantation Club outside Tampa,
FL, we can see that sleight-of-hand in the form of boomerang-
shaped mounding that hides steep-faced bunkers.

It is particularly tempting to course developers who are
building large, multi-course properties to include the work of
Pete Dye in the golf amenity. Barefoot Resort & Golf, a
landmark community on the Myrtle Beach Grand Strand,
features a star-studded design marquee that includes Greg
Norman, Davis Love III, Tom Fazio and a 7.343-yard Dye
Course. It’s a visually captivating layout whose so-called
safe areas are sometimes more tricky to play from than the
hazards one is trying to avoid.

FLORIDA: Ranch Colony

Likewise, the Dye reputation for presenting a stiff challenge
naturally leads a community like PGA Village, FL, to include
one of Pete’s courses in its 54-hole golf complex. Known for
providing one of America’s leading resort-style golf
academies—the famed PGA Learning Center—this community
turns its ever-improving golfers loose on two Tom Fazio 18s
and one by Dye.

Other Articles in the Golf Architect Series

I. The No. 1 Real-Estate Enhancer: Jack Nicklaus - Find out
why this golf course architect adds the most value to the real
estate surrounding the golf courses he designs.

II. Tom Fazio: Elevating Course Design--and Home Values

III. Arnold Palmer: His Brilliant Second Career

IV. Arthur Hills: Value-Adding Visionary

V. Robert Trent Jones II: Continuing the Legacy

VI.  Bob Cupp and Tom Jackson: Veterans with Prime Portfolios

Mirasol, FL, Joins GolfCourseHome.net in 4 Days, Get a Sneak Peak Today

MIrasol, FL: Coming to GolfCourseHome.net this week.

Mirasol, the private golf community located in Palm Beach
Gardens that formerly hosted the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic,
will be joining the GolfCourseHome Network this Thursday,
but you can take a sneak peak at it now.

Featuring 36 holes of championship golf at its Sunrise and
Sunset courses, Mirasol offers a strong golf pedigree.
Sunset was designed by the acclaimed Arthur Hills while
Sunrise, the work of architect Tom Fazio, had the privilege
of hosting the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic for three years.

An impressive array of amenities is headed by a Grand
Clubhouse that offers 50,000 square feet of amenities,
including formal and casual dining areas, meeting rooms,
card rooms, sitting rooms and banquet hall

The Esplanade Sports & Pool Center is a 17,000-square-foot
complex with men's and women's locker rooms, spa and salon,
steam and massage rooms complete with full-sized swimming
pool with lap lanes and 15 clay tennis courts and tennis pro
shop

A Community Park features a wide gamut of fields from
baseball and soccer to sand volleyball courts, plus jogging
trails, playground and picnic area. Nearby is the Mirasol Walk
shopping center for all your shopping needs.

Real Estate

    *  2,300-acre community with 25 diverse villages
    * Environment of natural preserves and lakes, with
         views of golf, waterfront & preserve
    * Custom residences priced from the $500,000s to
         $4 million-plus
    * Click here for more information about Mirasol!

Grand Openings, Recent Sales, Charity Events, Awards & More

Heritage Todd Creek, CO: Grand Opening in April.

Heritage Todd Creek, CO is making plans now for its Grand
Opening celebration coming up at the end of next month.
Heritage Todd Creek is a private, age-qualified, 55+
community with a championship golf course designed by
Arthur Hills. The 18-hole course opened last summer.
Click here for more information about Heritage Todd Creek!

PGA Village, FL announces the debut the Island Club, a new
recreation and lifestyle amenity with a fun, tropical flavor.
The new club is an 18,000-square-foot facility complete with
resort style pool, grill, basketball court, community center,
tennis complex and library. It includes a full-service fitness
center, aerobics and pilates room, card, game and billiard
room and is staffed by a full-time activities director.
Click here for more information about PGA Village!

Reynolds Plantation, GA announced that two members of its
golf professional staff had recently received prestigious
awards from the Georgia PGA. Bob Mauragas, vice president
of golf operations, was given the Bill Strausbaugh Award,
while Reynolds Landing assistant professional, Gary Miller,
was named as his chapter’s Assistant of  the Year. Click here
for more information about Reynolds Plantation!

Harbour Ridge, FL is pleased to report that a recent Open
House and Tour of Homes event culminated in the sale of
three residences. This open-to-the-public event, the eighth
annual for Harbour Ridge, offered inside looks at 30 homes
and condominiums. The four-hour tour of  homes was
attended by more than 400 members, guests and prospects.
Click here for more information about Harbour Ridge!

Admiral’s Cove, FL announced that club members would hold
their annual charitable-giving event March 27-29, officially
called the Admiral’s Cove Cares Charitable Foundation
Weekend. Its mission is to aid worthy civic, cultural,
educational, social and health-related institutions. Over
two prior years of fund-raising it has totaled $750,000 in
donations. Click here for more information about Admiral’s
Cove!

New Homesites, Reduced Prices, New Clubhouse And A Two-Man Scramble Event

The Bridges at Preston Crossings: New homesites released

The Bridges at Preston Crossings, Gunter, TX, announces a
new neighborhood featuring the release one-third acre
homesites. Priced from the $80,000s, the community is
offering creekside homesites and secure cul-de-sacs. One of
north Dallas’s fastest selling communities, the community's
new homesites are within walking distance to its amenities
and swimming pool. Click here for more information about
the Bridges at Preston Crossing!

Lake Blackshear Plantation, GA is hosting a new
competitive golf event at the community’s much-admired
Ironwood Golf Club. Billing the event as a search for the
best two-man scramble team in South Georgia, it has
scheduled a regular Tuesday night “Nine & Dine” scramble
for interested two-player teams. Click here for more
information about Lake Blackshear Plantation!

St. Andrews Park, FL announced that it has broken ground
on a 4,000-square-foot private clubhouse. The new facility
will feature a resort-style pool, whirlpool spa and sundeck.
Inside, the fitness center will provide a full body workout
plus there will be a grand gathering room with catering
kitchen. Additionally there will be a card/poker room ideal
for neighborhood get-togethers. All clubhouse facilities are
for the sole use of residents of St. Andrews Park. Click here
for information about St. Andrews Park!

Fiddler’s Creek, FL, that homesites at the Naples community
are now priced from the $400,000s. A gated, master-planned
community with 24-hour security, Fidder’s Creek offers 36
holes, 54,000 square foot Fiddler’s Creek Club & Spa, tennis,
and was recently named to Vanguard Level status by
GreenGolfCommunties.net. Click here for more information
about Fiddler’s Creek!

You Can Live at These Golf Magazine 2008 “Best Golf Resorts”

Ginn Hammock Beach Resort, FL: Vacation and live here.

Golf Magazine made public today its 20th anniversary
“Best Resorts Awards,” which honors 75 superior
destinations in North America. Awards are given in three
categories, Platinum, Gold and Silver, plus a new
designation, Green, in which 10 resorts are recognized for
their environmental efforts.

Four of the Silver Award winners offer real estate
opportunities in addition to abundant vacation facilities and
you can read more about them by going to
GolfCourseHome.net or clicking on their direct links below.

In addition, three of the communities are members of
GreenGolfCommunities.net. See below for their status level.

SILVER Award Winner
Golf Resorts with Real Estate

Ginn Hammock Beach Resort, Palm Coast, FL
Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Island, SC
Kingsmill Resort, Williamsburg, VA
Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, FL

GREEN Award Winners
Golf Resorts with Real Estate
Featured on GreenGolfCommunities.net

Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, FL - Vanguard Level

Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Austin, TX - Steward Level
Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, GA - Steward Level

Colonial Heritage, VA, Active Adult Community, Joins GolfCourseHome

Colonial Heritage, VA: Just minutes from Williamsburg.

Colonial Heritage, Williamsburg’s only gated golf community
for adults 55 and up, will officially join the GolfCourseHome
Network next Thursday, but you can have a sneak peak at it
here.

Offering a  mild, four-season climate and friendly
atmosphere, this Lennar Homes-developed community's
locale ranks it among the most desirable places for active
adults on the East Coast.

Residents have a scenic and sporty Arthur Hills championship
golf course waiting outside their door. This 170-acre pearl,
opened in 2006, winds its way through the neighborhoods of
Colonial Heritage offering prime views of its well-groomed
fairways.

Multiple Centers of Activity: The Fitness Center features
tennis courts, swimming pools and more. The community’s
25,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse is home to a grand ballroom plus
fine and casual dining.

Nearby is the community’s 7,500-square-foot Athletic Club.
It’s loaded with exercise options, from water aerobics in the
indoor pool to a stimulating workout at the Fitness Center.

Real Estate

• Low-maintenance homes
• All single-level living
• Spacious first-floor master suites
• Open floor plans ideal for entertaining
• The Model Home Park showcases four decorated models
• Prices range from $350,000 to $550,000
• Resales as well as new construction available
• Click here for more information about Colonial Heritage!

'Best of the Best' Golf Course Rankings--Where Living & Golf Are No. 1

Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro GA: Most decorated.

The GolfCourseHome Rankings Compendium

Our modern culture is all about creating lists of who or what
is tops in its field. Golf courses and golf communities have
had various rankings systems for decades, as you know.
What’s hard to know is which communities and courses have
earned which honors—the "rankings season" extends from
October to February.

If you look at all the different kinds of ways to rate or rank
a golf course, you'll discover quite an array. From Best New
Course to Best Residential to Best Public to Best Private to
Best Classic to Best Modern from Top 100 to Top 50, there
are multiple ways to shine.

To all courses and communities, these annual and biennial
awards mean a great deal. There's great crowing when a top
ranking is achieved and much soul-searching when it’s lost.

GolfCourseHome does not send out field researchers and
raters in pursuit of its own, proprietary ranking system. But
we thought we could do the next best thing--look at all the
current rankings and identify all GolfCourseHome communities
that have received more than one or two accolades and
arrange them in a suitable 'Rankings Compendium.'

Topping our compilation is a fabulous Front Nine, with the
most dynamic of them all being Reynolds Plantation, which has
received honors of every sort for its many golf courses and for
the community in general.

The Front Nine  (or The Divine Nine)
1. Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro GA uses a rare and
impressive blend of quality and quantity to rise to the
pinnacle of the golf rankings, both for its courses and its
overall amenities. 

• Golfweek Top 50 New Courses for 2006, The Creek
  Club, by Jim Engh
• Top 100 Golf Community by Travel + Leisure Golf
• A Premier Property by LINKS Magazine
• No. 61 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
  (Great Waters course)
• No. 95 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
  (Oconee course)
• No. 38 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Resort Golf Courses
  (Great Waters course)
• No. 61 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Resort Golf Courses
  (Oconee course)
• A Golfweek’s Best Course You Can Play in the U.S.
  (Great Waters and National courses)
• No. 43 on 100 Top Courses You Can Play by GOLF
  Magazine (GW)
• No. 60 on 100 Top Courses You Can Play by GOLF
  Magazine (Oconee)
• No. 97 on America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses by
  Golf Digest
• No. 5 on the 50 Top Courses for Women by Golf for
  Women (Oconee)
• Top 100 Community by Where to Retire Magazine
• Click here for more information about Reynolds
  Plantation!

2. Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, SC, is perhaps the most highly
lauded new community in the U.S. Current awards for this
20,000-acre resort/residential Lowcountry property:

• Golfweek Top 50 New Courses for 2006, May River Golf
  Club, by Jack Nicklaus
• Top 100 Golf Community by Travel + Leisure Golf
• A Premier Property by LINKS Magazine
• A Golfweek Best Course You Can Play in the U.S.
• No. 31 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
• No. 53 on 100 Top Courses You Can Play by GOLF
  Magazine.
• Click here for more information about Palmetto Bluff!

3. Sea Pines, Hilton Head SC is a landmark community on a
huge waterfront site with a long list of great amenities but
one in particular that garners close attention from the raters—
Pete Dye’s Harbour Town Golf Links.

• No. 29 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Modern Golf Courses
• No. 13 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Resort Golf Courses
• No. 15 on America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses by
  Golf Digest
• No. 93 on America’s 100 Greatest Courses by Golf
  Digest
• No. 40 on 100 Top Courses in the U.S. by GOLF
  Magazine
• No. 15 on 100 Top Courses You Can Play by GOLF
  Magazine
• A Golfweek’s Best Course You Can Play in the U.S.
• Click here for more information about Sea Pines!

4. Homestead Preserve, Warm Springs, VA benefits from the
combined glory of the lofty rankings and ratings garnered by
the famed Cascades Course and a sister course at the historic
Homestead resort property.

• No. 2 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
  (Cascades)
• No. 12 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Resort Golf Courses
  (Cascades)
• No. 61 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Resort Golf Courses
  (Cascades)
• A Golfweek’s Best Course You Can Play in the U.S.
  (Cascades and Old Course)
• No. 16 on America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses by
  Golf Digest (Cascades)
• No. 97 on America’s 100 Greatest Courses by Golf
  Digest (Cascades)
• No. 61 on 100 Top Courses in the U.S. by GOLF
  Magazine (Cascades)
• No. 18 on 100 Top Courses You Can Play by GOLF
  Magazine (GW)
• Click here for more information about Homestead
  Preserve!

5. Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Austin, TX, did more than
other other area property to put Austin on the national golf
map. The residential component of Barton Creek is a golf-
and spa-lover’s way of enjoying this award-winning community
on a daily basis.

• A Golfweek’s Best Course You Can Play in the U.S.
  (Fazio Foothills and Fazio Canyons courses)
• No. 83 on America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses by
  Golf Digest (Canyons)
• No. 68 on 100 Top Courses You Can Play by GOLF
  Magazine (Foothills)
• No. 69 on 100 Top Courses You Can Play by GOLF
  Magazine (Canyons)
• No. 40 on the 50 Top Courses for Women by Golf for
  Women (Foothills)
• Top 100 Golf Community by Travel + Leisure Golf
• Click here for more information about Barton Creek
  Resort & Spa!

The Powder Horn, WY: New clubhouse & plenty of awards.

6. The Powder Horn, Sheridan, WY earns its list of honors
without benefit of being an easy visit for the traveling raters.
Of course, once a visitor does arrive at this grand Western
community, they are sure to agree it has earned its awards.

• No. 24 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
• No. 68 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Modern Golf Courses
• No. 21 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Resort Golf Courses
• A Golfweek’s Best Course You Can Play in the U.S.
• Top 100 Community by Where to Retire Magazine
• A Premier Property by LINKS Magazine
• Click here for more information about The Powder Horn!

7. Desert Mountain, Scottsdale AZ, is an upscale and highly
influential Arizona enclave that can provide six excellent
reasons (and courses) for visiting.

• No. 55 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
  (Chiracuhua course)
• No. 75 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
  (Renegade course)
• No. 76 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
  (Geronimo course)
• No. 97 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
  (Cochise course)
• Top 100 Golf Community by Travel + Leisure Golf
• A Premier Property by LINKS Magazine
• Click here for more information about Desert Mountain!

8. Barefoot Resort, No. Myrtle Beach, SC, is a community
that’s had to work to stand out from the crowd of excellent
Myrtle Beach venues. Here’s how Barefoot did it:

• No. 87 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Resort Golf Courses
  (Love course)
• No. 97 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Resort Golf Courses
  (Fazio course)
• No. 53 on America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses by
  Golf Digest (Love course)
• No. 92 on America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses by
  Golf Digest (Fazio course)
• No. 95 on 100 Top Courses You Can Play by GOLF
  Magazine (Love course)
• Click here for more information about Barefoot Resort!

9. Cuscowilla, Eatonton GA is a highly ranked community with
a distinctly down-home feel that visitors and residents alike
keep returning to—and golf that keeps earning kudos.

• No. 2 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
• No. 33 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Modern Golf Courses
• No. 21 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Resort Golf Courses
• A Golfweek’s Best Course You Can Play in the U.S.
• No. 19 on 100 Top Courses You Can Play by GOLF
  Magazine
• Click here for more information about Cuscowilla!

The Next Tier --

Colleton River Plantation, Bluffton, SC, is spread across a
romantic landscape of marsh and woodland—terrain that
inspired two great modern course designers to do some of
their finest work, as the rankings prove:

• No. 44 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
  (Nicklaus course)
• No. 67 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
  (Dye course)
• No. 35 on America's 50 Greatest Golf Retreats by Golf
  Digest Index
• Top 100 Golf Community by Travel + Leisure Golf
• A Premier Property by LINKS Magazine
• Click here for more information about Colleton River
  Plantation!

Paa-Ko Communities, Sandia Park, NM, burst on the golf
scene in 2000 (it has recently added an excellent new nine
to complement its original 18) and set the stage for build-out
of attractive residential neighborhoods.

• No. 5 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
• No. 40 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Modern Golf Courses
• A Golfweek’s Best Course You Can Play in the U.S.
• No. 38 on America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses by
  Golf Digest
• No. 30 on 100 Top Courses You Can Play by GOLF
  Magazine
• Click here for more information about Paa-Ko Communities!

Suncadia, Roslyn, WA, represents a finely honed blend of
resort ambience with a distinctive private golf club secluded
within it. Its honors reflect that versatile profile.

• A Golfweek’s Best Course You Can Play in the U.S.
  (Prospector course)
• Golfweek Top 50 New Courses for 2006, Prospector
  Golf Course, by Arnold Palmer
• Golfweek Top 50 New Courses for 2006, Tumble Creek
  Golf Club, by Tom Doak
  
• Top 100 Golf Community by Travel + Leisure Golf
• A Premier Property by LINKS Magazine
• Click here for more information about Suncadia!

Best of the Rest

Belfair, Bluffton, SC, is a double-Fazio venue in the pristine
Lowcountry of South Carolina.

• No. 63 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
  (West)
• No. 72 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
  (East)
• Top 100 Golf Community by Travel + Leisure Golf
• Premier Property by LINKS Magazine
• Click here for more information about Belfair!

Daniel Island, Charleston, SC, the winner of untold awards for
overall community plan and design, also does well in the golf-
rankings category.

• Golfweek Top 50 New Courses for 2006, Ralston Creek
  Club, by Rees Jones
• Top 100 Golf Community by Travel + Leisure Golf
• A Premier Property by LINKS Magazine
• Top 100 Community by Where to Retire Magazine
• Click here for more information about Daniel Island!

Horseshoe Bay, Marble Falls, TX, is a must-visit for any
aficionado of Robert Trent Jones, Sr., whose designs here
rank among his finest.

• No. 79 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Resort Golf Courses
  (RamRock course)
• No. 99 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Resort Golf Courses
  (AppleRock course)
• A Golfweek’s Best Course You Can Play in the U.S.
  (RamRock course)
• A Golfweek’s Best Course You Can Play in the U.S.
  (AppleRock course)
• Click here for more information about Horseshoe Bay!

Spring Island, Spring Island, SC, is one of the great
environmentally planned golf communities in the U.S., with
a standout golf course by Arnold Palmer.

• No. 27 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
• No. 89 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Modern Golf Courses
• Top 100 Golf Community by Travel + Leisure Golf
• A Premier Property by LINKS Magazine
• Click here for more information about Spring Island!

Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, SC, is a 2,200-acres coastal
property that continues to build its reputation as a golf jewel
between the Atlantic and the Intracoastal Waterway.

• Golfweek Top 50 New Courses for 2006, Members
  Course Club, by Nick Price and Craig Schreiner
• No. 100 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
• A Golfweek’s Best Course You Can Play in the U.S.
• A Premier Property by LINKS Magazine
• Click here for more information about Grande Dunes!

Oldfield, Okatie, SC, is an emerging jewel still adding to
its stock of awards.

• Top 100 Golf Community by Travel + Leisure Golf
• A Premier Property by LINKS Magazine
• Top 100 Community by Where to Retire Magazine
• Click here for more information about Oldfield!

Mirabel, Scottsdale, AZ, is perched above the distant city
lights of Scottsdale and admired as a top-echelon private
desert golf community.

• No. 91 on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses
• Top 100 Golf Community by Travel + Leisure Golf
• A Premier Property by LINKS Magazine
• Click here for more information about Mirabel!

The Cliffs Communities, Travelers Rest, SC, is a leading
innovator among Southeastern U.S. communities, as
evidenced by these honors.

• Golfweek Top 50 New Courses for 2006, Walnut Cove
  Club, by Jack Nicklaus
• Top 100 Golf Community by Travel + Leisure Golf
• A Premier Property by LINKS Magazine
• Click here for more information about The Cliffs!

The Villages at Tullymore, Stanwood, MI, is not yet as
famous as some of the Northern Michigan properties are, but
the rankers and raters know it well, as these fine
achievements show.

• No. 14 on America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses by
  Golf Digest
• No. 83 on America’s 100 Greatest Courses by Golf
  Digest
• No. 96 on 100 Top Courses You Can Play by GOLF
  Magazine
• Click here for more information about Tullymore!

Tesoro, Port St. Lucie, FL, is a Ginn Club community
offering two Signature golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer
and Tom Watson—and honored with:

• Golfweek Top 50 New Courses for 2006, Tesoro Club
  course by Arnold Palmer
• Top 100 Golf Community by Travel + Leisure Golf
• A Premier Property by LINKS Magazine
• Click here for more information about Tesoro!

Incentives, T+L Golf Cottage, Sculptures, Special Getaways & More

The Reserve at SugarTree, TX : Incentives ending 3/9/08.

The Reserve at SugarTree, TX has announced that its current
incentive program on never-before-seen homesites will end
Sunday, March 9. The incentive is 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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

Grand Landings To Join GolfCourseHome Featuring New Grand Club Concept

Grand Landings: Residents play 3 courses by Palmer and Player.

Grand Landings, a new gated, master-planned community
created by LandMar on Florida's Palm Coast, will officially
join the GolfCourseHome Network next Thursday, but you
can enjoy a sneak peak now.

Designed around the natural beauty of the north Florida
coast, Grand Landings offers a rich assortment of amenities
connected by walking trails, sidewalks and community parks.

The 1,395-acre property is planned for some 750 residences,
from low-maintenance detached villas to grand custom
homes. Property ownership also brings membership in The
Grand Club, a new concept in club living.

The Grand Club is a comprehensive collection of master-
planned communities, clubs and facilities by LandMar and
Hampton Golf. For residents of Grand Landings, The Grand
Club benefits include access to three championship golf
courses within easy driving distance.

Grand Club concept: Created by LandMar and Hampton Golf.

At each facility, members of The Grand Club will enjoy full
clubhouse access for dining and socializing; member
tournaments; comfortable, well-appointed locker rooms plus,
pools, sports courts and expert instruction and events.

With more than half of the property devoted to conservation,
natural preserves are plentiful. Most homesites border a
natural preserve or lake. Throughout the property are
numerous footpaths, trails and sidewalks leading to green
space areas.

Pilot's Club: Will be adjacent to the Regional Airport.

Among future plans is a Pilot’s Club, which will be adjacent
to the Regional Airport, and a planned fly-in neighborhood
which will include a club open to all residents.

Real Estate

    * Homes (with homesite) from the low-$200,000s
    * Homesites from the $80,000s
          o Lot sizes range from one-third to three-fourths acres
          o Views of water, interior preserve

You can request additional information about Grand Landings
here.

St Andrews Park Breaks Ground on New Community Clubhouse

St Andrews Park, FL: New clubhouse becoming a reality.

Builders of the 4,000 square foot private clubhouse have
broken ground at St Andrews Park in Port St. Lucie located
on Florida's noted Treasure Coast.

A luxury townhome community adjacent to the 18-hole
championship course at St. James Golf Club, St. Andrews
Park's new facility will feature a resort style pool, whirlpool
spa and sundeck.

Inside the clubhouse, a fitness center will provide a full-body
workout plus there will be a grand gathering room with
catering kitchen for all resident party needs.

St Andrews Park: Residents use the adjacent 18-hole
championship course at St. James Golf Club.

Additionally there will be a card/poker room for neighborhood
get-togethers.  The clubhouse is for the exclusive use of the
residents of St Andrews Park. You can request additional
information about St. Andrews Park here.

Poplar Grove, Featuring a Best Upscale Course, Joins GolfCourseHome.net

Poplar Grove, VA: Golf Digest bestowed its award in 2005.

Poplar Grove,  Amherst, VA, joins the GolfCourseHome
Network later today, but you can take a sneak preview now.
Poplar Grove is a master-planned golf development well-known
to avid golfers in central Virginia. Its golf course is the final
design of golf legend Sam Snead, who teamed with Ed Carton
to create it.

Golf Digest named this Snead signature layout No. 8 in the
category of 'Best New Upscale Golf Course' for 2005. Carved
through native Virginia forest, the layout features rolling
terrain, streams and lakes and sweeping mountain views.

To the Manor Born: An imposing but comfortable Manor
House golf clubhouse provides the center of dining and
socializing for Poplar Grove. With magnificent views of the
Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s an ideal location for golf
tournaments, weddings, private parties, and corporate events.

Real Estate

• Lots starting at $100,000
• Spec homes viewable now
• Priced from mid-$500,000s
• Large lots of one acre-plus
• Four-bedroom, multi-bath plans
• Limited number of outside memberships available
• Association fee covers most services
• Click here for more information about Poplar Grove

El Dorado Ranch, Featuring Solar Power, Is Added to GreenGolfCommunities.net

El Dorado Ranch, Mexico: Beachfront, golf and green.

El Dorado Ranch in San Felipe, Mexico, has been added to
GreenGolfCommunities.net and awarded Vanguard status.
More than 17,500 acres of El Dorado Ranch's 35,000 acre
development are designated "Green Space" to preserve
the integrity of the surrounding environment.

Among its many green accomplishments, El Dorado features
the largest solar community in North America.  With
approximately 3,000 solar lots, the development has
attracted the attention of many solar lobbyists,
environmentalists and solar engineers, becoming a model for
solar energy usage, according to the community developer.

You can request further information about El Dorado here.

Additional initiatives at El Dorado include:

• The pioneering of Straw Bale construction in Baja. In
  constructing  the first straw bale home in Baja, the
  community has actively promoted this environmentally
  friendly construction method.  El Dorado is now the
  largest strawbale community in North America
• El Dorado Ranch is in full compliance with Profepa
  (Mexican Government's Environmental Protection
  Agency). The community has a full-time Ecology
  Department managed by Victor Zazueta. The
  department is responsible for both El Dorado Ranch
  and the San Felipe Beach Club in the following areas:

• Follow up and coordinate conditions given by the
  environmental authorities

• Follow up and coordinate the environmental
  administration plans

• Supervise and control all ecological aspects of El Dorado
  Ranch and San Felipe Beach Club

• Legal representative of the environmental issues
  with environmental authorities

• Study, investigation, taxonomy and life cycle of native
  species of wildlife

• Keep ecology file updated and in order

Wi-Fi, Special Options, Awards & a Special Visit from Davis Love lll

Admiral’s Cove, FL: Wi-Fi is hot throughout the community.

Admiral’s Cove, FL recently reported to members on key
security and performance features of a newly installed
Internet Wi-Fi system throughout the community’s marina,
pool complex, inn, Bayside Grille, main lobby and executive
offices. The system leverages the same award-winning IPS
engine and Digital Vaccine service used to protect thousands
of enterprise-class networks throughout the world. Click here
for more information about Admiral’s Cove!

Balmoral at MacGregor, NC announced