The GolfCourseHome Life

New Communities Newsletter, Dec. 18: Stay'n Plays, Romantic Retreat & More

Lake Blackshear Plantation, GA: Stay n' Play starts at $62.

                     NEW COMMUNITIES Newsletter
    Vol. 12, No. 466  Friday Dec. 18, 2009  Circulation: 30,925
          -------------------------------------------------------------- 
  USA   Mexico  Canada  Caribbean  Luxury Golf Communities

This Week's Headlines:

* Deals & Special of the Week
* Special Community Events
* Community News & Updates
* News Shorts
* This Month's Spotlighted Communities
* Communities Coming in 2010
              _____________________________________

Thank you for making Tuesday's online newsletter such a success. So much so that we are continuing to go online for the rest of the year. Watch for the last regular issue of the year next Tuesday, no issues on Christmas and Jan. 1  and a special double issue on Dec. 28, the Annual GolfCourseHome Index of all the year's stories and Network news. Watch for it!

DEALS & SPECIALS OF THE WEEK

> Lake Blackshear Plantation, GA now offers two attractive Stay n' Play packages. The first provides a one-night stay at the Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club, plus two rounds of golf at Ironwood Golf Club at Lake Blackshear Plantation. Total price is $89 plus tax. The other option is a one-night stay with complimentary breakfast at the Best Western in Cordele, plus two free rounds at Ironwood Golf Club in Lake Blackshear, for $62 plus tax.  Click here for more information about Lake Blackshear!

> Barton Creek Resort and Spa, TX offers a Romantic Retreat package with rates starting at $199 per person. It includes luxurious king bed accommodations, dinner in either the 8212 Wine Bar & Grill or Hill Country Dining Room, daily breakfast and free champagne on arrival. Package available with golf or spa upgrade. Restrictions may apply. Click here for more information about Barton Creek!

> Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club, FL has a new Fitness Fore Golf program designed to improve overall health and sharpen golf swings. Sign up and get access to Lake Jovita’s first-class practice facilities and its two championship golf course after 4 pm daily. Enrollees also receive five sessions with a certified personal trainer plus use of the junior Olympic pool. Standard fee of $1,000 is reduced for a limited time to $250. Click here for more information about Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club!

• For more deals & packages, click here
• For GolfCourseHome's Complete Deals Section, click here

Back to top

Boca Woods Country Club, FL: Members raise funds.

SPECIAL EVENTS

> Boca Woods Country Club, FL recently hosted the Annual Fireman’s Ball to recognize the men and women of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Station 51. A community club, the Friends of Fire Rescue 51, provided the firehouse with a new large-screen TV, a check for vertical flashlights and ongoing funds for cable service and the station food pantry.  More than 200 Boca Woods Country Club members and guests attended the event.  Click here for more information about Boca Woods Country Club!

> Hampton Hall, SC will host a Silent Auction and Charity Golf Tournament benefitting the American Cancer Society next month. The auction begins Jan.9 and runs through the tournament date, Saturday, Jan. 23, on Hampton Hall's Pete Dye-designed course. Festivities include a Mixed Couples Scramble, complimentary beverage cart service and a cocktail reception. Field is open to all residents of Hampton Hall and all Lowcountry residents. Cost: $35 for Members, $50 for the public Click here for more information about Hampton Hall!

Cummings Cove Golf & Country Club, NC: Award winner.

Back to top

COMMUNITY NEWS & UPDATES

> Cummings Cove Golf & Country Club, NC was honored in the LINKS Magazine 2009 Smart Buying Guide among 300 premier residential golf communities. Cummings Cove was the one golf community region-wide to be chosen as "Best for Convenience to City Life." LINKS cited Cummings Cover for its “tranquil seclusion in the Blue Ridge Mountains and proximity to thriving shops, restaurants, galleries and attractions of nearby Asheville." Click here for more information about Cummings Cove!

Back to top

NEWS  SHORTS

> Sea Pines, SC is bracing itself for the 9th Annual Polar Bear Jump, taking place at 10 a.m. on Dec. 31 at the Harbour Town Pool in Sea Pines. Participants will warm up with complimentary hot chocolate and refreshments before braving the chill water. 

• For deals that expire on or before Dec. 31, click here!

========================================

Back to top

THIS MONTH'S SPOTLIGHTED COMMUNITIES
These communities are now featured in the GolfCourseHome Home Page Spotlight. See below for names, locations and links.

Blackstone
Peoria, Arizona

Cliffs at Keowee Springs
Six Mile, South Carolina

Casa del Lago
Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic

Cliffs at Mountain Park
Travelers Rest, South Carolina

Regency at Dominion Valley
Haymarket, Virginia

River Wilderness
Parrish, Florida

* The last regular issue of 2009 of New Communities Newsletter arrives early Tuesday morning, Dec. 22nd! Watch for a special double issue on Dec. 28, the 2009 GolfCourseHome Index.

=======================================

Back to top

MORE NEW COMMUNITIES COMING ONLINE IN 2010!

GolfCourseHome

* Hampton Lake, SC
* Savannah Lakes Village, SC
* Rive Isle, FL

======================================

New Communities Newsletter Copyright 1996-2009
Published by GolfCourseHome®Network
10 Years Online - Featuring Golf & Waterview Communities on 43 Network Member Sites

Lott Custom Communications, LLC, GolfCourseHome.net, WaterViewHome.net, GolfCourseHome®Network. All Rights Reserved. Golf Course Home® is Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. "New Communities" is a newsletter published for visitors and friends of The GolfCourseHome®Network. If you know someone who would like to receive "New Communities," send us their e-mail address, and we'll send it to them. 

Back to top

Special Events at Georgia, South Carolina Communities Focus on Holidays, Gardening

Carolina CC, SC offers views of lake, woods and golf.

Carolina Country Club, SC reports that its 2009 Jack West Cup golf invitational tournament was a tremendous success. A field of 24 players was invited to play based on year-long participation in the club’s tournaments. The competition used an exciting Ryder Cup team format. Special thanks to all
participants, along with kudos to Team West, which won by a score of 13 -11. Click here for more information about Carolina Country Club!

The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA recently unveiled its first Designer Holiday House with a grand opening event attended by some 300 people. Attendees were able to visit and enjoy the Home, meet the designers, discuss decorating ideas, enjoy holiday cheer and generously donate. The Showhome will be open every Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. 5 p.m., through December 20th. Click here for more information about The Landings!

Callaway Gardens, GA will convene the 24th Annual Southern Gardening Symposium on January 29–31, 2010. This three- Symposium brings professional speakers, a complete one-stop gardening marketplace and the chance to rub elbows with highly knowledgeable garden enthusiasts. Book signings, innovative talks and workshops round out the busy agenda, devoted to the No. 1 hobby in America. Click here for more information about Callaway Gardens!

Reynolds Plantation, GA, announces that The Ritz-Carlton Lodge has set Friday, Dec. 18 for its “One Big Holiday Party in the Pines.” This event brings together a number of smaller groups to share the expenses of one large party and includes dinner and dancing amid world-renowned holiday decor. Event is priced at $69 per person plus tax and gratuity, and includes a full dinner buffet. Click here for more information about Reynolds Plantation!

Callaway Gardens, Heritage Wake Forest, Frenchman's Creek Hold Events

Indian River Colony Club, FL is for the 55 and better crew.

Indian River Colony Club, FL has just re-grassed the greens on its Gordon Lewis-designed golf course, in time to host a 68-player field for the Temple Israel of Brevard County Golf Tournament. The day began with a shotgun start and ended with a reception and the awarding of prizes. Proceeds benefitted Temple Israel. Click here for more information about Indian River Colony Club!

Callaway Gardens, GA is set for tonight’s opening of Fantasy In Lights, billed as the most spectacular holiday light and sound show in the South. Within the wooded landscape of Callaway Gardens more than eight million twinkling lights celebrate the holiday season. For visitors who are flexible about dates, there are extremely low rates offered at the both the Mountain Creek Inn and the Lodge and Spa. Click here for more information about Callaway Gardens!

Heritage Wake Forest, NC recently held a ribbon-cutting for its new outdoor amphitheater in Mill Bridge Nature Park. The amphitheater will seat 200 people and has room for overflow on the lawn. It is the latest addition to Heritage’s extensive amenities, including championship golf, two swim complexes, tennis courts, miles of walking trails, playgrounds, soccer field, and a fully stocked fishing pond. Click here for more information about Heritage Wake Forest!

Frenchman’s Creek, FL is holding its third annual Men's Charity Event on December 16.  This year the Men's Health Day proceeds will support the new Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Jupiter Medical Center. Phase I of the laboratory is scheduled to open in 2010 at a cost of $3.5 million, providing a significant upgrade to area cardiac care.  Click here for more information about Frenchman’s Creek!

Owen Glen Announces New Amenities: Pool, Tennis, Park, Pavilion and More

Owen Glen, GA: More amenities on the way.

Owen Glen, a 350-acre master-planned community located between Blairsville, GA and Murphy, NC, has announced new planned amenities to be built by the developer.  These are in addition to the Old Union Golf Course and related facilities already in place.    

Owen Glen property owners will enjoy a full array of recreational amenities planned to include:

• Ivy Log Creek Park with pavilion
• Picnic area and fire pit
• Community house with meeting room and catering kitchen
• Swimming pool and tennis facilities
• Parks and playground

Ivy Log Creek and several ponds will be stocked for fly fishing.  Property owners will also enjoy an extensive network of walking trails and a community garden.  

Reservations are now being accepted on home sites bordering Old Union, a 7,667-yard championship length course designed and owned by renowned architect Denis Griffiths, the only American asked to design a golf course in St. Andrews, Scotland. 

Homesites & Discovery Tour
Homesites with golf, woodland and mountain views range in size from .75 acre to over 5 acres and are priced from the $30,000s, with special bank financing available from United Community Bank.

Just one mile from Owen Glen is Lake Nottely, a 4,100-acre lake offering boating, swimming, fishing and water recreation of every variety as well as 100 miles of shoreline.

Owen Glen’s Discovery Tour includes a choice of golf at Old Union, wine tasting or guided trail ride, plus breakfast and dinner for two.  The $350 package is complimentary when visiting Owen Glen on the Discovery Tour.

Tennis on Tap in Georgia and Florida, Fish is What's For Dinner in South Carolina

Sea Pines, SC offers boating, high security and more.

Sea Pines, SC's late-fall events: Nov. 27, the 7th Annual Fishing Tournament at Fish Island in the community’s Forest Preserve, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. That night it’s Gregg Russell’s Thanksgiving Concert under the Liberty Oak in Harbour Town, 5:30-7 p.m. From the 24th through the 28th enjoy Thanksgiving Hayrides through Forest Preserve. Click here for more information about Sea Pines!

The Cliffs at Glassy, SC's November calendar of events: on the 10th there is a Fireside Chat for Senior Helpers at 5:30 p.m. The chef has scheduled Nov. 12 for a “Deadliest Catch for Dinner” special. A Chapel Concert will be given on the 17th at 6 p.m., devoted to “Opera Arias,” and on Friday, Nov. 27 from  4 to 6 p.m. the community’ education series spotlights Wines of Australia & New Zealand. Click here for more information about The Cliffs at Glassy!

Piper’s Landing, FL alerts tennis aficionados to the current array of professional services available at the community tennis center. Head Tennis Professional Cullen DeWindt, recent winner of the USPTA Clay Court Doubles National Championship, is offering a variety of clinics, “three and the pro” doubles sessions, plus private lessons for all levels & game matchmaking. Click here for more information about Piper’s Landing!

The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA received  the Special Tennis Event of the Year award  from USTA Georgia for its 2009 Tail USTA $50,000 Savannah Challenger tournament held in May. The award was presented at an banquet in Atlanta on October 24. The 2009 tournament, attracted more than 3,200 fans and featured 64 world-ranked tennis pros competing for points and prize money. Click here for more information about The Landings!

Brunswick Forest Holds Chili Cookoff, Dataw Island Area Gets Big Recognition

Callaway Gardens, GA is in the Appalachian Mountains.

Callaway Gardens, GA presents the 25th Running of The Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens on Nov. 7. This unique event brings family and friends together to watch thoroughbred horses race over timber and brush hurdles. Race day festivities include tailgate competitions, hat contests, and Jack Russell Terrier Races plus a variety of food, children’s activities and Southern artists. Click here for more information about Callaway Gardens!

Brunswick Forest, NC will hold a Chili Cookoff on Sunday, Nov. 8, beginning at noon. The first six "chefs" to sign up will be breaking out their secret chili recipes for the competition. Chili batches will also be entered by Brunswick Forest staff members. The Cookoff will be held at the Community Commons and there’s no limit on number of tasters. Price is just three dollars to attend. Click here for more information about Brunswick Forest!

Dataw Island, SC is pleased to announce that the White House had designated its home base of Beaufort, SC a “Preserve America Community.” The designation, made in a personal letter from First Lady Michelle Obama, is a testament to the community’s preservation movement. Preserve America recognizes and designates communities, including municipalities, counties, neighborhoods in large cities, and tribal communities, that protect and celebrate their heritage. Click here for more information about Dataw Island!

The Landings Begins Holiday Celebrations Soon, Dataw Island Unveils History Exhibit

Brunswick Forest, NC is on the Cape Fear Coast.

Brunswick Forest, NC, to mark National Massage Therapy Awareness Week, will offer complimentary chair massages at the community’s Fitness & Wellness Center. Other activities include a presentation on Managing Pain with Therapeutic Massage, plus a fun “hands-on seminar” on stress reduction techniques including stretching, deep breathing, meditation, exercise, and massage. Click here for more information about Brunswick Forest!

Callaway Gardens, GA is celebrating the holidays with a Fantasy in Lights event that was named one of the World’s Top 48 Events for 2009 by the Chicago Tribune. A display of some eight million sparkling lights will delight the eye while holiday sounds fill the air. Fantasy in Lights will run from Nov. 30 to Dec. 30, featuring 12 unique holiday scenes and a magical Christmas Village for all ages. Click here for more information about Callaway Gardens!

The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA is hosting its first “Home For The Holidays” Designer Showhouse Nov. 21 to Dec. 20th.This event will benefit Savannah’s Community Health Mission. The exceptional architecture of the 4,800-square-foot Midpoint residence will provide the inspiration for a roster of outstanding designers. Admission is free, with donations appreciated. Click here for more information about The Landings!

Dataw Island, SC recently partnered with The History Workshop, of Charleston, S.C., to create “A Portrait of Dataw Island,” a permanent exhibit honoring the island’s history from the Native American period to the present. Researched and constructed at a cost of more than $30,000, the exhibit required 18 months for completion and opened on Sept. 23 with a kickoff event attended by more than 200 visitors. Click here for more information about Dataw Island!

Reynolds Plantation Hosts Celebrity Chefs, Champion Hills Has Busy October Schedule

Carnegie Abbey, RI is a private sporting estate.

Carnegie Abbey, RI is planning a special "Talking Baseball” evening on Oct. 28 during the World Series game. This event will be hosted by Carnegie Abbey member and Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt. Joining Mike Schmidt to speak and answer questions will be former Major League player and manager Davey Johnson. Click here for more information about Carnegie Abbey!

Reynolds Plantation, GA, along with Golf Digest and Golf World Magazines will be bringing their Celebrity Chef Classic to The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation over Halloween weekend. The event will be hosted by celebrity chef Ming Tsai and Golf Digest Senior Editor Stina Sternberg. Highlights include the Celebrity Chef Dinner and Auction on Friday night, October 30. Click here for more information about Reynolds Plantation!

Champion Hills, NC invites members, guests and visitors to enjoy a busy October Fest in the Hendersonville, N.C., area. From October 1 on there will be open-studio artist shows, country music at the Flat Rock Playhouse, special Heritage Museum exhibits, evenings with local authors plus a horse show, a crafts fair and guided upland hiking tours. All events are open to the public, and many are free. Click here for more information about Champion Hills!

The Reserve at Lake Keowee, SC announces the launch of its new Builder Showcase Program. Through this new partnership, eight prestigious builders, who all are Reserve members themselves, will soon be offering over 20 new home plans available in the Lake Keowee area exclusively at The Reserve. Home plans in the program will offer both a cost and time savings for buyers wishing to customize.
Click here for more information about The Reserve at Lake Keowee!

Response to Owen Glen Enthusiastic, Another Positive Real Estate Recovery Sign

Owen Glen GA is a private community in Georgia.

We are always looking for good signs in the real estate market and on Friday we had one of our own when we announced that Owen Glen, a refined, yet affordable club community in the mountain town of Blairsville, GA, had joined GolfCourseHome.

The response was immediate and positive. Maybe it was Owen Glen's location just a mile from Lake Nottely, a 4,100-acre lake with more than 100 miles of shoreline, or its challenging Denis Griffiths golf course. Pricing in which homesites start at just $30,000 for this gated community is probably another. In any event, we thought you should know that Owen Glen appears to have a bright future--good news for an economy that needs it.

Heritage Wake Forest Spotlights Homes, Reynolds Plantation Announces Merger

Lakewood Ranch, FL hosted a benefit concert last weekend.

Lakewood Ranch, FL hosted its monthly Music on Main concert Friday, Oct. 2. The event benefited the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch. Click here for more information about Lakewood Ranch!

Bright’s Creek, NC is set for the Fourth Annual Bright’s Creek Golf Jamboree, scheduled for Oct. 8-9-10.  Members and guests paired two-mans teams will play a five-round nine-hole rotation against the field. Practice round is Thursday with a shotgun start on Friday and Saturday. It all starts Friday with a reception and special events in the 19th hole, followed by drinks and a cook-out dinner. Click here for more information about Bright’s Creek!

Heritage Wake Forest, NC will showcase 13 new homes and open them to the public during the upcoming Homebuilders Association Parade of Homes on October 10-11 and 17-18. Custom-built homes range in price from the mid-$200,000s to the high-$600,000s. Parade of Homes hours are 12 noon until 5pm on all days. Click here for more information about Heritage Wake Forest!

Blackstone, AZ has a new program that extends playing privileges on its Jim Engh-designed championship course to members of private clubs throughout California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Members of private golf clubs or groups of private club members can schedule tee times on the course only through their club professional. Guests of members are also welcome. Click here for more information about Blackstone!

Reynolds Plantation, GA, announces a property merger with neighboring Reynolds Landing. Members of Reynolds Plantation will now enjoy up to 117 holes of golf, four marinas on Lake Oconee, four full-service restaurants, 16 tennis courts and two fitness centers. Reynolds Landing will now be called The Landing at Reynolds Plantation. Click here for more information about Reynolds Plantation!

Owen Glen Offers Private Mountain Living, Denis Griffiths Golf, Water Activities

Owen Glen is a gated, private golf community.

We are pleased to announce the addition of Owen Glen, a refined, yet affordable club community in the mountain town of Blairsville, GA, to GolfCourseHome. Only a mile from its gates is Lake Nottely, a 4,100-acre lake with more than 100 miles of shoreline. Residents of Owen Glen enjoy golf on a rugged and challenging course by Denis Griffiths and head over to Blairsville where a full calendar of festivals, performing arts and sporting events is on tap.

Tucked into a lush mountain landscape that covers 350 acres, homesites at Owen Glen blend gently into a rural setting that is both historic and aesthetic.

Down a private road and inside the main gates of Owen Glen is Old Union, a new, Denis Griffiths-designed championship golf course routed to a back-tee length of 7,667 yards that meanders through natural meadows, woods and along creeks.

Walking and biking trails weave through the landscape and magnificent mountains vistas frame the community. 

Trout fishing along Ivy Log Creek, right in Owen Glen, is historically among the best in the area. Boating, swimming, fishing and more is just a mile away at Lake Nottely, a 4,100-acre lake with more than 100 miles of shoreline.

Lakes Chatuge and Blue Ridge are also just a short drive away. The Appalachian Trail is accessible at several points within Union County.

A Mountain Value: Homesites enjoy golf, woodland and mountain views are priced from the $30,000s, with special bank financing available. A limited selection of single-family homesites is now offered for reservation, ranging in size from .75 acres to over five acres.

Real Estate: Owen Glen, GA

* Homesites range from .75 to 5-plus acres
      o View options: Golf, woodland, mountain
      o Reservations now being accepted on homesites from the $30,000s
* Special bank financing is available
* Click here for more information about Owen Glen!

Lakewood Ranch Holds Farmer's Market, Champion Hills Hosts Trivia Challenge

Heritage Wake Forest, NC is close to Wake Forest.

Heritage Wake Forest, NC will showcase 13 new homes and open them to the public during the upcoming Homebuilders Association Parade of Homes. This annual event, to be held the weekends of October 3-4, 10-11, and 17-18, will feature custom-built homes ranging in price from the mid-$200,000s to the high-$600,000s. Parade of Homes hours are 12 noon until 5pm on all days.  Click here for more information about Heritage Wake Forest!

Lakewood Ranch, FL will once again present its popular Farmer’s Market, with 2009 kickoff slated for for Saturday, Nov. 14.  The market features gourmet foods, fresh produce, cheeses, bakery products, plants and flowers.  The market takes place every Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm. New vendors invited.  Click here for more information about Lakewood Ranch!

Champion Hills, NC is set for an upcoming Trivia Challenge on Thursday, Oct. 8. Members work together in teams of six to formulate answers and strategize on optimal use of point values, with a chance to win prizes. The event starts with cocktails at 6 pm, followed by a buffet dinner, then the game is on. Click here for more information about Champion Hills!

Reynolds Plantation, GA, will holds its sixth annual Open Tennis Championships this weekend. The competition is open to all levels, with entrants coming from throughout the U.S. Matches will be contested at the Lake Club Tennis Center on Lake Oconee. All participants receive a welcome gift. Click here for more information about Reynolds Plantation!

Carolina Country Club, SC has two of its tennis players to congratulate: Hunter Harrington, a club member, has been selected to represent the U.S. in the Junior Davis Cup in Mexico. Also, Anthony Stewart, CCC Director of Tennis, took second place at the  men's National Grass Court Championship at Forest Hills, N.Y. Click here for more information about Carolina Country Club!

Positive Real Estate News: Reynolds Plantation Angel Pond Release Nets $8 Mil

Reynolds Plantation, GA: Angel Pond release a success.

We're always looking for those 'green shoots' to tell us that we are getting closer to a healing of the real estate market. This morning we got a good one--a release from Reynolds Plantation which announced that their fall property release in the community’s Angel Pond neighborhood was a big success. 

A selection of new lake, golf and pond homesites were released for sale on September 19, culminating in a week’s worth of sales totaling more than $8 million.  Reynolds Plantation is located in Greensboro, Georgia, about 75 miles east of Atlanta, on Lake Oconee.

Angel Pond property owners chose from homesites sited near The Creek Club golf course (see photo above), the Lake Club health and wellness center and the community’s extensive system of walking trails.

A new entrance to Reynolds Plantation, now under construction, will provide Angel Pond residents convenient access to shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities just beyond the gates of the community.

While numerous homesites were purchased during the opening week, "exceptional homesites are still available, all of which feature spectacular views and a stunning sense of natural beauty,” said Lee Arberg, senior vice president of sales at Reynolds Plantation in the release.

For more information about Reynolds Plantation and Angel Pond, click here.

 

 

Reynolds Golf Academy Student Jean Reynolds Earns 2010 LPGA Tour Card

Reynolds Academy Director Charlie King and his star pupil.

Reynolds Golf Academy student Jean Reynolds will be teeing it up on the LPGA Tour for the 2010 season thanks to her second place finish on the Duramed FUTURES Tour season money list. The top-10 money winners on the Duramed FUTURES Tour, the developmental tour of the LPGA, are granted full status on the LPGA Tour. The Academy is located at Reynolds Plantation, GA.

Reynolds, from Newnan, Ga., is a pupil of Charlie King, director of instruction at the Reynolds Golf Academy. She had a stellar 2009 season on the Duramed FUTURES Tour with two victories, including one in her first start of the season, and a second place finish on the money list.  In addition to her wins, she posted five top-five finishes.

“Jean is a very talented player,” says King.  “From the first year we worked together, we figured out that Jean’s golf swing was her strength, and that her short game and mental approach were keeping her from reaching her full potential.  This year, she looked forward to every day of competition. Jean proves that you can have fun playing competitive golf, and having fun helps you play better.”

The highlight of Reynolds’ season was her performance in the 2009 U.S Women’s Open Championship at Saucon Valley in Bethlehem, Pa.  Reynolds held at least a top-three position on the leaderboard after each of the first three rounds of the championship, even taking the lead during first round play.  Her strong performance resulted in a T-17 finish and a tremendous learning experience about competition at its highest level.

 

Balsam Mtn. Charity Event Surpases Goals, Pauma Valley Offers Golf Clinic & More

Balsam Mountain Preserve, NC is a low-density community.

Balsam Mountain Preserve, NC raised $30,000--triple the budgeted goal-- from its first-ever Charity Golf Classic. Nearly 90 golfers participated in the event along with dozens of corporate sponsors. The daylong event, which also included a silent auction and reception, benefited four charitable organizations that serve the local residents of Jackson County. Click here for more information about Balsam Mountain Preserve!

Pauma Valley Country Club, CA members have lots of fun activities to look forward to. The club schedule starts with an open golf clinic with the head golf professional, followed by duplicate bridge, a live Maine Lobster Night, then a post-San Diego Charger game Burger Night and afternoon Water Aerobics in the club pool. Click here for more information about Pauma Valley Country Club!

Callaway Gardens, GA and Osprey Events announced their support in a search for multiple major sponsors of the Golf Channel Invitational for The First Tee through the 2011 event. This year’s event, the seventh overall, takes place October 25-27 at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Callaway Gardens, which previously hosted the PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge for over a decade, first hosted The Invitational in 2007. Proceeds of this event will benefit The First Tee. Click here for more information about Callaway Gardens!

The Landings on Skidaway Island Will Host Free Week-Long Event Starting Sep. 26

The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA is on 6,500 acres.

The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA will host the USTA National Men's 40 Clay Court Championships & Pro-Am, to be held Sept. 26 - Oct. 5 at the Franklin Creek Tennis Center. Players from all over the country will be competing in the tournament. Admission is free. In addition to the main event, there will be a Pro-AM tournament open to members first, after which it will be opened to the public. Click here for more information about The Landings!

Dataw Island Holds Shrimp Festival, Lakewood Ranch Sees Increased Sales

Dataw Island, SC is a waterfront haven.

Dataw Island, SC alerts visitors to the upcoming Beaufort Shrimp Festival on the weekend of Oct. 2-3. Now in its 15th year, this annual event celebrates Lowcountry cuisine and offers fun activities for all ages. Highlights include a Friday evening concert in the park featuring live entertainment, Saturday 5K Walk through History in the Old Point neighborhood in Beaufort, arts and crafts, plus a Popcorn Shrimp race for kids. Hours are Friday, 6 pm to 10 pm and Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm. Click here for more information about Dataw Island!

The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA will host the 2011 USGA Women’s State Team Championship on Oct. 4-6. This three-day event will be played on the community’s Palmetto Course. Designed by Arthur Hills, the Palmetto Course is considered to be the most difficult of the club’s six 18-hole layouts. Click here for more information about The Landings!

Lakewood Ranch, FL scored a property sales "hat trick" earlier this month as no fewer than three customers purchased lot/home packages in the Valderrama neighborhood during a single business day. Valderrama is part of Lakewood Ranch's Country Club East village. The builders making these sales were Neal Communities and Arthur Rutenberg Homes. A community spokesperson said the sales were
"just another confirmation of the positive outlook in the market." Click here for more information about Lakewood Ranch!

The Landings Opens New Fitness Center, Champion Hills Hosts Trivia Challenge

The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA is set on 6,500 acres.

The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA announces the grand opening of its new, state-of-the-art Oakridge Fitness Center. The celebration will be held Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 5 to  7 p.m. Club members and Landings residents are invited to preview the renovations, and enjoy beverages with complimentary, healthy hors d'oeuvres. Click here for more information about The Landings!

Champion Hills, NC held a Trivia Challenge event for members this week. Teams of six people work together to decide on their answers, as well as strategize on optimal use of point values, with a chance to win a prize. The event began with cocktails at 6 p.m., followed by buffet dinner then on to the trivia competition. Click here for more information about Champion Hills!

Balsam Mountain Preserve Event Raises $30K, Bay Club Holds Patriot Golf Day

Balsam Mountain Preserve, NC is a low-density community.

Balsam Mountain Preserve, NC's Inaugural Charity Classic golf tournament helped raise $30,000 dollars via entry fees, a silent auction and reception. The tournament benefits charitable organizations that serve Jackson County residents. They include the Community Table, which has been providing nutritious meals to Jackson County residents since 1999, and the Neighbors In Need/Save the Warmth program, which assists with heating, food and water costs. Click here for more information about Balsam Mountain Preserve!

The Reserve at Lake Keowee, SC and its appreciative members honored the community’s service staff by trading places with employees for a day filled with fun and fellowship. Over 200 owners, employees and family members enjoyed a golf tournament, lunch, pool activities and boat rides on Lake Keowee. Members staffed the golf tournament, loading carts, driving beverage carts, and cleaning clubs. Members
also organized a barbecue by the pool and served as cooks and wait staff. Click here for more information about The Reserve at Lake Keowee!

Bay Creek Resort & Club, VA will host Patriot Golf Day fundraising activities over this Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4-7. Patriot Golf Day, supports the Folds of Honor Foundation. This non-profit organization provides post-secondary education scholarships for children and spouses of military men and women disabled or killed while serving America. Over Labor Day weekend, golfers nationwide add $1 to their green fees to fund the scholarships. Click here for more information about Bay Creek Resort & Club!

The Landings Club to Host 2011 USGA Women's State Team Championship

The Palmetto Course at The Landings Club in Savannah, Ga., will host the 2011 USGA Women’s State Team Championship, to be contested Oct. 4-6.

Designed by Arthur Hills and opened in 1982, the Palmetto Course is one of the club’s six 18-hole layouts on Skidaway Island near Savannah. Considered the most difficult of the six courses, the Palmetto Course requires length off the tee and a deft iron game to manage the course’s well-bunkered, undulating greens.

Hosting the 2011 USGA Women’s State Team Championship is of particular significance to The Landings Club because of its ties to women’s golf. The Landings Women’s Golf Association and the club’s Ladies Nine-Hole Golf Association are two of the largest women’s golf associations in the U.S.

The USGA Men’s and Women’s State Team Championships grew out of the celebration of the USGA centennial in 1995 and have since been held biennially. The championships are open to players from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. State associations may choose their teams – composed of three amateur, non-college golfers – by any method.

Golf Communities Celebrate Labor Day, "Webbstock" and Patriot Golf Day

Bright's Creek, NC Featured Golf Home complete with artwork.

FEATURED GOLF HOMES

Bright's Creek, NC presents its Featured Golf Home: Tucked into a private, wooded setting, this stunning home has Piney Mountain as a backdrop and an open interior filled with paintings, art glass and ceramic sculptures.

St. James Plantation, NC, presents its Featured Golf Home which showcases the architectural features of a classic Southern home and set right on the Intracoastal Waterway...

SPECIAL EVENTS

Del Webb’s Sun City Peachtree, GA and Del Webb at Lake Oconee, GA invite prospective residents for a special “Webbstock” event on Saturday Sept. 19. Along with enjoying a late-summer barbeque and from the 1960s, attendees will be able to meet and mingle with future neighbors and have questions answered by the community staff. Tie-dye activities and a ‘60s costume contest round out the festivities. Event takes place at each community’s amenity center. Click here for more information about Del Webb’s Sun City Peachtree!    Click here for more information about Del Webb at Lake Oconee!

Cummings Cove Golf & Country Club, NC will be part of the third annual Patriot Golf Day, a joint initiative of The PGA of America and the United States Golf Association. Golfers across the country and at Cummings Cove have the unique opportunity to donate $1 or more to benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides post-secondary educational scholarships to families of those who
have become disabled or lost their lives in the line of duty. Click here for more information about Cummings Cove!

Bald Head Island, NC celebrates Labor Day Weekend with a major open-house event. Visitors are invited to attend the the Island Agency’s one-day Parade of Homes on Sunday, Sept. 6 from 1-4 p.m. Homes on the tour can be found fronting the ocean along South Beach, overlooking the marina in quaint Harbour Village, and bordering Federal Road in Cape Fear Station. Click here for more information about Bald Head Island!

Champion Hills, NC is getting set for a special Octoberfest Guest weekend at the community. Activities will include competitions with a total of $1,000 in prizes to the winning teams and players. Click here for more information about Champion Hills!

Callaway Gardens, GA will host the seventh annual Ida Cason Callaway Foundation (ICCF) Golf Tournament on Monday, Sept 21.  Proceeds from the tournament enable  the Foundation to share the wonders of nature with thousands of school children by providing funds for diverse environmental programs available at Callaway Gardens. The event is a “yellow ball scramble” with prizes for four top teams. Winners will receive Delta tickets for any destination in the continental U.S. Click here for more information about Callaway Gardens!

Nine New Golf and Waterview Communities Join Network - New Website Makes 43

Las Gardenias at Cabo Real is on the Sea of Cortez.

The summer of 2009 goes into the books as an active period. In addition to nine new golf and waterview communities joining the Network, personal visits were made to four western North Carolina communities, plus a unique visit by sail to Bay Club, MA. We also launched the 43rd Network Member Website www.GolfCourseProperty.net

Here's the summer list, which includes two communities in Mexico and seven in 6 U.S. states:

MEXICO
=> Las Gardenias at Cabo Real, Cabo San Lucas
Along Sea of Cortez beaches, R.T. Jones II golf, Cabo Real amenities, final phase of 12 villas from $483,000

=> Las Villas de Mexico at Los Cabos, Cabo San Lucas
Luxury villas within Club Campestre, Nicklaus Design golf, ocean views, from $375,000

CALIFORNIA
=> Tehama, Carmel
Championship golf, tennis, fitness center, pool, community center, estate lots from $2.5 million

GEORGIA
=> Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain
Vast botanical gardens, PGA Tour-tested golf, resort-quality spa, real estate from $140,000s

RHODE ISLAND
=> Carnegie Abbey, Portsmouth
Narragansett Bay views, championship golf, deluxe spa, equestrian center, homes from $799,000

SOUTH CAROLINA
=> Hilton Head Lakes, Hardeeville
Lowcountry lifestyle, lakes, 22 miles of shoreline, nature preserve, clubhouse, docks, homesites from the $90,000s

=> Wild Wing Plantation, Myrtle Beach
27-hole golf complex, 180 acres of freshwater lakes, resort pool complex, lots from $90,000

TEXAS
=> Dancing Bear Ranch, Mico
2,565 acres, clubhouse, , resort-style pool, private boat ramp, 25-acre lakeside park, estate homesites from 2 to 6 acres

VIRGINIA
=> Viniterra at New Kent Vineyards, New Kent
Rees Jones golf course, The Club at Viniterra, New Kent Vineyards winery, golf homesites from $250,000

Tennessee National Hosts Championship, Reynolds Plantation Center Wins Award

Tennessee National, TN is set in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Tennessee National, TN is preparing to host this year’s Tennessee Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship. The state’s top amateur event for seniors will take place on the community’s Greg Norman Signature course Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 1-3. Admission for spectators is free. Click here for more information about Tennessee National!

Carolina Country Club, SC, just held its first-ever all inclusive, Championship Weekend this past weekend. All club championships were put into one exciting weekend, followed by a championship dinner on Sunday evening for all participants. Click here for more information about Carolina Country Club!

Huntsman Springs, ID was featured as the cover story in the July issue of Golf Idaho, the official magazine of the Idaho Golf Association. The article stated: “While many golf developments are on hold, Huntsman Springs in eastern Idaho’s Teton Valley is moving forward with plans to unveil its world-class course late this fall” and added that “The Huntsman family name isn’t attached to any project unless it is done right and benefits the local community.” Click here for more information about Huntsman Springs!

Reynolds Plantation, GA reports that its Lake Club Tennis Center is the winner of the 2009 USTA Outstanding Facility Awards, as chosen by the United States Tennis Association (USTA).  Nominees were judged based on overall layout; excellence of court surface and lights; ease of maintenance; player and spectator accommodations; seating, landscaping and activity programming. Click here for more information about Reynolds Plantation!

River Landing, NC announced that a community resident, Thad Toomer, had received an important award for child advocacy volunteer work. The Guardian ad Litem Award cited Mr. Toomey’s efforts in recruiting new volunteers into the child-advocacy organization. Guardian ad Litem works to protect children’s interests in two counties, representing abused and neglected children in the courts. Click here for more information about River Landing!

Reynolds Plantation Earns Landscaping Award, Mariner Sands in Media Spotlight

Daniel Island, SC offers 23 miles of rivers and creeks.

Daniel Island, SC alerts visitors to a pair of first-class events on its pop music performance calendar at the Family Circle Tennis Center. On August 22, Charleston favorite O.A.R. returns to the Family Circle Tennis Center for fourth consecutive year as part of the second leg of their "This Town Tour". On September 1st, Daniel Island will come alive with the multiple Grammy-winning rock sound of The Wallflowers as they perform on the Tennis Center’s Veranda stage. Tickets are $20. Click here for more information about Daniel Island!

Reynolds Plantation, GA was honored with an amenity-design award by the American Society of Landscape Architects. The South Carolina chapter of the Society bestowed its Merit Award on the Wood & Partners design for the Reynolds Plantation Lake Club Pool and Amenity Center’s Phase II. Cascading over a six-foot waterfall, the lower plunge pool and terrace of this complex are designed to create a more intimate and informal grotto-like environment, without disrupting upper level views. Click here for more information about Reynolds Plantation!

Mariner Sands, FL was featured in two media outlets over one July weekend. The cover story of Luminaries, the Stuart News supplement, reported that over $3.8 million dollars had been donated in recent years to charities thanks to the efforts of Mariner Sands members. In addition, an area television station featured the cemetery of the infamous bank-robbing Ashley family which is located on Mariner Sands property. Click here for more information about Mariner Sands!

Daniel Island Instructor Recognized by Golf Digest, Landings Hires New Events Director

Daniel Island, SC offers 23 miles of rivers and creeks.

Daniel Island, SC congratulates its director of golf instruction, Ron Cerrudo, for his recent ranking among the Top Ten Golf Instructors in South Carolina by Golf Digest. The influential magazine’s most recent ranking of the country’s best golf instructors by state is out, and Cerrudo, in his sixth season of teaching at Daniel Island, has landed in the Top Ten for his state, ranked at No. 5. Click here for more information about Daniel Island!

The Landings at Skidaway Island, GA hired Miranda Johnson is its new head of Special Events and Catering. Johnson has been a director of catering and conference services for The Ritz Carlton, St. Thomas, USVI, and for the El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa in Puerto Rico. On the dinner menu, The Landings has brought back a Friday night favorite, Lobster Night. It features a steamed Maine lobster with all the trimmings for $24.95 per person. Click here for more information about The Landings!

Champion Hills Schedules Dance Classes; Reynolds Stages Golf Championship

Champion Hills, NC is just a few miles from Asheville.

Champion Hills, NC has two stimulating and enjoyable member activities now on its schedule. Wednesday and Friday mornings, Denise Alexander, a certified water aerobics instructor, conducts a water aerobics class. Equipment needed is a foam "noodle" and six-inch water dumbbells. Also, intermediate ballroom dancing classes are scheduled to start on August 31. The instructor is Lisa Puckett, from the Asheville School of Dance. Cost per person is $43 for the six-week course. Click here for more information about Champion Hills!

Reynolds Plantation, GA, in partnership with the Georgia High School Association, recently announced that it will stage the 2010 5-A State Golf Championship at Reynolds Plantation and Reynolds Landing. The championship has been conducted at Jekyll Island for the past 25 years. The tournament is scheduled for Monday, May 3, 2010. This 18-hole event will be hosted at Reynolds Landing Golf Club for the boys and The Plantation Course for the girls. Click here for more information about Reynolds Plantation!

Celebrate Labor Day, Kids' Birthdays With Hot Air Balloon Rides, Golf Parties

Reynolds Plantation, GA offers 99 holes of golf.

Reynolds Plantation, GA, in partnership with the Oconee Performing Arts Society, announces the Village Battle of the Bands, to be held Saturday, September 12. Local bands will compete from 5 pm to 9 pm for the title of 2009 Village Band and a contract to perform at the Fall Picnic at Lake Oconee Village on Saturday, October 10th. A total of eight bands will qualify for the competition. Click here for more information about Reynolds Plantation!

Callaway Gardens, GA invites visitors to enjoy a Sky High Hot Air Balloon Package on Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4-6. The festivities will be highlighted by the luminous sight of a balloon glow on Friday evening. There will be morning balloon flights on Saturday and Sunday. Between balloon launches, the days are filled with entertainment, family activities, exhibits, demonstrations, music and more. Click here for more information about Callaway Gardens!

Edgartown Residence Club, MA reminds its fractional owners they have an opportunity to see up-close some of Edgartown's most beautiful and historic homes on the Third Annual  Edgartown House Tour. The tour will be held today from 2 pm to 4:30 pm. In addition to four of Edgartown's finest homes, the tour includes tea and refreshments in the Habitat for Humanity Decorator Show House Gardens and the Captain Thomas Mellen House at the Decorator Show House and Gardens. Click here for more information about Edgartown Residence Club!

The Landings at Skidaway Island, GA has introduced Children's Golf Birthday Parties. Children ages 4 to 17 can now celebrate their birthday with family, friends and The Landings Club Golf Professional Staff. Parties include a 45-minute golf clinic with instruction, games and prizes, plus a golf gift for the birthday child and a golf treat bag for guest children. Loaner golf clubs and equipment are available. Click here for more information about The Landings!

Best Deal? Buy Now, Make No Payments 'til 2011 at Del Webb at Lake Oconee, GA

Webb at Lake Oconee, Ga: Buy now, no payment until 2011.

On top of the affordable pricing (homes from the high-$100,000s) and today's historically low interest rates, Del Webb at Lake Oconee, Ga, is offering a deal that may be too good to pass up. Buy now and make no payments until 2011.

Here's an outline of the deal at the 55-and-up community.

• Purchase by August 31, 2009
• Close on your home by June, 2010
• Make no payments until 2011

Plus, for a limited time, Del Webb Lake Oconee will include its most popular upgrade option free of charge: either a sunroom or screened-in patio--up to a $21,000 value.

In addition to the usual fun, social and active lifetstyle, the community's full-time Lifestyle Director will introduce you to like-minded people with similar interests. The community offers more than $9 million in amenities.

Del Webb at Lake Oconee is located 80 miles east of Atlanta. For more information on this limited-time opportunity call 706-454-5430, or use this information request form

A low-cost way to check out the community is the Vacation Getaway for only $89 a night. Stay includes a two- night minimum and tour of the property.

Note: Georgia homebuyers can receive a $1,800 state tax credit for the purchase of a single-family residence. First-time homebuyers may also qualify for an additional $8,000 federal tax credit.

Reynolds Plantation Earns Award, Landings Continues Impressive Renovations

Pauma Valley Country Club, CA offers championship golf.

Pauma Valley Country Club, CA is proud to be hosting a qualifier for the United States Amateur Championship on August 3. The club’s Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed championship golf course will challenge the top amateur golfers in the region, a select few of whom will advance to the finals of the championship—whose winners include Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones and Tiger Woods. Click here for more information about Pauma Valley Country Club!

Reynolds Plantation, GA has been honored once again as a recipient of the prestigious Wine Spectator Award. For the sixth consecutive year, the resort community’s culinary program has earned an Award of Excellence from the authoritative consumer magazine. To win, restaurants must offer a wine list that includes a well-chosen selection of quality producers while also showing a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. Click here for more information about Reynolds Plantation!

The Landings at Skidaway Island, GA announced major milestones in its extensive and ongoing community renovation project. This $13 million project is proceeding on schedule, most recently with the Deer Creek driving range fully grassed and well into its grow-in. Meanwhile, demolition work is complete and renovation/expansion has begun on a $5.5 million upgrade to the Fitness-Wellness Center. In addition, the structure for the new indoor swimming pool is complete. Click here for more information about The Landings!

July's Top 10 Most Visited Communities Are in Florida, Carolinas, Texas & More

Amelia Island Plantation, FL holds the # 1 spot on the list.

Here are the Top 10 Most Visited Golf & WaterView Communities this month:

1. Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, FL
2. Sea Pines Plantation, Hilton Head Island, SC
3. Stone Creek, Ocala, FL
4. Sun City Peachtree, near Atlanta, GA
5. Treasure Lake, DuBois, PA

6. Stonehouse, Toano, VA
7. The Resort on Eagle Mountain Lake, Ft. Worth, TX
8. Bay Creek, Cape Charles, VA
9. The Cliffs at High Carolina, Asheville, NC
10. St. James Plantation, Southport, NC