The GolfCourseHome Life

Texting by Younger Generation Overtaking Talking on Cell Phones - NYTimes.com

In our recent summary of the ideas promoted at the recently concluded Amenity Community Marketing Summit, it was noted that that the under 25 generation texts their friends more than talk with them. Mobile advertising should benefit. See graph from the today's NYT below:

MORE recently, the carriers have confronted another problem: People are talking less on their mobile phones, and texting instead. In the first half of this year, the average wireless customer sent 518 texts a month and made 220 phone calls, according to CTIA figures. (That average, of course, is driven up by the furious texting of teenagers.)

via www.nytimes.com

Marketing News: Attend the Power i Selling Event, Amenity Conference Update

Here's an excerpt from the most recent GolfCourseHome Network Marketing Newsletter. Today's updates include:

1. Attend Next Week's The Power i Model of Selling Event - Successful Selling

2. Highlights of the Recent Amenities Marketing Summit--Marketing Ideas You Can Use

3. 2010 Media Kits for GolfCourseHome® & WaterViewHome Networks

1. Attend the Power i Model Selling Event Next Week

If you want your sales team to be successful, then don't miss next week's The Power i Model of Selling Event which takes place next Monday, November 16, at the Holiday Inn Resort in Wrightsville Beach, NC.

Super salesman Craig Wheeler, whom I have know since his days at Cypress Landing (Weyerhaeuser) in the mid-'90s, is one of the principals at Power i which has put together an impressive, and proven, selling process that he wants to teach your sales team.

Learn the 15 specific steps that will lead your team from meet and greet through community presentation, to asking for the sale and follow up.

Wheeler says that the Power i training system is "our one-of-a-kind, proprietary real estate training system that contains the most comprehensive sales & marketing knowledge available anywhere. You will take home tangible tools and techniques that will increase your success."

Craig and the Power i team are so confident that you will benefit from this training they are offering a money-back guarantee. Already more that than 50 developers, marketers and sales professionals have signed up for the event.

To Register, Click Here. Call for more information, (910) 338-0410. To learn more about the Power i Model of selling, click here.

2. 2009 Amenities Marketing Summit Reflects Real Estate Industry's New Intensity & Focus

The current market was all the inspiration needed to make this year's Amenity Communities Marketing Summit one of the best ever. All attendees--developers, marketers, sales agents, builders and vendors--took a no-nonsense attitude, were open to new ideas and were clearly there to learn.

Social Media
Social media was a big topic: Twitter, Facebook, etc. and the importance of integrating it into your marketing efforts. Many people were just confused as to what it is and how it could benefit them. You can read a good article on how to use social media here. Jami Mullikin of Hill/Mullikin impressed everyone
with his knowledge and demonstrated use of social media.

Another theme was communication--keep doing it. Jim Taylor of the Harrison Group, which produces in-depth surveys of the affluent market, said that in this market, if people 'don't hear from you for a while, they think  you've gone dark.' 

Jim is the mad genius of the survey industry, but provides valuable insight into the mind of that market. Many of the affluent, says Taylor, still think like the middle-class they once were as they often became rich overnight. Thus, you have to market to their middle-class values and mind-set. Contact him if you want to know more. Or call Toll-Free: (866) WEBPOLL (932-7655).

Changing Methods of Communication
How people communicate is changing. People under 28 don't phone each other anymore, they either text or Facebook them. I tested this idea, asking several under-30s working at the hotel how they communicated with their friends, none mentioned the phone. However, email is still the preferred method for work. As this generation ages, though, more people will fall under the texting/Facebook method.

New places to advertise: Have you thought of this? Facebook and Linked In were presented as good opportunities where you can select by age, location, interest and more. Very targeted.

If you're looking for ideas on how to survive in this market, ask Randy Banks, CEO at Mountain Air, who gave an impressive presentation on his company's approach. A key point is that your residents are your
best salespeople. So he transferred ownership of millions of dollars amenities to his residents ahead of schedule to give them peace of mind about the future of the community. Keep your base happy.

Apps for your website. Susan Sweeney, best selling author and Internet marketing expert, gave several well received talks about how to make your website perform better. She is giving her next Internet boot camp at Cuscowilla in January. I may attend, she was that good. Contact Susan via email.

Back to the basics. Another theme was the wake-up call the recession has given us in how we do business. You get sloppy in good times. Communicate with your customers, ask them what they want, listen like EF Hutton used to do, personal attention is key. When was the last time you sent a client a hand-written note? Dig deeper for business, deeper than the competition, deeper than you used to. As you already know, this market demands that you do.

3. 2010 GolfCourseHome & WaterViewHome Media Kits Now Available

The 2010 GolfCourseHome® Network Media Kit and the 2010 WaterViewHome Network Media Kit are now available for your media planning.

New information includes the 2010 Editorial Calendar for the New Communities e-Newsletter which goes out to 31,000 subscribers twice a week. To request a kit, please email us with Golf Kit and/or WVH Kit in the subject line.

Join the GolfCourseHome Network at the Amenity Communities Marketing Summit

The GolfCourseHome® Network will be an exhibitor at the 8th Annual Amenity Communities Marketing Summit at the Marriott Resort & Spa on Hilton Head Island,SC, Oct. 18-20. In this difficult market you need all the good ideas you can find and you will gather in plenty at the Summit.

The Summit is the place to be if you are looking to make connections in the community development industry, learn about industry trends and want to know the latest innovative ideas and marketing solutions. You always take home several good ideas that you can immediately incorporate into your own business.

Guest speakers this year will be Susan Sweeney,CA CSP, President, Connex Network, Inc.; Jim Taylor, Vice Chairman, The Harrison Group; Randy Banks, Developer/Owner, Mountain Air, plus several discussion panels and, of course, sales instruction and inspriational remarks by Terry and Mike.

Hosted by Terry Weaver, President of MSI Corp. and Mike Notartomaso, President of the Hilton Head Group, the Summit is an annual fixture on our event calendar where we meet up with old friends and make new ones.

GolfCourseHome® will have a booth, so please come by, say hello, and receive a free golf towel, a special gift provided by ReadyCare Industries. As Terry says, "Don't let this economy hold you back!" The Summit is one way to move forward. We look forward to seeing you there!

 

2010 GolfCourseHome & WaterViewHome Network Media Kits Are Now Available

The 2010 GolfCourseHome® Network Media Kit and the 2010 WaterViewHome Network Media Kit are now available for your media planning. 

New information includes the 2010 Editorial Calendar for the New Communities e-Newsletter which goes out to 31,550 subscribers twice a week.

Also, for the fourth year in a row, rates remain unchanged. Network Member Websites now total 43, assuring your community wide coverage across the net and excellent placement in Google ranking results.

To request a kit, please email us with Golf Kit and/or WVH Kit in the subject line.

More Positive Real Estate Signs with Sales Reported at FL, NC, AZ & GA Communities

Heritage Wake Forest, Wake Forest, NC: 100 Sales in '09.

While we hear that the "recession is very likely over" and the stock market improves, those of us on the front lines of the real estate industry know that we're a long way from "normalcy." But we continue to hear of positive signs from our Featured Communities. Here are reports from North Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Arizona. Please send us your stories of improvement!

> Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, FL, reports home sales on the rise. Recent sales statistics include: 257 homes sold in the Lakewood Ranch zip code from Jan. 1 through Aug. 31. Of those 257 homes, 15 percent sold at or above asking price. Visitor traffic in the Lakewood Ranch information centers and builders’ models are also increasing, as the inventory of homes decreases, the community reported..  

> Heritage Wake Forest, Wake Forest, NC, announces that even though summer is winding down, the sales and excitement in this vibrant neighborhood are not. With 10 sales reported in the last two weeks, "Heritage continues to be a leader in the new home market, achieving 100 sales for 2009," the community reported.

> Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, GA, just announced a successful fall property release in the community’s Angel Pond neighborhood. A selection of new lake, golf and pond homesites went on sale on September 19, culminating in a week’s worth of sales totaling more than $8 million. Angel Pond homesites are near The Creek Club golf course.

> Realtor Chuck O'Malley of Arizona Golf Properties reported that he had a closing on home to a GolfCourseHome visitor at Montacino, Scottsdale, AZ, that listed for $395,000. O'Malley noted that the Phoenix market which had been badly slammed, has showed good improvement the past 60 days.

Press Release: The Ultimate Sales Call--Sailing from Martha's Vineyard to Bay Club

Vineyard Haven Yacht Club: Early morning departure for a sales call by water.

Here is an excerpt of this morning's press release. To see complete release, click here.

VINEYARD HAVEN, MA--(Marketwire - August 26, 2009) -While a good part of the media world was converging on the island of Martha's Vineyard last week in preparation for President Obama's vacation, GolfCourseHome® Network Publisher David Lott was prepping to leave.

Lott and fiancé Elise Ryan sailed their pocket cruising yacht, a Cape Dory 270, from Martha's Vineyard to The Bay Club, a luxury golf community set on the edge of Buzzard's Bay.

"It was the ultimate sales call," said Lott. "No traffic, no cars, no hassle. Plus you had the beauty of the sail itself and the wonderful hospitality offered by The Bay Club."

The Bay Club is a Featured Community on the GolfCourseHome Network which provides detailed information about more than 150 master-planned golf and waterview communities for second home, retirement and vacation homebuyers.

Lott and Ryan sailed from Vineyard Haven Harbor through Vineyard Sound, navigated through the often treacherous swirling currents at Wood's Hole and turned right on Buzzard's Bay to sail up to Mattapoisett where The Bay Club's Marketing Director Dave Andrews met them at the Mattapoisett Boatyard.

Lott and Ryan toured the club, the Brad Faxon-Brad Booth championship golf course and many of the fine homes for sale. Lunch was served by the swimming pool and dinner at The Golf House.

"It was a perfect day," said Lott, "and it was great fun to see The Bay Club up close. Kids and their families were in the pool, tennis lessons were going on and a member golf event was being held in the late afternoon. The Bay Club is clearly a fun and active place to be."

To see complete release, click here.

GolfCourseHome Network Adds 43rd Member Website: GolfCourseProperty.net

GolfCourseHome.net and the GolfCourseHome® Network announce the addition of its 43rd Network Member Website—GolfCourseProperty.net.

GolfCourseProperty.net features golf course communities in 29 U.S. states, Mexico and the Caribbean. Each community is presented with information about amenities, real estate products and prices, local weather, community lifestyle, driving directions, location map and more.

“Golf course property is one of the more active search terms for golf real estate,” notes GolfCourseHome Network Publisher David Lott, ”So this new site will give our communities yet another opportunity for good visibility, more traffic and more leads.”

The GolfcourseHome Network was launched with one website, GolfCourseHome.net, in 1999. The WaterViewHome Network, which is a part of the GCH Network, was launched in 2000 with WaterViewHome.net

GolfCourseHome.net and WaterViewHome.net are the core websites of the Golf Course Home® Network which now features 43 Member Websites, a database of more than 500 master-planned communities, and features on 175+ world-class golf and waterview communities in North America and the Caribbean.

GolfCourseHome.net is frequently cited in publications and online, such as The New York Times, Forbes.com, Business Week, Business 2.0 Magazine, Golf Digest and Schwab’s ON INVESTING magazines.

To request information about advertising on the GolfCourseHome®Network, contact David Lott, Founder and Publisher, 1-203-270-9357.

Golf Real Estate Market Show Life with Recent Sales to GolfCourseHome Visitors

Mountain Air, Burnsville, NC: A GolfCourseHome sale.

The golf development real estate market, while still difficult for many, continues to show positive signs as recent news from our Featured Communities illustrates. Just in the past week we heard of sales to GolfCourseHome visitors at Mountain Air in western North Carolina and Treasure Lake in western Pennsylvania.

We also heard about upcoming visits to Balsam Mountain Preserve, just west of Asheville, NC, and several communities in the Hilton Head Island area.

The Reserve at Lake Keowee, SC, also informed us this week that the community had sold its 600th homesite and Heritage Wake Forest, NC, averaged 12 sales per month in the first half of this year.

If you are planning a visit, tell us about it and let us know what you find and what you liked. We will consider your comments for the GolfCourseHome blog, now with more than 46,000 page views.

What We Are Learning about Applying Twitter to Business: A Case Study

How to Mix Social Media & Business - A Case Study

We are learning how to use Twitter for our business and are beginning to see how integrating Twitter and other social media--blogs (golf and waterview), Facebook, Linked-In and our websites (golf and waterview) can generate additional traffic and leads for our client communities.

Recently, for example, we launched Bald Head Island on WaterViewHome.net and in the four succeeding days generated a nice batch of leads, plus click-thrus to Bald Head Island's own website.

> Create a Twitter Program for the Media
Following Bald Head Island on Twitter has helped us identify added PR opportunities which we have either re-tweeted or posted in our New Communities Newsletter, on our blogs or all of the above. I urge you to initiate a Twitter program for helping media stay on top of your offerings and activities.

> Automatic Posting
An easy one-step feature on our blog (Typepad) enables us to automatically export new blog entries to Facebook, GCH Twitter and Linked-In, resulting in more exposure, more blog views and ultimately, more visits to client Featured Community pages.

> Boost Your Search Engine Ranking
A hidden benefit with all your social media locations is that you are constantly creating new links back to your own website and blog which generate more 'popularity' and helps boost your organic ranking on Google.

We are firm believers in creating as many media streams as possible with the overarching goal of driving more traffic to our client Featured Community pages and generating more leads. Last week's results show Bald Head Island has enjoyed added benefits from the exposure. The results also show how Twitter can assist in building business.

Watch for more media streams to be added to the GolfCourseHome® Network in the near future. If you would like your master-planned golf or waterview community featured on the GolfCourseHome® Network or WaterViewHome Network, please contact me.

'Where to Retire' Magazine: Daniel Island Is a '100 Best Master-Planned Community'

Daniel Island, SC is a great place to retire.

CHARLESTON, SC – Daniel Island has once again landed on a national list of top master-planned communities. For the third time, Where to Retire magazine has selected the island town as one of “America’s 100 Best Master-Planned Communities,” as announced in the magazine’s July/August issue.

In addition to evaluating the offerings of residential developments around the country, the magazine’s editors talked with retirees about their relocation decisions, discovering in the process several notable trends that helped narrow the list of qualifying communities:

·       Baby boomers are discovering a wide choice of communities offering homes and lifestyles they previously associated with exclusive vacation properties.

·       Many pre-retirees are moving to master-planned communities to get a jump on the retirement lifestyle while working (and many have found that they can telecommute for the final years of their career).

·       Moving near children and grandchildren is a priority for many retirees.

·       Neighbors and a sense of community remain among the most significant contributing factors to retirees’ happiness in the communities they choose, and many commented on the benefits of having a mix of people from different areas living within a new community.

With its coastal setting, exceptional amenities, diverse real estate offerings and residents of all ages from across the country, Daniel Island remains a natural fit for this list. Described in the article as a “pedestrian-friendly island town located within historic Charleston,” Daniel Island offers what today’s baby boomers and retirees are looking for in a place to relocate.

Where to Retire is the authoritative source of useful information for more than 380,000 Americans who move across state lines to retire every year. Where to Retire educates readers on topics such as who’s moving where, how to buy and sell a home, and how to get involved in a new community. Established in 1992, Where to Retire is published six times a year.

Located in the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina, Daniel Island is one of the nation’s most successful and highly regarded master-planned communities of the last decade. The 4,000-acre island – once a private hunting retreat – is a recipient of the Urban Land Institute’s prestigious “Awards for Excellence” and a national model for smart growth.

Home to a wide array of traditional neighborhoods with a diverse selection of homes, townhomes and condominiums, Daniel Island also offers residents access to hundreds of acres of parks, 23 miles of rivers and creeks and more than 12 miles of leisure trails.

Professional tennis and soccer facilities and a private country club featuring two nationally-ranked golf courses provide endless recreational opportunities. The island’s downtown is a popular address for a growing array of schools, churches, shops, restaurants, medical offices and other conveniences, as well as a destination for area festivals and special events.

###

U.S. & UK Will Offer Attractive Real Estate Investment Prospects at Recession's End

Population growth, urbanization, aging, and migration have long-term land use implications. The impact of these trends are examined in 'Global Demographics 2009: Shaping Real Estate’s Future,' a new publication from the Urban Land Institute.

The report, authored by M. Leanne Lachman, president, Lachman Associates, LLC in New York City and Deborah L. Brett of Deborah L. Brett & Associates in Plainsboro, N.J., is the second in an annual series that explores how demographic trends are affecting real estate investment and development decisions worldwide.

“Demographics are the foundation of real estate decision-making. Population, household, and income characteristics–-and the direction of future trends–-determine whether demand will exist for new housing or retail space, and household mobility suggests where that new space should be built," states the report.

This year’s edition of the report, which will be published annually, discusses trends in the United States and the rest of the Americas; and it places a special emphasis on Europe and Africa (including the Middle East). Trends in Asia and Oceania are also covered.

Key themes for this year include labor force, education, and productivity; personal income, purchasing power, and poverty; and retailing.

Some highlights from Global Demographics 2009

• Over the next 40 years, the greatest population increases worldwide will occur in China, India and the U.S.
  
• While Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and South Asia will be the globe’s fastest growing regions
  
• Europe is the one region of the world that will experience population declines between now and 2030
  
• Mature but still growing economies (the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand) will offer attractive real estate investment and development prospects once the recession subsides.
  
• The developed world’s large workforce is aging rapidly, while the young labor pools in the Middle East, Africa and South Africa are expanding.

Fertility rates have dropped globally, even in developing countries. As national economies improve and household incomes rise, fertility drops, children receive more education, and they find better jobs than their parents.

Many developing nations are emerging consumer markets, with expanding numbers of moderate- and middle-income households generating enthusiastic consumer demand.

Population growth is highest in the poorest countries (Yemen, Bangladesh, Haiti, Liberia, and Afghanistan) and they have the most difficulty reversing a cycle of abject poverty.

In developing countries, the number of elderly is rising because of longevity gains, but their share of the total population is reduced by very large younger cohorts.

Population, household, and income characteristics-–and the direction of future trends-–determine whether demand will exist for new housing or retail space, and household mobility suggests where that new space should be built.

Growth in the labor force, as well as characteristics of its composition (age, education, skills, and mobility), strongly influence the success of office and industrial properties,” states the report.

“Although population growth is not an absolute prerequisite for successful investment and development, it certainly helps to work with rather than against trends…

"Meeting the demands of explosive, evolutionary growth requires sensitivity to urban form and sustainable designs – new communities that offer mixed uses, walkable environments, and access to jobs. The real estate implications of demographic changes around the world are enormous,” says the report.

Brier Creek CC's Fly n' Buy Program Will Return Up to $2,000 in Travel Expenses

Here's a trip that will pay for itself. Take advantage of Brier Creek's Fly and Buy Program: Visit Brier Creek Country Club in Raleigh, NC, buy a home and receive up to $2,000 in travel expenses at settlement.

Make your appointment before August 31 and enjoy a free round of golf and dinner for two at Brier Creek during your stay.

The community offers luxury condominiums, townhomes, single-family homes and ranch-style homes surrounding an Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course form the $200,000s to almost $2 million.

 Call 919-206-8655 to set up your appointment, or click here to request more information.

Golf, Now Off-Track, Will Look Different in the Future, Says RT Jones Executive

Despite the recent downturn in the golf business, Bruce Charlton—immediate past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, and President and Chief Design Officer of Robert Trent Jones II (RTJ II)—sees a time of great opportunity, according to a release issued by the company..

“The game has been around for 500 years, and over the centuries it’s taken various forms,” Charlton says. “I think we’re going to see some different things ahead, like a period of new courses as public spaces—the way golf was at its Scottish beginnings."

Prediction: Fewer Expensive Private Club
"We’ll see fewer expensive private clubs hidden behind hedges, and more public facilities where golfers might encounter their neighbors walking their dogs around the links or strolling on public paths built in and around a golf course.

"People are beginning to realize—again—that golf courses are terrific community assets that both golfers and non-golfers can enjoy, but which can also produce revenue.”

“We’ll also see golf grow as a hotel and resort amenity, especially in places not currently associated with the game—like China and Dubai, Scandinavia, Turkey, South and Central America, and even Africa,” Charlton says. “People will continue to value golf as a magnet for attracting tourism worldwide.”

The Golf Business Went "Off Track"
 Charlton, an industry elder statesman along with partner and RTJ II Chairman Robert Trent Jones, Jr., observes that the golf business went off track and is currently suffering the consequences.

“We overbuilt and saturated some markets with courses and golf housing communities. Ten years ago everyone was building golf course communities and trying to sell golf as a lifestyle. There wasn’t anything wrong with that model—perhaps we just did too much of it.”

According to Charlton, that overbuilding and the current financial challenges aren’t entirely golf problems—they’re also banking and lending and real estate problems that happen to affect golf. “But, as an industry, golf generates more dollars than the motion picture industry. Golf isn’t about to go away,” Charlton says.

A recent report on the golf economy estimates that the game generates more than $75 billion in direct annual revenue and employs more than 2 million workers.

It's Time to Upgrade & Reposition
For those in the business, Charlton—long known for his upbeat, optimistic nature—advises, “Now is a great time for existing facilities to take a look at themselves, to upgrade their courses and meet new environmental standards. And existing courses may need to reposition themselves in the marketplace—especially older clubs in markets that have changed.”

“Developers should also look at the actual hard costs of development and revisit plans with their architects and contractors—not just the costs, but the model for who they are aiming at. Housing developments can be built around public courses that are community assets, encompassing parks and green spaces and wildlife habitat.

Return the Game to Its Democratic Roots
Golf can return to the democratic roots of the game that developed in Scotland and have kept it popular for centuries. Construction costs are at levels where they were five years ago; savvy developers will get projects under way now, when costs are inexpensive. When the market picks up again—as it will—they’ll have product ready.”

“The golf industry should also look at new business models—instead of a purely private club, how about one with some public access; we have hybrid cars, why not hybrid golf courses that combine public/private partnerships, whether in the deal structure itself, or in a facility that might offer several days of public access to offset membership costs, or rotate two courses between public and private access?”

Charlton concludes, “Golf will come out of this current period leaner and stronger. We’re getting rid of fat, learning from our mistakes, and developing a clearer sense of what the golf market and the golfer need. We’ll be more unified.

There’s never been a greater time for everyone in the industry to get together and sing ‘Kumbaya’ around the campfire and begin to tell golf’s story to the public—a story of positive impacts, economically, socially, and environmentally.”

Blogs and Twitter Combine to Generate More Traffic & Exposure for Communities

Bald Head Island, NC: Blogs and Twitter help build traffic.

We are learning how to use Twitter for our business and are beginning to see how integrating Twitter, our blogs (golf and waterview) and websites (golf and waterview) can generate additional traffic and leads for our client communities.

This week, for example, we launched Bald Head Island on WaterViewHome.net on Tuesday and in the four days since have generated a nice batch of leads and click-thrus to Bald Head Island's own website.

Following Bald Head Island on Twitter has helped us identify added PR opportunities which we have either re-tweeted or posted in our New Communities Newsletter, on our blogs or all of the above. 

Blog entries automatically trigger an appearance on GCH Twitter which has generated more blog views and ultimately more visits to client Featured Community pages.

We are firm believers in creating as many media streams as possible with the overarching goal of driving more traffic to our client Featured Community pages and generating more leads. This week, especially, Bald Head Island has enjoyed added benefits from the exposure. The results also show how Twitter can assist in building business.

Watch for more media streams to be added to the GolfCourseHome® Network in the near future. If you would like your master-planned golf or waterview community featured on GolfCourseHome Network® or WaterViewHome Network, please contact me.

Encouraging News: Recent Sales to Real Estate Inquiries from GolfCourseHome

Three communities, two in Florida and one in Pennsylvania, gave us news this week that they had recent sales to people who inquired about property via the GolfCourseHome Network and GolfCourseHome.net.

The communities are Treasure Lake, DuBois, PA (sponsored by Elaine Rhodes, Buyers Only Realty, Inc); The Vineyards, Naples, FL; and River Wilderness, Parrish, FL (sponsored by The Possehl Team realtors).

Elaine reported that overall, GolfCourseHome prospects have purchased three waterfront homes and one waterview home from her. You can read client testimonials about our service, sales leads and sales here.

First Quarter Leads Jump 25% Over Previous Quarter, 14 Communities Added to Network

Here are 5 key facts from what turned out to be a promising first quarter of the year.

1. First Quarter Leads Up 25 Percent Over 4th Quarter

Leads captured by Network communities jumped 25 percent over the 4th quarter of last year as the final weeks of the quarter powered the quarter's total past what was anticipated to be about a 16 percent increase. It is a promising start to a year in which questions continue to linger in the minds of marketers as to how and when sales will evolve. Network traffic was up 6 percent over the 4th quarter.

An increase in interest, rising numbers of inquiries and more community tours are what we are hearing in discussions with many communities across the country. The activity is encouraging, but the proof is in the closings. Are you closing on spring sales now? Please let me know and we will post your success on the GCH Blog and in our twice-weekly newsletter. Good news leads to confidence...and more sales!

2. 14 Communities Join Network in First Quarter

A bright light in the first three months of the year was the addition of 14 more golf and waterview communities to the Network--10 communities were launched on GolfCourseHome and four communities were added to the WaterViewHome Network. The Carolinas topped all states with seven communities.

GolfCourseHome Network - 10 Communities, 6 states
Pauma Valley, CA
SummerGlen, FL
Kingston on Lake Oconee, GA
Bald Head Island, NC
Brier Creek, NC
Cummings Cove, NC
The Owner's Club at Hilton Head, SC
Wachesaw Plantation, SC
Wyboo Plantation, SC
Regency at Dominion Valley, VA

WaterViewHome Network - 4 Communities, 4 states
The Bluffs at Richmond Hill, GA
The Lake at Sylvan Way, NY
The Preserve at Grand Lake, OK
The Reverie on the Ashley, SC

3. Cutting Back on Advertising? Use GCH PR --It Works!

When your community is a member of the GolfCourseHome and WaterViewHome Networks you receive a valuable benefit--PR. Included in your annual contract is the opportunity to send us as much news as you can generate about your events, awards, new hires, new amenities planned or completed, promotions, incentives, Discovery Packages and more, and we will post the information in/on one or more of four of the following Network locations (below).

Your news is a powerful generator of more traffic, clik-thrus to your own website, and most importantly, leads.

New Communities e-Newsletter - Published twice weekly to 31,000 subscribers

The GCH Blog - Official GolfCourseHome Blog - now with more than 500 entries and 30,000 views

GCH Winners Section - Community news, rankings and awards

Deal/Packages - A special section devoted to your promotions, incentives and Discovery Tours

GCH/Twitter - Social media which we are testing, see below

4. The Job Search - We Get Resumes - Are You Looking or Hiring?

Are you hiring? Are you looking for a job? With the recent downturn I have received resumes from top managers and community executives looking for a new position. I have also received news of job openings. Thus, I will put people in touch with each other if I see a match. We regularly are in contact with nearly 2,000 developers, community marketers and their agencies and brokers. If there are job opportunities out there, I will help you make a connection.

5. Twitter: Fad or Useful Business App?

GolfCourseHome is now on Twitter at GCH/Twitter. Is this a fad or a potential business tool? Right now we are testing it. The key appears to be able to build up a large following that is made up of your target audience. Question to answer, though, how much web reading can people do? And can the activity result in leads and sales? We'll let you know. Are you on Twitter?

NEWS SHORTS

Network Members Websites now at 42 sites with 1st Qtr launch of ClubWeddingReceptions.net, HealthandWellnessCommunities.net....GolfHomeRentals.net adding great value and leads to those listed. Are you on it?....PlumTV Summer Program still available, let me know if you want more info on it.....Is your community converting some of its inventory to fractionals? Let us know and we'll feature your community on PrivateResidenceClubs.net.

Press Release: Golf Course Home® Network Launches GolfHomeRentals.net

A press release announcing the addition of GolfHomeRentals.net to the GolfCourseHome Network was issued today through Marketwire's Social Media. See below for the full text of the release.

New Site Features Golf Communities Offering Golf & Vacation Home Rentals

NEWTOWN, CT--(Marketwire - November 19, 2008) - The Golf Course Home® Network officially launched today www.GolfHomeRentals.net, a new website dedicated to featuring long-term golf home and vacation home rentals available at Network communities. The new site boosts the Network's total number of Member Websites to 39.

GolfHomeRentals.net features master-planned golf and waterview communities in the U.S. and Mexico offering short- and long-term rentals, plus information on Discovery Tours, vacation packages and special builder deals and developer incentives.

Sample golf communities that offer luxury homes, villas and condos for vacation rentals:

Hammock Dunes, Palm Coast, Florida

Estrella del Mar, Mazatlan, Mexico

Casa del Lago, Dominican Republic

"A renewed focus on rentals in a time of slowing sales will help provide a welcome assist to cash flow," said David Lott, Publisher and Founder of the GolfCourseHome® Network. "In addition, vacation rentals are an excellent way to bring people into a community to sample what it offers and make it easy for them to imagine buying and owning a home there."

GolfHomeRentals.net joins other recent additions to the Network in an aggressive campaign that will result in the Network growing to 43 Member sites by January 2009.

Useful Links:

Florida Golf & Vacation Home Rentals

Mexico Golf & Vacation Home Rentals

Discovery Tours & Golf Packages

Golf Community Search Engine

www.GolfCourseHome.net and www.WaterViewHome.net are the core websites of the Golf Course Home® Network which offers 39 Member Websites, a database of more than 500 master-planned communities, and features on 200 world-class golf and waterview communities in North America.

Industry leaders featuring properties on GolfCourseHome®Network include Toll Brothers, IMI Resorts, Intrawest/Playground, Centex, Pulte Homes/Del Webb, The Ginn Company, Worthington, DR Horton, Kolter and LandMar. Major real estate firms featured include Cora Bett Thomas, SC; Waterfront Properties, FL; Turnquist Properties, TX; Oxford Realty, FL; and Liz Moore & Associates, VA.

GolfCourseHome.net is frequently cited in publications and online, such as the New York Times, Forbes.com, Business Week, Business 2.0 Magazine, Golf Digest and Schwab's ON INVESTING magazines.

To request information about advertising on the GolfCourseHome®Network, contact David Lott, Founder and Publisher, 1-203-270-9357.

Increase Your Revenue by Converting Existing Real Estate to an Equity Residence Club (Fractional)

In times like these, a two-pronged strategy is the key to success: 

1. Focusing on the basics and, 2. Exploring creative approaches.

To that end, we are offering five tactics that will help you survive the current market while helping you to establish a leadership position. Here is the first installment:

I. Convert a Percentage of Inventory to Fractional Units

The GolfCourseHome Network has recently joined with DCP International, a leader in the creation of international equity residence cubs (fractional real estate), to provide GolfCourseHome and WaterViewHome clients the opportunity to sell existing inventory through the creation of fractional neighborhood(s).

There are a number of key benefits to creating fractional real estate, the main one being making it easier to buy into the community while adding more residents and club memberships. Also, once on property and having sampled life at the community, fractional owners often move up to full ownership.

The benefits of creating fractional real estate to developers are numerous:
1. Significant increase in revenue
2. Increased net profit
3. Increased occupancy within the community
4. Increased utilization of amenities
5. Creates a feeder to other forms of ownership/sales
6. Access to DCP’s global marketing and sales network
7. Increased discovery visits to the property

DCP – A Pioneer & Leader
DCP (DCP International, LLC) specializes in the design, marketing and sale of equity residence clubsSM developments at prestigious resort and urban locations. It is the pioneer and most experienced company in this rapidly growing segment of the real estate industry. 

DCP residence clubs have generated more than $700 million in sales to date. Additionally, DCP residence clubs that have sold, are actively marketing or are in development have projected sales revenues in excess of $2 billion. DCP was instrumental in creating the first resort equity residence clubs SM project at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah.

GolfCourseHome will be presenting a webinar on DCP’s services and how you can increase your sales and revenue through the conversion of existing inventory to fractional real estate. Please contact David Lott, GolfCourseHome Founder & Publisher, or call him at 203-270-9357 for more information on DCP and the upcoming webinar.

GolfCourseHome Network to Launch 9 New Websites Bringing Total to 43

Madison Lakes, GA: Now featured on LakeOconeeGolfCommunities.net

The Golf Course Home® Network will launch nine new websites over the next three months in an aggressive year-end plan which will boost  the Network’s total number of Member Websites to 43.
The first of the nine— http://www.LakeOconeeGolfCommunities.net —went live on Sept. 23 per the launch schedule which will introduce a new Network Member Website every two weeks.

In the four weeks since LakeOconeeGolfCommunities.net was launched, www.Lakefront-Communities.net and www.AtlantaGolfCourseCommunities.net have been added. An additional six sites will be added between now and January 15, arriving in two week intervals.

“Sometimes the best time to grow and gain market share is when the market is experiencing upheaval, as the real estate market is today,” said David Lott, Publisher and Founder of the GolfCourseHome® Network.

 “And by continuing to spread our wings, the GolfCourseHome® Network will make it even easier for those still in the market for property to find and learn about the 200 communities we feature.”

Other websites slated to join the Network include OceanViewCommunities.net,   SavannahGolfCourseCommunities.net and LuxuryYachtingCommunities.net.

http://www.GolfCourseHome.net and http://www.WaterViewHome.net are the core websites of the Golf Course Home® Network which offers 35 Member Websites, a database of more than 500 master-planned communities, and features on 200 world-class golf and waterview communities in North America.

Industry leaders featuring properties on GolfCourseHome®Network include Toll Brothers, IMI Resorts, Intrawest/Playground, Centex, Pulte Homes/Del Webb, The Ginn Company, Worthington, DR Horton, Kolter and LandMar. Major real estate firms featured include Cora Bett Thomas, SC; Waterfront Properties, FL; Turnquist Properties, TX; Oxford Realty, FL; and Liz Moore & Associates, VA.

GolfCourseHome.net is frequently cited in publications and online, such as the New York Times, Forbes.com, Business Week, Business 2.0 Magazine, Golf Digest and Schwab’s ON INVESTING magazines.

To request information about advertising on the GolfCourseHome®Network, contact David Lott, Founder and Publisher, 1-203-270-9357.

GolfCourseHome, Founder David Lott Featured in New York Times on 'Chooosing Right Course'

GolfCourseHome.net and Founder & Publisher David Lott are featured in today's New York Times in an article appearing in the Escapes section entitled 'Choosing the Right Course.' Reporter Billie Cohen quotes Lott numerous times throughout the article.

An excerpt:

The most important thing is to determine the community’s financial stability. Begin at the source: the developer.

“Start with a direct question, hoping for an honest answer,” said David Lott, publisher and founder of Golfcoursehome.net. “Ask, ‘Given the current market, what safeguards are there, for people who buy into this community, that it’s going to remain financially stable?’ ”

Mr. Lott continued: “If the developer is gone, then you ask about how the community maintains its financial stability now. A lot of communities have an HOA, a homeowners’ association, and you should find out how secure that is.”

Other Amenities?
In addition to off-site amenities, consider the on-site perks. Golf is a given, but, Mr. Lott said, more and more people who move into golf communities don’t play. Find out what else the development offers.

“You assume it’s going to have a swimming pool, tennis courts,” he said. “What other things? Is there hiking and biking and walking trails? Yoga classes, Pilates classes? What kind of restaurant do they have? Is it fine dining or a snack bar? Do they have both?”

In addition, are there activities to do with children, grandchildren and friends?

“A lot of people move into a community because it’s near their children,” Mr. Lott said. “So wouldn’t it be great to be in a place and have your children and your children’s children say, ‘Let’s go visit Gramps; they’ve got a great lake there!’ ”

Meet the Neighbors
Also, meet the neighbors. They can provide insider information about what it’s like to live and play there, as well as tip you off to the vibe of the place.

“Some communities have what is called an ambassador program,” Mr. Lott said. “It’s an actual list of people who have volunteered to be ambassadors at the club or even at their hometown.”

If you walk around and don’t see many people, take note, he said. This might be a seasonal community; make sure it matches your travel patterns and social life.

Looking Well & Being Friendly
Also, first impressions count. Pay attention to the cleanliness and quality of the grounds.

“These clubs spend a lot of money on their appearance, so it should be something you’re proud of,” he said. “If it doesn’t look like it’s in great shape, then that makes me think the financials aren’t that great.”

And, finally, is the staff friendly? “It’s amazing what kind of an impact a warm, welcoming, friendly attitude is among the people who are going to be servicing you at the community,” Mr. Lott said.

For the full text of the article, click here.

GolfCourseHome.net was launched in the fall of 1999 and will celebrate its 10th anniversary online next year. Lott, a former writer for Golf Digest, has been covering the golf course real estate market since 1985.

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.

GreenGolfCommunities.net Launched by Golf Course Home® Network

Brickshire, VA: Green with Audubon Sanctuary course.

GolfCourseHome.net and the Golf Course Home® Network
announced the launch of www.GreenGolfCommunities.net
today.

The 31st Network Member Website, GreenGolfCommunities
showcases more than 50 master-planned golf and waterview
communities in 16 states that have demonstrated leadership
in pursuing and promoting environmentally friendly policies
and construction.

Qualifying communities are assigned to one of four
categories—Vanguard, Steward, Sustaining and Participant—
depending on the extent of their green programs and
achievements. These designations are fluid in that a
community can move up (or down) based on new programs
added in the future.

Each community can stand out in up to 18 different areas,
ranging from Significant Green Space, Staff Naturalist,
Nature Center, Education & Research and Habitat
Restoration to Green Construction (LEED, etc.), Conservation
Foundation, Research Partnership, Volunteer Programs,
Archeological Preserve and participation in Audubon
International’s Sanctuary program.

“A person wants to feel proud of the community in which
he lives,” said David Lott, Golf Course Home® Network
Founder and Publisher. “And a good part of that pride
comes from the positive environmental impact the
community might have, such as creating preserves,
restoring habitats and clean water practices.

“GreenGolfCommunities.net will make it easier to find out
who the environmental leaders in community development
are.”

To see the complete list of Green Golf Communities, click here.

Golf Shopping? Oconee Course Golf Shop at Reynolds Plantation Is a Winner

Reynolds Plantation Oconee Golf Shop: Top 100.

If you're looking for a great place to shop for the golfer
in your life (or for yourself), try the award-winning Oconee
Course Golf Shop at Reynolds Plantation which was
was recently named one of the “100 Best Golf Shops
in America” for 2008 by GOLF WORLD magazine.

The fifth consecutive win for the shop, the award
recognizes excellence in golf retail merchandising.
Heading up the effort in 2007 were Director of Retail
Merchandise Jean Silbereisen and Head Golf Professional
Mike Davenport.

The award ranks shops in four categories: public, private,
resort and off-course. This year, The Oconee Course
Golf Shop earned its win in the resort category. Criteria
included merchandising strategy, visual presentation and
financial performance. The golf shop’s physical size and
rounds played are also included. To request more
information about Reynolds Plantation, click here.

The Oconee course is one of five golf courses at Reynolds
Plantation whose courses have been authored by many of
the top names in golf course design, including Bob Cupp,
Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones and Jim Engh.

St. James Plantation, NC, Reports 2007 Sales of $46.7 MIllion

St. James Plantation, NC: 81 Holes of golf & healthy sales.

St. James Plantation, the coastal North Carolina’s golf and
waterview community, reports that it had real estate sales
of $46.7 million for 2007. The statement was issued by
Julie Frazier, vice president of marketing.

“Our sales continue strong,” Frazier said, “despite the
fact that the national market this year was soft and
uncertain.  We have found that our buyers remain
active and enthusiastic. They have indicated that we
have a special product they want.”

St. James Plantation, which borders the Intracoastal
Waterway, has welcomed over 4,000 families as property
owners and residents since its establishment in 1991. 
The number of owners represents residents, homesite
owners and second-home owners. 

Frazier said the St. James primary market continues to
be the eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida, but
that the Midwestern states are well-represented also. 

St. James Plantation has grown steadily since it was
created 16 years ago along the North Carolina coast near
the quaint village of Southport. A gated, picturesque
5,000-acre tract, the popular community has 1,800 homes
and approximately 200 single-family homes are currently
under construction.

St. James offers four championship golf courses and its
newest course, the Reserve Club, which was created by
the Nicklaus Design, was named “Best New Course” in
North Carolina last year.  In addition to golf, there is tennis,
a marina, beach club, fitness centers, walking and biking
trails, and a variety of water sports, including swimming,
boating and fishing.

To request immediate information about St. James
Plantation, click here.

'Win a GolfCourseHome Weekend' Contest Sparks Dreams

The entries are coming in for GolfCourseHome's
"Win a Weekend at Your Dream Community Contest."
We've asked subscribers to our New Communities
Newsletter to write us describing what they would
imagine their perfect community to be. We've received
some excellent entries making us think there are a lot
of aspiring copywriters out there.

There is still time for you to email us your entry:
Tell us what your dream community would be like
and describe a perfect day there. The winning entry
wins 2 days/3 nights at the GolfCourseHome Featured
Community of his/her choice. Details of the stay depend
on the rules governing the community.

Here's one of the recent entries:

The Perfect Community
by K R.

Imagine a place that is the antidote to the stress of
daily life; one that fosters family relationships and a
creates a deep sense of community - a sort of “Leave
It To Beaver” atmosphere, where children are safe…
life is simple, and “home” is permanent.

How do you create that environment?  First, by creating
a barrier between the community and the outside world –
a protected place where the air is clean and the surroundings
are green.  Where better to do this than within a golf
course community?  Rather than homes surrounding a golf
course, surround the homes with the course!  Create a
“decompression zone” for people of the community to
drive through on their way home -  a meandering road
through lush green and natural spaces.  This will begin
the daily transformation from life’s “rat race” to a slower,
calmer pace.

After the drive has imperceptibly eased your tensions,
you will come upon a neighborhood of homes that are
not built merely to impress, but built to last, with a
sense of history and permanence. Not “McMansions”
designed with the latest “fad” in mind, these homes
will seem as if they were built many years ago and nature
has grown and worked its special magic around them
with moss and ivy-covered stone walls, mixed with
beautiful architectural details – stately and classic,
but welcoming.

Now add to that ambiance, hidden technology - an
intranet for neighbors, where they can easily become
acquainted and communicate with one another,
inviting one another to meet at the clubhouse to
begin an easy 9-hole afternoon on an impeccably
manicured course…or for an invigorating walk through
the nature trails or exercise class at the community
fitness center…or for a relaxing evening meal in
the fire-lit dining room at the clubhouse, where you
can plan your next neighborhood gathering around
the fire pit so children and adults alike can enjoy the
old-time pleasure of roasting marshmallows over an
open fire.  This is the best of both old and new worlds.
This is the perfect community.

Golf Course Home Collection Debuts at Washington Cathedral Holiday Festival

Golf Course Home Collection: Imported Italian ceramics.

The Golf Course Home Collection of fine items for the
country club lifestyle makes its Washington, DC, debut
at the 25th Christmas House Tour Holiday Boutique on 
Friday,  Dec.  7 and Saturday, Dec. 8, at The Cathedral
Close of the Washington National Cathedral. A percentage
of all sales goes to St. Albans School. Admission is free.

The Golf Course Home Collection features fine, hand-
crafted, imported  Italian ceramics such as dinnerware,
serving platters, bowls and plates, wine accessories,
fine baby gifts and more. All items can be personalized
with a monogram at no additional charge and can be
purchased online. All items come in a variety of
patterns that can be viewed here.

Arezzo pitcher.

This festive event combines a house tour, holiday tea and
sale of holiday boutique gifts and crafts.  The event is
open to the public. Sponsored by the St. Albans Parents
Club, proceeds are directed to faculty and staff
endowment, stipends and grants.

Rosetta pasta bowl.

The Cathedral Close is the area bounded by Wisconsin Ave.,
34th St., Garfield St., and Woodley Rd. Includes the
Washington National Cathedral, NCS, STA, Beauvoir
and the College of Preachers. Boutique hours are on
Friday, from 9:30 am to 5 pm and Saturday from 9:30
am to 4 pm. Admission is free.

Bianca wine holder.

Washington National Cathedral (St. Peter and St. Paul
towers) is now complete and is celebrating its 100th
anniversary this year. St. Albans, along with the National
Cathedral School for Girls, Beauvoir School, and the
Washington National Cathedral, is part of the Protestant
Episcopal Cathedral Foundation. St. Albans sits in the
shadow of the National Cathedral, on the 57-acre
Cathedral Close in residential Northwest Washington.
For more information, call 202-537-6435.

Lake Blackshear Plantation Announces Year-End Savings Up to $22,000

Lake Blackshear Plantation, GA: Just 6 weeks for savings.

Lake Blackshear Plantation in south Georgia announces
it “Year-End Savings” promotion which begins today
through December 31,2007. Buyers can take advantage
of up to $22,000 savings on golf course lots. To request
more information, click here.

In addition to a wonderful golf course, an 8,700 acre
lake and other amenities, the development and the area
itself offers the small things that provide a warm
hometown charm.

Located just off of Highway 300 and nestled in the
heart of south central Georgia, Lake Blackshear
Plantation benefits from a climate that is mild in
the winters and warm in the summer--golf can be
pursued year-round. Sounds ideal, right? Play golf
in the morning and enjoy the lake in the afternoon.

Golfweek's Best New Courses and Best Residential Courses Rankings

Fiddler's Creek, FL: A Best Residential Golf Course.

More rankings have hit the airwaves and these lists
include Golfweek magazine's 'Best News Courses'
and the 'Best Residential Courses' list which was
featured recently in an advertorial in the Wall Street
Journal. Several of the courses and their communities
are featured are featured on GolfCourseHome. Here's
a quick reference guide to these award-winners.

Golfweek Magazine: Best News Courses
Featured on GolfCourseHome

  8. Reynolds Plantation, Creek Club, Oconee, Georgia., Jim Engh, 2005   

14. The Club at Olde Stone, Bowling Green, Kentucky., Arthur Hills, 2006   

30. Tesoro, Port St. Lucie, Florida., Arnold Palmer, 2005

38. Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach (Members Course), South Carolina, Craig Schreiner, 2005

44. The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Asheville, North Carolina, Jack Nicklaus, 2005   

45. Bayside, Fenwick Island, Delaware, Jack Nicklaus & Rick Jacobson, 2005   

46. Southern Hills Plantation Club, Brooksville, Florida,  Pete Dye, 2005   

50. Daniel Island, Charleston – Ralston Creek, Charleston, South.Carolina, Rees Jones, 2006

Coming up soon will be Golfweek's Best Residential Courses.
Here is a preview of the some of the winning entries.

Golfweek's Best Residential Courses
Featured on GolfCourseHome

Paako Communities, Sandia Park, New Mexico

The Powder Horn, Sheridan, Wyoming

Desert Mountain, Scottsdale, Arizona

Cuscowilla, On Lake Oconee, Georgia

Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro (Great Waters), Georgia

Uwharrie Point, Home of the Old North State Club, New London, North Carolina

Daniel Island, Charleston, South Carolina

Fiddler's Creek, Naples, Florida

Reunion, Orlando, Florida  (The Independence)

Southern Hills Plantation Club, Brooksville, Florida

TennesseeGolfCommunities.net Launches Today at 9 a.m.

Five Oaks, TN: Featured Nashville-area golf community.

A press release goes out this morning announcing the
launch of the Golf Course Home® Network's newest
Member Website, www.TennesseeGolfCommunities.net.

Featuring golf and waterview communities located in
the state of Tennessee, TennesseeGolfCommunities.net
is the 29th Member Website in the Network and the
second site to be launched in the past 12 days.

“Those buyers still in the market are looking for value,”
noted David Lott, Golf Course Home® Network Founder
and Publisher, in the release. “And the state of Tennessee,
with its favorable tax rates and attractive, value-
oriented pricing for golf, waterview and mountain-view
communities, make it a natural for us to launch a
website devoted specifically to the state.”

TennesseeGolfCommunities.net already features golf and
waterview communities located near Knoxville and Nashville.

Women- & Family-Friendly Golf Communities: Where Everyone Counts

Vista Ridge, CO: Community center embraces all family members.

The times they are a' changing at today's golf course
communities. While once they were simply golf courses
with homes around them and geared mainly toward the
sport and the men players, today the emphasis is on
a sense of community and the family. And that means
not just men, but women and children members as well.

Today's buyers expect to find a lifestyle at the community
that is more diverse and well-rounded, with women in
particular finally having their the tastes served and
their preferences recognized. Media outlets geared
toward the female side of the market—Golf for Women
magazine, for example—make a point of evaluating
golf resorts and golf communities in terms of how
well they appeal to that audience.

Emphasis on Community
In addition, greater emphasis on "community"
means providing programs and facilities that bring
families together for quality time and "memory
making." Learning about nature and the outdoors
with a staff naturalist is a typical example of the
organized togetherness now being promoted. That
sort of opportunity can bridge multiple generations,
inspiring a greater sense of community within one's
own family.

Women sizing up a golf community are also looking
for programs their children can do on their own—swim
lessons, kids clubs and camps—so that Mom can take
time out for cooking class, computer club or a
relaxing half-day at the spa.

Golf for Women
Of course, many women living in golf communities
are golf nuts themselves, and expect the courses,
clubhouses, locker rooms and lounges at top-tier
golf communities to accommodate women as
luxuriously and spaciously as they accommodate men.
And increasingly, they do. Where do you find these
communities? See below as the first installment in
our new, multi-part series, "Women- and Family-
Friendly Golf Communities," begins.

COLORADO: Vista Ridge, Erie
The accolades have been generous for this mountain
community’s golf program. Designed with families
in mind, Vista Ridge offers all the amenities of a five-
star resort including spectacular mountain views
and miles of parks and trails. Recently, the community
was named the “Most Female Friendly” Golf Course
in the annual readers-choice awards conducted by
Colorado Avid Golfer magazine in recognition of
such Vista Ridge features as year-round women’s
clinics, a women’s golf league, Moms Play Free policy
on Mother’s Day (the course is public) and a course
design with six sets of tees and generous wide
landing areas for drives and long approach shots.

FLORIDA: Willoughby Golf Club
Given the wide array of special golf experiences
that Willoughby offers its women members, the
members at this Treasure Coast community must
need their clubs regripped regularly. Events include
a 60-member, 18-hole group and a 70-member nine-
hole group with both holding weekly competitions.
Ladies Day on Thursdays offers a wide variety of
tournaments including Rally for the Cure, a
Grandmothers Tournament, Guest Days and other
team and individual events.

Willoughby also participates in a four-club Fun
Interclub League, a four-club Competitive Interclub
League and also sends teams to the 18-club Treasure
Coast Challenge Cup. Club events include a Member-
Member Tournament, Club Championship and Ladies
Cup. Mixed events include a one-day mixed member
guest days, Mars vs. Venus Tournament and a three-
day mixed member guest weekend each spring.

VIRGINIA: Belmont Country Club
The lifestyle of the woman golfer at Belmont suits
the serious golfer who is also into fitness, fashion
and fun/socializing. The community’s golf calendar
for women covers the spectrum from beginner
clinics to the member-member championship and
from trunk shows of the latest golfwear to seminars
on the rules of golf and intelligent “course management.”

Belmont competitions and fun participation days in
both tennis and weight training are also part of the
regime. To unwind, Belmont CC women get together
for Ladies’ Night Out, a Mother’s Day Spa Brunch,
a regular Mom’s Group and the Bridge Club.

NORTH CAROLINA: St. James Plantation, Southport
At St. James Plantation, where golf shares the marquee
with recreational centers, private beach club and a full-
service marina, more than 250 women play in weekly
golf tournaments and enjoy social events sponsored
by two community golf associations. The women-only
tournaments are held every Tuesday and rotated among
the community’s four courses spread over 81 holes.

In addition, 10 major tournaments held annually at
St. James Plantation are either women-only or mixed
couples. While women are welcomed any time at the
community’s golf school, the  St. James Golf Academy
also conducts two weekly schools that are reserved
exclusively for women.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach
Setting aside an age-old distinction which to many
seems no longer appropriate, this luxurious ocean-
to-Intracoastal master-planned resort community
eliminated the “women’s handicap” tees on its
new Members Club Course, instead inviting players
of both sexes to play from the tees appropriate to
their individual ability.

Nick Price and Craig Schreiner designed the new
Members Club Course with setup options that
allow all Grande Dunes members and guests to
“test their athleticism and shot-making ability
on every hole or just relax and enjoy themselves.”