The GolfCourseHome Life

Bay Club Upgrades Golf Course, River Wilderness Reports "Phenomenal Year"

Spring Island, SC is close to Hilton Head Island.

Spring Island, SC and its Performing Arts Committee welcomed the musical act Havana Son for a live performance at the community’s Golf House on Dec. 1. Along with music and dancing with the popular Cuban-influenced group, members enjoyed a five-course dinner with select wine pairings. Click here for more information about Spring Island!

The Bay Club, MA has several off-season golf course upgrade projects currently underway. Changes include continued reduction of the course’s formal turfgrass footprint, drainage improvements and collar reduction, and the re-design of Hole No. 10, just named one of GolfCourseHome’s Great Water Holes. The club is also proceeding with a fescue conversion project around tee boxes and bunker edges. Click here for more information about The Bay Club!

River Wilderness, Parrish, FL, reports the community had its best year since 2007, which had been "a phenomenal year," with the real estate team participating in 20 sales transactions. The activity coincides with the full maturation of the golf course's Tiff Eagle greens, new three years ago, to championship level quality. Click here for more information about River Wilderness!

Palmetto Bluff, SC and Sea Pines, SC are among the Hilton Head Island-area communities congratulating the island's Bistro 17 restaurant for its extraordinary dog-friendly policies. Bistro 17 is an upscale restaurant that not only allows dogs on its patio, but offers an entire dog menu with healthy ingredients just for them. Half the proceeds of Puppy Menu items benefit a local animal sanctuary.
Click here for more information about Palmetto Bluff!
Click here for more information about Sea Pines!

The Bay Club, MA, to Host 3rd Annual "Taste of the Bay" Sunday, Oct. 18

The Bay Club at Mattapoisett will host the Third Annual "Taste of the Bay"  on Sunday, October 18 from Noon to 4 p.m.  Seven custom-built homes will host Open Houses, each offering food and beverages from local vintners and food purveyors. 

Two Abbot Homes in the Bay Club’s Preserve neighborhood will also be open for touring. The Preserve offers single-family condominium-style homes ranging in size from just under 2,000 square feet to 2,800 sq feet with a multitude of customizable features. 

"The appeal of condo living combined with the amenities of the Bay Club is an ideal situation," says a community spokesperson.

As a part of the The Bay Club at Mattapoisett’s Taste of the Bay, the Sports & Activities Center demonstration kitchen will feature local favorite Chad Michael Peters, who will be sharing tips and tricks for stunning floral arrangements.

Everyone is welcome and we invite you to bring family and friends. Please RSVP to the Sales and Information Center at 508-758-9543 or via email by October 16.

Bay Club's Short Game Practice Area Is Complete for Any Kind of Golf Shot

Bay Club at Mattapoisett, Mass: Short game gets better here.

This past July the Bay Club at Mattapoisett completed a 1 ¼ acre Short Game Practice Area. 

Watching the Faxon & Booth designed course mature over the past five years had given Head Golf Professional Greg Yeomans a strong understanding of the course’s particular challenges and it’s impact on club members' games, and thus he knew exactly what he wanted to be included in the practice area .

Bay Club at Mattapoiset, Mass: A Faxon & Booth design

Yeomans and the Bay Club Men’s Champion then approached Faxon & Booth Golf Design, LLC and asked the company to create a short game practice area that addressed his vision.

The result was a 7,000-square-foot practice area with a two-tiered green, three practice bunkers, 70 yards of fairway along with ample rough grasses so players can practice every conceivable shot. 

“Players will lower their handicap without ever having to make another full swing on the range by only utilizing this area,” says Yeomans. 

“A player can now practice a 70-yard pitch shot, a greenside bunker shot, a chip shot, a flop shot and their putting all in one session and all from a variety of locations. It has made short game lessons much more productive, as we can truly replicate any situation a player may face on the course.”

Club member Jeannie Smith recently stated, “The new short game practice facility has made a terrific difference in my confidence as I approach the green. Within a small amount of time it allows me to practice a seemingly infinite variety of shots.  I am certain that soon the time I spend practicing at this new location will show up in my handicap.”

The new short game practice area is the latest upgrade to the Bay Club’s golf facility with its 18 hole championship course, driving range, practice putting green, and indoor practice area.

 

 

Bay Club Holds 'Julia Child Night' Featuring French Cooking by Chef Jim Mercer

Bay Club Executive Chef Jim Mercer & Sous Chef Kristin Costa

Bay Club Executive Chef Jim Mercer & Sous Chef Kristin Costa recently paid homage to one of their culinary hero’s, Julia Child, in a special dinner party they hosted recently at the club.

The new hit movie Julie & Julia was the impetus for Costa to approach Chef Mercer with the idea. Chef Mercer had the good fortune of meeting Julia on two separate occasions, first as her student, then again at a private dinner party. 

The Menu
The dinner menu reflected dishes that are quintessential Julia: Beef Bourguignon, Clafoutis, and her Lamb Marinade (a universal Chef favorite).  The piece de resistance for the dinner guests at the Bay Club: Chocolate Mousse for dessert.

For the members of the Bay Club, who all adore Jim, an opportunity to spend an evening enjoying their favorite Chef as he and his colleagues celebrated all things Julia was truly a special treat.

Diverse Background
Jim Mercer has been the Executive Chef at the Bay Club Mattapoisett for the past five years.  His eclectic background leads to exciting menus and memorable meals. Mercer’s food philosophy is grounded in the slow foods or “localvoire” movement, meaning using foods of the immediate area or region.

His flavor inspirations come from a variety of experience and training. “Start with the local culinary heritage," he says, "and add in flavors or techniques from Europe, occasionally adding in spice combinations of India or Morocco, and fitting in bold flavors from the important cuisines of the Orient.”

Mercer was owner and head chef at the widely praised Mex in Boston’s South End, and served as the opening executive chef at the acclaimed Gusto Trattoria in Boston’s Roslindale neighborhood.

He has also been head chef with such well-known organizations as Boston’s East Meets West Catering Company, Page Carter Catering and a Sous Chef for The Catered Affair, one of New England’s premier caterers. Mercer holds a BA from Johnson and Wales University.

Bay Club Member Peter Uihlein Goes Undefeated for U.S. in Walker Cup Match

Pressure Putt: Bay Club member Peter Uihlein sinks 18 ft. putt on No. 18 to put Team USA in the lead for good.

The Bay Club (Mattapoisett, Mass.) Golf House Restaurant was full of exuberance this past weekend where members gathered to watch member Peter Uihlein represent the United State in the 42nd Walker Cup Match which was hosted at the historic Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA.

Uihlein, a 20-year-old-sophmore at Oklahoma State and a captain's pick for the Walker Cup, proved himself invaluable to Team USA, posting a perfect 4-0 record for the weekend and registering the decisive point in the USA’s third consecutive victory (16 ½ -9 ½ ) over Great Britain and Ireland. 

A highlight of the weekend was Uihlein's sinking of an 18-foot putt on the 18th green, giving Team USA a lead it never relinquished.

Head Bay Club Golf Professional Greg Yeomans, along with a group of fellow Bay Club members, made the short trip to Philadelphia in support of Team USA and the club’s most celebrated member.

Unlike in professional golf, spectators at the amateur level are allowed to walk the course alongside the players, thus giving Yeomans an up close and personal vantage point. 

“For only 20 years old, I am amazed at how Peter carries himself,” noted Yeomans. “He possesses a presence with every move he makes. He played well this summer, highlighted by his quarterfinal run at the US Amateur. But what I saw the last two days at the Walker Cup was more impressive than anything I have ever seen.”

And thanks to the television coverage, the rest of The Bay Club was right there along with him. Congratulations to Peter and Team USA!

Bay Club Holds Senior Tournament, Greensprings West Revamps Courses

The Bay Club, MA is a private community close to Cape Cod.

The Bay Club, MA welcomes the Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball tournament today and tomorrow. The event, a Massachusetts Golf Association championship, is limited to two-person amateur teams 55 years of age or older with an up-to-date combined handicap not exceeding 12.0. This is the first time that the event will be played at the Bay Club, a Faxon-Booth designed course that plays 7,068 from the back tees and was carved out of a forest to flow with the coastal topography. Click here for more information about The Bay Club!

Greensprings West, VA announced major improvements to its golf complex. Williamsburg National Golf Club has completed a full summer of work to both its golf courses, the Yorktown and the Jamestown, including cart path repair and resodding of the playing surfaces. The Pavilion gathering place is now expanded and modernized to handle groups of up to 250. Click here for more information about Greensprings West!

Bay Club Member Qualifies for U.S. Walker Cup Team for Match Vs. Britain & Ireland

The Bay Club, Mattapoisett, MA announces that member Peter Uihlein has made the 10-man roster for the 2009 U.S. Walker Cup team.  The 42nd Walker Cup Match, pitting the United States against Britain and Ireland, will be played September 12th and 13th at Merion Golf Club.

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.

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!

Champion Hills, Treasure Lake Offer Summer Fun, Bay Club Opens Practice Area

Champion Hills, NC will hold summer events.

Champion Hills, NC, as part of its Music on the Patio series, welcomes a local bluegrass Band, Buncombe Turnpike to its state this Friday, July 17. The event begins with 5:30 cocktail hour followed by dinner & entertainment. Cost to attend is $32 plus tax and gratuity, per person. Audience participation is much encouraged. The event is being held to only 80 people, on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here for more information about Champion Hills!

Treasure Lake, PA will welcome recording artist John Nemeth to the stage at the Treasure Lake Ski Lodge on Sunday, August 9. Németh released a well-received national debut album, Magic Touch, on Blind Pig Records in 2007. Critics and audiences alike praised Nemeth’s vocal stylings and harmonica playing. The 31-year-old soul-and-blues artist is known for skillfully blending retro and modern styles. Click here for more information about Treasure Lake!

The Bay Club, MA has just opened for member use its much-anticipated Short Game Area. Would-be game-improvers gathered July 11 for the debut of this 10-acre practice facility, a fine complement to the community’s Brad Faxon-Brad Booth-designed golf course. Among its highlights is a wedge area, demanding shots from 35 to 85 yards to a two-tiered regulation target green surrounded by bunkers. Click here for more information about The Bay Club!

Belfair, SC welcomed a new title-holder last Sunday to its roster of Players Amateur winners. Bud Cauley, a sophomore at the University of Alabama, parred in from the 15th to shoot a 6-under-par 282 and claim the coveted national title. Cauley’s victory earns him a berth in the PGA Tour Verizon Heritage event next year. George Bryan IV made a late charge to finish two back with a four-day total of 284. Click here for more information about Belfair!

The Landings Holds Benefit Tournament, Colony at the Grand Hotel Earns Award

Dataw Island, SC is located just outside Beaufort.

Dataw Island, SC will hold a Scotch and Cigar Tasting event in the Tabby Room & Veranda of its grand clubhouse on Wednesday, May 13 beginning at 5:30 pm.  Guests will enjoy a tasting of four varieties of Glenmorange Single Malt scotches. A representative of Southern Wine and Spirits of South Carolina will be on hand to assist. Each attendee will receive three short cigar samples, as well, plus one full-size cigar. Cost is $25 per person, including hors d'oeuvres. Click here for more information about Dataw Island!

The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA is holding an Audubon Golf Tournament fundraiser on May 11, sponsored by he community’s Audubon Committee. Funds are used to preserve and create habitat for birds and other small animals in this 6,500-acre community. All six Landings golf courses are Audubon Sanctuary Certified. Click here for more information about The Landings! 

Colony at the Grand, AL reports new accolades for the community’s on-site lodging, the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club and Spa. It made the No. 4 spot on the Favorite Hotels for 2008 rankings in the annual "Readers' Choice" Awards from Southern Living magazine. Also, the hotel's main dining room was honored for its wine program by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Click here for more information about Colony at the Grand!

NEWS SHORTS

The Cliffs at Glassy, SC is holding its Annual Safe Harbor 5k Run/2k Walk this Saturday, May 9 at 8 am....Hampton Hall, SC has a Cinco de Mayo celebration going on in its Tavern Bar all this week, with Margarita specials and free chips and salsa.... The Resort on Eagle Mountain Lake, TX is offering a free one-year golf membership to any buyer who closes on a home during the month of May....The Owners Club at Hilton Head, SC has extended its deadline for closing on special-price fractional home purchase of $39,900 to June 10. …The LPGA's Michelob Ultra Open began yesterday at Kingsmill on the James, and continues through Sunday...The Bay Club, MA is hosting an Open House and Golf Demo Day this Saturday, May 9.at the club’s driving range from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

DISCOVERY TOURS - STAY 'n PLAY

Juliette Falls, FL says, “Don’t Just Play—Play and Stay,” available for just $299 pp, per night, a huge savings off the regular $700 cost...Galingayle, GA is offering a Discovery Stay for two nights at the James Madison Inn and a private tour of the Galingayle property and homesites....

Georgia Club Hosts Benefit, Carolina Trace Member Receives Recognition, & More

Juliette Falls, FL is in Florida's "horse country."

Juliette Falls, FL will celebrate Derby Day today, May 2, with a Kentucky Derby Party Saturday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Romeo's Restaurant at the clubhouse at Juliette Falls. No fewer than 12 flat-screen TVs will show the pre-race coverage, the Run for the Roses itself and post-race analysis. A hearty dinner menu of Southern-style specialties will be served, plus Mint Julep cocktails (one free) and Derby Pie, all for just $24.95 per person. Click here for more information about Juliette Falls!

The Georgia Club, GA has a save-the-date reminder out for Monday, July 13. That’s when the Fifth Annual Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer Golf Tournament will be held on the Club’s championship course. Georgia football coach Mark Richt and several Bulldogs will participate. Proceeds of the golf tournament go toward “Teresa’s Hope,” a fund benefiting the St. Mary’s Foundation that assists in providing mammogram services to women in need. Click here for more information about The Georgia Club!

The Bay Club, MA is hosting an Open House and Golf Demo Day Saturday, May 9. The Demo Day will be held at the Bay Club’s driving range from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with representatives from Titleist, Cobra, TaylorMade, and Callaway on hand to answer questions about new products. Open House hours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., during which visitors will be able to tour seven move-in ready homes
and learn about Bay Club membership options. Click here for more information about The Bay Club!

Carolina Trace, NC congratulates club member Diane Conti, a.k.a “The Ace Machine of the Sandhills,” on her recent recognition by LPGA Tour superstar Paula Creamer. Conti received a plaque from Creamer for her unique golf achievement—a career record of 15 holes in one. Precept Golf then awarded Conti a one-year’s supply of golf balls. Conti’s aces span decades and all have been sanctioned by golf professionals and numerous other witnesses. Click here for more information about Carolina Trace!

NEWS SHORTS

The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA has appointed a new director of club operations, Gunnard Cunningham, who has worked at such exclusive resorts as The Greenbrier and The Sagamore….A Farmers’ Market began yesterday at Daniel Island, SC’s Family Circle Tennis Center featuring fresh
produce, food, drinks, artisans and entertainment and will run every Thursday through September....

Wachesaw Plantation, SC has been named Club of the Year for 2009 by the South Carolina Golf Association.... The Owners Club at Hilton Head, SC has extended its deadline for closing on special-price fractional home purchase of $39,900 to June 10. …

The LPGA's Michelob Ultra Open will be held May 4-10 at Kingsmill on the James in Williamsburg, VA. The event, which was voted by fans as the top event of the 2008 season.

The complete version of GolfCourseHome's 2009 Best of the Best Rankings is now available on the GCH blog. Read the article, see the press release....

The Bay Club at Mattapoisett to Host Open House & Golf Demo Day on Sat. May 9th

The Bay Club at Mattapoisett is hosting an Open House and Golf Demo Day on Saturday, May 9th.

The Demo Day will be held at the Bay Club’s driving range from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. where representatives from Titleist, Cobra, TaylorMade, and Callaway will be available to answer any questions you have about the newest products they have introduced to the market.

Open House hours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during which you will able to tour seven move-in ready homes and meet with representatives to review available homesites, discuss the club's Preferred Builders Program, tour Abbott Development's maintenance-free living homes and learn about Bay Club Membership options.

To make arrangements for your special access pass, RSVP by Wednesday, May 6th at 508-758-9543 or e-mail desposito@bayclubmatt.com. 

SummerGlen Wins Best in Show, Several Communities Offer Stay & Play Packages

Renaissance, FL is celebrating Earth Day this month.

Renaissance, FL and its residents are looking forward to a guided Earth Day Nature Walk coming up on Wednesday, April 22, from 2 to 4 p.m.. Hickey Creek Regional Park is the site of the walk, which is open to the public. Park staff will guide participants through pristine native habitat and identify the plants and animals that make southwest Florida unique. There is no charge to participate, although participation is limited to 25. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Click here for more information about Renaissance!

Montrêux, NV members were among 75-plus guests attending a check presentation hosted by the PGA TOUR and NV Energy. The two organizations, with the Montrêux community, contributed $62,500 to charities from proceeds of the PGA Tour Legends Reno-Tahoe Open. In partnership with the PGA Tour and other sponsors, Montrêux provides assistance to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Washoe County Education Foundation, the Boys & Girls Clubs and other causes. Click here for more information about Montrêux!

Hampton Hall, SC just held its annual Memorial Cup Match Play Championship, a major club event whose theme is “It’s all about Celebrating Life.” All Hampton Hall residents are invited to compete in the Memorial Cup, which concludes with a well-attended Final Championship Match followed by a finale dinner in the Community Clubhouse Ballroom. Click here for more information about Hampton Hall!

SummerGlen, FL won the Best in Show prize at the 2009 Marion County Parade of Homes. The community's entry was "The Bal Harbor," a three-bedroom, two-bath, plus den design that is one of the most popular among SummerGlen's more than 20 standard home designs. Parade judges cited the Bal Harbor's kitchen as one of the best of all homes judged, as well as the home's overall design and quality. Click here for more information about SummerGlen!

NEWS SHORTS
Members of The Bay Club, MA recently gathered to hear a lecture by local historian Seth Mendell on 18th-century food-gathering practices and the development of the area’s original saltworks…. The well-known teaching professional Kelly Gunterman is expanding his partnership with Amelia Island Plantation, joining the resort community as director of tennis….

On May 16, The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA will team up with the local Center for Wildlife Education to host a Master Falconer presenting in-flight demonstrations of falcons capturing natural prey....

Bald Head Island, NC, Harbour Ridge Golf & Yacht Club, FL and Reverie on the Ashley, SC,
are all offering special 'Stay & Play' packages. For details, click here.

Spring has arrived at The Club at Renaissance, Fort Myers, FL, where its Arthur Hills golf course is in fine shape and Lamb Shanks are Chef David Scott's Specialty of the House...

Bay Club Holds Spring Training, Daniel Island Hosts Tennis Tournament, and More

Daniel Island, SC offers Tom Fazio golf and more.

Daniel Island, SC welcomes the international tennis community to its world-class tennis center for the playing of the 2009 Family Circle Cup April 11 - April 19. The longest-running professional women's tennis tournament in the U.S., the prestigious Family Circle Cup returns to its home on Daniel Island for its 35th anniversary tournament. Click here for more information about Daniel Island!

The Georgia Club, GA, part of the new ClubWeddingReceptions.net, showed the strength of its wedding catering team during the March 28 reception of Maggie & Sham Gad. The couple had requested an outdoor ceremony and was forced indoors by a sudden electrical storm. The Georgia Club’s facilities and team  handled the relocation without a “hitch.” Click here for more information about The Georgia Club!

The Bay Club, MA is enrolling avid golfers in a Golf and Fitness “Spring Training” program. Classes co-led by fitness director Dave Maloney and head golf professional Greg Yeomans combine fitness activities with basic golf instruction and teach in clear fashion how they relate to one another. Fee
for The fee for the “Spring Training” program is $245. Click here for more information about The Bay Club! 

NEWS SHORTS

Couples Golf, a favorite at Wachesaw Plantation Club, kicks off a new year on April 19th with nine-hole and 18-hole divisions and computer-generated team pairings. Happy hour and dinner follow the golf....Kingsmill on the James, VA announced that guests at Kingsmill Resort & Spa can get VIP treatment at the LPGA Tour’s Michelob ULTRA Open. Priced per couple, the $1,250 package includes three days and two nights during tournament week....

Bay Club Schedules Summer Events, Goose Pond Island Holds Fishing Event, & More

Renaissance, FL - luxury homes, private club amenities.

Renaissance, FL is set for its 2009 Masters Pro-Am Challenge during this Masters Week, April 9-12. This event has a nominal entry fee and pairs the player’s Saturday 18-hole net score with the 36-hole weekend score of a chosen Masters pro to create a 54-hole total. It all starts on Friday with 6 p.m. Pick Your Pro party in the Men’s Card Room at the clubhouse. Click here for more information about Renaissance!

The Bay Club, MA has begun signups for summer activities at the community, including Club Seahorse 2009. Residents were invited to enroll their child or grandchild in the popular program, which schedules daily swimming, tennis and golf. Club Seahorse also offers arts and crafts, games and outdoor sports for children ages 4 to 10 years old. Click here for more information about The Bay Club!

Verano, FL projects updates include last weekend's opening of the new Interstate-95 exchange at Crosstown Parkway in Port St Lucie, which will mean faster trips from Verano to shopping and beaches. Also last weekend,  Kolter announced its new sales center and designer-decorated model home were opening. In addition, construction is underway on the initial phase of the 30,000-square-foot clubhouse. Click here for more information about Verano!

Reynolds Plantation, GA has upgraded its Kingdom at Reynolds Plantation golf installation. Designed to allow average golfers inside the private world of the touring pro, the Kingdom will soon include a real tour trailer. Starting this month, the custom-designed tour trailer that has served TaylorMade-adidas Golf Tour Staff professionals for the past six years will be parked permanently at the Kingdom at Reynolds Plantation. Click here for more information about Reynolds Plantation!

Goose Pond Island, AL is reporting the results of a successful high-profile pro fishing event on Lake Guntersville, where the community is located. The winner of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour Chevy Open caught a final-round total of eight largemouth bass weighing just over 38 pounds (almost five pounds per fish), winning the tournament’s $200,000 first prize. Click here for more information about Goose Pond Island!

NEWS SHORTS

The 'Top 5 Design Trends in Master-Planned Communities' that are going to affect how you live are showing up in many of today's communities. Read what to look for on the GCH Blog...See the article press release....Follow GolfCourseHome on Twitter! 

Both Juliette Falls, FL, and Amelia Island Plantation, FL, are now featured on www.ClubWeddingWeceptions.net ... The Bay Club, MA has reduced initial golf membership payment from $120,000 to $75,000... Follow three years of the 'Dream 18: Great Residential Golf Holes' here....

Hammock Dunes Private Community, FL announces its newest-to-market home. This luxury residence is set on 1.75 acres with 145 feet of Intracoastal Waterway frontage and its own dock; price: $2.195 million....Check out the Calendar of Pro Events listing where & when you can see major golf events at communities this spring. First one is the PGA Tour's Verizon Heritage held at Sea Pines, SC, the week after the Masters, April 16-19...

Bay Club Announces a Reduction in Its Initial Equity Fee by $50,000 to $75,000

Bay Club near Buzzard's Bay MA announces its initial equity deposit fee of $120,000 has been temporarily reduced to $75,000.

Annual dues for 2009 are $12,000 with a $1,500 food minimum which can be used any time throughout the year.  

Bay Club also offers a social membership, which is obtained with a non-refundable deposit of $30,000 and annual dues of $6.000. Annual food minimum is $1,500 food minimum which can be used any time throughout the year. 

The Bay Club at Mattapoisett is a private golf and lifestyle community on 625 rolling wooded acres near the shores of Buzzard's Bay (close by Cape Cod). Member-owned, the club is built around a Brad Faxon-Brad Booth championship golf course and also features tennis, gourmet dining and many other athletic and cultural pursuits.

Travel + Leisure Golf's 2009 Top 100 Golf Communities Include 21 GCH Communities

Glacier Club, CO is on the Top 100 Golf Communities list.

Travel + Leisure Golf has issued its 2009 Top 100 Golf Communities in its Jan-Feb issue and we are pleased to see 21 GolfCourseHome Featured Communities in the group. See the list below.

In announcing this year’s contingent, the editors made note of the communities’ renewed commitment to their natural environment. Indeed, more than half of the GolfCourseHome communities are also featured on GreenGolfCommunities.net, the Network site in which you have to qualify in one of four areas to be listed. See below for the communities sited for both “exquisite environments….and all the comforts of home.”

COLORADO
Glacier Club, Durango (New to the Top 100)

FLORIDA
Amelia Island Plantation, Fernandina Beach
The Founders Club, Sarasota
Isleworth, Windermere  - Ranked in Top 25

GEORGIA
Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro – Ranked in Top 25

MASSACHUSETTS
The Bay Club, Mattapoisett (New)

MONTANA
Black Bull, Bozeman (New)

NEVADA
Montreux, Reno

NORTH CAROLINA
Bald Head Island, Bald Head Island

SOUTH CAROLINA
Belfair, Bluffton
The Cliffs Communities, Travelers Rest - Ranked in Top 25
Colleton River Plantation, Bluffton

Daniel Island, Charleston
Dataw Island Club, Dataw Island (New)
Golf Club at Briar’s Creek, John’s Island (New)

Oldfield, Okatie
Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton - Ranked in Top 25
The Reserve at Lake Keowee, Pickens
Spring Island, Okatie - Ranked in Top 25

TEXAS
Barton Creek, Austin

VIRGINIA
Bay Creek, Cape Charles (New)

St. James Schedules Open House Showcase, Bay Club Organizes Opening Night Outing

St. James Plantation, NC to hold Open House Showcase.

St. James Plantation, NC  has scheduled its third annual Open House Showcase for October 10-12. You're invited to tour custom and builder showcase homes, inspect resale homes and condominiums—all within the gates—during this one autumn weekend. Advance registration required. Click here for more information about St. James Plantation!

The Bay Club, MA is organizing a member-and-guest outing to the opening night of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra’s performance season, with a prix fixe dinner before the performance in the Bay Club dining room. The NBSO musical program that evening, September 27, is “Romantic Gems,” including the works of Strauss. The event is sponsored by the Symphony Club, one of many clubs-within-a-club currently active with the community. Click here for more information about The Bay Club!

Belmont Country Club Hosts Music Festival, Bay Club Opens Farmers Market, and More

Belmont Country Club, VA to present major music festival.

Belmont Country Club, VA partners with the Loudon County Music Festival on September 6 to present Loudon Paloosa 2008. Concert seating is on Belmont Country Club's main lawn--perfect for enjoying musical acts such as Dreamscapes Project, Lloyd Dobbler Effect, Second Troy, Lionize, Getaway Car, Justin Trawick, Kelly Bell Band, Blackjacks, The Speaks, and the Best of the Tri-State All Stars. Click here for more information about Belmont Country Club!

Viniterra at New Kent Vineyards, VA has appointed turfgrass expert John Marshall as golf course superintendent. The Club's new Rees Jones-designed, 18-hole championship course is being completed at the New Kent Vineyards residential community. Marshall is sodding the spectacular course this summer and fall for an expected opening for member play next spring. Click here for more information about Viniterra!

The Bay Club, MA played host to the prestigious AJGA Fidelity Investments Classic. The rain-shortened AJGA event ended with Blake Morris of Waterbury, Conn., firing rounds of 70-69 to earn the boy’s title. Olivia Chang of San Lorenzo, CA, set a new Bay Club competitive course record en route to winning the ladies event. Click here for more information about The Bay Club!

Penn National, PA announces the opening of a local Farmers Market. A dozen farmers offer freshly harvested fruits and vegetables in the market, located near the Penn National Golf Center. The Farmers Market is designed to provide fresh, organically grown produce and food items that are raised or produced within a 50-mile radius of the Penn National community. Click here for more information about Penn National!

Recent Arrivals to the GCH Network: Rio Grande, Mirasol, Sawmill Creek & More

Here’s a line-up to recent arrivals on the GolfCourseHome Network®, with golf lots for as little as $39,500 and others offering homes in the millions. There's a community and a lifestyle to fit every pocket book. See below 14 recent additions from 6 different states offering everything from skiing to equestrian to mountain tops to riverfront to lakefront and more.

COLORADO


Rio Grande, CO

The Rio Grande Club - Golf, sporting opportunities, fishing lodge, spa, homes from the low $400Ks

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Four Mile Ranch, CO

Four Mile Ranch - Jim Engh golf course, 1,640 acres, 45% open space, homes from $160K

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FLORIDA


Juliette Falls, FL

Juliette Falls - Award-winning golf, great dining and gathering spots, home with lot from $499K

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Mirasol, FL

Mirasol Clubhouse with pool, tennis, fitness, Fazio & Hills golf, homes from the $500Ks to $4 million+

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St James Golf Club, FL

St. James Golf Club Port St. Lucie, newly renovated championship golf, Treasure Coast, homes from $259K

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Sawmill Creek, FL

Sawmill Creek - Palm Coast, fitness center, Village Center, homes from high-$200K 

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GEORGIA


Sun City Peachtree, GA

Sun City Peachtree - Del Webb, 55+, near Atlanta, golf, $31 million in amenities, homes from $180K 

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MASSACHUSETTS

The Bay Club, MA

The Bay Club - Cape Cod, Brad Faxon-designed golf, a grand clubhouse, homesites from $275K 

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MICHIGAN

Forest Dunes, MI

Forest Dunes - 1,200 acres, Weiskopf golf, fractional real estate and golf/woods lots from $39,500

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Villages at Tullymore, MI

Villages at Tullymore - St. Ives course No. 83 in US, homes from $269K 

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SOUTH CAROLINA


Carolina Country Club, SC

Carolina Country Club Secluded, 2,000-acres, golf, tennis, dining, homes from high-$300K 

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VIRGINIA

The Highlands, VA

The Highlands - Convenient to Richmond, championship golf, private lake, homesites from $110K

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Colonial Heritage, VA

Colonial Heritage - Williamsburg, 55+ adult community, Arthur Hills golf, from $350K

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Poplar Grove, VA

Poplar Grove - Award-winning Sam Snead course, Blue Ridge Mtn views, lots from $250K

GolfCourseHome Network Continues to Add New Communities Throughout the U.S.

River Oaks, CT is one of many featured communities.

We have continued to add new communities this year, featuring some with golf lots for as little as $39,500 and others offering homes in the millions. There's a community and a lifestyle to fit every pocket book. See below 13 recent additions from 9 different states offering everything from skiing to equestrian to mountain tops to riverfront to lakefront and more.

Connecticut: The Club at River Oaks - Championship golf on rolling foothills, luxury clubhouse, homes from $995,000

Georgia: Sun City Peachtree - Del Webb, 55+, near Atlanta, golf, $31 million in amenities, homes from $180,000

Florida: Juliette Falls - Award-winning golf, great dining and gathering spots, home with lot from $499,000

North Carolina: The Coves at Round Mountain - Hale Irwin golf, riverfront, equestrian, early pricing from $60,000s

North Carolina: Carolina Trace - Sandhills beauty, 315-acre lake, 36 holes by RT Jones, Sr. golf, homes from $175,000

North Carolina: 12 Oaks - Research Triangle, fitness and aquatic center, Nicklaus golf, homes from $290,000

North Carolina: The Preserve at Wolf Laurel - 1,300 mountaintop acres, golf, hiking, horseback, skiing, homesites from $80,000

South Carolina: Briar's Creek - Private golf, 900 preserved acres, new clubhouse, estate homesites from the $500,000s

South Carolina: Carolina Country Club - Secluded, 2,000-acres, golf, tennis, dining, homes from high-$300,000

Michigan: Forest Dunes - 1,200 acres, Weiskopf golf, fractional real estate, golf/woods lots from $39,500

Massachusetts: The Bay Club - Buzzard's Bay, Brad Faxon-designed golf, a grand clubhouse, homesites from $275,000

Missouri: Branson Creek - Destination village on 7,500 acres, Ozarks vistas, great golf, homes from $200,000

Tennessee: RedTail Mountain - Craftsman-style, Tennessee charm, lodge homes from $385K, homesites from $100,000

New Communities Continue To Thrive Online at GolfCourseHome

Quiet CT is the setting for The Club at River Oaks

Despite a choppy real estate market, new communities continue to come online--many with value pricing--and people continue to anticipate retirement, look for a vacation home or a primary home in a country club environment and purchase their dream home. Here is a selected list of communities from 9 states new to GolfCourseHome over the last few months that you may have missed. Good Hunting!

Connecticut: The Club at River Oaks (Championship golf on rolling foothills, luxury clubhouse, homes from $995K)

Florida: Juliette Falls (Award-winning golf, great dining and gathering spots, home with lot from $499K)

Massachusetts: The Bay Club (Cape Cod, Brad Faxon-designed golf, a grand clubhouse, homesites from $275K)

Michigan: Forest Dunes (1,200 acres, Weiskopf golf, fractional real estate, golf/woods lots from $39,500)

Missouri: Branson Creek (Destination village on 7,500 acres, Ozarks vistas, great golf, homes from  $200K)

North Carolina: Bright's Creek (Gated, 5,000-acres, T. Fazio golf, Rod & Gun Club, homesites from $175K)

North Carolina: The Preserve at Wolf Laurel (1,300 mountaintop acres, golf, hiking, horseback, skiing, homesites from $80K)

North Carolina: 12 Oaks (Research Triangle, fitness and aquatic center, Nicklaus golf, homes from $290K)

South Carolina: Briar's Creek (Private golf, 900 preserved acres, new clubhouse, estate homesites from the $500Ks)

South Carolina: Carolina Country Club (Secluded, 2,000-acres, golf, tennis, dining, homes from high-$300K)

Tennessee: RedTail Mountain (Craftsman-style, Tennessee charm, lodge homes from $385K, homesites from $100K)

Virginia: The Highlands (Convenient to Richmond, championship golf, private lake, homesites from $110K)

The Bay Club Uses Local Ingredients to Create Fresh, Seasonal Dishes Year Round

Jim Mercer, Executive Chef at the Bay Club, MA

Choosing just one specialty from his menu was a challenge for Jim Mercer, Executive Chef at the Bay Club at Mattapoisett. This was not due to indecision, but rather that the menu “follows the seasons to change the menu.” From winter braises to summer grilling, his choices adapt to complement the changing New England weather.

But he tackled the task. A supporter of the “localvoire movement” emphasizing locally sourced foods, he considered the New Bedford Sea Scallops as an option. But, he said, “The more I work with the beautiful New England Cod, the more I constantly refer to it as my favorite fish.”

And with that, his Cod “Pot Roast” wins. 

Local Ingredients, Blending of Flavors
This name is usually associated with beef, but Chef Mercer puts a fresh spin on things. Parsnips, carrots, potatoes and leeks provide a base of pot roast flavors to a lighter seafood version of the traditional meal.

Those who dine at the Bay Club can feel good knowing Chef Mercer prefers locally grown food. And his philosophy is not the only impressive thing about him. He was head chef and owner of Mex in Boston, and held chef roles at Boston’s East Meets West Catering Company and Gusto Trattoria, as well as Page Carter Catering and The Catered Affair.

With this background, he is surely up to most culinary challenges—even choosing one dish in a sea of excellent options. But the cod pot roast, a menu staple, is a fine choice for anyone. Traditional pot roast flavors, often associated with winter, are tweaked with a summery cod. This symbolic intertwining of seasons and blending of flavors is a hallmark of Chef Mercer’s style, making this dish a viable option year round.

Chef Mercer recommends pairing the cod pot roast with a dry or crisp white wine—also perfect any time of the year.

Chef Mercer's Cod Pot Roast

COD "POT ROAST"
Chef Jim Mercer
The Bay Club Mattapoisett

SERVES 4
2 tablespoons butter
2 garlic cloves, sliced razor thin
2 leeks (white part only), halved and cut ½ inch
1 cup+ turnip, carrots, and parsnips in  ¼ inch cubes
2 medium yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into  ¼ inch cubes
2  cups fish stock
2 T Pernod
1/4 pound sugar snap peas, halved
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme salt and pepper, to taste
2 pounds thick cod fillet, cut into 4 pieces
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or chervil
Extra virgin olive oil

Set the oven at 450 degrees. In a large flameproof casserole, melt the butter. Add the garlic and leeks and cook over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring often

Add turnip, carrot and parsnips along with yellow potatoes. Stir well to coat with the butter. Pour in the fish stock and bring the mixture to a boil. Top off with a little water, if necessary, so the potatoes are covered with liquid. Turn the heat to low and cook the potatoes for 10 minutes or until they are almost tender.

Stir in the peas, thyme, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper. Set the fish on top of the vegetables add the Pernod and transfer the casserole to the oven. Roast the cod for 15 minutes or until it is flaky and cooked through.

Remove the casserole from the oven. With a wide metal spatula, set a piece of fish in each of 4 shallow bowls or deep plates. Spoon the vegetables and broth over the fish. Garnish with olive oil and chopped parsley.

Palmetto Bluff Celebrates New Club, Landings To Hold July 4th Event, and More

The Bay Club, MA: Premier lots, special prices through July.

The Bay Club, MA has announced a special opportunity for homesite purchasers now through July 31. Highly attractive pricing will be available on select premier lots. In addition, a limited number of full golf memberships will be made available for just $75,000. Buyers of house lots will have at least 18 months from when they close on their lot to their construction start date. Click here for more information about the Bay Club!

Palmetto Bluff, SC reports that the new Canoe Club at Palmetto Bluff made its official debut with opening celebration events during Memorial Day weekend. More than 200 attendees enjoyed live music, and a sampling of the new menu and Canoe Club Signature Cocktail at the festivities. The Canoe Club offers a casual dining; docks with access to the May River and the Palmetto Bluff Water Trail; family-friendly pool facilities, a fitness center, game rooms and locker rooms. Click here for more information about Palmetto Bluff!

The Georgia Club, GA is debuting its two newest home designs, the Park Homes and Brownstones. Not typically found away from urban environments, these designs feature an outdoor courtyard and they were created to maximize outdoor living. The Park Homes and Brownstones allow for an attractive price point—the high-$200,000s to high-$300,000s—appealing to young professionals, second home buyers and retirees looking for a more manageable space. Click here for more information about The Georgia Club!

The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA will be celebrating Independence Day with its biggest patriotic celebration to date. A poolside BBQ is planned at the Marshwood pool, with a showcase event to begin at 4:00 p.m. at the Deer Creek Club. The festivities will include food, novelty booths, games, rides, patriotic music, plus an impressive fireworks display from the Deer Creek golf course. Amusements for kids will include a Rock Climbing Wall, Shark Slide and Giant Obstacle Course. Click here for more information about The Landings!

Southern Hills, FL announces that a limited number of homesites remain in its exclusive Retreat neighborhood. The Retreat homesites are sized from 1.1 acres to 7.2 acres. Buyers can use any approved builder to construct their ideal home. Homes within the Retreat neighborhood require a minimum of 4,500 square feet and each must include a second structure, such as a mother-in-law suite, workshop or a detached garage with guest facilities. Click here for more information about Southern Hills!

Madison Lakes Earns High Rankings, Admiral's Cove Offers New Youth Programs

Bay Club, MA: Grand Preview Weekend showcases new home

Madison Lakes, GA announced that its Longshadow Golf Course, which opened in 2007, had recently received two important distinctions. The course was ranked No. 4 in the “Best Courses You Can Play in Georgia” by Golfweek. It also ranked No. 5 in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Business Chronicle list of Georgia’s toughest courses. Click here for more information about Madison Lakes!

Huntsman Springs, ID has partnered with Teton Valley High School and the Teton Valley Conservation District to install bat houses throughout its wetland areas. Jared Whitaker, an assistant superintendent, said the houses and a resident bat population will fit nicely with the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary program and provide natural mosquito control. Local environmental science students helped do the work. Click here for more information about Huntsman Springs!

The Bay Club, MA has scheduled a Members' Grand Preview Weekend for Saturday and Sunday, June 28-29 to showcase The Preserve, a new neighborhood. All members, their extended families, friends and guests are invited to enjoy nationally-recognized Design East Interiors and view the newly completed Atlantic model home.  Click here for more information about the Bay Club!

Admiral’s Cove, FL has embarked on a series of new programs for youth athletics to serve the needs of its junior members. Beginning in September, there will be four six-week sessions of youth tennis, set up by ability level. There will also be a new Youth Sports and Crafts program, involving arts-and-crafts and introductory sports. Open to visiting grandchildren. Click here for more information about Admiral’s Cove!

Wyboo Plantation, SC has just released for sale two prime wooded golf lots, addressing a sharpening demand for these homesites within the community. The two newly released lots are in the Oak Hill patio home neighborhood and had been held in reserve for the developer’s use. They are priced at $60,000 and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here for more information about Wyboo Plantation!

The Bay Club Offers an Elegant South Coast of Mass. Lifestyle near Buzzard's Bay

The Bay Club at Mattapoisett: Elegant coastal lifestyle.

The Bay Club at Mattapoisett, MA, a private, gated golf
community on 625 rolling wooded acres near the Buzzard's Bay
shoreline, has joined GolfCourseHome.net, featuring a Brad
Faxon-Brad Booth course. 

Member-owned and invitation-only, Bay Club's social center is
The Golf House. Here Chef Jim Mercer has developed a
wonderful menu for the club’s welcoming restaurant, with
seating both indoors and outside under a covered pergola.

The club also has a staff cultural director who creates a
diverse year-round schedule of events and programs.
Subjects range from wine and food to books and music.
Activities include trips to the Boston Symphony as well as
local and regional musical and theatrical events.

Real Estate

• Permitted for 174 residences
• Custom homesites, from .25 acres-1 acre, from $275,000-$800,000
• Resales
• Spec Homes, priced 2,400 sq. ft.-4,800 sq. ft, priced from $799,000-$2.395 million
• Condominium-Style Single-Family Home, maintenance-free homes, priced from $710,000
• Click here for more information about The Bay Club!