The GolfCourseHome Life

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

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

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

This Week's Headlines:

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

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

DEALS & SPECIALS OF THE WEEK

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

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

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

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

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Boca Woods Country Club, FL: Members raise funds.

SPECIAL EVENTS

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

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

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

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COMMUNITY NEWS & UPDATES

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

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NEWS  SHORTS

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

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

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

Blackstone
Peoria, Arizona

Cliffs at Keowee Springs
Six Mile, South Carolina

Casa del Lago
Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic

Cliffs at Mountain Park
Travelers Rest, South Carolina

Regency at Dominion Valley
Haymarket, Virginia

River Wilderness
Parrish, Florida

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

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MORE NEW COMMUNITIES COMING ONLINE IN 2010!

GolfCourseHome

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grab Onto Deals On Golf Townhomes in Florida, Waterview Cabins in Idaho

Sunset Dunes is a romantic spot on Prince Edward Island.

Sunset Dunes, Prince Edward Island, Canada, includes a New Home Warranty on its Beauport waterfront home design which offers 1,600 sq..ft. on two levels with 3 BR, 2 BA, cathedral ceiling that opens to a loft, great room and more. Cost, including lot, $219,900. Click here for information about Sunset Dunes!

Jupiter Country Club, Jupiter, FL, which features a Greg Norman Signature golf course, has just four townhomes remaining. For details: Click here for more information about Jupiter Country Club!

Teton Springs, Teton Valley, Idaho, is offering a Warm Creek cabin homesite, covering nearly two-thirds of an acre and featuring 360-degree views of golf, water and mountains for just.$185,000. Click here for more information about Teton Springs!

Chapel Ridge, Pittsboro, NC A lovely homesite formerly listed at $147,714 has been reduced by nearly one-third to $99,900. Covering more than one acre, this level nature homesite features an evergreen forest the size of a football field and a nice southeast exposure. Click here for more information about Chapel Ridge!

Tiger Woods Video Captures Helicopter & Thrills of His Cliffs at High Carolina Event

New Tiger Woods Video: Tiger Woods visited the site of the first golf course he will design in the U.S. at The Cliffs at High Carolina last month and arrived in dramatic style by helicopter.

You can see Tiger's arrival, his walk with CEO Jim Anthony through the mountain property and his talk with interested attendees at this event here.

Heritage Wake Forest, NC, Opens New Amphitheater in Mill Bridge Nature Park

Heritage Wake Forest recently announced the opening of the community’s outdoor amphitheater. Located in Mill Bridge Nature Park, a 2.5-mile paved trail addition to the Town of Rolesville’s park system, the new arena officially opened on November second with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

This outdoor showground will seat 200 people and has room for overflow out onto the lawn. The latest addition to Heritage’s extensive amenities, the amphitheater joins a championship golf course, two community swim complexes, tennis courts, miles of walking trails, playgrounds, soccer field and a fully stocked fishing pond with pier.

Heritage Wake Forest has twice been named Mater Planned Community of the Year by the Raleigh Wake County Homebuilders Association and the golf course was given an outstanding 4 ½ star rating by Golf Digest magazine.

The Vineyards Hosts Thanksgiving Buffet, Brunswick Forest Promotes Fitness

Lakewood Ranch, FL is set on 8,500 acres.

Lakewood Ranch, FL has added Nashville star country singer David Nail to its lineup for the upcoming Scottish Festival on Sat. Nov. 21 at MacAllisters Grill & Tavern. Also performing will be the Sarasota-based Chameleon. Scottish-heritage activities will include the Jacobites Pipe Band plus haggis tasting, golf, samplings of select scotch whiskies, and braveheart face painting for the kids. Click here for more information about Lakewood Ranch!

The Vineyards, FL's busy November calendar includes a Welcome Back Party with live music on Friday the 13th. On Thursday, Nov. 26 is the grand Thanksgiving Buffet and on Friday the 27th is a special Wine Tasting event. Click here for more information about The Vineyards!

Brunswick Forest, NC celebrated a fun and rewarding wellness event, the Biggest Loser Challenge, with a special dinner at the Fitness & Wellness Center yesterday. The top two teams had a total combined weight loss of 101 pounds. Individual winner Frieda O'Mara recorded  total weight loss of 20.6 lbs. She won a Spa Package from a local spa facility. Click here for more information about Brunswick Forest!

Willoughby Golf Club, FL recently dedicated a statue to its famed golf professional emeritus, Errie Ball, at the entrance to the first tee at the Willoughby Golf Club. More than 200 people came out to honor the Masters legend. Ball, who will be 99 tomorrow. Ball stands as the last surviving member of the of the inaugural 1934 Augusta Invitational—known today as The Masters. Click here for more information about Willoughby Golf Club!

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

Callaway Gardens, GA is in the Appalachian Mountains.

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

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

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

Indian River Colony Club Honors Veterans, Vineyards Raises Funds for Charity

River Landing, NC is set along the Cape Fear River.

River Landing, NC invites you to enjoy an Oyster Roast Weekend at its River Lodge along the Cape Fear River. Scheduled for the Nov. 13-15 weekend, the event features raw and steamed oysters, steamed shrimp and traditional side dishes. The Oyster Roast Weekend is a 2-night/3-day getaway featuring a round of golf for two, full use of all amenities, comfortable accommodations, continental breakfasts–all for just $139 per couple. Click here for more information about River Landing!

Indian River Colony Club, FL recently honored Navy veterans of World War II, Korea , Vietnam , Iraq and Afghanistan and their spouses at the annual Navy Ball at Indian River Colony Club. Nearly 200 attendees from various branches of the military enjoyed a patriotic themed program, with a birthday cake for the Navy cut with a ceremonial Navy officer’s sword.  Click here for more information about Indian River Colony Club!

The Vineyards, FL is marking a series of golf achievements by both members and golf staff. Among the membership there were six different hole-in-one shooters, five on the club’s South Course, one on the North Course. The club’s director of golf, Tom Metzger, raised over $11,000 for charity—thanks to pledge support from Vineyards members—by playing 54 holes in one day at a local golf marathon. Click here for more information about The Vineyards!

Chapel Ridge, NC Offers 1,000 Acres, Golf, Easy Access to Research Triangle

Chapel Ridge, NC offers Fred Couples golf and more.

We are pleased to announce the addition of Chapel Ridge, NC to the GolfCourseHome® Network. Chapel Ridge is Bluegreen Golf's latest golf course community. Situated on 1,000 acres of rolling countryside in Pittsboro, North Carolina, the community offers easy access to the conveniences of Jordan Lake, Chapel Hill, Raleigh-Durham and the entire Research Triangle area.

In addition to the Fred Couples signature, 18-hole golf course, Chapel Ridge also features a golf clubhouse, property owners' clubhouse, swim and tennis center, and a master plan designed to embrace time-honored family traditions.

Convenient to the Research Triangle: Chapel Ridge is centrally located between Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, Cary/Apex, Sanford/Siler City and the Triad areas, and is convenient to Research Triangle Park, UNC at Chapel Hill, Duke University and RDU International Airport.

Real Estate: Chapel Ridge, NC

* Homesites range from 1/3 to 2 acres
      o Estimated prices range from $90,000 to $200,000+
      o Homesites have golf, nature and creekside views
* No Time Restrictions for building
* Choose your own custom builder
* Click here for more information about Chapel Ridge!

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

Brunswick Forest, NC is on the Cape Fear Coast.

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

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

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

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

Tiger Woods' Visit to The Cliffs at High Carolina Spurs Inquiries & Property Tours

The Cliffs at High Carolina: Tiger Woods' canvas.

Tiger Woods flew into North Carolina’s western mountains on Saturday, October 3 to provide support to The Cliffs at High Carolina where he is designing his first U.S. golf course. The recent visibility Woods gave to the project has spurred an abundance of inquiries to GolfCourseHome about the project.

Woods touched down in the early morning in a helicopter near the 4,000-foot crest of the spectacular mountaintop acreage that Greenville businessman Jim Anthony has stitched together to create property.

According to Woody White, writing in the Greenville News, it was the last leg of a trip from Woods' Florida home and he couldn’t stop talking about the fresh air and 50-mile views that had lured him to The Cliffs at High Carolina.

Despite a heavy schedule, Woods had pledged a day at High Carolina to survey the golf course work and help Anthony sell more lots in an economy that has deeply affected golf residential real estate sales nationwide.

Tiger Woods and Jim Anthony confer at High Carolina.

Anthony told White that while The Cliffs’ brand of luxury hasn’t been immune from the recession, the High Carolina project has closed on “about 30 lots, with five, six, seven more under contract, averaging about $1 million apiece” since a sales campaign began last November.

The Woods charisma worked its magic while he was there. Anthony said there has been great interest in High Carolina because of Woods, and that it has helped spur interest in his other seven developments in the foothills and mountains of the Carolinas.

He said The Cliffs Communities has fielded 29,000 inquiries from prospects interested in the Woods project and that property tours are booked solid for the next three months. Tours typically include visits of two to three days, with golf at Cliffs courses that stretch from Lake Keowee to Asheville.

Indian River Colony Club, Deer Brook Golf Club Packages Includes Golf, Dining, Tours

Indian River Colony Club, FL is an active 55+ community.

Indian River Colony Club, FL is telling interested buyers about a Getaway Package that includes three days and two nights of golf, tennis and touring plus one evening of fine dining and hotel accommodations for two. Price is just $199 per couple. (Airfare not included). Click here for more information about Indian River Colony Club!

Deer Brook Golf Club, NC is offering a visitation package that provides a great way to see the club and the surrounding area. Package includes a night’s lodging, a round of golf for two, dinner for two and a personal real estate tour of the Deer Brook Golf Club communities. Some restrictions apply. Click here for more information about Deer Brook Golf Club!

More Green Shoots: Heritage Wake Forest Parade of Homes Hosts 2,700 Visitors

We've been reporting this year on 'green shoots'--positive trends--in the master-planned community industry and Heritage Wake Forest has been a consistent provider of good news. Today the community reported it had hosted more than 2,700 visitors over the past two weekends at its Parade of Homes event.

With 13 beautifully crafted showcase homes ranging in price from $220,000 to $640,000, Heritage is the largest Parade of Homes community in the Triangle this year and has made Heritage a true destination. The Parade continues October 17 and 18 and the homes will be open 12 noon until 5pm each day.

About Wake Forest
The award-winning Heritage Wake Forest golf community features 24 neighborhoods offering a variety of styles and living. Amenities include championship golf course, two swim clubs, tennis courts, numerous walking and biking trails, children’s playgrounds and a fully stocked fishing pond.

Golf Digest Magazine awarded the golf course, a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, an outstanding 4.5 star rating (out of five).

 

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

Carnegie Abbey, RI is a private sporting estate.

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

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

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

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

Heritage Wake Forest Spotlights Homes, Reynolds Plantation Announces Merger

Lakewood Ranch, FL hosted a benefit concert last weekend.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Heritage Wake Forest, NC is close to Wake Forest.

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

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

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

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

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

River Landing's Murder Mystery Weekend Creates Compelling Reason for an Oct. Visit

River Landing, NC: Clubhouse is setting for mystery.

With its bright sunny days and cool nights, October is a perfect time to head for the Carolinas. That’s why River Landing has added yet another great reason for a weekend visit to this beautiful and complete coastal Carolina residential community. 

The popular Murder Mystery Weekend, to be staged October 23-25, 2009, has proven to be a popular event as community visitors interact with members of a talented theatre troupe during a Saturday evening of fun and surprises as all participants test their sleuthing skills to reveal “Who Done It.”

Clubhouse Diner
Included in the evening’s activities is a gourmet dinner served in The River Room inside the new River Landing Clubhouse which opened in April, 2009.

Visitors will also enjoy a personal tour of River Landing’s beautiful neighborhoods, amenity centers, all its natural beauties and a look at the community’s newest neighborhood, The Vineyards.

The Murder Mystery Weekend is a two-night, three-day getaway that also includes a round of golf for two, full use of all amenities, comfortable accommodations, continental breakfasts--all for just $139 per couple. (Request more information.)

Weekends include championship golf.

Southern Hospitality Getaway
For those whose schedules can’t accommodate the Murder Mystery Weekend dates, River Landing’s thoroughly enjoyable Southern Hospitality Getaway is an apt alternative. Available at any time, this Getaway is designed to add interest, enjoyment and a full measure of cordiality to every visit to this master-planned, golf community in Wallace, NC.

The Getaway includes:

• Luxurious on-site accommodations complete with continental breakfast each day
  
• A personal VIP tour of River Landing’s beautiful neighborhoods, amenity centers, all its natural beauties and a look at our newest neighborhood offering, The Vineyards
  
• Owner-for-the-Stay privileges so visitors can enjoy all River Landing amenities: play a round of championship golf, serve up a little tennis, go swimming in the indoor or outdoor pools, join in on exercise and fitness sessions, work out with modern cardio equipment, stroll along quiet nature trails and much more
  
• Learn about local wines with a tour and tasting at the nearby Duplin Winery
  
• Get a taste of River Landing with a complimentary Gourmet Dining Certificate in the elegant new River Landing Clubhouse
  
• Available for just $139 per couple.

For More Information
Either weekend offering gives visitors the best way to see, experience and actually feel how well River Landing can fit into their future. Reservations are being accepted now, so call today at 888-285-4171, or click here to request more information.

Champion Hills Will Hold Arts & Crafts Show, Lakewood Ranch Welcomes New Builder

Champion Hills, NC offers Tom Fazio golf and more.

Champion Hills, NC will hold a Member Arts & Crafts show on Friday Oct. 2. Members are now hard at work preparing to display their arts and crafts. The gallery is open from 6 pm to 8 pm. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails will be served during the show. Cost is $35.00, per person, and includes the show, hors d'oeuvres, tax and gratuity. Click here for more information about Champion Hills!

The Reserve at Lake Keowee, SC has selected Jeffrey Callaham as its Artist in Residence for the month of September. There was a reception event for Callaham on Sept. 23 where some 15 of his works were on display. During his stay at The Reserve, Callaham will also teach art classes at local elementary schools. He will also hold open studio time, allowing residents to observe him as he creates new works of art. Click here for more information about The Reserve at Lake Keowee!

Lakewood Ranch, FL is proud to welcome Arthur Rutenberg Homes to Lakewood Ranch’s team of builders at Country Club East. The builder has already had two sales since purchasing lots in Country Club East. Click here for more information about Lakewood Ranch!

The Brunswick Isles Golf Trail Features Both Great Golf & Real Estate Options

Lockwood Folly, NC: A stop on the Brunswick Golf Trail.

Straddling the border of North and South Carolina, the Brunswick Isles Golf Trail offers more than 400 golf holes and plenty of real estate opportunities.These layouts have won numerous major awards from all the national golf publications, so you are guaranteed world-class golf and a memorable time.

The Trail, which was organized in 2008, stretches 60 miles from Southport, N.C. to North Myrtle Beach, S.C., winding through the unspoiled coastal area known as the Brunswick Islands. Many courses are so close that golfers can easily play two or more different courses in a day.

Real estate buyers will enjoy the benefit of having so much top-quality golf available within about an hour's drive. And just a bit further to the south is Myrtle Beach and even more great golf.

Here is information about three Trail members that also are part of a master-planned, golf course community and offer real estate.

The northernmost course on the Trail is The Bald Head Island Club, a layout that Golf Digest calls “one of the Top 50 Courses In Myrtle Beach.” A 20-minute ferry ride takes you from Southport, N. C. across the Cape Fear River to the island where you’ll be treated to a picturesque layout that roams over dunes and along the oceanfront. Homesites range from the $300,000s to $2 million while homes range from the $400,000s to over $4 million.

Lockwood Folly Country Club is the next stop on the Trail. This course near Holden Beach was designed by Willard Byrd and offers Tifdwarf Bermuda greens. Set on a former seaside hunting preserve, this visually grand layout with salt marsh and freshwater hazards offers an exciting day of golf in a beautiful setting.

Lockwood Folly offers a variety of homes and homesites.  Homesites, based on the view, are either interior, golf course view, waterway or river view, and range in price from $70,000 to $895,000.

To the south in Sunset Beach, N.C. is Ocean Ridge Plantation, home of the 4 “Big Cat” courses: Lion’s Paw, Panther’s Run, Tiger’s Eye and Leopard’s Chase.

Taming the cats begins with Lion’s Paw, one of  Golf Digest’s “ Top 50 Courses In Myrtle Beach.” A Willard Byrd design, it features boldly-contoured bent-grass greens and mounds of sugar-white sand marking deep bunkers and high embankments.

Tigers Eye Golf Course Different challenges are served up by the other three cats, all designed by architect Tim Cate. Panther’s Run, ranked by Links Magazine as one the “Top 30 Courses in Myrtle Beach,” offers wide, open fairways with little mounding.

Tiger’s Eye — one of “America’s Top 100 Greatest Public Courses” (Golf Digest) — challenges golfers with abundant natural waste areas, dazzling scenery and elevation changes reminiscent of the North Carolina sand hills.

Leopard’s Chase, which debuted as one of Golf Digest’s “Best New Public Golf Courses $75 and Over” for 2007, and Golf Magazine’s “10 Best New Public Golf Courses in the United States,” features undulating greens, varied terrain and striking natural vistas.

Luxury custom-homes, single-family homes begin in the $300,000s to $1 million+. Single-family homesites with golf course views, water views, and/or nature views begin in the low-$100,000s and run to $500,000+.

For golf package information, contact the various communities.

  

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

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

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

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

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

Brunswick Forest Celebrates Cape Fear National Opening w/ Sneak Peak Weekend

Brunswick Forest, NC: Cape Fear National to open.

Brunswick Forest, a 4,500-acre master planned community located 10 minutes south of Historic Downtown Wilmington, NC, is celebrating the opening of Cape Fear National®  with a special “Sneak Peek” October 16-18 weekend offering.

Cape Fear National is the newest golf course in the Coastal South.  The first 18 holes of a planned 27-hole complex will open later in October to the general public as a premium daily fee course, but Brunswick Forest officials are setting aside a limited attendance “Sneak Peek” preview weekend earlier in the month.

A $179 three day/two night package includes accommodations for two in a luxury hotel in Wilmington’s Historic Downtown, plus:

    • A Friday evening welcome party and cocktail reception in Brunswick Forest’s downtown office

    • A Saturday evening Oyster Roast and Chowder Fest with live entertainment and trolley transportation to and from your hotel

    • A round of golf for two at Cape Fear National

   • Click here for more information about Brunswick Forest or call Toll Free: 888-371-2434 or 910.371.2434

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

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

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

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

Top Visited North Carolina Spots Include Mountain, Coastal Communities

This Month's Top 5 North Carolina Communities

1. The Cliffs at High Carolina, Asheville - Blue Ridge Mountains
2. Deer Brook Golf Club, Shelby - Blue Ridge Mountain foothills
3. Bald Head Island, Bald Head Island - Atlantic Coastal island community
4. Cummings Cove Golf & CC, Hendersonville - Blue Ridge Mountains
5. St. James Plantation, Southport - Atlantic Coastal community

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FEATURED GOLF HOMES

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

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

SPECIAL EVENTS

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

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

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

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

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

Lakewood Ranch Welcomes New Builders, Heritage Wake Forest Holds Teen Event

Pauma Valley Country Club, CA is a private getaway.

Pauma Valley Country Club, CA, located one hour NE of San Diego, is having a 1960s Social Terrace Dinner tonight. Members promise they will wear their grooviest clothes, sandals, even flowers in their hair as a tribute to the 40th anniversary of Woodstock held in August 1969. Bell bottoms, anyone? Click here for more information about Pauma Valley CC!

Heritage Wake Forest NC held its first-ever Teens Only Dive-in Movie at its flagship pool last Saturday. “Twilight” was the main feature, beginning at sunset. Attendees received glow bracelets and plastic costume fangs upon entry. Prizes such as movie posters, copies of the book, t-shirts and other themed items were awarded. The club also hosts Family Dive-In Movies throughout the pool season. Click here for more information about Heritage Wake Forest!

Champion Hills, NC, announces its 2nd round of beginner ballroom dance classes, beginning August 31st. Classes last an hour and will be held for six consecutive weeks. Lisa Puckett, from the Asheville School of Dance will teach the Rumba, Fox Trot, Swing and Waltz. The cost per person is $43 for the six-week course. Click here for more information about Champion Hills!

Frenchman's Creek Beach & Country Club, FL earns membership into The Platinum Club of America for 2009. Club Every three years Leaders Forum conducts a nationwide survey ranking private clubs across the country to determine “the best of the best.” Congrats to Frenchman's Creek! Click here for more information about Frenchman's Creek!

Hammock Dunes, FL, a private oceanfront community, announces that flying your private aircraft to the area's Flagler County Airport on Florida's Palm Coast has just gotten easier. The airport is celebrating the opening of its new Tower which will allow more Corporate Owned aircraft at the facility. Click here for more information about Hammock Dunes!

Lakewood Ranch, FL welcomes two new homebuilders; Minto Communities and Paradise Homes of Sarasota. Both companies will be constructing model homes in neighborhoods in Country Club East, a private, gated community around lakes, nature preserves and a championship golf course. Click here for more information about Lakewood Ranch!

Tennessee National Hosts Championship, Reynolds Plantation Center Wins Award

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

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

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

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

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

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

Champion Hills Schedules Dance Classes; Reynolds Stages Golf Championship

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

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

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

Our Visit to Bright's Creek Reveals Hidden Waterfalls, Great Golf & Distant Views

Our recent trip to communities in western North Carolina included visits to Balsam Mountain Preserve, Champion Hills, Cummings Cove, and finally, to Bright's Creek. 

The Tom Fazio course provides striking views.

Set amongst the endless natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bright’s Creek is an emerging 5,000-acre property featuring lofty homesites that offer enthralling views of its Tom Fazio-designed golf course, the surrounding mountains and an amenity-rich mountain lifestyle.

Bright's Creek's Jim Rash (l) with GCH Publisher David Lott.

Our guide through Bright's Creek was the highly personable Marketing Associate Jim Rash whose love for the area and the community was frequently professed and further underscored by his purchase of a lot and construction of a stunning home that is filled with artwork from the local Silver Fox Gallery & Interiors.

Bright's Creek home for sale by Jim Rash.

The interior is filled with artwork.

Jim gave Elise and me a thorough tour of the golf course in which the mountain views were always present. Holes are scuplted into the thickly treed landscape and jump across burbling streams and riveulets.

Streams lace through the property.

Recognized as one of “Ten Courses to Watch” internationally by Golf Magazine, Bright’s Creek is a host course for the BMW Charity Pro-Am Tournament. 

A lovely par-3.

Bright’s Creek also features an award-winning Equestrian Center and Members’ Lodge with plans for two additional Fazio courses, a swim and tennis center, clubhouse and fitness center, extensive hiking trails and a Rod & Gun Club located on the Green River. 

Inside the spectacular equestrian center.

However, you already can see the club's elegant lifestyle coming into focus and homes completed or under construction.

This newly completed home enjoys vast mountain views.

As Jim took us up higher and higher above the property, the views got longer and the opportunities for building more exciting.

Views that will always stir wonder.

One particular homesite not only came with spectacular views, it also had its own waterfall (see below). Homesites generally range from one half acre to five acres, and are sited on ridgelines, along creeks and within hardwood forests. Homesites prices begin at $175,000 and custom homes start in the $900,000s.

High up in Brights Creek is an unusal homesite backed by its own waterfall. 

Once we came back to earth, Jim gave us directions to historic Hendersonville, NC, which is a short drive away. (Asheville is less than an hour’s drive away.) So we left as the sun was setting behind the Blue Ridge and took the quick hop to Hendersonville, where we found a quaint litte tea shop and sat down to reminisce about what had been a truly memorable visit.

 

Legacy Quest Homes: Green, Modern, Historic and Made to Last Generations

Legacy Quest Outdoors: Homes that are green and authentic.

Imagine you could live in a home whose appearance takes you back to rustic days gone by while providing the latest in appliances, green living and energy efficiency. That's the mission of Legacy Quest Outdoors, a Waynesville, NC, company that specializes in high-end custom home-building using vintage materials with the latest technology.

Legacy Quest Outdoors is also the pioneering inventor of the Second Generation Hybrid Home™--homes that will stand for generations and uses the building materials of structures that have already stood the test of time. 

A modern kitchen with historic comfort.

Cutting-edge green technology is used in constructing  Second Generation Hybrid Homes™including lumber from certified, well-managed, sustainable forests, engineered lumber, sheet goods throughout, lycenyne spray foam insulation, Low-E glass windows, low VOC finishes on all wooden components both interior and exterior and 100 percent recycled wood for all walls, floors, cabinets, trim, ceilings, doors, exterior siding and some roofing.

Homes also have tankless hot water heaters, rainwater collection barrels, natural sunlight tubes, skylights, passive infrared lighting controls that go on and off as you enter and leave the room. Solar power is an option.

This is just a partial list of all that goes into a Second Generation Hybrid Home™. Visit their website for the full list of materials.

GolfCourseHome is working with Legacy Quest Outdoors on an exciting project that will be constructed at Balsam Mountain Preserve. Watch for more news as it develops!

Modern on the inside, antique on the outside.