The GolfCourseHome Life

Ford's Colony Holds Parade of Homes, Blackstone Gets Audubon Certification

Ford’s Colony, VA is close to Williamsburg.

Ford’s Colony, VA presented its Fall Parade of Homes this past weekend. Prospective buyers toured resale homes, new-construction homes, the Ford’s Colony Eaglescliffe Condominiums, as well as its Links townhomes. Click here for more information about Ford’s Colony!

Daniel Island, SC will once again host the prestigious Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island. Public is invited out to the community’s Ralston Creek Course to watch this season-ending classic, beginning with practice rounds Monday, Oct. 19 through final-round action on Sunday, Oct. 25. Click here for more information about Daniel Island!

Blackstone, AZ got the good news this week that its Jim Engh-designed course in Peoria has been designated a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by Audubon International. It is only the 10th course in Arizona to receive the distinction and the 778th in the world. Click here for more information about Blackstone!

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!

Great Deal: $4,000/month Leaseback w/ Cottage Purchase at Homestead Preserve

Shepherd's Cottage, Homestead Preserve: Generous leaseback.

Here's a great deal unthinkable two years ago: Purchase Shepherd’s Cottage in Homestead Preserve’s Sheep Meadow neighborhood and enjoy a leaseback provision of 10 nights/month at $4,000 per month for two years. That $4,000 will go a long way to covering your mortgage payments.

Shepherd’s Cottage is a fully furnished antique log cabin featuring reclaimed oak logs, local fieldstone and blue slate.  The home offers a gourmet kitchen with dining area, large great room with fireplace, ground floor master bedroom with bath, upstairs bedroom, sleeping loft and full bath. 

Cozy living room.

While the feel and appearance of the cabin are rustic and historic, modern and energy efficient touches really complete the home.

Shepherd’s Cottage is available for $1.57M, fully furnished including The Homestead Golf & Tennis membership.  Homestead Preserve is currently offering the new owner of this home a leaseback of 10 nights monthly at $4,000 per month for two years.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Viniterra Offers Vineyard Ambience, Equestrian Facilities, Golf Sites from $250K

Viniterra, VA is set at New Kent Vineyards.

We are pleased to announce the addition of Viniterra to GolfCourseHome. Viniterra is an emerging neighborhood of estate homes built around a Rees Jones championship golf course and located within the innovative community of New Kent Vineyards. The Club at Viniterra will feature its own clubhouse with extensive amenities, including full-service restaurants, men’s and ladies locker rooms and a golf teaching studio.

Set in an historic, bucolic region, Viniterra is well served by interstate highways and state roads. It lies within easy reach of airports, urban amenities, Colonial Williamsburg and Virginia’s myriad attractions.

One of the unique features of the community is the New Kent Winery which is equipped with state-of-the-art, wine-making equipment from around the world, covers more than 17,000 square feet and is built with reclaimed materials including 40-foot heart pine trusses and pre-Civil War brick.

The winery opened in May 2008 after eight years of planning, planting and building and now offers six different wines, including Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Norton--a grape native to Virginia. If you come to see Viniterra, you have to visit the winery as well.

It Takes a Village: Shops, restaurants, a bed-and-breakfast, and even equestrian amenities are all features of this imaginative plan. Within the neo-traditional Village will be commercial, retail and residential components anchored by a pedestrian mall and Farmers Market.

Real Estate: Viniterra, VA

* 1+ acre homesites
      o On the golf course, prices from $250,000 to $550,000
      o Select builders for your custom home
* Custom homes priced from the low-$700,000s
* Click here for more information about Viniterra at New Kent Vineyards!

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!

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

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

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

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

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

Dozens of Golf and Waterfront Communities Join GolfCourseHome and WaterViewHome

Pauma Valley Country Club has lush valley views.

2009 First-Half New Community Summary

Here is a summary of all communities added to GolfCourseHome (6 states, 14 communities) and WaterViewHome (9 states and 15 communities) in the first six months of this year.

NEW ON GOLFCOURSEHOME.NET

CALIFORNIA

=> Pauma Valley Country Club
Lush valley views, challenging golf, private air strip, homes from $245,000

FLORIDA

=> Olde Cypress Country Club, Naples
Golf by P.B. Dye, attached villas from the mid-$400,000s, homes from the $600,000s

=> SummerGlen, Ocala
Championship golf, SummerGlen Grand Hall, Residents Club, homes from $150,000

=> Frenchman’s Creek, Palm Beach Gardens
Two championship golf courses, deepwater marina, 17 Har-Tru tennis courts, wellness center, homes from $750,000

GEORGIA

=> Kingston on Lake Oconee, Buckhead
Gary Player golf, private marina, $70,000 savings w/ First Families, Lake Club, historic region, homesites from $80,000

NORTH CAROLINA

=> Bald Head Island, Bald Head Island
Ten-acre marina, golf and oceanfront clubhouses, kids camp, homes from the $400,000s

=> Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sylva - near Asheville
Arnold Palmer golf, equestrian center, tennis, pool, homesteads from $350,000

=> Brier Creek Country Club, Raleigh
Arnold Palmer golf, 40,000-square-foot clubhouse, Executive Cottages from the $200,000s

=> Cummings Cove, Hendersonville  
Gated 650-acre mountain community, Bob Cupp golf, stone/timber clubhouse, lots from the $70,000s

SOUTH CAROLINA

=> The Owners Club at Hilton Head, Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head lifestyle, fractional real estate, priced from low-$40,000s to high-$80,000s

=> Spring Island, Spring Island
New sports center this year, equestrian facilities, Arnold Palmer-designed golf, homes from the $600,000s

=> Wachesaw Plantation Club, Murrells Inlet
Tom Fazio golf, Intracoastal Waterway, sports complex, Resale homes from $350,000

=> Wyboo Plantation, Manning 
Lake Marion views and boating access, 36 holes of golf, patio homes from $200,000

VIRGINIA

=> Regency at Valley, Haymarket
Arnold Palmer Signature golf, grand clubhouse, Sports Pavilion, homes from the $300,000s

NEW ON WATERVIEWHOME.NET

ALABAMA

=> Colony at the Grand, Fairhope
Two Robert Trent Jones golf courses, hotel spa, yacht basin, luxury condominiums from the $700,000s

FLORIDA

=> The Champions’ Club, Trinity
Overlooks Fox Hollow Golf Club, tennis pavilion, fitness center, pool, clubhouse, homes from the mid-$700,000s to over $2 million

=> Isleworth, Windermere
Boat ramp to Butler Chain, private golf, 89,000-square-foot clubhouse, homes from $2 million

=> Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota
Parks, nature preserves, 160-acre lake, country club, 54 holes, athletic center, homes from the $200,000s to $1 million+

=> Piper’s Landing, Palm City
Championship golf, great fishing, protected yacht basin, homes from $250,000 to $2 million

GEORGIA

=> The Bluffs at Richmond Hill, Richmond Hill
Clubhouse, pool, tennis courts, 20 acres of lakes, one- to three-acre lots from $69,500

NEW YORK

=> The Lake at Sylvan Way, Grafton
118 acres, never before available, abuts lakefront preserve, entire parcel or lakefront & lakeview homesites,

NORTH CAROLINA

=> Bald Head Island, Bald Head Island  
Ten-acre marina, golf and oceanfront clubhouses, kids camp, real estate from $300,000s to $4 million

OKLAHOMA

=> The Preserve at Grand Lake, Grove
Newly constructed marina, buy-now/build-later, homesites with boat slips from $29,900

PENNSYLVANIA

=> Treasure Lake, DuBois
North of Pittsburgh, gated, 36 holes, lakefront, homesites from $29,000, golf homes from $150,000

SOUTH CAROLINA

=> The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, Sunset
Outdoor living on Lake Keowee shores, Tom Fazio golf, homesites from the $250,000s  

=> Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton
On the May River, Nicklaus golf, equestrian, resort village, homesites from the mid-$300,000s

=> Reverie on the Ashley, North Charleston
Private dock with boat slips, deepwater access, pool, units from the mid-$500,000s

=> Wachesaw Plantation, Murrell’s Inlet
Historic site on the Intracoastal, boat storage & marina, Fazio golf, tennis center, homes from $269,000 to $1 million+

VIRGINIA

=>The Riverfront, Suffolk
Riverfront Swim Club, 43-acre lake, golf by Tom Doak, custom homes from the $500,000s

GolfCourseHome Communities Cited in Where to Retire: America's 100 Best

Terra Vista of Citrus Hills, FL is a top-ranked community.

You may have read news releases this week about 'Where to Retire' magazine's July/August issue in which it announced its bi-annual 'America's 100 Best Master-Planned Communities.' We're happy to report that you will find many of them on GolfCourseHome.

Here's a quick summary of the award-winning communities we feature with links to more information about each one. Congratulations to these 'America's Best Communities!'

FLORIDA

Terra Vista of Citrus Hills, Crystal River - Inverness
Golden Ocala, Ocala
Stone Creek by Del Webb, Ocala
SummerGlen, Ocala
GlenLakes, Weeki Wachee (near Tampa)

GEORGIA

Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro (45 miles east of Atlanta)
The Georgia Club, Statham (75 miles east of Atlanta)

MISSOURI

Branson Creek, Hollister

NORTH CAROLINA

Cummings Cove, Hendersonville
Brunswick Forest, Leland
Carolina Trace, Sanford
St. James Plantation, Southport
Ocean Ridge Plantation, Sunset Beach
River Landing, Wallace

SOUTH CAROLINA

Woodside Plantation, Aiken
Daniel Island, Charleston
Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach

VIRGINIA

Colonial Heritage, Williamsburg

Brier Creek Offers New Floorplan, Homestead Preserve Earns Award

The Cliffs at High Carolina, NC offers a Tiger Woods course.

The Cliffs at High Carolina, NC recently began offering a new cottage collection, Straus Lake Cottages. The Straus collection is adjacent to the eighth hole on the golf course, the site of Tiger Woods' first U.S. golf course design. Click here for more information about The Cliffs!

Brier Creek, NC debuts the Ellsworth II, a new floorplan. Priced from the mid-$400,000s, the Ellsworth II is a four-bedroom, 2.5-bath home with a two-car, side-entry garage. Additional benefits include a spacious gourmet kitchen with granite countertops and nine-foot first- and second-floor ceilings. Click here for more information about Brier Creek!

Homestead Preserve, VA announces that the Valley Conservation Council, a respected regional environmental council, has awarded the community the 2009 Better Models for Development Award for “Excellence in Historic Preservation” in recognition of its restoration and adaptive reuse of the historic Old Dairy in Warm Springs. The award spotlights projects that respect local character, create livable communities, complement historic resources, and conserve natural assets. Click here for more information about Homestead Preserve!

The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA has teamed up with the Skidaway Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association to host an Inshore Fishing Program on On June 8 at 7 pm with Captain “Wild Bill” Jarrell, a well-known and successful inshore fishing guide. All are welcome to attend, and no reservations are needed.  Click here for more information about The Landings!

NEWS  SHORTS

Balsam Mountain Preserve, NC has been named a GolfCourseHome Green Golf Community at the Vanguard level, the highest designation. A 4,400-acre mountain community, 70 percent of it is preserved and will never be developed...Hampton Hall, SC is offering a Wednesday afternoon Ladies Only golf clinic with professional Bryan Rhame—all skill levels welcome... Teton Springs, ID has a brand-new golf shop installation and along with it a newly purchased fleet of Club Car golf carts, equipped with the latest high-tech features...Cummings Cove, NC, a mountain community, has been added to ClubWeddingReceptions.net and HealthandWellnessCommunities.net.

Homestead Preserve Receives Award for “Excellence in Historic Preservation”

Homestead Preserve, VA: The main barn at the Old Dairy.

The Valley Conservation Council recently awarded Homestead Preserve the 2009 Better Models for Development Award for “Excellence in Historic Preservation” in recognition of its restoration and adaptive reuse of the historic Old Dairy in Warm Springs, Virginia.

“This is a beautiful and comprehensive rehabilitation of a rural agricultural complex,” says Sara Hollberg, Valley Conservation Council (VCC) Planner. “The dairy barns and silos have been an iconic part of the Bath County landscape for generations, and it is wonderful to see their future secured.”

Homestead Preserve completed restoration of the seven historic structures that now make up the Old Dairy Community Center in 2007, at the cost of about $6 million.  Today Old Dairy is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a designated Virginia Historic Landmark. 

The restored agricultural complex has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions over the past two years, including an award for Outstanding Adaptive Use from the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA) last year and receipt of the 2009 Palladio Award for historic restoration.  

VCC recognized ten projects this year that serve as models for development in the Shenandoah Valley region. All represent ways to grow that respect local character, create livable communities, complement historic resources, and conserve natural assets. The awards include projects from Winchester, Berryville, Woodstock, and New Market as well as Warren, Augusta, Rockbridge, Bath, and Botetourt counties.

The Riverfront Overlooks Namsemond and James Rivers, Offers Engaging Golf Layout

The Riverfront, VA is a waterfront community.

We are pleased to announce the addition of The Riverfront to the WaterViewHome Network.

The Riverfront is a golf community overlooking the scenic Namsemond and James rivers in a vibrant region of Virginia where recreation and opportunity meet. This award-winning waterfront community features custom homes built by the area's finest custom builders.

This beautifully landscaped community is located in the rapidly growing northern section of Suffolk. Nearby Harborview Station Town Center contains a mix of a 16-screen cinema, restaurants, offices and a medical health center. And just a short distance away are shopping and dining opportunities in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News and Williamsburg.

Doak' Distinguished Design: The course displays the highly lauded talents of Pete Dye protégé Tom Doak, one of the premier young golf architects in the world and the designer of Pacific Dunes, in Oregon. Doak’s course at The Riverfront is a bold, engaging layout that plays along low bluffs and long stretches of riverfront.

Real Estate: The Riverfront, VA

* Luxury condominiums, priced from the $300,000s
* Custom single-family homes, ranging from the $500,000s to $1 million+
* Click here for more information on The Riverfront!

Rio Grande Named Top Destination, Black Bull Offers Free Golf Memberships

River Wilderness, FL is a gated golf and boating community.

River Wilderness, FL and its newly renovated golf course will host a U.S. Women’s Open qualifier on May 20. The River Wilderness course, designed by Ted McAnlis, has recently undergone extensive renovation and features all new TifEagle greens. It is part of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System and rated one of the Top 50 in the state by Florida Golfer magazine. Click here for more information about River Wilderness!

The Bridges at Preston Crossings, TX reports that its Fred Couples’ Signature 18-hole golf course is now open seven days a week. The bar and grill are open through the week, as well.... Branson Creek, MO continues to add direct air service, with AirTran now offering daily roundtrip non-stop flights into Branson Airport from Mitchell International in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.... At Kingsmill on the James, VA, The Mill is now open—a full-service bakery and coffee shop for Kingsmill residents and inn guests,  featuring one of the area's most creative selections of freshly-baked breads.

Ross Bridge, AL plays host to $1.7 million Regions Charity Classic on the Champions Tour which begins tomorrow....Chris Anderson and Michael Clark II are tied atop the leaderboard at nine-under par after the first round of the BMW Charity Pro-Am being hosted this weekend by The Carolina Country Club, SC and Bright’s Creek Golf Club, NC....

Rio Grande Club, CO was named a Top 15 Golf & Fly Fishing Destinations for 2009 by Wild on the Fly magazine....

Black Bull, MT announces that five golf course lots (half-acre+ in size) at the community include a free golf membership (valued at $33,000); prices range from $295,000 to $395,000....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....

Branson Creek, MO, is the latest community to celebrate its selection to GolfCourseHome's
2009 Best of the Best Rankings list with a press release.

For These Lucky Kingsmill Residents the World('s Best Golfers) Comes to Them

Why travel to a world-class golf event when you can have it come to you?

More than 60,000 spectators are expected to attend this week’s Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill, an LPGA Tour golf event. For some, it’s a shorter trip than others, says the Williamstown Yorktown Daily.

All around Kingsmill’s River Course, homeowners lucky enough to have a deck overlooking the course are throwing impromptu parties this weekend.

Good golf. Great weather. Beer in the cooler. What could be better?

Amy Storck moved into her townhouse adjacent to the River Course’s sixth green a few years ago. Proximity to the golf course was “definitely a factor” why she and husband Greg purchased there.

Now every year, their place is party central during weekend rounds at the Michelob. At least for her friends who arrive in time.

“I told them. I said ‘Show up early if you want to see the big names,’” Storck laughed, as she waited for friends to arrive from as far away as Maryland.

“This is very high up among my favorite weekends of the year. It’s great to see the players, and see our friends too. If they get here!”

The Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill is just one of many community-based pro golf events held during the year. To see a schedule of GolfCourseHome Featured Communities who are hosting Pro-Ams, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Champions and Nationwide Tours (along with the USGA and leading amateur tournament groups), click here.

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....

Homestead Preserve Wins Award, Club at Renaissance Throws Party, and More

Cummings Cove, NC is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Cummings Cove, NC has an upcoming event for outdoors-loving members. All are invited to a Cove Hike on Saturday, April 25, to Whiteside Mountain between Cashiers and Highlands. Whiteside Mountain (4,930 ft.) offers stunning views of the transition from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Piedmont of South Carolina. The two-mile loop consists of platforms, stairs, boardwalks and an old jeep trail traversing the cliff top with long views to the south. Click here for more information about Cummings Cove! 

Homestead Preserve, VA has been honored with a 2009 “Best of the Mountains” Award from Pinnacle Living Mountain Homes magazine. The magazine cited Homestead Preserve’s conservation of more than 10,000 acres with The Nature Conservancy and Virginia Outdoors Foundation as well as its strict architectural guidelines. Click here for more information about Homestead Preserve!

NEWS SHORTS
Heritage Wake Forest, NC has enjoyed a successful Spring Showcase of homes with a 50 percent increase in traffic over last year and over 385 visitors touring the community’s homes....

The golf communities of Lake Oconee in Georgia are looking forward to the 2009 Season of the Oconee Performing Arts Society, with performances from the Julliard String Quartet, Chicago’s Hubbard Street Dance Company and rock artists The Waybacks.....

Juliette Falls, FL is offering a Spring Getaway Package, the 2009 Azalea Three-Night, Three-Day Play, Stay & Ride Package for Two (or Four), includes unlimited golf and more. Price is $1,295 per couple, or just $1,995 for two couples....

Colonial Heritage Pays Closing Costs, Heritage Wake Forest Draws 200+

Colonial Heritage, VA is offering to pay closing costs.

Colonial Heritage, VA is offering, for a limited time, to pay the buyer’s closing costs—up to $10,000. Financing must be arranged with an approved lender....

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... Heritage Wake Forest's Spring New Home Showcase of 21 new homes, which was held last weekend and will occur again this weekend, enjoyed a 50 percent increase in traffic. The homes were visited by 200+ people. Prices range from the low-$200,000s to $600,000s.

Olde Stone Holds "Tour of Italy," Lance Armstrong Rides Through Pauma Valley

Amelia Island Plantation, FL covers 1,350 secluded acres.

Amelia Island Plantation, FL celebrated its first official Boardwalk Bash of the new season on March 13. Revelers saluted St. Patrick’s Day in the community’s popular Spa & Shoppes neighborhood. On the back porch of Marché Burette there were food & drink specials, green beer for $1, live Irish music and give-a-way prizes. More events in the Boardwalk Bash tradition are upcoming. Click here for more information about Amelia Island Plantation!

Pauma Valley Country Club, CA was part of the action as racing star Lance Armstrong and a field of contenders came through Pauma Valley in the Amgen 2009 International Bike Race, with Pauma Valley Country Club helping supply food and refreshments. That same week, a tournament sponsored by the Womens Southern California Golf Association fielded 108 members and guests for the 18-hole event, with lunch and prizes afterward. Click here for more information about Pauma Valley Country Club!

The Club at Olde Stone, KY is taking a Chef’s Tour of Italy as its culinary theme for March, sampling dishes from specific regions of Italy each theme night. This past Saturday a contingent of members went to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center to see the Broadway-style show, “Menopause: The Musical” by Jeanie Linders, and finished their evening with a late supper at The Club. Click here for more information about The Club at Olde Stone!

Williamsburg, VA Golf Communities are ideal for visiting in springtime, with great local events to add to the itinerary. On May 4-10 the Kingsmill Resort & Spa hosts the Michelob ULTRA Open. With a $2.2 million purse, it’s one of the richest events on the LPGA Tour. It includes three separate pro-ams, fashion show and junior clinic. Also in May is the Festival of Williamsburg, with four nights of classical music concerts at the College of William & Mary. Click here for more information about Williamsburg, VA Golf Communities!

Colleton River Plantation, SC enjoyed a highlight of its golf season last weekend, the annual Men’s Club Challenge. Teams were made up of one member, three guests and one professional. A unique element of the Club Challenge is that it includes a round on Colleton River’s Borland Course, a challenging little par-3 layout that complements the club’s two championship 18s. Click here for more information about Colleton River Plantation!

Goose Pond Island, AL is part of the attraction as collegiate golf enthusiasts and competitors arrive on the island’s local golf course, Goose Pond Colony Plantation, for the Spring Fling National Junior College Golf Championship. Teams from around the country compete with most hoping to earn enough recognition to return in May to play the same course in the Junior. College National Championship. Click here for more information about Goose Pond Island!

Wachesaw Plantation Club, SC kicks off  its April schedule of golf club activities on April 1 with a Men’s Guest Day. On April 9 the WLGA-18 Interclub tournament will be hosted by Wachesaw. On the 16th there is a spring 9 Holers tourney and on 19th is Couples Golf & Grille. The Men’s Spring Member-Member takes place the weekend of April 25-26. Click here for more information about Wachesaw Plantation Club!

Kingsmill on the James, VA: 2,900 Acres of Golf, Green Space, and Riverfront Views

Kingsmill on the James, VA is set on 2,900 acres.

We are pleased to announce the addition of Kingsmill on the James, VA, to the WaterViewHome Network. A well-loved resort community in Virginia’s destination town of Williamsburg, Kingsmill on the James has become a favorite up and down the Eastern Seaboard for golf, marina, woodland beauty, historic atmosphere and broad range of amenities to please both adults and children.

Located near historic Williamsburg, Virginia, on the banks of the scenic James River, Kingsmill on the James is 2,900 acres of green rolling hills and stately woods offering a variety of exclusive neighborhoods against a beautiful backdrop.

Within this lush setting, Busch Properties, Inc. (an Anheuser-Busch subsidiary) founded a community that preserves green space (40 percent of the property will remain untouched) and archaeologically significant areas, while providing extraordinary residential homesites.

Along with the natural setting and mild climate, residents of Kingsmill on the James have easy access to three championship golf courses, tennis, a sports club with indoor and outdoor pools, racquetball courts, exercise room, plus a luxurious, full-service spa and four restaurants.

Take Me to the River: Pete Dye designed the River Course to challenge the accuracy and power of LPGA Tour professionals, yet still be enjoyable for the average golfer. This 6,853-yard, par-71 boasts pure Virginia topography. It’s a shotmaker's test with great character throughout.

Real Estate: Kingsmill on the James, VA

* Heavily wooded homesites
* Custom-built and custom-designed homes
* All utilities underground
* Choice of waterfront locations
* Resort Condominiums, resale only, from $170,000 to $500,000
* Resale homes from $300,000 to $6 million
* Patio Homes adjacent to the golf course, resale only, from $400,000 to $550,000
* New homes from $600,000
* Luxury Riverfront Townhomes, from $775,000 to $1.5 million
* River Bluffs Luxury Condominiums, from $775,000 to $1.5 million
* Click here for more information about Kingsmill on the James!

These Golf Communities Will Host Future & Present PGA Tour Champions & Events

Sea Pines, Hilton Head, SC: Cherished stop for the PGA Tour.

An added bonus to living at a community with a championship golf course is the opportunity to watch future and current champions right out your back door as they compete in professional tour events. The number of properties endorsed by the PGA, LPGA, Champions and Nationwide Tours (along with the USGA and leading amateur tournament groups) is extensive and many of them are featured on GolfCourseHome.

In addition to the chance to present competition on a world-class golf course, pro tour organizers are attracted by the well-organized professional staff at these communities and the welcoming spirit residents display.

If you are investigating golf communities as a future home for vacation, retirement or investment, use these events as a good reason to come by and see the community at its very best. Then, when the cheering stops, you can return for a more intimate visit that shows you the community as an everyday setting for country club living. Here’s the schedule for 2009.

SOUTH CAROLINA

> Sea Pines, Hilton Head

April 16-19 - PGA TOUR Verizon Heritage

One of the original great golf communities in the U.S. remains a fitting home to one of the most cherished stops—by players and golf fans alike—on the entire PGA Tour. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Verizon Heritage will tee off the week after the Masters, April 16-19, on the subtle Lowcountry contours of Harbour Town Golf Links, the most famous of the four championship courses at Sea Pines. Boo Weekley is the two-time defending champion of this event, which is always so well managed by the PGA Tour and the staff of the 5,200-acre community. Gallery the Verizon Heritage and you’ll get a chance to explore the deep-water Harbour Town Yacht Basin, South Beach Marina, 14 miles of paved biking and leisure trails plus elegant dining in a host of memorable settings. Click here for more information about Sea Pines!

GEORGIA

May 2 - 10 Tail $50,000 Pro Challenger Tennis Championship

The Landings on Skidaway Island, Savannah, GA will be hosting the 2009 Tail $50,000 Pro Challenger from May 2 - 10, 2009 at their Franklin Creek Tennis Center. This tournament will be the warm-up for the French Open and will give players an opportunity to prepare for play on the red clay courts of the Roland Garros Stadium. In addition to the professional matches, the week-long event will include a Kid's Day, Military Day, Seniors Day, and a ProAm with proceeds  being donated to Hospice Savannah. Click here for more information about The Landings!

VIRGINIA

> Kingsmill, Williamsburg

May 7-10 LPGA TOUR Michelob ULTRA Open

The LPGA Tour takes its show on the road to such far-off venues as Brazil, Thailand and Singapore during the early months of the season. For players and U.S. fans alike, arriving at Kingsmill in mid-spring (this year’s dates are May 7-10) offers a return not just to American soil but a wealth of early American history at Williamsburg. For the pros, it’s a chance to compete on the premier Kingsmill layout, the River Course, in the LPGA’s Michelob ULTRA Open. The resort community’s golf amenity also comprises the Plantation Course by Arnold Palmer and the classic parkland Woods Course by Tom Clark—plus Bray Links, a nine-hole par-3. Click here for more information about Kingsmill!

NORTH CAROLINA

> Bright’s Creek, Mill Spring

> Carolina Country Club, Spartanburg

May 14 -17  Nationwide Tour BMW Charity Pro-Am

Running from May 14 to May 17, the BMW Charity Pro-Am is one of the most important events on the 2009 Nationwide Tour calendar. When the tournament descends on 5,000-acre Bright’s Creek and the community’s Blue Ridge Mountain grandeur, it’s a backdrop befitting a prestigious sponsor and the important fundraising and public-relations aspects of the pro-am. For spectators, it’s a chance to see movers and shakers from throughout the Southeast in their golf element on a knockout of a Tom Fazio championship course. The Nationwide BMW Charity Pro-Am boasts an extremely large field of professionals and amateurs, which requires multiple courses. That’s why Bright’s Creek is one-third of a three-course rotation including The Carolina Country Club (see below) and a local private club, as well. Click here for more information about Bright’s Creek!

SOUTH CAROLINA

> The Carolina Country Club, Spartanburg

May 14 -17  Nationwide Tour BMW Charity Pro-Am

Designed by the acclaimed Southeastern architect Tom Jackson in 1984, The Carolina Country Club golf course is a handsome, tree-lined layout enhanced by lakes and streams. Co-hosting the BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament with Bright’s Creek (see above), it can throw a robust back-tee Slope rating of 139 at Nationwide Tour contestants. The club offers not just championship golf but 10 lighted tennis courts, a swim club, dining facilities, and a banquet hall. Ideal for evening events during golf competitions, the community’s Holly Hall is a 7,000-square-foot post-and-beam edifice with a cathedral ceiling and rich millwork throughout. Click here for more information about The Carolina Country Club!

ALABAMA

> Ross Bridge, Hoover

May 15-17 Senior PGA TOUR Regions Charity Classic

If you’re on a spring blossom tour through Alabama or playing your way down the famed Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, it’s well worth stopping at Ross Bridge and its top-tier resort amenities, including the Renaissance Ross Bridge hotel. You’ll be able to catch the senior golf action at the Regions Charity Classic, which takes place the weekend of May 15-17. The course setup crew from the Champions Tour has the option of stretching this RTJ-designed brute out near 8,000 yards, but even for a $1.7 million pro tournament they select a far tamer yardage. The defending champion is Andy Bean, who held off Loren Roberts for a one-stroke victory in last year’s event. Click here for more information about Ross Bridge!

NORTH CAROLINA

> Wakefield Plantation, Raleigh

May 28-31 Nationwide Tour Rex Hospital Open

Just having the initials “TPC” in your club’s name doesn’t mean you host a tour stop. For the Tournament Players Club Wakefield Plantation, it’s a fitting honor to have hosted the Nationwide Tour since 2001, one year after the club’s 7,257-yard Hale Irwin-designed golf course opened. This year’s tournament, the 2009 Rex Hospital Open, takes place May 28-31. Wakefield Plantation is a dream locale for tournament organizers, players and gallery. It’s a 2,200-acre community with world-class golf, tennis, swimming, playgrounds and clubhouse activities. Plus, it’s conveniently located between the Carolina coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains. A short drive away is Research Triangle Park, RDU International Airport and downtown Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Durham. Click here for more information about Wakefield Plantation!

NEVADA

> Montreux, Reno

August 6-9 PGA Tour Legends Reno-Tahoe Open

In high summer, it’s a challenge for any golf event to find a venue free of oppressive heat and humidity. The PGA Tour responds to that challenge by detouring to the high Sierra for the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open. The host site is Montrêux, a private, gated golf community bordering Toiyabe National Forest in the Sierra Nevada mountain range near Lake Tahoe. It’s home to the only Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course in northern Nevada and it’s the layout you would have to tame this August 6-9 in order to join such noted past winners as Scott Verplank, John Cook and Steve Flesch in order to take the biggest share of the tournament’s $3,000,000 purse. Click here for more information about Montrêux!

VIRGINIA

> Homestead Preserve, Hot Springs

Sept. 12-17 Senior Women's Match Play

For as long as the U.S. Golf Association conducts its 13 annual championship events, it will gladly return to The Homestead and that grand old resort’s beloved Cascades Course. All the top senior-division players in women’s amateur golf will gather in Hot Springs for an intriguing week of match-play competition this Sept. 12-17. Many will stay around afterward to enjoy the Virginia mountain scenery, a premier resort spa, elegant dining and the iconic beauty of the property. Tournament-goers will enjoy the same luxuries, plus a chance to tour two residential opportunities, The Homestead Preserve and the Owners Club at the Homestead. Late summer, the customary time for the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, will also be ideal for enjoying and exploring this distinctive American place. Click here for more information about Homestead Preserve!

NORTH CAROLINA

> Rock Barn Golf and Spa, Conover

Sept 18-20 PGA TOUR Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn

The PGA Tour’s 50-and-up circuit makes a swing along the Eastern Seaboard after Labor Day, starting with the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn (Sept 18-20, 2009). The community’s two 18-hole courses—one by Tom Jackson, one by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.—give Rock Barn superior flexibility in accommodating members as well as the Champions Tour field before and during the competitive rounds of the event. Along with the superior golf amenity, fans, players and officials get to appreciate the scenic valleys and hills that frame the property. Swing-weary Champions Tour players would be wise to stop in at the Rock Barn Spa for muscle-toning treatments that could provide the necessary edge. Click here for more information about Rock Barn!

SOUTH CAROLINA

> Daniel Island, Charleston

Oct. 22-25 Nationwide Tour Championship

A coveted title, first-place money of $180,000 and full eligibility on the PGA Tour for next season is on the line when the Nationwide Tour comes to Daniel Island for the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship, held Oct. 22-25 this year. The 72-hole competition is played on the younger of two standout championship courses at Daniel Island, the Rees Jones-designed Ralston layout. Members and residents at this award-laden community with its 23 miles of rivers and creeks also enjoy the Tom Fazio-designed Beresford Creek course. The community is great for exploring, should you attend the Nationwide event. It’s a beautifully laid out property of traditional neighborhoods, club amenities, parks, shops, restaurants, schools, churches and more. Click here for more information about Daniel Island!

 

Wachesaw Makes Major Upgrades, Rosewood Village Goes Green, and More

Sunset Dunes, Canada is surrounded by water on three sides.

Sunset Dunes, Prince Edward Island, Canada is planning for a welcome wave of publicity with the first airing of the Big Break Prince Edward Island TV reality series on April 20, at 9 p.m. EDT, on The Golf Channel network. Prince Edward Island is the first-ever Canadian host for the popular series. Sunset Dunes is PEI’s most exclusive waterfront community for retirement or vacation-home ownership, with 27 fine golf courses in the immediate area. Click here for more information about Sunset Dunes!

Wachesaw Plantation Club, SC is in the process of upgrading several important and popular member amenities. Kimbel's, the member-only dining facility overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway is undergoing kitchen equipment upgrades in anticipation of the wedding season. Also, the Har-Tru clay courts, where Wachesaw Plantation member and recent Jr. Orange Bowl champ Harrison Richmond practices, are being resurfaced in preparation for spring tennis season. Click here for more information about Wachesaw Plantation!

Lakewood Ranch, FL, in partnership with Corvus International, Iowa Sports Management and Johan Kriek Tennis, unveiled plans for a new $110-plus million sports, spa and training complex last week. The facility will house several sports academies and will accommodate outside spa and club memberships, along with state of the art wellness opportunities for Lakewood Ranch members and Manatee and Sarasota county residents. Click here for more information about Lakewood Ranch!

Rosewood Village at Wintergreen Resort, VA makes new strides in energy conservation with word that its newest golf villa has partnered with Earthcraft House, the only green building program to receive NAHB's Green Building Program of the Year award twice. The partnership results in construction that shows superior  insulation practices, such as airsealing the building envelope and its mechanical systems while allowing for fresh air intake. Click here for more information about Rosewood Village at Wintergreen!

News Shorts
The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA, has found a way to make sailing affordable as well as fun--the Rhodes 19 Sailing Club. Read how it all got started on the blog, plus see pictures of Rhodes 19 under sail.

Wachesaw Plantation Club, SC is offering a new Discovery Package that is only available through GolfCourseHome.net. The package includes a two-night, two-rounds-of-golf stay, for two visitors, priced at $350 per night.

Watch this Friday for a special feature on the new trends in health & wellness in master-planned communities and the launch of our newest Network Member Website, HealthandWellnessCommunities.net. Enjoy!

Harbour Ridge, FL Offers Ecological Cruise Tours, Cliffs Holds Free Concert, and More

Golden Ocala, FL is offering a tour of new model this spring.

Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club, FL has begun construction of its 2009 Spring Parade of Homes entry, the Grandview model, which is located in the community of Brittany Estates and features 3,740 square feet under air. It will be fully appointed with the most up-to-date and desired home features and products. Tours of the Grandview model take place March 14-29 during the Marion County Parade of Homes. Click here for more information about Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club!

Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club, FL is planning a schedule of five Sunset Ecological Cruise Tours by Captain Nancy Beaver, a noted naturalist and environmentalist, aboard her 40-foot, 40-passenger vessel, Sunshine Lady. Capt. Beaver will share her knowledge and observations of the changes that have occurred in the wildlife and their habitat along the St. Lucie River. Click here for more information about Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club!

The Cliffs at Glassy, SC welcomes music lovers to a free concert coming up on Tuesday, Feb. 17 with the band, Me & the Boys which weaves together a blend of soft country and nostalgic rock. Concert is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Click here for more information about The Cliffs at Glassy!

Mountain Air, NC is set to begin construction of its Old Growth Forest Preserve Interpretive Center. Situated just above the new neighborhood of Timber Sky, the Center will feature a nature center with interactive, hands-on exhibits as well as a forestry museum. The hub of the Old Growth Forest Preserve’s hiking trails, it will also feature a wildflower loop and wildlife viewing from the deck. Click here for more information about Mountain Air! 

Amelia Island Plantation, FL has reached an agreement under which Redquartz Developments Atlanta would purchase 51 percent of the stock of the Amelia Island Company. The capital infusion, as much as $60 million, will fund projects such as the Links Lodge, expansion of the conference center and the Amelia Inn, and a hotel at Amelia River Golf Club. Click here for more information about Amelia Island Plantation!

Homestead Preserve, VA has finished construction of its final planned amenity, the Boarding Stables at Homestead Preserve. Residents will be able to reserve the six-stall stables for their horses beginning this spring. All planned amenities at the community are now complete of which the central amenity is the Old Dairy Community Center, which houses Homestead Preserve's spa, convention hall, fitness center, country market, pool, and community offices. Click here for more information about Homestead Preserve!

Additional News .....
Communities are continuing to adjust to the new economy by cutting prices. For example, Deer Brook, Shelby, NC, has lowered prices on all its homesites by 10% and includes in the purchase price the initiation fee for a Deer Brook Golf Club membership. Homesites prices begin at $20,000 for a half-acre....Check out the view atop Slick Rock Mountain, the home perch of Mountain Air Country Club at 4,919-feet, via their new DVD, featuring spectacular aerial photography. Living among the clouds there includes use of the community's own air strip. See sample photos here, see sample video here.

Wachesaw Plantation Club, SC is offering a new Discovery Package that is only available through GolfCourseHome.net. The package includes a two-night, two-rounds-of-golf stay, for two visitors, priced at $350 per night.

Lakewood Ranch Arts Festival, Wachesaw Jr. Wins Orange Bowl Tennis Title & More

The Cliffs at Glassy, SC will hold a wine seminar next week.

The Cliffs at Glassy, SC has a special event in its “Wine 101” series coming up this Sunday, Feb. 8. The informal, no-fee seminar is devoted to “Types of White Grapes” and will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. It will introduce and define the many different types of white wine grape. Varietals include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Muscat.  Click here for more information about The Cliffs at  lassy!

Lakewood Ranch, FL is set to host the second annual Ovation performing arts event, coming up on Saturday, Feb. 7. Admission is free for this street festival, which begins at 10 a.m. and continues through the afternoon until 4 p.m. It will include live performances, special demonstrations and interactive displays. Participants include the Sarasota Ballet, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota Opera, Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota, and Fuzión Dance Artists. Click here for more information about Lakewood Ranch!

Colonial Heritage, VA has announced the film-series entries in its “Dinner & A Movie Night” for February. The series continues every Wednesday beginning at 5 p.m. at an inclusive cost of $9.95 a person for buffet dinner and entertainment. The dinner buffet is served in the Colonial Heritage Ballroom with the feature beginning at 7 p.m.  Click here for more information about Colonial Heritage!

Wachesaw Plantation Club, SC reports that junior member Harrison Richmond has won the Junior Orange Bowl  47th International Tennis Championship in the 14-and-under division. The Junior Orange Bowl is home to the world's largest international youth sports and arts festival. Richmond, ranked No. 2 in the U.S. in his age group, defeated opponents from five countries en route to the title. Past participants include Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Roger Federer. Click here for more information about Wachesaw Plantation Club!

Huntsman Springs, ID extends its heartfelt congratulations to the designer of the Huntsman Springs golf course, David McLay Kidd, on his receipt of the "Golf Course Architect of the Year" award for 2008 by GOLF Magazine. "Huntsman Springs is proud to be affiliated with such a talented golf course architect and design firm" said the community’s chief executive, David Huntsman. Click here for more information about Huntsman Springs!

Hampton Hall Holds Super Bowl Party, Reynolds Plantation Wins Award, & More

Golden Ocala, FL sponsors equestrian competition.

Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club, FL is a sponsor of this year’s HITS Ocala Winter Circuit for equestrian competition. The event began in mid-January and runs through March. As part of its hosting duties, Golden Ocala will present the second annual HITS Ocala Equine Art Gala on Feb. 12 in the community’s grand clubhouse, located only a few miles from the show grounds. Click here for more information about Golden Ocala!

Hampton Hall, SC is in the football spirit for its upcoming Super Bowl XLIII Party, to be held Sunday Feb. 1 in the Hampton Hall Community Clubhouse beginning at 5:30 pm. Attendees are encouraged to wear their team colors. The menu will include an assorted wing buffet, mini Coney Island franks, beef-n-cheddar French dips and more. Along with the big game, there will be a Pool Tournament, Dart Games and Indoor Putting Contest with prizes for top finishers. Click here for more information about Hampton Hall!

Meadowville Landing, VA has designated 90 homes for residents aged 55 and up. Meadowville, a 355-acre waterview community, is master-planned to have 370 homes total. The 90 homes that will be marketed as 55-and-up are maintenance-free residences ranging in size from about 3,000 square feet up to 12,000 square feet. They will start in price at the low-$600,000s. Click here for more information about Meadowville Landing!

Reynolds Plantation, GA recently announced that two dining establishments within The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation had received Four Diamond Awards for Dining for 2009. Both Georgia’s Bistro and the Linger Longer Steakhouse have been recognized with this prestigious AAA designation. This marks the second time the 120-seat Linger Longer Steakhouse has received the award and the sixth time that 102-seat Georgia’s Bistro has been so honored. Click here for more information about Reynolds Plantation!

Founders Club Holds Valentine's Day Event, Highlands Completes Clubhouse, & More

Colonial Heritage, VA will hold a Valentine's Day celebration.

Colonial Heritage, VA welcomes romantic revelers to its Valentine's Day Celebration Dinner, with live entertainment. The event is Saturday, Feb. 14 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. with music provided by Hot House. The repertoire of this entertaining dance band includes jazz, big band, classic rock, country, pop and blues. The evening’s menu will center around entrees of beef tournedos and chicken piccata. Click here for more information about Colonial Heritage!

The Founders Club, FL recently captured another award for its quality, lifestyle and beauty when it was named “Best New Community” by Sarasota Herald-Tribune readers. The Founders Club is also distinguished as a “Top 100” club community by LINKS magazine and by Travel + Leisure Golf magazine. It is one of only 11 communities in the state of Florida to receive both awards. Click for more information about The Founders Club!

The Highlands, VA has just completed its private clubhouse featuring a dining facility headed by a master chef. Most of the homes in The Highlands have third levels, golf course views, acre-plus homesites, and a price range beginning at $400,000 plus. In addition to the community’s 65-acre lake, ideal for canoeing and fishing off a dock, there is a fitness center, an 18-hole championship golf course with a new pro shop, plus a water park, tennis courts, and a picnic pavilion with a playground. Click here for more information about The Highlands!

Colleton River Hosts String Quartet, Hampton Hall Holds Oyster Roast, & More

The Founders Club, FL: Caddie program, no tee time.

Hampton Hall, SC invites the public to a Lowcountry winter tradition at the Hampton Hall Oyster Roast this Sunday, Jan. 25, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Guests will share a table of fresh oysters and other delicacies. Menu includes BBQ shrimp and grit bisque with collard greens, roasted peppers and stone
ground grits, salad, pecan-crusted sweet potato “pie," hushpuppies with tasso gravy, chicken tenderloins and Bananas Foster Sundaes with whipped cream. Cost is $26 per adult and $12 per child. Click here for more information about Hampton Hall!

Colleton River Plantation, SC recently hosted the Oberlin String Quartet in the community’s Nicklaus Clubhouse. The evening began with a cocktail / social hour followed by a three-course dinner, then the concert performance. Students made a verbal presentation about the repertoire providing background on each piece. This was the first concert co-sponsored by the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra and Colleton River Plantation, with other events to follow. Click here for more information about Colleton River Plantation!

The Founders Club, FL reminds prospective buyers that it one of the few Florida clubs to offer a truly private golf experience. Members can play the core Robert Trent Jones, Jr. course without a tee time. A full-service caddie program invites golfers to walk the course and work with professional forecaddies to help devise strategy and provide services. Private lessons and clinics plus a state-of-the-art indoor training facility with video and launch monitor are part of the experience. Click here for more information about The Founders Club!

Colonial Heritage, VA is providing lesson-studio space and instruction to all members interested in learning to play the harmonica. A Colonial Heritage resident, Buddy Wakefield, teaches harmonica and provides his services free to neighbors. The only cost is $5 for a music book and a harmonica. The harmonica class is forecasted to start in February. Click here for more information about Colonial Heritage!

Rosewood Village Fights Hunger, Harbour Ridge Designs Puppy Park, and More

Glen Lakes, FL is an award-winning Florida community.

Glen Lakes, FL recently held its annual scramble golf tournament as part of the club’s 18 Hole League series. The competition was followed by a festive luncheon and a meeting to plan upcoming events. It's all part of the active calendar for the GlenLakes Ladies Golf Association, which kicked off the season with its annual Holiday Invitational and Christmas Party. Click here for more information about Glen Lakes!

Rosewood Village at Wintergreen, VA is encouraging its residents to join in the fight against hunger by sponsoring a local food bank for the months of January and February. Because food bank stocks run dangerously low after the holiday season, it’s doubly important for those who can to make a gift of nonperishable food items. Rosewood Villagers are advised they can also contribute online at the “virtual” food drive. Click here for more information about Rosewood Village at Wintergreen!

Harbour Ridge Yacht and Country Club, FL has enhanced its reputation as a dog-friendly community complete with a new, state-of-the-art Puppy Park. Harbour Ridge, home to over 125 dogs, built a facility that includes an agility course, new weatherproof toy chests filled with tennis balls, Frisbees, kongs and more, and a new multiple-sided water basin with fresh running water. Owners enjoy all new park benches to sit and relax while their 4-legged companions exercise and play with friends. Click here for more information about Harbour Ridge!

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)

Myrtle Beach Communities Enjoy New Flight Service, Homestead Is Conservation-Driven

Quail Creek, TN is holding a New Year's Celebration.

Quail Creek at The Ridges, TN is celebrating throughout December in fine style with a busy schedule of holiday activities. There were visits from Santa Claus at three Sunday brunch events during the Christmas season, including a gingerbread house decoration party for the whole family on December 18. Quail Ridge and its members look forward to the upcoming Children’s and Adults New Year’s Eve celebrations, with live entertainment from Coconut Groove. Click here for more information about Quail Creek at The Ridges!

Grande Dunes, SC, along with Barefoot Resort and Club and other featured communities in the region join Spirit Airlines in announcing new flight service to the Grand Strand for Chicago-area golfers December 18, 2008. With the addition of the new scheduled service to Chicago O’Hare International, Myrtle Beach International now offers direct flights to 15 U.S cities in the United States. Click below for more info about these Myrtle Beach area communities:

Click here for Grande Dunes!     Click here for Berkshire Forest!    Click here for Barefoot Resort and Club!

Homestead Preserve, VA reports continued market success with its uniquely conservation-driven master plan. Since it began offering homes and homesites for sale in 2005, Homestead Preserve has sold a third of the sites in its 450-home conservation community in Hot Springs. Situated on 2,300 acres in the Allegheny Mountains, its acreage could have supported as many as 2,700 homes. Less than 3 percent of the original 11,500 acres purchased, will ever be affected by development. Click here for more information about Homestead Preserve!

The Cliffs Reports Course Progress, Fiddler's Creek Chef Wins Award, & More

Lake Jovita, FL recently held a successful charity event.

Lake Jovita, FL held a successful "Deck the Halls" holiday home tour on Dec. 8, with all proceeds directed to three charities that were pre-selected by the community Women's Club. The home tours were just the first part of a full day's festivities, including "high tea" refreshments. More than 60 Lake Jovita resident members have participated in the event as volunteers. Click here for more information about Lake Jovita!

The Cliffs Communities, SC recently updated construction progress on the Gary Player-designed Mountain Park Golf Course. The Cliffs' seventh championship private course, it is the centerpiece of the new Cliffs at Mountain Park community. Nine of its 18 holes have been shaped and three of the nine are grassed. The new course is expected to open for play some time in 2010. Click here for more information about The Cliffs!

The Homestead Preserve, VA has announced that Robert Mitchell has joined the community’s development company, Celebration Associates, as a partner in charge of Celebration Associates’ current and future projects in the Carolinas and Georgia. Mitchell had served as president and CEO of Linger Longer Communities since 2006. Prior to that, he served as President and COO of the 14,000-acre golf community of Reynolds Plantation. Click here for more information about The Homestead Preserve!

Fiddler’s Creek, FL has announced that chef Emmanuel Boscherel, pastry chef for the community’s Sale e Pepe Fine Italian Cuisine, placed first for the second consecutive year in the Sugar & Chocolate Centerpiece Competition. This competition is part the larger American Culinary Federation Challenge Expo held annually in Orlando each September. Click here for more information about Fiddler’s Creek!

Reynolds Plantation, GA reports that its sister community, Reynolds Landing, has been named winner of the remodel/renovation category of the 2008 Golf Inc.Magazine Clubhouse Competition. “We wanted to create a place where families and friends would enjoy gathering on a daily basis and we have been able to achieve just that,” said Rabun Neal , president of Reynolds Plantation and Reynolds Landing. Click here for more information about Reynolds Plantation!