Vineyard Open House Blog

Introducing PGA Village: Waterfront Luxury and Ecological Sensitivity in Harmony

PGA Village, FL features an Audubon-approved course.

We are pleased to announce the addition of PGA Village to the WaterViewHome Network. Opened in 1996, the PGA Golf Club in PGA Village, Port St. Lucie, Florida, is an ecologically sensitive, 430-acre club. Its golf course was the fifth in the world to receive Audubon's "Signature Status" award for wildlife conservation, habitat enhancement, energy efficiency and water conservation.

Just 40 minutes north of West Palm Beach and 90 minutes south of Orlando, PGA Village is the 2,700-acre home of The Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) featuring three golf courses, an innovative learning facility and distinctive neighborhoods dedicated to carefree living.

PGA Village is the result of a successful partnership between The PGA of America and Kolter Property Company, an international real estate developer renowned for environmental sensitivity, architectural excellence and construction quality.

One of Golf’s Great Brand Names: The only golf facility built, owned and operated by The PGA of America, The PGA Golf Club offers 54 championship holes designed by Tom Fazio and Pete Dye, a 6-hole short course and a 35-acre PGA Learning Center.

Real Estate: PGA Village

*Neighborhoods will be home to 2,400 residences at build-out
*Home styles offer wide options
*Choose from single-family residences, townhomes, custom estates
*Mainstreet Village, featuring shops, restaurants and boutiques
*Prices range from the $200,000s to more than $1 million
*Click here for more information about PGA Village!

Has Your Boat Undergone a Makeover or Refit? Send Us Your Photos!

Avanti's brightwork in the process of being revived.

Has your boat recently undergone a makeover or refit? Send us your before and after photos and we will post them on the WaterViewHome blog. The brightwork on our Cape Dory 270, Avanti, was redone this past spring prior to its cruise to Marth'as Vineyard and what a difference!

So if you are giving new life to your boat, relaunching, refitting or have simply bought a boat you are proud of, email us a photo(s) and we'll post it. Include your name, email address, boat name, manufacturer/type and a brief overview of what you did. We look forward to hearing from you!

Tennessee National, Offering 3 Miles of Waterfront, Joins WaterViewHome

Tennessee National: Features three miles of waterfront, Greg Norman golf course & more.

We are pleased to announce the addition of Tennessee National, a community of rolling hills and over three miles of waterfront in the Smoky Mountain town of Loudon, to the WaterViewHome Network. The original site of Tennessee National, called Matlock Bend, has roots as a century-old dairy farm and sits in natural splendor on a storied 3.5-mile stretch of the Tennessee River.

Tennessee National is a 1,450-acre, master-planned waterfront and golf community tucked into the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains where it offers a private sanctuary on historic Watts Bar Lake. Homesites are accented by premium amenities, architectural styles and community activities.

The private Greg Norman Signature Golf Course offers its members challenging play and a beautiful backdrop complemented by a luxurious, full-service clubhouse, pro shop, driving range and additional practice facilities.

Relaxing on Land or Water: A planned Marina and Waterside Village (pending regulatory approvals) will further distinguish the community. Access to Watts Bar Lake’s clean, fishable waters cover a vast expanse of 39,000 acres—ideal for boating, fishing, sailing or water skiing.

Real Estate

  * Homesites from $149,500
  * Condominiums from $299,500
  * The Cottages, starting in the $430,000s
  * Carriage homes from $399,900
  * Golfside Villas from the $540,000s
  * Custom homes from $799,000 to $1.5 million
  * Premium sites with golf, lake and river views
  * Click Here for More Information about Tennessee National!

Holmes Hole Races End 2008 on a High Note

At the Helm: WaterViewHome.net Publisher David Lott puts Avanti through its paces.

The Holmes Hole Racing Association concluded its summer series on the weekend of August 31 against a backdrop of perfect weather.

Cat boat High Tide gets ready for the start.

Traffic gets heavy near the line.

Vineyard Vixens, 28-footers designed and built on Martha's Vineyard.

The start points the fleet towards East Chop.

Committee boat Vigilant watches from a distance.

Launch of the Charlotte in Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard Is a Community Event

Charlotte stands ready to begin her journey.

Nat Benjamin of the Gannon & Benjamin Marine Railway in Vineyard Haven on the island of Martha's Vineyard specializes in the design of beautiful wooden boats. Up until last fall all his designs were for someone else.

Charlotte, at 50 feet, is an imposing vessel.

That changed with the launching of the fifty-foot schooner Charlotte on Sept. 15, 2007. Under construction for 3 1/2 years and under his hat as a beautiful vision for more than 10, Benjamin's dream boat was launched on a chilly September afternoon before 300+ friends, neighbors and supporters who brought food, drink and applause to celebrate the event.

The launching was more that just a short ride down a railroad track into the Vineyard Haven Harbor waters. It was a communal festival in which everyone who attended realized they were witnessing, and a part of, something special.

The island's historian tells of the Vineyard's long maritime traditions.

Island resident Kate Taylor sang songs, the island's poet laureate recited verses written just for the ocassion, a historian put the launch in perspective with the island's maritime history, flowers and water were tossed at the bow and Nat's family happily climbed aboard for the ride down the track and into the harbor.

Nat places the flag.

The launch begins with TV crews recording.

Into the water!

Charlotte joined Benjamin's other masterpiece, Juno, which floated nearby.  

At the conclusion of the day, Benjamin wondered aloud, "Yes, she's beautiful, but is she fast?" That was answered the following July when Charlotte, piloted by Benjamin and friends, won the 2008 Vineyard Cup.