The GolfCourseHome Life

Venice Golf & Country Club, FL Wins Environmental Status

Venice Golf & Country Club, Venice FL has been recognized by the international Golf Environment Organization (GEO) as “an outstanding example of environmentally sensitive golf” and a leader in sustainable environmental practices, both locally and internationally.

This achievement is the culmination of 10 years of extensive environmental efforts by club management, and distinguishes Venice Golf & C.C. one of only four GEO Certified golf courses in the U.S. In particular the club was cited for Wetland Restoration, Renewable Energy and Innovative Water Solutions. Send me more information about Venice Golf & Country Club!

About Venice Golf & Country Club

The Venice Golf & Country Club sits on 460 tropical acres in a private, gated setting in Venice, FL.  Residents enjoy an active country club lifestyle with formal, casual and outdoor dining, a fully equipped
fitness and aquatics center, and a full calendar of social events.

Tennis enthusiasts play on four Har-Tru courts and participate in an active calendar of round robins, league play and special events.

As a member-owned golf club, this financially sound community will always maintain the highest standards for lifestyle, security and value.

Golf by Ted McAnlis

The 18-hole course at Venice Golf & Country Club was designed by Ted McAnlis. An excellent test with water features on 10 holes, the course plays to a par 72. Five sets of tees, ranging in length from 5,094 yards to 6,747 yards, offer exceptional golf for all levels of playing ability.

Rolling fairways and sloped greens combine to create a series of challenging holes and give the strategy player the option of playing around or hitting over a hazard.

Real Estate Options

The Venice Golf & Country Club features 587 single-family homes set upon 460 acres. Homes offer golf, lake and preserve views. Prices begin at $250,000.

Homeowners must hold a social, tennis or golf membership. Rentals are available for vacation and an opportunity to experience the club prior to purchase.  Send me more information about Venice Golf & Country Club!

 

Carolina Colours, NC Homes Win Best in Class in Parade of Homes

Carolina Colours, New Bern NC is proud to report that homes in Carolina Colours won two Best in Class blue ribbons in the recent Parade of Homes for Craven and Pamlico Counties.

One of the homes is a custom home on Carolina Lake, the other a model home in the Cobblestone neighborhood.  Both homes were constructed by Artisan Homes, one of the preferred builders in the Carolina Colours community. Send me more information about Carolina Colours!

About Carolina Colours

Carolina Colours is an active, tradition-minded community, within the historical waterfront city of New Bern, NC, the State’s first capitol. Offering both natural beauty and cultural stimulation and featuring a championship golf course, Carolina Colours’s daily life is influenced by time-honored qualities of traditional living with outdoor activity a priority for residents and their families.

Sidewalks and paths connect residential neighborhoods with Brice Creek, Carolina Lake and the Towne Lawn & Park. The Activity Campus features the Pavilion (community clubhouse), the golf course and a planned complex containing the pro shop, fitness center, tennis center and pool.

Golf by William R. Love

The Carolina Colours golf course, completed in 2010, measures 7,100-plus yards from the back tees, about 5,000 yards from the front and plays to a par 72.

Designed by Bill Love, past President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects and Chairman of its Environmental Committee, the golf course responsibly preserves the intimate relationship between course, land, waterways and wildlife habitats.

Newest Neighborhood

Carolina Colours’ newest neighborhood is Waterleaf, an enclave of 13 homesites, nine of which
front 25-acre Carolina Lake. All homesites cover more than half an acre, with most between .6 and .74 acres. Homesite prices range from the $50,000s to $159,500.

Also, approved builders have purchased lots and are selling a constructed home and lot to qualified buyers. Send me more information about Carolina Colours!

Sea Pines, SC Inn at Harbour Town Wins Forbes Award Again

Sea Pines Plantation, Hilton Head Island SC is pleased to report that The Inn at Harbour Town,
the community’s boutique hotel and an ideal place to stay while looking at Sea Pines real estate, has once again been honored with the Forbes Four-Star Award for its continuing levels of luxury and customer service.

The Inn at Harbour Town is one of only 226 hotels in North America to achieve this coveted accolade. Send me more information about Sea Pines!

Currahee Club, GA Honored During During “All Things Currahee” Day

Currahee Club, Toccoa GA was recently honored during the “All Things Currahee” Day hosted by Toccoa-Stephens County at the Georgia State Capitol. The theme this year was inspired by the Currahee Club golf course being recognized among the World’s Top 1,000 Golf Courses according to the Rolex Rankings.

As part of the celebration, each Georgia legislator received an invitation to be a Currahee Club member for a day. Send me more information about the Currahee Club

GCH Communities Named to Golf Range Association of America’s Top 100

Award-Winning GCH Communities – Congratulations are in order to the three GCH Communities named to the Golf Range Association of America’s list of the Top 100 Golf Ranges in the U.S.

Earning a spot on the GRAA’s Top 50 Private Facilities were Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., Red Ledges in Heber City, Utah and The Reserve at Lake Keowee, SC.

Another trait that these three courses—and ranges—have in common is that they were each designed by Jack Nicklaus. Send me more information about Desert Mountain! Send me more information about Red Ledges! Send me more information about The Reserve at Lake Keowee!

Savannah Lakes Village, SC's Hometown Earns AARC Seal of Approval

Savannah Lakes Village, McCormick SC is pleased to report that the American Association of Retirement Communities has honored the City of Savannah with its Seal of Approval for 2012.

In bestowing this honor, the AARC cited Savannah’s blend of “big-city convenience” along with features that make it “a favorite of culture and history buffs.”

Fine restaurants, two research hospitals and a first-rate calendar of events and civic festivities were also praised by the selection committee. Send me more information about Savannah Lakes Village!

Sea Pines Plantation, SC's Inn at Harbour Town Rated One of Top Hilton Head Hotels

Sea Pines, Hilton Head, SC is pleased to report that The Inn at Harbour Town, the community’s boutique hotel, has been honored by U.S. News & World Report with a ranking of No. 2 on Hilton Head and No. 4 in South Carolina in the publisher’s 2013 “Best Hotels in the USA” listing.

The 60-room Inn, just steps from Sea Pines’ famed Harbour Town Golf Links and Yacht Basin, was completely revitalized in 2011. Since unveiling its new look, it has received “Four Diamond” and “Four Star” ratings from AAA and Forbes, respectively. Send me more information about Sea Pines!

Balsam Mountain Preserve, NC Named Best Golf Community of the Year

Balsam Mountain Preserve, Sylva, NC has been selected ‘Best Golf Community of the Year’ by the Real Estate Scorecard. It was the second year in a row the  mountain community had received a ‘Best’ award. Last year the Scorecard  named Balsam “Best Equestrian” community.

Having stayed at Balsam Mountain Preserve, the editors of GolfCourseHome can vouch for the high praise heaped upon it–from stunning mountain views and challenging golf to the wonderfully comfortable and modern rustic designs of the homes. Congrats! Send me more information about Balsam Mountain Preserve!

Fiddler's Creek, FL Named One of America's Best Master-Planned Communities

Fiddler’s Creek, Naples FL has been selected as one of ‘America’s 100 Best Master-Planned  Communities’ by Retirenet.com, a leading online network of active retirement communities. Fiddler’s Creek was one of 23 communities in Florida and the only one in the Naples/Collier County area to make the list.

It was recognized for its amenities, including restaurants, planned activities, fitness center, pools/spas, golf course, and beach and  boating opportunities. Send me more information about Fiddler’s Creek!

Award-Winning Home at The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA Hosts Fundraiser for Savannah Philharmonic

This The Landings, GA home recently won an award from Ideal Living.

The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA reports that a residence in the community was recently named the 2012 Ideal Living Home by Ideal Living magazine.

In conjunction with this designation, the homeowners agreed to hold it open as a fundraiser for the Savannah Philharmonic.

The homeowners hosted a fundraiser for the Savannah Philharmonic.

Two Philharmonic musicians provided background music for the event, which raised $3,000. Send me more information about The Landings!

Charleston, SC Near Daniel Island Named Top US City & Top Destination

Daniel Island, Charleston, SC is sharing the news that the Charleston area has been named both a Top U.S. City and a Top Destination in the World by Condé Nast Traveler in its 2012  Readers’ Choice Awards.

This is the second consecutive year Charleston  has received the No. 1 U.S. City ranking.

With a rating of 86.7, it’s in the company of such noteworthy cities  as No. 2 Cape Town, South Africa (84.8); and No. 3 Florence, Italy (83.3). Send me more information about Daniel Island!

Department of Education Honors The Reserve at Lake Keowee, SC w/ Volunteer of the Year Award

The Reserve at Lake Keowee, Greenville, SC, a 3,900-acre lakefront community with a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf course, was honored recently by the South Carolina Department of Education.

The Reserve at Lake Keowee’s philanthropic Community Foundation won the department’s coveted Volunteer of the Year Award in the Civic Organization category. Send me more information about The Reserve at Lake Keowee!

St. James Plantation, SC Beach Club St. James by the Sea Wins “America’s Great Beaches” Designation from USA Today-Visitors Welcome

St. James Plantation, Southport NC is proud to report that its private beach club, St. James By The Sea, has been honored by USA Today for its setting alongside of one of “America’s Great Beaches.”

Visitors are invited to the community to see this award-winning sandy shoreline, known as Oak Island Beach, up close.

St. James By The Sea offers residents easy access to the beach with private parking, a sparkling pool, a picnic pavilion, showers and changing rooms. Send me more information about St. James Plantation!

Sea Pines Plantation, SC's Inn at Harbour Town Receives TripAdvisor Award

Sea Pines, Hilton Head, SC reports that The Inn at Harbour Town–the community’s newly renovated boutique hotel–has received TripAdvisor’s “Certificate of Excellence,” awarded to only 10 percent of accommodation properties the website rates.

To qualify, establishments must maintain a rating of four or higher (out of a possible five) based on traveler reviews. The Inn at Harbour Town currently rates a five based on a statistically significant
sampling. Send me more information about Sea Pines!

Deal of the Day: Anderson Creek Club, NC Rewards Agents with Bahamas Cruise

Anderson Creek Club, Spring Lake NC  wants real estate agents to know that a free 5-Day Bahamas Carnival Cruise will be awarded to the agent who brings the largest number of qualified buyers to tour Anderson Creek Club before July 31.

This luxury cruise leaves from the Port of Charleston with meals and entertainment on board the ship all included. There is no purchase required but clients must be qualified to buy. Send me more information about Anderson Creek Club!

Lennar's Treviso Bay in Naples, FL, Is New No. 1 Most Visited Golf Community on GCHN

Treviso Bay, Naples, FL: New No. 1 Most Visited

New golf and waterview communities dominated the news in April, so it’s no surprise that 6 new communities crashed the Top 10 Most Visited Communities list and four new entries claimed spots in the Top 15.

Seven communities are located in Florida, underlining Florida’s return as a favorite location for a second home or retirement residence. See below for details and links to the communities featured.

TOP 10 MOST VISITED COMMUNITIES IN APRIL

1. Treviso Bay, Naples, FL – New to Top 10
2. The Reserve at Lake Keowee, SC -New to Top 10
3. Amelia National, Fernandina Beach, FL - New to Top 10
4. The Woodlands at Ibis,West Palm Beach, FL -  New to Top 10
5. Indian River Colony Club, Viera, FL

6. Frederica, St. Simons Island, GA – Up from No. 7
7. Willoughby, Stuart, FL – New to Top 10
8. Glenmoor, St. Augustine, FL
9. Aberdeen, Boynton Beach, FL
10. Solivita, Poinciana, FL – New to Top 10

The Next Five Most Visited Communities

11. Ocean Ridge Plantation, Sunset Beach, NC
12. Hampton Lake, Bluffton, SC – New to Top 15
13. The Landings on Skidaway Island, GA – New to Top 15
14. Carolina Colours, New Bern, NC – New to Top 15
15. Savannah Lakes Village, McCormick, SC – New to Top 15

Kiawah Island, SC, Tops GolfCourseHome 2011 'Best of the Best' Community Rankings

Kiawah Island, SC: New 'Best of the Best' No. 1.

The Golf Course Home® Network has released its 2011 "Best of the Best" golf community rankings and the annual list has its first new No. 1 in four years--Kiawah Island, SC.

The GCH Network’s annual compendium takes into account all major media rankings of golf communities and their amenities for the calendar year. The 2011 edition's new top-rated community nudged aside famed Reynolds Plantation, GA, which had been the list's leading property for the past three years.

How It Works
GolfCourseHome Editors arrive at their rankings by studying and compiling all of the year’s prominent magazine ranking and rating lists which range from Best in State to Best Residential, from Best Public to Best Private to Best Classic, from Best Modern to Top 100 to Top 50, plus ratings from Forbes.com, Where to Retire magazine and other  major media outlets.

“Rather than send out field researchers and raters to create yet another rating system,” says GolfCourseHome Network Publisher David Lott.

“GolfCourseHome leverages the value of all existing rankings to create a full-scale compilation you won’t find anywhere else. The best rise to the top riding the wave of repeated accolades from a wide variety of sources. We’ve identified these superior communities for our readers and they are, indeed, the best of the best.”

The GCH Best of the Best list's new No. 1—Kiawah Island, SC (18 major awards)—features the dramatic Ocean Course which has been selected as the host course for the 2012 PGA Championship. Six of the Top 10 are new to the list while four communities are repeat winners.

GolfCourseHome® Network 2011 ‘Best of the Best’ Rankings (with prior year rank)

  1.  --  Kiawah Island, SC - 18 major magazine awards 
  2.  1   Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro GA - 15 awards

  3.  2   Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Island, SC – 11 awards

  4.  5   Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, SC – 6 awards

  5.  --  The Communities of Branson Creek, Hollister, MO – 6 awards

 

  6.  9   Colleton River Plantation, Bluffton, SC - 6 awards

  7.  --  Desert Mountain, Scottsdale, AZ - 6 awards

  8.  --  Kingsmill on the James, Williamsburg, VA - 5 awards

  9.  --  Isleworth, Windermere, FL - 4 awards

10.  --  Victoria Park, Deland, FL - 4 awards

Communities of Distinction

Daniel Island, Charleston, SC - 2 awards

Woodside Plantation, Aiken, SC - 2 awards

Frenchman’s Creek, Palm Beach Gardens FL - 2 awards

For complete rankings along with details of all major magazine awards, read here. 

Golf Course Home® Network (GolfCourseHome.com) features 44 Member Websites, database of 500+ master-planned communities and features on 150+ world-class golf and waterview communities in North America and the Caribbean.

2011 Dream 18 List of Great Golf Holes Announced by GolfCourseHome Network

Red Ledges, Heber City, UT makes the GCH Dream 18 list.

The GolfCourseHome Network announces today the winning selections to its 2011 GolfCourseHome® Dream 18, the real estate web portal’s fifth annual tribute to world-class, residential golf course 'dream holes.'

The Dream 18, which showcases a fantasy golf course and its very real golf holes, is being announced in conjunction with the launching of the GolfCourseHome Network’s 44^th and most important new Member Website—GolfCourseHome.com.

This year’s Dream 18 edition features master-planned golf communities located in eight states from Pennsylvania and Florida to Utah and Arizona. The selection pool consisted of more than 4,500 golf holes and the 250-plus championship golf courses represented on the GolfCourseHome®Network.

1. Chapel Ridge (17^th)  Pittsboro, NC, par 4

2. Sanctuary Cove at St. Andrews Sound (13^th)  St. Simons Island, GA, par 3

3. Ford's Colony (17^th) Williamsburg, VA, par 3

4. Penn National (5^th, Iron Forge Course) Fayetteville, PA, par 4

5. Solivita (14^th, Oaks course)  Poinciana, FL, par 5

6. Glenmoor (15^th –), St. Augustine, FL   par 4

7. Hasentree (10^th) Wake Forest, NC,   par 4

8. Kiawah Island (2^nd, Ocean Course) Kiawah Island, SC,  par 5

9. The Club at Admiral's Cove (17^th, East Course ), Jupiter, FL, par 5

 

10. Red Ledges (9^th) Heber City, UT, par 3

11. Sun City Vistoso (1^st, The Views Golf Club) Oro Valley, AZ, par 4

12. Eagle’s Bluff (8^th), Bullard, TX, par 4

13. River Landing (18^th, River Course), Wallace, NC, par 4

14. Moss Creek (7^th, Devil’s Elbow Course), Hilton Head Island, SC, par 3

15. Grand Haven (15^th), Palm Coast, FL, par 4

16. Hilton Head Lakes (12^th), Hardeeville, SC, par 5

17. Victoria Park (17^th) Deland, FL, par 4

18. Farm Neck Golf Club (8^th), Oak Bluffs, MA, par 5  

The GolfCourseHome® Network is an integrated system of 44 Member Websites dedicated to helping buyers find their ideal vacation home, second home or retirement residence in a master-planned golf or waterfront community. The Network’s core website is http://www.GolfCourseHome.com

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

Six GCH Network Communities Earn Platinum Club of America Award

Colleton River Plantation, SC: Platinum Club of America winner.

Six of the Top 15 Residential Communities in the U.S., as determined by Club Leaders Forum, are Featured Communities on the GolfCourseHome Network.

These top communities have earned Platinum Club of America status, an award given by Club Leaders Forum, a bimonthly newsletter for club managers and club presidents. The award identifies clubs in several categories--country club, golf, athletic, yacht and city clubs--as 5-star private clubs and places them among the top 3% of 6,000 private clubs in America.

Recognition is based on the results of a survey of more than 6,000 private club managers and presidents with the goal of identifying America's top private clubs. See the clubs below, with links to the GCH Network communities.

Top 15 Private Residential Communities
   1  Boca West Country Club Boca Raton, FL
   2  Ocean Reef Club Key Largo, FL
   3  John's Island Club Vero Beach, FL
   4  Isleworth Golf & Country Club Windermere, FL
   5  Desert Mountain Club Scottsdale, AZ
   6  Desert Highlands Golf Club Scottsdale, AZ
   7  Frenchman's Creek Country Club Palm Beach Gardens, FL
   8  The Club at Admiral's Cove Jupiter, FL - Coming Soon!
   9  Addison Reserve Country Club Delray Beach, FL
 10 Lost Tree Club Lost Tree Club
 11 Jupiter Island Club Hobe Sound, FL
 12 Kiawah Island Club Kiawah Island, SC
 13 Colleton River Plantation Club Bluffton, SC
 14 Murifield Village Golf Club Dublin, OH
 15 St. Andrews Country Club Boca Raton, FL

The next 20 residential clubs listed alphabetically
Reynolds Plantation Greensboro GA

2010 GolfCourseHome Index Highlights Active Year for Communities, Members

Welcome to the 2010 GolfCourseHome Index, your guide to the major articles, awards and stories of the year. It's your introduction to the weath of information available during the past 12 months to subscribers of the GCH New Communities Newsletter which feature special deals, price reductions, golf travel, stay and play packages, golf package, real estate promotions and more twice a week, plus links to the articles, news and announcements below. 

It's been a busy year, yet we expect 2011 to be even busier. We wish you a Happy and Healthy New Year! Enjoy!

HEADLINES

• Awards & Course Rankings

• Community News & Milestones

• Celebrities & Pros

• Discount Golf

• GolfCourseHome Magazine

• Intracoastal Waterway Cruise to Golf & Waterfront Communities

• Lifestyle - Community Living

• New Communities on the WaterViewHome Network

• New Communities on the GolfCourseHome Network

 

Awards & Course Rankings

2010 GCH Dream 18 - Great Residential Golf Holes

2010 GolfCourseHome Home 'Best of the Best' Rankings

Golf Magazine's 'Top 100 Courses You Can Play' Features Courses You Can Live On

Golf Digest Names Cliffs at Keowee Springs an 'America's Best New Private Course'

Top Golf Communities Are Available in America's Most Affordable Places to Retire

Ballyhack Ranked No. 15 on Golfweek Magazine's 2010 Top 40 'Best New Courses'

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Celebrities & Pros

Has Tiger Wood's Bulging Disc Sparked Some Questions about Your Own Neck?

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Discount Golf

Introducing the GolfCourseHome® Network Exclusive Links Card-- Play Golf for Less!

250+ Courses Honor GCHN Links Discount Card Including 15 Golf Community Layouts

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Intracoastal Waterway Cruise to Golf & Waterfront Communities

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

Day 8: Going 'Outside' to Fernandina & The Peaceful Marshes at Oyster Bay Harbour

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GolfCourseHome Magazine

GolfCourseHome Magazine Launched Featuring GCH Dream 18 Great Golf Holes

GolfCourseHome Magazine Now Available for iPad on Magcloud-Magazine-Stand App

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Lifestyle - Community Living

Dog-Friendly Communities Catering More to Both Owners and Their Canine Friends

Hills Quarter Sailors Find Their Safe Harbor at Rappahannock River Yacht Club

Quail Ridge's Bill Ely, a Retired General, Shoots His Age in the Game for a Lifetime

5 Questions to Ask of an Interior Designer or Community Design Center Specialist

On Mother's Day: We Salute These Spirited Companies Offering Hope, Love & Affection

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Community News & Milestones

Balsam Mountain Preserve, NC to Re-Open Thanks to Residents & Vestlyn BMP Support

Bay Club Member Peter Uihlein tops David Chung to win U.S. Amateur Championship

2008 Clubhouse Fire Sparks Carolina Trace Members to Build Back Better Then Ever

Real Estate Sales at Brunswick Forest, Wilmington, NC Top $30 Million for 2010

Carolina Colours, NC, Opens Front Nine with Capacity Crowd, Rave Reviews

Bay Club at Mattapoisett MA Earns Its 7th Audubon Society Silver Certification

Landings Resident Dr. Elizabeth Miller to Run 60 Miles on Her 60th Birthday for Charity

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New Communities on the GolfCourseHome Network

Arizona

Terravita, Scottsdale - Master-planned, gated community by Del Webb, 823 acres, health and fitness centers, outdoor spa, miles of trails, desert and golf view homes from $275,000

Delaware

Bayside, Selbyville - Near Assawoman Bay, Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, several environmental awards, tennis, canoeing, trails, homes from $299,990

Heritage Shores, Bridgeville - Active 55+ community set between the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay, Arthur Hills golf, Fitness & Aquatic Center, lots from $99,990

Florida

Boca Woods Country Club, Boca Raton - Two championship golf courses, swimming pool, valet parking, 24/7 security, homes with golf or lake views from the $200,000s

Heron Creek, North Port - 676-acre gated golf community, 27 holes of Arthur Hills golf, 21,000 square foot clubhouse, tennis, wedding facilities, homesites from $65,000

Rive Isle Golf & Nautical Estates, Parrish - Gulf Coast waterfront estate community, Ted McAnlis golf, lodge overlooking Manatee River, homesites from the $100,000s

Sailfish Point, Stuart - 532-acre sea island surrounded by ocean and inlets, Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, marina and yacht club, active social scene, homesites from $475,000

Solivita, Poinciana - 55+ community with two championship golf courses, indoor and outdoor pools, 19,000 square foot clubhouse, lifelong learning classes, homes from the $100,000s

Georgia

Achasta, Dahlonega  - Reynolds Signature Community, 1,058 acres, mountain environment, Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, clubhouse, pool, spa, homesites from the $100,000s

Sanctuary Cove, St. Simons Island - 18-hole Fred Couples Signature Golf Course, clubhouse, tennis, day dock - deepwater, riverfront, lakefront and marshfront homesites from $49,900

Savannah Quarters, Savannah - Greg Norman golf, 29,000 square foot clubhouse, swim and fitness center, several neighborhoods, custom homes from $388,500, lots from $59,900

Massachusetts

The Residences at Black Rock, Hingham - 357-acre community just south of Boston in coastal MA, award-winning Brian Silva course, pools, tennis, homes from $950,000

The Villages at Brookside, Bourne - Championship golf, resort style pool, clubhouse with grill, easy access to Cape Cod beaches and shopping, homes from $345,000

 Willowbend Country Club, Mashpee - 27 holes of championship golf, clubhouse, fitness complex, pools, tennis, spa, homesites from $269,000, condos from $275,000, estate homes from $730,000

Michigan

 Forest Dunes, Roscommon - Championship golf by Tom Weiskopf, 15,000 square foot Adirondack-style clubhouse, easy access to Huron National Forest, trails, homesites from $59,000, homes from $259,000

North Carolina

Anderson Creek Club, Spring Lake - Gated community on 1,700 acres, fishing, tennis, spa, Davis Love III golf, homes and homesites from the $130,000s

Carolina Colours, New Bern - Coastal community with waterway access, William Love golf, social pavilion, homesites from $60,000, homes from the $200,000s

Chapel Ridge, Pittsboro  - Easy access to Research Triangle, Fred Couples signature golf, pool, tennis, clubhouse, basketball courts, homesites with nature views from the $90,000s)

Jefferson Landing, Jefferson - Private gated community, Blue Ridge Mountain views, championship golf, 32,000 square foot clubhouse, homesites from the $40,000s

North River Golf Club, Beaufort - Oceanfront sporting estate on 620 acres, 18 holes of championship golf, boat coral, walking trails, homes from the low $230,000s

 Rock Barn Golf & Spa, Conover - Blue Ridge Mountain community, award winning golf, equestrian center, pools, full service spa, homes from $399,000, homesites from $99,000

Scotch Hall Preserve, Merry Hill - Inner Banks community,  private award-winning Arnold Palmer golf course, 107-slip marina, pool, homesites from $125,000

South Carolina

Hampton Lake, Bluffton - Lake community minutes from Hilton Head, overlooks 165-acre lake, 340-acre nature preserve, spa, boatslips, homes from the $200,000s

Hilton Head Plantation, Hilton Head Island - 4,000-acre community on Port Royal Sound and the Intracoastal Waterway, boating, tennis, four golf courses, condos from $175,000

The Sanctuary, Bluffton Private Residence Club within Hampton Lake, furnished and accessorized fractional homes, Pete Dye golf, spa, fitness, priced from the $175,000s

Savannah Lakes Village, McCormick - Lakefront community with 1,200 nautical miles of shoreline, protected by parks and forest, golf, marina, homesites from $180,000

Texas

The Bridges at Preston Crossings, Gunter - Fred Couples golf, close to shopping, several lakes nearby, pool, tennis, clubhouse with dining, homesites from the $50,000s

Lake Ridge, Cedar Hill - Jeff Brauer golf, sports facilities, fishing pond, walking and jogging trails, clubhouse and grill, nearby marinas, close to Dallas, homesites from the $90,000s

The Reserve at SugarTree, Lipan - Gated community, award-winning golf, clubhouse, amenity center, walking paths, fishing on nearby Brazos River, homesites from $23,000

Virginia

Brickshire, Providence Forge  - Between Richmond and Williamsburg, Curtis Strange Signature Golf Course, clubhouse, swimming, trails, nature preserves, homes from the low $300,000s

Hills Quarter, Irvington - 475-acre community in famed Northern Neck area, clubhouse with pools, tennis, year-round panoramic views, planned winery, homes from $299,000

Ballyhack Golf Club, Roanoke - Private mountainview community on 370 acres, championship Lester George golf, dining, 75 estate-size homesites from the $170,000s

River's Bend, Chester   - Set on the James River, Steve Smyers golf, tennis, riverfront pier, tennis, pool, racquet club, nature trails leading to the river, homes from $180,000

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New Communities on the WaterViewHome Network

Caribbean

Caribbean Golf & Ocean House, St. Kitts ~ Rentals Only~

Delaware

Bayside, Selbyville, Delaware

Florida

Bellalago, Kissimmee, Florida

Frenchman's Creek, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Indian River Colony Club, Viera, Florida

Oyster Bay Harbour, Fernandina Beach, Florida

Rive Isle Golf & Nautical Estates, Parrish, Florida

River Wilderness, Parrish, Florida

Sailfish Point, Stuart, Florida

Georgia

Sanctuary Cove, St. Simons Island, Georgia

North Carolina

River Dunes, Oriental

Scotch Hall Preserve, Merry Hill, North Carolina

South Carolina

Hampton Lake, Bluffton, South Carolina

Hilton Head Lakes, Hardeeville, South Carolina

Hilton Head Plantation, Bluffton, South Carolina

The Sanctuary, Bluffton, South Carolina

Savannah Lakes Village, McCormick, South Carolina

Wild Wing Plantation, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Windmill Harbour, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Texas

Dancing Bear Ranch, San Antonio, Texas

Lake Ridge, Cedar Hill, Texas

The Reserve at SugarTree, Lipan, Texas

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Press Release from Reynolds Plantation Celebrates GCH 'Best of the Best' Ranking

GREENSBORO, Ga. -- The third time is the charm (again) for Reynolds Plantation which captured its third consecutive No. 1 ranking on the GolfCourseHome Network's annual 'Best of the Best rankings - the website group's compendium that takes into account all major media rankings of golf courses and golf communities for this year.

GolfCourseHome's editors arrive at their rankings by studying and compiling all of the year's prominent golf and real estate magazine ranking and rating lists which range from best in state to best residential, encompassing public, private, classic and modern golf course rankings, plus top 100 lists and more.

"Our overall appeal as a top-caliber golf community is solidified by this independent recognition," said Bob Mauragas, vice president of golf at Reynolds Plantation. "It's a great source of pride to our entire community to be cited, not just in 2010, but for the past three years. Our commitment to excellence remains a top priority."

In 2011 the Oconee clubhouse and its "top 100 golf shop" will re-open, including the addition of an expanded and improved TaylorMade Golf Performance Lab. Request more information about Reynolds Plantation.

New Communities Newsletter, Dec. 7: 2010 'Best of the Best' Rankings Released

  ~ GolfCourseHome®Network ~
   NEW COMMUNITIES Newsletter 
Vol. 12, No. 569  Tuesday, December 7, 2010  Circ. 28,710

   ---------------------------------------------------

  
Reynols Plantation, Greensboro, GA: No. 1 three straight years.

 Today's Headlines   

    *  GolfCourseHome's 2010 'Best of the Best' Rankings
    *  Terravita, Scottsdale, AZ, Joins GolfCourseHome
    *  Deals and Specials of the Week
    *  Special Community Events
    *  Best Real Estate Deals of 2010 
    *  Florida Real Estate Deals
    *  Best Stay 'n Play Deals of 2010  
    *  Recently Added to GolfCourseHome & WaterviewHome   
    *  This Month's Spotlighted Communities 
    *  New Communities Coming Online Soon!  
    *  Watch for our next issue, coming Friday, December 10th!

Good Morning! Today we announce the 3rd Annual GCH 'Best of the Best' rankings, our compendium of rankings that takes into account all major media rankings of golf courses and golf communities for this year.

 GolfCourseHome Editors arrive at their rankings by studying and compiling all of the year’s prominent magazine ranking and rating lists which range from Best in State to Best Residential, from Best Public to Best Private to Best Classic, from Best Modern to Top 100 and Top 50 and beyond.

Topping the GCH 'Best of the Best' compendium for the third year in a row is Reynolds Plantation, GA, which captured 17 major magazine awards--a tour de force that put the community far ahead of the field. Four of the Top 10 are new to the list while six communities are repeat winners. See the results below!

GCH Network 2010 ‘Best of the Best’ Rankings
(with prior year rank)
  1.  1.    Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro GA - 17 major magazine awards 
  2.  2.    Sea Pines, Hilton Head SC - 12 awards  
  3.  3.    Homestead Preserve, Hot Springs, VA - 9 awards
  4.  4.    Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Austin TX - 11 awards
  5.  5.    Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton SC - 7 awards
 
  6.  --    The Villages at Tullymore, Stanwood MI - 7 awards 
  7.  --    Forest Dunes, Roscommon MI - 8 awards 
  8. 10.  Kingsmill on the James, Williamsburg, VA - 5 awards 
  9.  --    Colleton River Plantation, Bluffton SC - 4 awards 
10.  --    Running Y Ranch, Klamath Falls OR - 5 awards 

The Next 5

11. Branson Creek, Hollister, MO - 7 awards
12. The Cliffs Communities, Travelers Rest, SC - 4 awards
13. Isleworth, Windermere FL - 3 awards
14. Desert Mountain, Scottsdale AZ - 3 awards
15. Owl’s Nest, Thornton NH - 3 awards

Communities of Distinction
> Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club, Ocala, FL - 3 awards
> Daniel Island, Charleston SC - 3 awards
> Bayside, Selbyville DE - 3 awards

For the complete list and awards summary, click here.

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NEW TO GOLFCOURSEHOME  

ARIZONA
> Terravita, Scottsdale
Terravita, which means "land and life," is a Del Webb master-planned community consisting of 823 acres designed for a diverse population of full and part-time residents of all ages. It is a guard-gated community in which the majority of the homesites back up to the golf course or natural desert areas. Resale homes from 1,400 to over 3,700 s.f. and are priced from $275,000 to more than $700,000.

Amenities include the private, 18-hole championship golf course by Billy Casper and Greg Nash, 34,000-s.f. clubhouse, health and fitness center, swim and tennis center, plus a scenic 6-mile network of trails interconnecting the entire community. Send me more info

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DEALS AND SPECIALS OF THE WEEK

> Blackstone, AZ has only two remaining Cachet Homes and currently features a significant purchase incentive on them. Get new construction, a builder warranty, new bank-approved pricing, an   lot in Blackstone and an immediate response on your purchase offer. Click here for more information about Blackstone!

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COMMUNITY SPECIAL EVENTS

> The Bay Club, Mattapoisett, MA has a series of special events this December; many of which have become family traditions. The Holiday Wreath Workshop starts off the season with an area expert offering artistic pointers. Also, youth members of the Bay Club are treated to an incredible Gingerbread House Workshop. Members also plan a trip to attend a New Bedford Symphony Orchestra performance. Click here for more information about The Bay Club!

> The Reserve at Lake Keowee, Greenville SC held its annual tree-lighting ceremony, decorating an impressive 40-foot evergreen in the Village Center. More than 100 families gathered for this annual event, which included caroling, candle lighting and a worship service in Founders Hall. John Smith, The Reserve’s 2010 Artist in Residence, chose the occasion to present a newly completed work to The Reserve’s Community Foundation board members, for inclusion in The Reserve’s permanent collection.  Click here for more information about The Reserve at Lake Keowee!

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COMMUNITY NEWS AND UPDATES

> St. James Plantation, NC opened its new dog park this past week in the community’s Woodlands Park neighborhood. An official leash-cutting ceremony kicked off festivities as dog-loving residents explored the new facility. The dog park rounds out Woodlands Park’s amenity roster—an amphitheatre, lake, picnic pavilion, walking loop and comfort station. Click here for more information about St. James Plantation!

> Solivita, Poinciana FL residents were recently treated to a holiday enactment of “The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge” by the community’s own Theatre Group, during several dinner theater performances Nov. 13-14 at the community’s Mosaics restaurant. It marked the first time that the Solivita Theatre Group had performed in a dinner theater format, to excellent feedback that promises more such future engagments. A dozen Solivita residents participated in the production.  Click here for more informatieon about Solivita!

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BEST DEALS OF 2010  

   >> Real Estate Deals

> Sanctuary Cove, St. Simons Island GA’s incredible day of land specials and property tours is this Saturday, Dec. 11. Buy a homesite and  Sanctuary Cove will reimburse your airfare at closing. Featuring dockable waterfront, riverfront, and marshfront lots, Sanctuary Cove is home to a Fred Couples Signature Golf Course. Call 1-800-664-4178 to reserve your spot. Click here for more information about Sanctuary Cove!

> The Owners Club at Hilton Head, SC’s unlimited, cart-fee-only golf, with no restrictions for share holders on 8 championship courses at five different Hilton Head plantations: Indigo Run, Hilton Head Plantation, Palmetto Hall, Port Royal Plantation, Shipyard Plantation. Cart fee is always $30 any day of the year. Send me more info… 

> Teton Springs, Victor ID’s latest alert to buyers highlights a four-bedroom, four-bath custom home that has just been approved for short sale at a price of just $585,000. With 4,000 s.f. of finished space, this is one of the best per-SF deals you’ll see, especially against the backdrop of 780-acre Teton Springs. Send me more info…

> Hampton Lake, Bluffton SC’s new product line, The Signature Series, starts in the low $400,000s for homes on wooded homesites, and the low $500,000s for lakefront homes. Four builders are available to work with. Send me more info...

  > The Communities at Branson Creek, Hollister MO’s has standout values on 4 remaining homes in Fieldstone Bluffs section, listed from the low $200,000s. Also, a half-acre “hot lot,” at $34,500, whose buyer would get Murder Rock G.C.membership and Branson Creek course discounts. Send me more info…

> Savannah Lakes Village, McCormick SC’s reduction on a prestigious golf home is cut by $60,000 to $429,000. Home, which enjoys views of entire first hole, has 4BR, 3 baths in 2,800 SF.  Bonus area upstairs has LR, BR and a full bath. Send me more info…

 > Hills Quarter, Irvington, VA's featured homesite in the St John’s neighborhood is Lot 21, priced at just $80,000 with a premium golf course view and proximity to all community and area amenities.  Send me more info... 

> Achasta, Dahlonega, GA’s Deal of the Decade pricing special means homesites can be purchased at prices nearly 35 percent less than previously quoted. A nearly three-quarter acre homesite with expansive views of the North Georgia mountains, that closes before Dec. 31 can be purchased for $145,600. Send me more info…

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FLORIDA DEALS

> Solivita, Poinciana FL’s year-end Inventory Blowout Sale gives property buyers an average of $55,000 in savings per model--plus all closing costs are waived for the buyer. Some 30 new homes must be sold and delivered by Dec. 30, when sale ends.  Send me more info…

> GlenLakes Golf & Country Club, Weeki Wachee, FL's “Steal of a Deal” featuring home price reductions below builder cost. Savings of up to 40% on brand new builder inventory homes with many luxury features.  Homes are located throughout our GlenLakes' landscaped neighborhoods and are available for immediate occupancy. Send me more info....

> SummerGlen, Ocala, FL's $5,000 in free options and up to one year to start construction on your new home for any new homes sold in October, 2010. Free option and upgrade choices would include granite countertops, upgraded kitchen cabinetry, garage extension, hardwood flooring and a golf cart garage. Send me more info...

> PGA Village Verano, Port St. Lucie, FL’s move-in-ready villa for $149,990. Featuring 2 BR/2 BAs and a 2-car garage in a single-story layout, this Amelia design villa has 10-foot ceilings, walk-in closets and gourmet kitchen. Send me more info.....

> Oyster Bay Harbour, Fernandina Beach, FL's attractive Lot & Boat Slip Special, priced at $199,000. The price includes a beautiful Live Oak wooded lot and a 40-foot boat slip in the marina, plus free membership to the Oyster Bay Yacht Club, a $3,500 value. Favorable financing terms are an added incentive—put 25% down and pay only 3% interest for 3 years... Send me more info... 

> Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club, Stuart, FL's waiver from paying dues for 12  months--an $8,800 value--for the first 10 purchasers of property at the community after Oct. 1. A new purchaser will also have the option of paying the membership equity fee over time with no interest. Send me more info.....

> Willoughby Golf Club, Stuart, FL’s price reduction to $345,000 from $399,000 on a 3BR/3-BA home that features a spacious living room which opens onto a large covered lanai. Also included is a built-in entertainment center and swimming pool.  Send me more info….

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   >> Discovery & Stay'n Play Deals  

> The Communities at Branson Creek, Hollister MO’s Annual Pass at the award-winning Murder Rock Golf & Country Club course is now $500 and entitles you to play Murder Rock during the 2011 season (12 months) for only $25 a round. Purchase before Dec. 17 and get a $50 Murder Rock gift card. Click here for more information about Branson Creek!

> Forest Dunes, Roscommon, MI’s Couples Package comes wrapped up with champagne, candles and chocolates. Stay one or two nights in a well-appointed luxury home complete with concierge service. Enjoy unlimited access to cross country ski and snowshoe trails. Rates, per couple, range from $149 to $169 for one night and from $199 to $219 for two nights. Send me more info....

> Sailfish Point, Stuart, FL's 3-day/2-night Yacht & Play puts your yacht in the community marina and you on the community's Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. Acquaint yourself with this amenity rich, island community and enjoy lunches, dinners, use of amenities, real estate tour and more. $699/couple plus tax. Send me more info....

 > Indian River Colony Club, Melbourne FL’s limited-time Golf Getaway Package includes 2 nights in a nearby hotel, community tour, a round of golf on Indian River’s championship course and dinner at private At Ease Club. Price for 3 days/2 nights only $99. Send me more info…

> Casa Del Lago, Dominican Republic's Christmas Stay' n Play includes 2 nights lodging at Casa Del Lago, 2 rounds of golf, plus a Day Pass at the Costa Caribe beach hotel and casino. Send me more info...

> Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club, FL’s special pricing on its Stay & Play visitation-vacations in the warm Florida air means luxurious accommodations in three-bedroom, two- bath club villas, which overlook the 18th green of the golf course and the spectacular 32,000-square-foot clubhouse.  Send me more info…

> Savannah Quarters, Savannah GA’s Visitation Package is available exclusively for subscribers to the GolfCourseHome newsletter, for just $99, discounted from the original rate of $199. Take advantage of this 3-day/2-night Discovery Getaway, which includes a community tour and lodging in Historic Savannah. Send me more info...

> The Reserve at Lake Keowee, Greenville SC’s Discover Real Estate guest packages start at $145, including up to $200 in club credits. Stay in Village Guest House and get two rounds of golf, half-day boat rental, lunch at The Market, dinner at the Orchard House and golf pro shop merchandise.  Send me more info...

 > Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, GA’s Ultimate Golf vacation features accommodations in your choice of luxury cottages or condos. Comes with breakfast buffet daily, one round of golf per night access to practice areas and a dozen TaylorMade golf balls. Cost per person is $249. Send me more info…

 > Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, GA’s Cottage Getaway, valid thru Dec. 31, starts at $330 per night. Stay in a cottage on Lake Oconee or other luxury lodgings. Enjoy daily breakfast at the Plantation Grille, and dining in several different venues. Daily housekeeping included. Send me more info …

> Ballyhack Golf Club, Roanoke, VA's Stay & Play at Ballyhack special. Package includes an overnight stay in one of the club’s well-appointed golf course cottages, with two days of unlimited golf, dinner and a membership information package. Up to 4 people in a group permitted. Package price: $399/pp. Send me more info....

> Anderson Creek Club, Spring Lake, NC’s Vacation Inspection Program lets visitors tour the community and play its Davis Love III-designed golf course. Priced from just $94 per night, package includes deluxe accommodations, breakfast, property tour and golf for two. Send me more info...

> Cummings Cove Golf & Country Club, Hendersonville, NC’s Autumn Golf Special in time for prime foliage viewing. Four can play for the price of three and enjoy 50-mile Blue Ridge Mountain views with fall colors in the higher elevations. Send me more info…

> Brunswick Forest, Leland, NC’s 3-day/2-night $179 Getaway Packages include luxury accommodations for two, golf at Cape Fear National, privileges at the community’s 18,000-sf Fitness and Wellness Center and FallFest food and fun events. Tour the community to see limited-time incentives for homesites beginning at $75,000. Send me more info…

> Indian River Colony Club, Viera, FL's Getaway Package for 3 days/2 nights, just $99, includes a round of golf for two and dinner at the community’s private At Ease Club. Tour will be hosted by an Indian River Colony Club resident. Send me more info....

> The Links at Gettysburg, Mt. Joy Township, PA’s reduced green fees to its winter rate early. Monday through Thursday rate is $40, or play on weekends until noon for $47 and after 12 p.m. for $40. The popular 4-for-the-price-of- 3 coupon remains available. Send me more info...

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RECENTLY ADDED TO GOLFCOURSEHOME.NET  

GEORGIA
=> Savannah Quarters, Savannah
Golf by Greg Norman, minutes from Savannah, swim and fitness center, home from the $140,000s

NORTH CAROLINA
=> Rock Barn Golf & Spa, Conover
36 holes of golf, spa, fitness center, aquatics, equestrian center, homes from $399,000

MASSACHUSETTS
=> Willowbend Country Club, Mashpee 
27-hole golf course, world-class tennis, pool, fitness, spa, gourmet dining, villa condos from $275,000

=> The Villages at Brookside, Bourne
Championship golf, clubhouse and grille, Cape beaches, “green” construction homes from $345,000

=> The Residences at Black Rock, Hingham 
Master-planned community with private golf, grand clubhouse, homes from $950,000

MICHIGAN
=> Forest Dunes Country Club, Roscommon
Lodge-style clubhouse, Tom Weiskopf Signature golf course, fishing, homes from $259,000

FLORIDA
=>  Solivita. Poinciana
55+ community, 36 holes, two clubhouses, fitness, aquatics, homes from the mid-$100,000s

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RECENTLY ADDED TO WATERVIEWHOME.NET

NORTH CAROLINA
=> River Dunes, Oriental
State-of-the-art marina complex, guest cottages, Harbor Club, trails, walking/jogging paths, homes from the $600,000s

FLORIDA
=> Bellalago, Kissimmee 
Atlantic access through 22,700-acre Lake Toho, two vast clubhouses, homes from the $100,000s 

=> Indian River Colony Club, Viera 
Championship golf, 55-plus, security, lakeside and fairway homes from the low-$100,000s 

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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.

Dominion Valley Country Club, Haymarket, Virginia

Branson Creek, Hollister, Missouri

Isleworth, Windermere, Florida

Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, Georgia

River Wilderness, Parrish, Florida

Horn Rapids, Richland, Washington

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NEW COMMUNITIES COMING ONLINE SOON!

GolfCourseHome

 * Moss Creek, SC
 * Watersong, FL
 * Tesoro, FL
 * River Landing, NC
 * Farm Neck Golf Club, MA

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Golf Magazine's 'Top 100 Courses You Can Play' Features Courses You Can Live On

GOLF MAGAZINE'S TOP100 COURSES YOU CAN PLAY (& Live On)

> Golf Magazine's list of the "Top 100 Courses You Can Play" tabs several golf communities with public courses that are featured on GolfCourseHome.

While some people would rather not have the course open to the public, the big positive is that greens fees and other expenditures contribute to the operation of the course and the community, saving money for residents. As a buyer, you can visit and play the course and the community without introduction.

Rank  Previous  Name    Designer   Year Opened   Location

#14   14  Harbour Town, Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, 1969, Sea Pines Plantation, Hilton Head Island, SC

#24   17 The Homestead (Cascades), William Flynn, 1923, Hot Springs, VA

#45 NEW  Forest Dunes Golf Club - Coming Soon to GCH Network, Tom Weiskopf, 2002, Roscommon, MI

#57   58  Reynolds Plantation (Oconee), Rees Jones, 2001, Greensboro, GA

#62   52  May River Golf Club at Palmetto Bluff, Jack Nicklaus, 2004, Bluffton, SC

#76   95  Resorts of Tullymore and St. Ives (Tullymore), Jim Engh, 2002, Stanwood, MI

#77   71  Barton Creek Resort (Fazio Foothills), Tom Fazio, 1986, Austin, TX

#82   76  Branson Creek Golf Club, Tom Fazio, 2000, Hollister, MO

The Bay Club at Mattapoisett MA Earns Its 7th Audubon Society Silver Certification

The Bay Club at Mattapoisett was featured in the June 2010 issue of Cape Cod Magazine on their commitment to “Green Life” and their continuous recognition from the National Audubon Society--now seven years running.

The Bay Club at Mattapoisett was ’going green’ long before the term became a constant in the national energy conversation. When construction began in 2003 on the nearly 700-acre private club featuring a championship golf course, restaurant,  fitness center, swimming pool, tennis courts, and lots for 175 homes, the club’s owners were already following guidelines established by the National Audubon Society to insure the least possible impact on the environment.

Including the managed landscape of the golf course, 93 percent of the acreage was preserved and remains green. “We followed the guidelines 100 percent,” says Jon O’Connor, Bay Club Golf Course Superintendent.”

Golf Digest Names Cliffs at Keowee Springs an 'America's Best New Private Course'

The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, SC: 'Best New Private Course.'

The Cliffs at Keowee Springs and its Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course has been named one of 'America’s Best New Private Courses' by Golf Digest magazine in the publication's January 2010 issue. Request information about The Cliffs at Keowee Springs.

A challenging and rewarding experience for golfers of all ages and skill levels, The Keowee Springs golf course is the second Tom Fazio golf design available to Cliffs members. The Cliffs is the only community in the country to offers its members two Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses and two Tom Fazio designs.

Opened in September 2008, The Cliffs at Keowee Springs golf course plays 7,100 yards from the championship tees and features the distinction of having two turns at 6-hole increments.  Holes two and sixteen are the signature holes for this course.

“It is an honor that Golf Digest recognized The Cliffs a Keowee Springs as one if the Best New Courses in America,” said John Mitchell, The Cliffs at Keowee Springs PGA Professional and General Manager.  "The Keowee Springs design showcases a balance of playability and challenge with tees starting at 4600 to 7100 yards.  Combined with its setting at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Keowee Springs offers a golf experience that you want every time."

This mountain-lake course is also home to the International Institute of Golf, a state-of-the-art teaching academy led by renowned Australian instructors Steve Bann and Dale Lynch, whose clients include PGA TOUR Professional Geoff Ogilvy, Stuart Applebee, Mathew Goggin, Aaron Baddeley, Robert Allenby and KJ Choi. 

Located on the shore of pristine Lake Keowee in the Blue Ridge Mountains, The Cliffs at Keowee Springs  spans 1,600 acres and offers a variety of waterfront, waterview, and golf course homesites and turnkey residences. Homesites at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs start in the $200,000s; homes, in the mid-$900,000s. Request information about The Cliffs at Keowee Springs.

Golf Digest Names Cliffs at Keowee Springs a 'Best New Private Course' for 2009

The Cliffs at Keowee Springs SC: Hole No. 7 and No. 8 tee box.

The Cliffs at Keowee Springs golf course perhaps had a harbinger of things to come when its No. 8 hole was named to the GolfCourseHome Dream 18 of Best Residential Golf Holes last March.  Now Golf Digest has just named the course the No. 8 Best New Course' in the U.S. for 2009.

Designed by Tom Fazio designed the par 72, 7,100-yard layout, the course returns to The Clubhouse or The Turnhouse at six-hole intervals, making it one of the most versatile designs in Fazio’s wide repertoire of award-winning courses. 

The Cliffs at Keowee Springs also benefits the golf by being the homes of the International Institute of Golf. The brainchild of famed Australian golf coaches Steve Bann and Dale Lynch, the Institute is modeled after the prestigious Victorian Institute of Sport golf program in Melbourne, where the duo have trained leading tour professionals including Geoff Ogilvy, Stuart Appleby, Aaron Baddeley, Robert Allenby and KJ Choi.

The Cliffs Communities are ranked among America’s Top 10 Private Golf Communities by Travel + Leisure Golf and The Robb Report. Cliffs’ members membership in one community provides access to world-class amenities at all eight Cliffs Communities--eight championship golf courses including Tiger Woods’ first U.S. course design, spectacular clubhouses, marinas, an equestrian center and access to The Cliffs’ international vacation properties in British Columbia, Chile and the Bahamas.

Golfweek Magazine's 'Best New Courses' 2009 Features GCH Network Communities

The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, SC

Golfweek Magazine's prestigious and influential list of Best New Courses for 2009 is out, and three GolfCourseHome® Network communities have been honored:

• The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, SC makes the list at No. 16 with its Tom Fazio design
• Fairvue Plantation, TN and its Foxlands Course by Bill Bergin comes in at No. 35
• Black Bull, MT along with architect Tom Weiskopf join the rankings at No. 40

Blackstone Golf Course Earns Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Status

The Jim Engh-designed golf course at Blackstone Country Club has been designated a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, the 10th in Arizona and the 778th in the world, by Audubon International.

A 570-acre private, gated community located within the Vistancia master plan in Peoria, the award adds even more weight to the community's green efforts, catapulting it to the Vanguard level--the top designation--on the GolfCourseHome Network's GreenGolfCommunities website.

Earning the certification means the club has demonstrated a strong commitment to its environmental program and maintains a high degree of environmental quality in the areas of environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, outreach and education, chemical use reduction and safety, water quality management, water conservation and environmental planning.

“The Blackstone agronomy team is to be commended for its efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property,” said Jim Sluiter, staff ecologist for the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.

The championship course is home to mule deer, ducks, badgers, bobcats, prairie dogs, chipmunks, many types of birds and the wild donkeys that have roamed the area for generations.

Course Superintendent Roger Brashear led the 25-member team in the year-long process that took more than 300 hours to complete.

“I’m proud of the team’s efforts,” he explained. “Their daily record-keeping allowed me to provide Audubon International with information in a concise and timely manner. It made things run very smoothly.”

Brashear, who is being recognized for his environmental stewardship by the organization, regards the certification as an affirmation of the club’s existing course maintenance practices.

“The environmental management practices we follow here are respectful of the land, wildlife, water and air,” he said. “But they also help us to improve our efficiency in maintaining the course and will ultimately help us achieve sustainability.”

Golf Magazine's 2009 Top 100 Courses in the U.S. & World Shine Again for Sea Pines

Harbour Town, Hilton Head Island, SC: Double winner.

Congrats goes to the Harbour Town golf course at Sea Pines Plantation, Hilton Head Island ,SC, which again was named to both of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Courses lists--Top 100 Courses in the U.S. and and Top 100 Courses in the World.

The Pete Dye - Jack Nicklaus course comes in at No. 44 on the Top 100 in the U.S. list and No. 73 on the Top 100 in the World list.

Both rankings are a few steps down from the course's 2007 rankings, but every two years the course successfully fends off newer, shinier layouts to maintain its place among the world's elite golf courses. It is one of the main attractions to home buyers looking at real estate at Sea Pines.

And One to Watch....

Another course at a real estate community caught the eye of the Golf Magazine reviewers even though it is not open for play yet. The Cliffs at High Carolina, Asheville, N.C., is to be Tiger Woods's first design in the U.S. and is slated to open in 2010.

Sited in the Blue Ridge Mountains, High Carolina has generated a lot of buzz and curiosity. But as the Editors at the magazine write, "We know Tiger can play, but can he design? We're about to find out." Stay tuned.

Carolina Trace Nabs Fifth 'Top 100 Best Community' Award from 'Where to Retire'

Carolina Trace, NC: Five times a 'Top 100' winner.

Carolina Trace was recently named one of “America’s Top 100 Best Master-Planned Communities” by Where to Retire magazine. The editors conducted a 10-month search for communities across America to reach their comprehensive list. It is fifth time Carolina Trace has received the designation. 

Featuring two Robert Trent Jones, Sr. championship golf courses, new full-service clubhouse, established community with a wide range of homes ($152,000--$1.5 million) developed on 2,500 acres with lake, golf course or wooded views, Carolina Trace is one of just two communities located in the heartlands of the North Carolina Sand Hills area to be chosen.

The community is known for how quickly new residents are welcomed into the social fabric.

“You would think we had lived here for years,” says Liz LaFuze, noting how she and husband Tom made friends so soon after moving to the community a few years ago from Wisconsin.

“We drove into the Trace and we said, ‘Oh, my, this is exactly what we want,’ she recalls. Homes are much different from a “cookie-cutter” approach in other communities they scouted, Liz says.

The couple, in their late 50s, especially enjoy the golf facilities, having taken up the game after moving to Carolina Trace.

 “It just turned out to be perfect,” she says. The editors at Where to Retire magazine would agree.