The GolfCourseHome Life

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.

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

Premiere Issue Cover

GolfCourseHome Magazine is now available to download to your iPad via the free Magcloud-magazine-stand app on iTunes.

GolfCourseHome Magazine features the GolfCourseHome® Dream 18, a fantasy golf course created by the Editors of the GolfCourseHome Network who selected the best golf holes from the more than 325 golf courses featured on GolfCourseHome.net representing more than 5,800 golf holes in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. It is truly a unique collection.

You’ll find on each of the 18, two-page spreads vivid photography, information about real estate, pricing, amenities, contact information, how to play the hole and more. These wonderful layouts represent the best in golf and golf course living. Enjoy!

Sanford Herald, NC, Features Carolina Trace and Its GCH Dream 18 Hole Winner

The Sanford Herald (NC) recently spotlighted Lee County's strong golf appeal along with Carolina Trace and its winning GCH Dream 18 No. 3 hole on the community's Creek Course. Carolina Trace is located in Sanford, NC.

Creek Course's No. 3 is the lead-off hole for the 2010 GCH Dream 18 which is featured in the premiere issue of GolfCourseHome Magazine.

Today is the last day you can take 25% off when you purchase GolfCourseHome Magazine in June. Just use the code DADGRAD at checkout.

Reynolds Plantation Announces Selection of its Creek Course to 2010 GCH Dream 18

Reynolds Plantation Creek Course selected for GCH Dream 18.

Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, GA, recently announced that the No. 18 hole on its Creek Club Course has been selected for the 2010 GolfCourseHome Dream 18. The announcement was made via press release and posted on the Reynolds Plantation blog.

The Dream 18 is annual selection of great residential golf holes identified among the more than 150 communities featured on the GolfCourseHome Network, representing more than 300 golf courses and 5,800 golf holes.

The Dream 18 is the focus of the premiere issue of GolfCourseHome Magazine, which is now available for purchase online.

In making their selection of the Creek Course, the Editors said:

"The 18th at The Creek Club, a Jim Engh-designed thrill ride of a course, has to be played to be believed," began the Editors of the winning par-5 hole.

"You hit your drive from one of four promontory tee boxes that stairstep down toward the fairway, a scoops-and-ridges landing area where level lies are rare. The fairway is split longitudinally by three pot bunkers that encourage a fade shot to the larger section on the right. Up ahead is another interesting trio--three separate greens! Depending on where you drive and which green is in play that day, you’ve got a chance to get home in two and finish with birdie."

Carolina Trace & Its Winning Dream Hole Featured in the Fayetteville Observer

Two-page spread of Caroline Trace's Dream 18 hole in
Golf Course Home Magazine.

"Carolina Trace Country Club near Sanford, NC, has received some national attention in the premiere issue of Golf Course Home Magazine," writes Eddie Southards in his column 'Out of the Rough' in the Wednesday June 9 issue of The Fayetteville Observer.

"It is a great honor to be to be included as one of the Dream 18 articles," said Carolina Trace pro Mike Krick.

These words led off Eddie Southards column in which he goes on to write about the selected No. 3 hole on the Creek Course that was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr, one of two layouts he authored at the master-planned community.

To read the premiere issue of GolfCourseHome Magazine online, go here.

To purchase the magazine, go here.

Teton Springs, ID, Celebrates GCH Dream 18 Selection in Its Monthly Newsletter

All Season Realty and Teton Springs, ID, celebrated its recent selection to the 2010 GolfCourseHome Dream 18 list of great residential golf holes with an announcement in its monthly newsletter. See the complete list here. Read all about the Dream 18 in the premiere issue of GolfCourseHome Magazine.

Bay Club at Mattapoisett Announces Its Selection to Golf Course Home Dream 18

Bay Club's two-page spread in GolfCourseHome Magazine.

From the Bay Club website: "The Bay Club at Mattapoisett is proud to announce that the club has been selected by Golf Course Home as a part of their Dream 18.

The GolfCourseHome® Dream 18 is a fantasy golf course created from the best golf holes from the more than 325 golf courses featured on GolfCourseHome.net, representing more than 5,800 golf holes in the U.S. , Canada , Mexico and the Caribbean."

The Dream 18 is the core feature of the newly launched GolfCourseHome Magazine which spotlights 18 different communities and their specially selected "Dream hole."

via bayclubmatt.com

GolfCourseHome® Magazine Offers Special Mother’s Day Promo: Buy Online--25% Off

The Golf Course Home® Network announces a special Mother’s Day Promotion. Purchase the premiere issue of GolfCourseHome® Magazine online by Mother’s Day & get a 25% discount. Just enter MOM in the coupon field.

For more information, see today's press release here.

Cover of the premiere issue.

Bay Club at Mattapoisett MA Announces Its Selection to the 2010 GCH Dream 18

Two-page spread for The Bay Club in GolfCourseHome Magazine.

"The Bay Club at Mattapoisett is proud to have been selected by Golf Course Home as a part of their Dream 18.  The GolfCourseHome® Dream 18 is a fantasy golf course created from the best golf holes from the more than 325 golf courses featured on GolfCourseHome.net, representing more than 5,800 golf holes in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean."

via bayclubmatt.com

GolfCourseHome Magazine Launched Featuring GCH Dream 18 Great Golf Holes

~ GolfCourseHome®Network ~
NEW COMMUNITIES Newsletter
Vol. 12, No. 499  Tuesday April 13, 2010   Circulation: 30,315

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

Click here to order GolfCourseHome Magazine .

    Today's Headlines

    * Announcing the 2010 GCH Dream 18
    * This Week's Deals and Specials
    * Special Community Events
    * Community News & Updates
    * Deals Shorta and News Shorts
    * Recently Added to GolfCourseHome
    * Weekend Packages for Right Now
    * Best Deals of 2010
    * This Month's Spotlighted Communities
    * Watch for the next issue of New Communities, coming Friday, April 16th!

ANNOUNCING THE 2010 GCH DREAM 18 

With visions of the great (and not-so-great) shots made at the Masters last weekend, we are in a great frame of mind to officially announce the premier issue of GolfCourseHome Magazine and the 2010 GCH Dream 18: Great Residential Golf Holes. You'll be saying 'Amen' quite a lot when you visit the communities named below and play their spectacular golf holes.

GolfCourseHome Magazine is now available for purchase here and is marked by stunning photography, contact info, pricing, amenities, and, of course, straight talk on how to play these marvelous golf holes. Enjoy!

GolfCourseHome's Dream 18: Great Residential Golf Holes 2010

No. 1 Carolina Trace (3rd Creek Course), Sanford, NC
No. 2 Golden Ocala (12th), Ocala, FL
No. 3 Fairvue Plantation (11th Foxland Course), Gallatin, TN
No. 4 Owl’s Nest (12th), Thornton, NH
No. 5 The Cliffs at Keowee (17th, Vineyards Course), Sunset, SC
No. 6 Carnegie Abbey (10th), Portsmouth, RI
No. 7 Creighton Farms (8th),  Aldie, VA
No. 8 The Bay Club (17th), Mattapoisett, MA
No. 9 Teton Springs (15th), Teton Valley, ID

No. 10 Tehama (4th), Carmel, CA
No. 11 Cobble Creek (14th), Montrose, CO
No. 12 Reynolds Plantation (18th, Creek Club Course), Lake Oconee, GA
No. 13 The Colony at the Grand (14th, Azalea Course), Fairhope, AL
No. 14 Wild Wing Plantation (14th, Avocet Course), Myrtle Beach, SC
No. 15 Las Gardenias at Cabo Real (12th) Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
No. 16 Achasta (3rd) Dahlonega, GA
No. 17 Callaway Gardens (15th, Mountain View Course), Pine Mountain, GA
No. 18 Sailfish Point (18th), Stuart, FL

DEALS & SPECIALS OF THE WEEK

> Scotch Hall Preserve, NC announced its new $139 True Carolina Discovery Package. This visitation offer provides three days and two nights at any of three fine hostelries—the Granville Queen Bed and Breakfast; the Captain’s Quarters Bed and Breakfast; or, Gray’s Landing Bed and Breakfast. Along with fine accommodations there is golf on the community’s Arnold Palmer Signature course. Click here for more information about Scotch Hall Preserve!

> The Cliffs at Glassy, SC and its multi-community array of amenities are more affordable as home price reductions hit the market. Now on offer for $600,000 is a home at 3 Rocky Gap Court that was recently listed at $750,000. This 3-bedroom, 3-bath home is in a very private setting with a two-car garage. Click here for more information about The Cliffs at Glassy!

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SPECIAL EVENTS

> Sea Pines Plantation, SC: "Get Your Plaid On!" says Beverly Serral, who lives and  sell homes at Sea Pines. Serral declares that this week's Verizon Heritage Classic,  South Carolina’s only PGA Tour stop, is a perennial favorite for players and fans alike.  "Those of us who live here call it “Spring Break for Grown-Ups,” she says, "Although our  children have a ball during Heritage week, too. Over 1,200 volunteers make the  tournament run smoothly, and almost $20 million has been donated to our neighbors in need since the inception of the Heritage Classic Foundation." Click here for more information about Sea Pines Plantation!
 

> Indian River Colony Club, FL fielded 60 women golfers last week for the 13th annual Rally for the Cure golf tournament. Outfitted in pink, members of the IRCC Women’s Golf Association and their guests vied for cash prizes and golf accessories. The 18-hole scramble raised $1,565 for cancer research. Susan G. Komen Rally for the Cure Foundation was the event sponsor. Click here for more information about Indian River Colony Club!

> GOLF Magazine just announced its 2010 Premier Resorts and four GolfCourseHome communities made the list. More than 6,000 readers voted at the GOLF Magazine website on four criteria: Golf, Lodging, Food and Drink and Service to determine the winners. Our congratulations go to these award winners:

> Platinum: Reynolds Plantation, GA
> Gold: Homestead Preserve, VA
> Silver: Amelia Island Plantation, FL
               Barton Creek Resort and Spa, TX
               Kingsmill on the James, VA

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COMMUNITY NEWS & UPDATES

> St. James Plantation, NC recently opened its newly updated sales office in historic Southport, NC. The update included all new interior finishes, floor covering and window treatments. JHB Associates enhanced the space with ceiling fans, high-tech lighting, furnishings and accessories along with large presentation graphics. Click here for more information about St. James Plantation!

> Boca Woods Country Club, FL has begun important renovation work to its 36-hole golf complex. Irrigation systems on both 18-hole championship golf courses will be restored. During installation, the greens on both courses will be regrassed with a modern hybrid putting surface that will provide optimum playability. Tee boxes on both courses will be enlarged and resurfaced, bunkers will be relined, cart paths will be re-paved and fairway turf on the Lakes course will be replaced. Click here for more information about Boca Woods Country Club!

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DEALS SHORTS

> The Cliffs at Glassy, SC has listed a fine traditional-style home within walking distance of the golf clubhouse, available at nearly 50 percent off its prior asking price. The home, at 139 Catnip Trail, is now priced at $525,000, down from $925,000. It has three bedrooms (and a possible fourth) plus a formal living area with vaulted ceiling and fireplace. 

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NEWS SHORTS  

The Bay Club, MA held its April “Ladies Night Out,” a book group discussion of the novel, “Still Alice” followed by a special gourmet dinner prepared by Chef Jim Mercer.

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RECENTLY ADDED TO GOLFCOURSEHOME.NET

TEXAS
=> The Reserve at Sugar Tree, Lipan
Gated, master-planned community, golf, swimming, fishing, homesites from $23,000

NORTH CAROLINA
=> Scotch Hall Preserve, Merry Hill
Master-planned community, Palmer golf, marina, shooting club, homesites from $125,000

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WEEKEND PACKAGES FOR RIGHT NOW

> Brunswick Forest, NC April 16-18 & April 23-25: Cape Fear National finally opens. Enjoy a $179 3-day/2-night Grand Opening package with luxury accommodations for two in historic downtown Wilmington, NC. Includes golf, fine food, entertainment, exhibitions and a personal VIP tour of Cape Fear National first-release homesites. Click here for more information about Brunswick Forest!

> Running Y Ranch, OR: April 16-17, Vegas at the Running Y Package celebrates the Grand Reopening of the Lodge. Cost is $189/double occ., incl. 2 tickets for Friday night’s action, player’s pack at check in, one night in a Lodge guest room, brunch Saturday morning and late check out. Click here for more information about Running Y Ranch!

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BEST DEALS OF 2010 

> The Cliffs at Glassy, SC has listed a fine traditional-style home within walking distance of the golf clubhouse, available at nearly 50 percent off its prior asking price. The home, at 139 Catnip Trail, is now priced at $525,000, down from $925,000. It has three bedrooms (and a possible fourth) plus a formal living area with vaulted ceiling and fireplace....

> Hampton Lake, SC announces that the Pritchards Lakefront Model Home, set on the water on a full-size homesite, is now open for inspection. Featuring 2,725 sq. ft.,
3 BRs, 3.5 BAs, this lakefront model home also offers spacious owner's retreat, stunning lake views, granite countertops, screened atrium, hardwood floors, upgraded
landscaping and for under $600,000. Click here for more information about Hampton Lake!

> Blackstone, AZ announces new, reduced pricing on a collection of 21 custom homesites located between two picturesque fairways of the Blackstone course. Ranging
from nearly three-quarters to one-plus acres, most of the lots, priced from $145,000, back up to the golf course and offer mountain and city light views. Sales are also
underway at the move-in-ready Villas at Blackstone, with a $7,500 golf or social membership option included as a buyer’s incentive...

> Treasure Lake, PA has a Special Offer exclusive to the GolfCourseHome Network. A generous homesite measuring four-tenths acres is now priced at $20,000 and all closing costs are waived for buyers who close by May 15. Homesite is walking distance to the equestrian center, Lake Bimini boat launch and beach and an archery range and has already been staked for a cabin and a 2-car garage....

> Chapel Ridge, NC's featured savings of up to 40% on select homesites. There's no timetable for building, choose your own builder. Lot sizes range from one-third acre to 3 acres, with views of golf, woodland or nature preserve....

> Willoughby Golf Club, FL's special hotel rate along with a day of play at its Arthur Hills-designed golf course. There is delightful cuisine prepared by Chef Jimmy at the Willoughby Clubhouse, plus use the amenities such as tennis on Har-Tru tennis courts, swimming, relaxing and exploring….

> Owen Glen, GA's a new Discovery Tour includes a 2-night stay for two in charming Blairsville, GA and a choice of golf at Owen Glen’s Old Union course, a wine tasting at a vineyard in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a guided horseback trail ride, or a pontoon boat rental on Lake Nottely. Included in all Discovery Tours are dinner for two at Enrico’s Italian Restaurant; breakfast and a welcome basket. Price of the package is just $149 per couple.... 

Remember to check out the premier issue of GolfCourseHome Magazine featuring the Dream 18 here!

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

Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia

Creighton Farms, Aldie, Virginia

Lake Ridge, Cedar Hill, Texas

Regency at Dominion Valley, Haymarket, Virginia

Carolina Trace, Sanford, North Carolina

Kingsmill on the James, Williamsburg, Virginia

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NEW COMMUNITIES COMING ONLINE SOON!

GolfCourseHome

* Scotch Hall Preserve, NC
* The Reserve at SugarTree, TX
* Anderson Creek Club
* Oliver's Landing, NC
* Chesdin Landing, VA

WaterViewHome 

* Oyster Bay Harbour, FL

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14 Golf & Waterview Communities Join GCH Network to Start 2010 off Strongly

2010 Marketing Message

We want to begin our New Year's message with a word of thanks to our communities, thanks both to the 14 new communities already signed up to join the GCH Network in 2010 and thanks to our loyal marketing partners who have stayed with us during the past two years--a difficult time for our industry.

The people in our industry are resilient if nothing else. The shifting landscape has caused widespread upheaval to communities and their employees. But in the wake of such turmoil I keep receiving news about how communities are working with their residents to stay solid and how new companies and new concepts are being launched.

At the beginning of this decade, GolfCourseHome.net itself was launched in the face of the dot-com meltdown. At first blush it appeared a case of bad timing, but it was actually the best time to get started.

The amenity community industry is filled with smart, innovative people--Bill Houghton, Jamie Prince, Ian McIvaine and Karen Cerrati immediately come to mind--who have started businesses in the past year and bring energy and ideas to their clients.

It is my hope for the New Year that the creativity, energy and shoulder-to-the-wheel hard work unleashed by the current sea-change in the marketplace will be rewarded with a rising tide that will take us to a new and sustainable period of success and accomplishment. If you are not already an advertiser on the GolfCourseHome Network, I urge you to join us.

Introducing the 'Dream 18' Special Commemorative Magazine

The 4th Annual GolfCourseHome Dream 18 list of great residential golf holes will be released this spring. Along with our annual list we will also publish a special commemorative 44-page issue celebrating the selections. We will be promoting the Dream 18 via our New Communities newsletter (circ. 31,000), press release, Twitter and Facebook. The magazine will be available for purchase online. More details to come later!

14 Communities Join GCH to Start the Year Off Strong

Fourteen golf and waterview communities from five states have signed up to be on the GolfCourseHome Network in the first weeks of the year. This new activity is a welcome development, one that we look forward to continuing as markets improve. Here's the list of new sign-ups:

DELAWARE
Bayside
Heritage Shores

GEORGIA
Achasta

FLORIDA
Heron Creek
Rive Isle
Sailfish Point
Sanctuary Cove

SOUTH CAROLINA
Hampton Lake
Hilton Head Plantation
Savannah Lakes Village
Windmill Harbor

VIRGINIA
Brickshire
Chesdin Landing
Creighton Farms

Hill/Mullikin To Work with GCH for Network Upgrade This Spring

Hill/Mullikin of Greenville, SC. is working on a Network-wide upgrade of the GolfCourseHome and WaterViewHome Network, which will be launched later this spring. We are excited about what will not only be an improvement in technology, but also in the user's experience. More details to come as we embark on this exciting step forward!

2010 GolfCourseHome & WaterViewHome Media Kits Now Available

The 2010 GolfCourseHome® Network Media Kit and the 2010 WaterViewHome Network Media Kit are now available for your media planning.

New information includes the 2010 Editorial Calendar for the New Communities e-Newsletter which goes out to 31,000 subscribers twice a week. Also, for the fourth year in a row, rates remain unchanged. Network Member Websites now total 43. To request a kit, please reply to this email with Golf Kit and/or WVH Kit in the subject line.

Good Selling, and thank you for your continued business in this tough economy!

David Lott
Founder & Publisher
GolfCourseHome Network

Press Release Announces GolfCourseHome's 3rd Annual 'Dream 18' Golf Holes Via MarketWire

The GolfCourseHome Network issued a press release through MarketWire this morning about the selection of its 3rd Annual Dream 18 Golf Holes. This annual selection of superior residential golf course 'dream holes' features 18 golf communities in 10 different states.

The holes were selected by the GolfCourseHome Editors from the more than 5,000 golf holes and 300-plus championship golf courses represented on the GolfCourseHome®Network. The selection pool also featured the creations of more than 75 golf course designers.

To read the accompanying article, see the Front Nine and the Back Nine.

GolfCourseHome's 2009 Dream 18 Golf Holes--The Back Nine Is Mighty Fine

Belfair, Bluffton SC

By The Editors

If you were to play 18 of the finest, most memorable golf holes to be found within any golf course community, which holes would they be? That's the hypothetical question we posed in creating our 2009 listing of great holes from among the communities featured on GolfCourseHome.net.

You may have already read about the Front Nine. Here for your reading (and imagining pleasure) is the Back Nine. Below the list are fuller descriptions. To read about the Front Nine, click here.

GolfCourseHome 2009 Dream 18 Golf Holes, the Back Nine

No. 10. Stonehouse (6th), Toana VA

No. 11. Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club (4th), Ocala FL

No. 12. Belfair  (6th West), Bluffton SC

No. 13. The Links at Gettysburg (3rd), Mt. Joy Township PA

No. 14. Running Y Ranch (4th), Klamath Falls OR

No. 15. The Founders Club (5th), Sarasota FL

No. 16. Heritage Todd Creek (17th), Thornton CO

No. 17. Forest Dunes (14th), Roscommon MI

No. 18. Wachesaw Plantation (18th), Murrels Inlet SC

No. 10. Stonehouse (6th), Toana VA
Located on 5,700 wooded acres in the scenic countryside minutes west of Williamsburg, this beautifully designed recreational community appeals to both retirees and young executive couples. The accessibility of I-64 from Stonehouse makes both Richmond and Newport News easy commutes. It’s a prime location for history buffs, close to Colonial Williamsburg, historic Jamestown and Yorktown.

An admired Mike Strantz course at Stonehouse draws in-the-know golfers from throughout the region. Named Best New Upscale Public Course in the U.S. by Golf Digest in 1996, it is known for dramatic elevation changes over rolling hills and for having some of the biggest greens in the state. We’ve picked Stonehouse’s toughest hole to include in our collection. It’s No. 6, a par-4 that plays 435 from the gold tees, 391 from the whites. This is a dogleg-right that demands a well-placed drive so the player will have as short an iron as possible into a narrow green that’s tough to hold.

No. 11. Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club (4th), Ocala FL
Golden Ocala is a 1,200-acre private community on rolling hills in Central Florida. A 77,000-square-foot clubhouse anchors the community, which is home to championship golf and tennis plus a spa, fitness center and an equestrian center that celebrates this region’s long tradition of horse breeding and training.

No. 4 at Golden Ocala is a “tribute” hole by architect Ron Garl that transports Golden Ocala golfers to southwest Scotland via its wondrous resemblance to the so-called Postage Stamp par-3 at Royal Troon. Stand on the tee with your wedge or 9-iron and study the little hillock mounds with their thick grassy fur, alongside sharp, sculpted bunkers with flat sandy surfaces to play from. All it takes is a high, delicate pitch to find the putting surface—with Florida breezes that replicate Scottish winds rushing past you to complicate matters.

No. 12. Belfair  (6th West), Bluffton SC
Belfair is a lovely combination of golden Lowcountry landscape and a 36-hole club crafted in the golf traditions of the Northeast. Built along the broad marshes and waterways west of Hilton Head, this 1,100-acre Lowcountry retreat is known for its two award-winning Tom Fazio golf courses and amenities to suit an active, refined lifestyle. Life at Belfair centers around a 25,000-square-foot clubhouse with spacious and richly detailed interiors. Luxury locker rooms with private lounges furnished in dark wood and leather set the tone for a memorable day of golf.

On Belfair West, No. 6 is a short, well-nuanced par-4 that plays 367 from the back tee, with 359 or 341 as shorter yardage options. This is a truly unique golf hole, with two greens. Players have to be mindful of which green is in use on that day before they hit their drives, as placement and approach angle are highly influenced by the green's location.

No. 13. The Links at Gettysburg (3rd), Mt. Joy Township PA
Membership in The Links At Gettysburg offers championship golf, fine dining, recreation, and relaxation at the community’s Premier Clubhouse, which can accommodate up to 250 guests inside. It is designed for indoor-outdoor entertaining, with tents and tables positioned on a triple-tiered stone patio overlooking the 18th fairway and green.

Your round at The Links At Gettysburg will take you up and down rolling Pennsylvania hills, with lakes and creeks on almost every hole and dramatic red rock cliffs that form the backdrop for memorable golf. One of those is the 3rd, the signature hole, a dramatic par-3 from an elevated tee to a large undulating green that fronts a red rock cliff. Hit too far and you'll find the large trap in front of the cliff. Leave it short and you'll hit the creek in front of the green. This 187-yard hole is a true test of skill.

No. 14. Running Y Ranch (4th), Klamath Falls OR

The Running Y Ranch is located in the heart of Southern Oregon’s Cascade Range. Home to Oregon’s only award-winning Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, the Running Y offers luxurious accommodations, a large array of amenities and a full roster of  recreational activities. The community’s 7,138-yard, award-winning golf course offers five sets of tees on every hole, generous fairways and fast, undulating greens.

Palmer himself considers the track one of his best. From its fine array of holes, we select No. 4, which can be played from 409 all the way down to 325 for juniors. Golfers should note the bunkers at the end of the fairway, which will scold an overly long drive, even a straight one. And beware of water down the right side, as well.

No. 15. The Founders Club (5th), Sarasota FL
The Founders Club, well-located an easy 20 minutes from the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport, is a Florida golf community with superior cultural and recreational advantages. The club’s 18-hole championship golf course takes its cues from the gently rolling inland terrain. Set against a backdrop of centuries-old oaks, pines and palms and highlighted by a natural buffer of lush, untamed landscape, the 7,094-yard, par 72 layout by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. offers a dynamic route along groomed fairways, tranquil lakes and unspoiled wetlands.

For the Dream 18, we showcase this course’s fifth hole, a medium-length par-4 that offers the opportunity to play driver for maximum distance off the tee. Longer hitters may be as bold to play for the upper level fairway off the tee, which affords the optimum approach position.

No. 16. Heritage Todd Creek (17th), Thornton CO
Built in a setting that is pure Colorado, the majestic Rocky Mountains provide a scenic backdrop for the Heritage Todd Creek active-adult community. Designed for active residents age 55-plus who appreciate year-round sunshine, Heritage Todd Creek is a private gated community and home to a brand-new championship golf course by Arthur Hills.

For the Dream 18, we spotlight the par-3, water-guarded 17th here at Heritage Todd Creek. Now a staple of American golf, the do-or-die 17th hole with water ringing the green is well represented at Heritage Todd Creek. This one-shotter is abetted by a fairly deep and steep-faced sand bunker just short of the green. Up above the hole are mounds you can hit bailout shots into, but then comes the chip back, with water staring you in the face.

No. 17. Forest Dunes (14th), Roscommon MI
Forest Dunes Golf Club, centered in the pine-scented fresh air of northern Michigan, is a 1,200-acre golf community recognized for environmental awareness. It is one of just 16 Audubon International Signature Gold Sanctuaries worldwide. Its Tom Weiskopf Signature golf course is a 7,104-yard layout ringed by Huron National Forest that wends through dunes and towering pine trees.

The sixth at Forest Dunes is the one that makes it into the Dream 18. It’s a  short but head-scratchingly complex par-4 that plays just 375 yards at its longest. Nicknamed “Gamble,” this two-shot splits the drive zone into an easy, short drive to the left and long, dangerous tee ball out to the right. When the dust settles, there remains a smallish, heavily bunkered green to work toward with your lofted iron shot. In the autumn, it’s a colorful challenge no matter how you play the hole.

No. 18. Wachesaw Plantation (18th), Murrels Inlet SC
Perched on a high bluff overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, Wachesaw Plantation set a standard for elite but warm-spirited club golf along the Carolina coast. Wachesaw Plantation Club members socialize amid the natural beauty and serenity and they compete on standout amenities, including a Tom Fazio championship course that helped define Fazio’s signature style.

This par-72 layout is known for both grace and drama, with ornamental grasses sprouting from atop smooth mounds and buff-colored bunkers jut into the landing areas dauntingly. The home hole at this course is a truly great finisher—not long by par-5 standards but with a green that’s guarded by intimidating pot bunkers 40 to 60 yards out and a tough-to-hold putting surface that slopes right-to-left toward the water.

GolfCourseHome's 2009 Dream 18 Golf Holes Takes You from Mountains to Ocean

The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, Six Mile SC

By The Editors

If you were to play 18 of the finest, most memorable golf holes to be found within any golf course community, which holes would they be? That's the hypothetical question we posed in creating our 2009 listing of great holes from among the communities featured on GolfCourseHome.net.

The golf in gated communities is among the purest, best-designed and most carefully crafted in the entire American portfolio. These havens of the country club lifestyle represent more than 5,000 golf holes, 300-plus courses and over 75 different golf architects—a cornucopia to choose from.

Many of the courses are highly ranked by the leading golf publications and have been crafted by the great names in golf course design. That's only part of the story, however.

Live on a Dream
The real payoff is that each of these layouts is a beloved home course to the fortunate golfers who live around it. Whether you play matches on its lush fairways, traverse the course on your morning walk or simply enjoy it as a handsome background to daily life, each one helps create an environment that  that makes everyone in the community glad that they live where they do.

The 18 entries below each include a parenthetical denoting which hole number hole on the original course our selected hole represents. For detailed information on any of these courses or communities, just click on the highlighted name of the community.

Here is a quick list of the holes, in our Dream 18 sequence. Below the initial list is the first of two articles on the Front Nine and Back Nine along with in-depth descriptions. To read about the Back Nine, click here

No. 1. Blackstone (1st), Peoria AZ

No. 2. Deer Brook Golf Club (9th), Shelby NC

No. 3. Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club (11th), Dade City FL

No. 4. The Georgia Club, (5th, original 18), Statham GA

No. 5. The Cliffs at Keowee Springs (7th), Six Mile SC

No. 6. Lake Ridge (16th), Cedar Hill TX

No. 7. Madison Lakes (4th), Madison GA

No. 8. Briar’s Creek (8th), John’s Island SC

No. 9. Lockwood Folly Country Club (18th), Holden Beach NC

No. 10. Stonehouse (6th), Toana VA

No. 11. Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club (4th), Ocala FL

No. 12. Belfair  (6th West), Bluffton SC

No. 13. The Links at Gettysburg (3rd), Mt. Joy Township PA

No. 14. Running Y Ranch (4th), Klamath Falls OR

No. 15. The Founders Club (5th), Sarasota FL

No. 16. Heritage Todd Creek (17th), Thornton CO

No. 17. Forest Dunes (14th), Roscommon MI

No. 18. Wachesaw Plantation (18th), Murrels Inlet SC

No. 1. Blackstone (1st), Peoria AZ
Designed as a sophisticated enclave within the greater gated community of Vistancia, Blackstone tapped the uncommon design skills of Jim Engh to craft an aesthetically robust golf course that would play with great variety from one day to the next.

Members rave about Engh’s rumpled, surprise-filled layout as much as they praise Blackstone’s true country-club experience and the desert, mountain and golf course vistas from their custom and luxury homes within the community’s 588 acres of Sonoran terrain. We start this Dream 18 with the opening hole Engh uses as an emerald-green welcome mat for his Blackstone golfers. It’s certainly inviting, with a fairway nearly 70 yards wide and loaded with those famed contours. A nice drive will be rewarded with a short approach to a gently undulating green bisected by a small ridge.

No. 2. Deer Brook Golf Club (9th), Shelby NC
Deer Brook Golf Club is a master-planned golf community in the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills, set between Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C. and Charlotte, N.C., with easy access to two international airports. Homesites are now available along a parkland-style, 6,911-yard course designed by Rick Robbins who was a lead designer for Jack Nicklaus for five years. Lot prices here include the initiation fee for Deer Brook G.C.

The stimulating front nine at Deer Brook closes with a handsome par-4 that can stretch to 415 yards but plays from a member-tee yardage of 378. A well-placed placed drive is crucial as the fairway slopes leftward, favoring a fade. Water lurks on the left as golfers hit to the green, which is guarded by twin traps left and right.

No. 3. Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club (11th), Dade City FL
Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club is blessed with rippling terrain and tall hardwoods that give a North Carolina look amid Florida sunshine and warmth. Freshwater lakes dot the landscape and quicken the pulse of an avid golfer. In fact, the club's South course features the longest natural drop of any course in the state—94 feet from tee to green on the par-5 11th hole.

Tom Lehman, the PGA Tour pro who designed Lake Jovita South (and the North , as well), built greens with subtle, even confounding, contours. That 11th is a par-5 playing 539 yards from the blues. It hides its green behind a plateau fairway that drops suddenly to the target—backed by water and guarded left and short-right by bunkers. A tough and memorable hole.

No. 4. The Georgia Club, (5th, original 18), Statham GA
In a prime location 45 miles east of Atlanta and 10 miles west of Athens, The Georgia Club allows an easy pace of life made special by the quality of the service and amenities. Central focus of the community is its 37,000-square-foot clubhouse, which completed a major expansion and renovation in fall 2007 to accommodate more than 340 guests. Golf here is a 27-hole celebration of the natural rolling terrain and tall trees that architect Denis Griffiths, a one-time associate of Gary Player Golf Design, has so skillfully tamed.

The original fifth hole of his Chancellors Course is a strategically compelling par-4 where any pushed or sliced tee shot flirts with water right. What really occupies the player’s thoughts on the tee is a specimen oak left in place on the fairway, down the right side about 80 yards from the front of the green. To play around this obstacle could require an imaginative shot, low and curving. Up at the green, a framing pair of sand bunkers are placed so as to add even more value to the left-side tee shot.

No. 5. The Cliffs at Keowee Springs (7th), Six Mile SC
Envisioned as a place where you’ll receive more than just an occasional massage or annual retreat, The Cliffs at Keowee Springs represents a new concept in the creation of a healthy living community where families can enjoy and maintain a Family Wellness Lifestyle. All that wellness and fitness is a cinch to help lower golf scores.

You’ll know it’s working if you can negotiate the dogleg on the par-4 seventh at the Tom Fazio-designed Keowee Springs Course. Ample fairway to the left of the turn bunker offers an easy target but leaves you a lengthy route to the green.  To make this hole play shorter, pound your drive over that bunker and catch the downslope on the other side of it. Players should note that the approach shot over a small valley to an elevated green is better if played from the left side of the fairway.

No. 6. Lake Ridge (16th), Cedar Hill TX
Ideally located just south of Dallas/Fort Worth, Lake Ridge is a master-planned golf community where residents enjoy a wide array of sophisticated options for shopping, dining, and entertainment—plus scenic beauty and high-quality recreation. Lake Ridge is home to one of the highest elevation points in North Texas. It offers 25-mile skyline views of downtown Fort Worth. The community counts 7,500-acre Joe Pool Lake and Tangle Ridge Golf Club as its prime assets.

Listed in the “Best of Texas” by Texas Golfer magazine, the Jeff Brauer-designed Tangle Ridge features 6,835 yards of exciting elevation changes, subtle greens and tree-lined fairways. Brauer’s 424-yard 16th is a par-4 with a deceptively simple appearance. Its main feature is a “Valley of Sin” in the approach area. Don't let your second shot fall into it, since a chip or putt over the this type of contour is an unusual and seldom-practiced shot. 

No. 7. Madison Lakes (4th), Madison GA
Surrounded by antebellum history in the lakes region of central Georgia, residents of this 1,000-acre planned community enjoy golf, tennis, hiking, horseback riding and relaxation. Their homesites are surrounded by rolling hills, open spaces and 60 acres of lakes and streams. The master plan includes four miles of trails, parks, equestrian, fitness, tennis, pools, and multiple recreation centers. At the heart of the property is Long Shadow Golf Club, a newly completed 18-hole championship course.

Already praised by the national golf media, the course will be complemented by a proposed executive-style layout for beginners and casual golfers. The first par-3 in our Dream 18 for 2009 is Long Shadow G.C.’s fourth hole, which can play at yardages from 115 all the way up to 239. Whatever distance you play, the strategy is to fly your tee shot into the left-front portion of green. contours will feed ball toward center. A hint: Elevation change is less than it appears, from tee to green.

No. 8. Briar’s Creek (8th), John’s Island SC
Minutes from Charleston and just moments from Kiawah Island, Briar's Creek is a private club community with outstanding Lowcountry golf designed by Rees Jones. The young, yet tradition-minded community features estate homesites in a 900-acre setting composed of sweeping marshland and ancient forest home to rare birds and wildlife.

The golf is world-class golf with zero tee times, and the hole we place in our Dream 18 is Briar’s Creek No. 8. The tee shot on this 404-yard par-4 will need your full attention. A bunker guards the left side; another lures any overdone bailout shot on the right. The green and approach are divided by a ridge into left and right halves. This is a great example of greenside bunkers that aren't overly large in size but exert a powerful effect on play because subtle ground contours will feed an iffy shot perilously toward the hazard.

No. 9. Lockwood Folly Country Club (18th), Holden Beach NC
Located on the southernmost coast of North Carolina, where the Lockwood Folly River merges with the Intracoastal Waterway, this 500-acre community features breathtaking vistas of tidal estuary, moss- covered hardwoods and stately pines. There are as river and Waterway lots and/or views awaiting custom-home construction. The ocean, visible from some lots, is minutes away by boat or car.

The pond to the right of the 18th green on Willard Byrd's 500-yard, par-4 finishing hole is a great example of water hazards deployed to please the eye and jangle the nerves at the same time. Already any golfer is thinking "water" as they proceed up this short (for a par-5) but serpentine fairway. That's because the hole’s backdrop is a long, luxuriant view of the Intracoastal Waterway, flecked with islands and stretching to the Atlantic.

The 2008 Dream 18 Golf Holes: The Back Nine Shines from East to West

by Editors of GolfCourseHome

Hole No. 10, Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, FL

Hole No. 10, Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, FL

Among its 72 holes of championship golf on this landmark coastal community is the tricky but highly praised 10th hole on Pete Dye’s Oak Marsh layout. The hole, measuring just 307 yards from the furthest-back tee, is a prototypical short par-4, with water right of the green, water behind it and four penal bunkers surrounding the putting surface. Many golfers have the power to reach this hole in one, but few have the accuracy to avoid big trouble. Founded in 1971, this resort community was an early example of the twin appeal of excellent golf and an eco-conscious master plan. The Plantation’s three-plus miles of unspoiled beach and its vast tracts of coastal marsh and woodland remain its prime assets. Click here for more information about Amelia Island Plantation!

Hole No. 11, Paa-Ko Communities, Sandia Park, NM (7th)


Hole No. 11, Paa-Ko Communities, Sandia Park, NM (7th)

The hole we highlight at Paa-Ko is named  “Field House” It’s a charming par-4 that stretches 496 yards from the back tee box but only 425 from the members’ tee. The strategy on this graceful, downsloping hole is to shoot for the middle of its saddle-shaped fairway, avoiding the rocky ravine and grass bunker that protect the inside of the dogleg. The green is open in front and receptive to a run-up shot. Paa-Ko Communities lies on the eastern face of the Sandia Mountains, integrating upscale residential development with untouched lands to provide a sense of true community in a setting of natural elegance. Its 27-hole Ken Dye golf course is one of the best in the Southwest.

Hole No. 12, Deer Brook Golf Club, Shelby, NC (14th)


Hole No. 12, Deer Brook Golf Club, Shelby, NC (14th)

Joining this select collection of golf holes is No. 14 at Deer Brook, a highly versatile par-3 hole dominated by a large, imposing pond. Architect Rick Robbins scattered an array of tee boxes along the far arc of the lake and laid out a gang of bunkers, five in all, around the green. Day in and day out, this one-shotter reveals subtle new playing angles depending on wind direction and tee- marker placement. If nothing else it’s an advanced course in precision club selection. Deer Brook Golf Club is a master-planned golf community in the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills. Excellent conditioning and a clever routing by Robbins make Deer Brook a top-quality golf experience. Its bentgrass greens are medium- sized and sited on subtle knolls and hollows. Water comes into play on seven holes. Click here for more information about Deer Brook!

Hole No. 13, Hawthorn Woods Country Club, Hawthorn Woods, IL (10th)

Hole No. 13, Hawthorn Woods Country Club, Hawthorn Woods, IL (10th)

A true thinking-man’s par-4, the 10th at Hawthorn Woods plays shorter than 400 yards even at its longest. Golfers must strongly consider playing their tee shots with fairway wood or a long iron to the plateau landing area. The best-positioned tee shot will leave a middle iron for the approach shot. From atop the plateau the green sits well below the fairway and is protected by a bunker right and a water hazard left, putting accuracy at a premium. Set amidst rolling countryside and centered on a championship Arnold Palmer Signature golf course, Hawthorn Woods is a private enclave that offers a high quality of life and proximity to the commerce and culture of Chicago. Click here for more information about Hawthorn Woods!

Hole No. 14, Glacier Club, Durango, CO (5th, Glacier nine)

Hole No. 14,  Glacier Club, Durango, CO (5th, Glacier nine)

No. 5 on the Glacier nine up in the light air of this sporting community is a strategic par-4 that plays from 330 to 360 yards downhill, depending on tee placement. Position, not necessarily length, is the appropriate strategy. The long, narrow green is protected by a wetland on the right and bunkers left. Wise golfers will be sure to avoid the menacing bunker in the center of the fairway to have their best chance of sticking the second close to the hole. Glacier Club is a private luxury, mountain golf community just outside of Durango amid the natural magnificence of the surrounding Rockies landscape. Its amenities are already built and ready for members’ enjoyment, including 27 holes of golf –three of the most scenic and satisfying nines in the Rockies. Click here for more information about Glacier Club!

Hole No. 15, Mountain Air Country Club, Burnsville, NC (1st)

Hole No. 15, Mountain Air Country Club, Burnsville, NC (1st)

The Mountain Air motif of elevated teeing grounds playing down to sinuous fairways begins at the alpine club’s par-4 first. It’s a charming, 361-yard finesse hole with a dogleg-right fairway and a compact green surrounded by four bunkers. Most golf communities in the eastern U.S. look up to Mountain Air, which perches on a 4,600-foot peak called Slickrock Mountain. With 70 degree mid-summer temperatures and 100-mile panoramic views, the community’s 6,425-yard original 18 (watch for a new nine opening soon) is a joy to play in summer. Click here for more information about Mountain Air Country Club!

Hole No. 16, The Bridges at Preston Crossings, Gunter, TX (14th)

Hole No. 16, The Bridges at Preston Crossings, Gunter, TX (14th)

The Bridges at Preston Crossings is a new master-planned community being built on the site of the historic MM Ranch. It’s a 1,580-acre site well-suited for the design style of Fred Couples, who uses subtle land features to create appealing and disconcerting shot challenges. Couples outdid himself in designing the thought-provoking and truly demanding par-5,  No. 14 Hole,  which can play as long as 619 yards from the black tee markers. Most members would take the hole on from the blue tees,  making this a 536-yard three-shorter. Assuming you drive it well, the next challenge is to play across a pond to the left side of what becomes a split fairway, and wedge it onto the green from there. If you play away from the pond, a good second shot will leave you in a low, trough-like section of fairway playing upslope to the green.
Click here for information about The Bridges at Preston Crossing!  

Hole No. 17, Horn Rapids, Richland WA (14th)

Hole No. 17, Horn Rapids, Richland WA (14th)

Keith Foster, praised for his skill in balancing visual beauty with strategic complexity, provides us our penultimate challenge with this position-over-power par-5. The 512-yard 14th at Horn Rapids begins with a U.K.-style blind tee shot to something of an “island fairway.” Longer hitters have to club down to avoid driving through the fairway into a transition area. The approach shot will need to keep to the right side of the green to avoid the bunkers fronting the left side of the green. Horn Rapids is an 800-acre, master-planned golf community near the banks of the Yakima River in the sunny, temperate Tri-Cities region of Washington. The community’s reputation for neighborhood sociability extends to its Keith Foster-designed golf course with it sweeping desert views. Click here for more information about Horn Rapids! 

Hole No. 18, PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (18th, Champion Course)

Hole No. 18, PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (18th, Champion Course)

A classic 18th on a tour-tested layout provides the closing hole for this edition of the Dream 18. The 18th at the Champion Course (home to the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic) exemplifies this community’s landmark status in the world of competitive golf. The hole, newly renovated by Jack Nicklaus, is a 600-yard double-dogleg par-5 that starts with a long carry over a reedy Florida swamp and doesn’t let up. It was the scene of a Ryder Cup- winning wedge shot by Lanny Wadkins in 1983. PGA National is a resort community that not only offers five golf courses, but amenities from spa to tennis to health and fitness.

2nd Annual List of the Dream 18 Holes: The 2008 Front Nine is Divine

    
The Villages at Tullymore, MI: The #1 Dream Hole

The Dream 18
2nd Annual Dream 18
by Editors of GolfCourseHome

If you were to play 18 of the finest, most memorable golf holes to be found within any golf course community, which ones would they be? You’ll find the answers in this Second Annual Dream 18 listing, devined from among the 200-plus communities featured on GolfCourseHome.net. 

These havens of the country club lifestyle represent more than 5,000 golf holes, 300-plus championship courses and more than 75 different golf architects—a wealth to choose from. Many of the courses are highly ranked by the leading golf publications and have been crafted by the great names in golf course design. Best of all, you can live on them. 

If you'd like to add your own favorite golf hole to this list,  please email us and we’ll be glad to publish your selections  at a later date. This issue we present the Front Nine. See our next issue for the Back Nine.

The Front Nine

1. The Villages of Tullymore, (12th), Stanwood, MI
2. Kingsmill on the James (15th – Woods Course), Williamsburg, VA
3. Tennessee National, (12th), Loudon, TN
4. Blackstone, (8th) Peoria, AZ
5. Ross Bridge (13th), Hoover, AL
6. Montreux (17th) Reno, NV
7. The Club at Olde Stone (16th) Alvaton, KY
8. Sugarloaf Mountain (13th), Cleremont, FL
9. Heron Point by Pete Dye, Sea Pines (18th), Hilton Head, SC

Hole No. 1, The Villages of Tullymore, (12th), Stanwood, MI. The Tullymore golf course, designed by Jim Engh and ranked No. 14 on Golf Digest’s "100 Greatest Public Courses,” is a canopy of rolling woodland and waterway within the 800-acre Tullymore - St. Ives Resort complex. Lakes dot the landscape and Shinglebolt Creek winds through it. This year’s “dream 18” begins there with a classically quirky and British-style par-3 that many have likened to the famous “Dell” hole at Lahinch in the west of Ireland. The common feature between the two is a green mostly hidden behind a substantial dune. No. 12 at Tullymore, at 247 yards, certainly outsizes its Irish predecessor. Click here for information about The Villages at Tullymore!

Hole No. 2, Kingsmill on the James, (15th – Woods Course), Williamsburg, VA. This 2,900-acre resort community is growing in popularity among home buyers even as its amenity package continues to expand and improve. The new Woods Course, named by Golf Magazine a "Top Ten New Course You Can Play," was designed by Tom Clark in concert with U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange. The duo ornamented their 6,659-yard parkland-style design with a unique double green with a bunker in the center. The green is shared—St. Andrews style—by the par-3 12th hole and our featured par-4 15th. Though only 384 yards long, No. 15 ranks as the fourth-hardest hole on the course, due in large part to an imposing water hazard that fronts the green. Click here for more information about Kingsmill on the James!

Hole No. 3, Tennessee National, (12th), Loudon, TN. Rolling hills and over three miles of waterfront provide a  bucolic setting for Medallist Development’s bold and history-minded Tennessee National. Carving his way through foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Greg Norman laid out a richly varied golf course, using the shoreline of Watts Bar Lake as a hazard on several holes. One excellent example is Norman’s intimidating par-3 12th hole, guarded down the right side by the famous lake and swarming with bunkers—eight in total—up by the green. From the front tees it’s a sporty little hole, but way back at 209 yards it is a daunting proposition. Click here for more information about Tennessee National!

Hole No. 4, Blackstone, (8th) Peoria, AZ. Thrilling mountain views and black volcanic rock, indigenous to the area from which the community earned its name, make this community (within Vistancia) a jewel of the desert and make the Blackstone golf course, designed by Jim Engh, a visual delight. Engh’s gift for adapting classic hole designs of Great Britain and of America’s so-called Golden Age is on display in this “punchbowl” style par-4. The genius of the design is that the same raised mounds that partially hide the green serve to gather off-line shots and steer them toward the flag. Click here for more information about Blackstone!

Hole No. 5, Ross Bridge (13th), Hoover, AL Ross Bridge is a private community set within an exciting golf  resort and spa complex in a woodland setting near Birmingham. It combines small-town comforts with sweeping views of the surrounding foothills, plus a destination golf course that is part of the famed Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. The Ross Bridge course is big and brawny in the Jones tradition, sprawling over 330 acres and stretching almost 8,200 yards. The hole at Ross Bridge that truly tests a player’s fortitude is the 698-yard (no typo) par-5 13th, lined with hazards from tee to green. Click here for more information Ross Bridge!

Hole No. 6, Montreux (17th) Reno, NV Montrêux is a private, gated golf community bordering Toiyabe National Forest in the Sierra Nevada mountain range near Lake Tahoe. It is home to the only Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in northern Nevada and the host site of  the PGA Tour’s Reno-Tahoe Open. Montrêux’s 18-hole Nicklaus Signature course winds over 7,552 yards. Also, the tee elevation above the fairway on the 17th hole is 138 feet, giving the drive a heroic “hang time” that leaves players sighing their approval. Click here for more information about Montreux!

Hole No. 7, The Club at Olde Stone (16th) Alvaton, KY. Tucked serenely into the rolling hills of Kentucky, Olde Stone offers all the amenities of your favorite club community. It starts with a championship golf course designed by Arthur Hills, a resort-style swimming pool with a zero entry feature and an adult Jacuzzi garden. The golf course was named a "Best New Private Course" for 2007 by Golf Digest, partly on the strength of its “Redan-style” par-3 16th, featuring the classic front-right bunker placement and a side-sloping green that allows shots to be played short and right of the putting surface, so that they kick toward the standard pin placement in the back left portion of the green. Click here for more information about The Club at Olde Stone!

Hole No. 8, Sugarloaf Mountain (13th), Cleremont, FL. This new, 1,400-acre private community occupies the  highest point in the Florida peninsula and is home to the Sunshine State’s only Bill Coore-Ben Crenshaw golf course. One of its highlights is the 507-yard 13th, a par-4 of seemingly prodigious length. In fact, it's the longest par 4 in Florida, but the blind tee shot plays severely downhill, reminiscent of the 10th at Augusta National, so the hole plays quite a bit shorter than its stated yardage. If the drive comes “slingshotting” off the slope correctly, your second shot can be played with a short iron. Click here for more information about Sugarloaf Mountain!

Hole No. 9, Heron Point by Pete Dye, Sea Pines (18th), Hilton Head, SC. Probably the newest hole in this collection, the closing hole at Heron Point is knee-knocking par-4, especially for the hook-prone golfer staring at water all the way down the left side, and more water behind the green— which is fortified at the edges by Pete Dye’s trademark railroad ties. Graceful mounds and folds to the right of the green ensures a tricky stance and lie for the player who chickened out and faded or blocked the approach shot. Dye was hired to “tear down” the decades-old Sea Marsh course that helped establish Sea Pines as a Sunbelt resort-residential community for the affluent golfer. Click here for more information about Sea Pines Plantation!