In the something-for-everyone era of golf community development in the 1980s and ‘90s, developers loaded on the amenities. If a prospect didn’t play golf, then tennis, an Olympic-sized pool, a state of the art fitness center and even nature trails would be lure enough. And if the developer was fortunate enough to have acquired a couple of thousand acres adjoining a deep body of water, better yet. Everyone loves to look at water, even if they hate the thought of their golf balls landing in it. It also is not hard to buy the argument that a home in a community on a lake, river or ocean is more likely to maintain its value over time.
If you play golf and also have a little of the ship captain in you, the following are just a few examples of golf communities that also could very well float your boat -– literally and figuratively. The Reserve on Lake Keowee, Sunset, SC — In the 1970s, Duke Energy opened the floodgates on Keowee Dam, creating the means for hydroelectric power and thousands of miles of new shoreline, a boon for residential community development in upstate South Carolina. The 200 slips at The Reserve’s marina are available to residents, but the full-purpose facility also rents kayaks and canoes for those whose interest is more occasional.
The Jack Nicklaus Signature course is highly rated and makes good use of the adjacent lake. Home sites start in the $100s, with homes from $500s. The Point, Lake Norman, NC –- With 18 miles of shoreline bordering the 1,200-acre gated community, many homes and home sites feature their own boat slips; most of the rest at least have views of the water. The Greg Norman designed course at the heart of the community features water views from 13 of its 18 holes. At just a half-hour from Charlotte, homes begin in the $600s. Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, SC –- The Intracoastal Waterway runs from Maine to Florida, mostly threading through islands along the coast. But in Myrtle Beach, the waterway is a mile from the ocean, and Grande Dunes’ full-service marina is wide and deep enough to accommodate boats up to 120-feet long. Featuring an 18-hole Nick Price designed “Members” course –- one of the few private clubs in the 90-mile stretch of Myrtle Beach’s Grand Strand –- and an even better semi-private course by Roger Rulewich. A two-bedroom Marina Inn villa is currently listed at $169,900.
Queen’s Harbour Yacht & Country Club, Jacksonville, FL — The boats that line the canal along the finishing holes of the Mark McCumber course seem close enough to touch, and if your friends own one of the yachts, you might be lucky enough to be invited aboard for an after-round libation. With easy access to the Atlantic Ocean and dozens of other courses run by Club Corp., membership can take you a long way. Homes begin in the high $200s.
Black Pearl Marina, Jupiter, FL — For those who prefer their boating close but not too close to their golf, many independent marinas are just a short distance from excellent golf communities. One example: Black Pearl Marina is less than two minutes from the famed Jupiter Hills Country Club community, home to two golf courses by the brothers Fazio, Tom and George. Add just a few more minutes to the reasonably priced Tequesta Country Club, home to senior pro tour players Olin Browne and Russ Cochran.
About Larry Gavrich
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