Nine Thriving Golf Course Communities

Despite the closing of courses across the country, many builders are enjoying success with golf-based communities. Here are some recent openings and renovations:

–At the 2,000-acre Boot Ranch in Fredericksburg, Texas, a multi-generational club membership extends to five generations of family, allowing parents, grandparents, kids and grandkids to fully partake of the private golf facilities. Course architect and former PGA Tour star Hal Sutton recently oversaw a $2 million renovation of the course he originally designed 12 years ago and developer Terra Verde Group invested another $1 million in an 18-hole, 35,000-square-foot putting park aimed at all ages of golfers and golfers-to-be.

–The Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course at Red Ledges in Heber, Utah, recently added a new set of “Golden Bear” tees, placed to help new golfers—including many retirees who now have time to take up the game—ease into their new playing experience. The community includes a 12-hole Golf Park, also designed by Nicklaus, that offers a low-key, fun outing for both novice and expert golfers and doubles as an area for soccer, Frisbee, dog-walking, and kite-flying.

–Nicklaus is also overseeing a total renovation of the Great Waters course at Reynolds Lake Oconee near Atlanta, one of six 18-hole layouts in the 12,000-acre property.

–Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Camelot Homes recently announced the opening of its 49 Villas at Seven Desert Mountain on the private 18-hole No. 7 at Desert Mountain course. Homeowners will have the option to become lifestyle or equity golf members of Desert Mountain.

–Near San Antonio, Texas, developers of the Cordillera Ranch golf community report that it continues to grow at an impressive pace – with nearly 800 homes completed (and more than 1,200 lot sales) in the community. At final build-out, Cordillera Ranch will total approximately 2,500 homes. The gated, 8,700-acre luxury neighborhood has generated $300 million in real estate activity the past three years.

— Located in Northern Virginia, Creighton Farms 900-acre gated community with a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course will soon open a state-of-the-art indoor Golf Performance Center featuring instructional games such as moveable TrackMan launch monitors, golf swing analysis software from Gears Golk, a K-Vest body capture and biofeedback system, simulation golfing screen for inclement weather and instruction, and a SAM putting analysis system. The new center will also have a golf club maintenance room with tools, machines, and products to re-grip, change loft and lie, change the length of clubs.

–In August, Drees Homes announced it had signed on to build in the Lebanon, Ohio golf course community, Shaker Run, joining Fischer Homes with 27 new home sites including a long-term option of an additional 100+ homesites. The Shaker Run Golf Club’s original designer, Arthur Hills, is returning to revamp the nearly 40-year-old course.

–Last November, Neal Communities launched the Boca Royale Golf and Country Club, a semi-private club within a 1,000-acre, master-planned community in Englewood, Fla. In addition to an 18-hole 72-par golf course, the community includes a state-of-the-art fitness facility and bocce ball, croquet, and tennis courts.

— Five years after designing the signature course at Esplanade Golf and Country Club at Lakewood Ranch in southwest Florida, Michigan golf course architect Chris Wilczynski will create a second golf course at the master-planned community, according to Golf Course Architecture magazine. The newest Wilczynski design will be the seventh 18-hole layout on the 31,000-acre property located between Bradenton and Sarasota.