Live the Dream in Today’s Amenity-Packed Golf Communities

We, like millions, cheered as Highland Park native Scottie Scheffler won the coveted Masters title last weekend. There’s no denying our obsession with golf. And if the surging popularity of golfing properties is any indication, many are wanting to live the dream.   

“When Covid hit, people wanted out of city life and into gated golf communities,” says Jason Becker, chief executive of Golf Life Navigators, a site that matches people with golf memberships and homes. “As a result, inventory levels have reached historic lows in many communities worldwide, and pricing continues to rise.”

Taber Anderson, CEO of Old Lighthouse Golf & Ocean Club in Los Cabos, Mexico, concurs.

“In top-tier locations, prices have risen 50 to over 100 percent over the past 24 to 36 months,” he says. “The lingering pandemic is playing a significant role in encouraging those with means to move forward with meaningful lifestyle purchases such as second, third, or fourth homes in highly amenitized, golf-plus communities.”

Ready to spend some green to live on one? The following tips can help you find the perfect property.

Location, location, location.

Like all real estate investments, destination matters. “You can only play golf so much, and you’re going to be off the course more than you’re on, so you need to love the area where you buy and have nongolf diversions,” says Philip A. White Jr., the president of Sotheby’s International Realty and an avid golfer.

“I always prefer and recommend locations that are within a three-hour drive from one’s principal residence,” Anderson says.

Consider the full package of amenities.

“Our multi-generational amenities fit a broad range of people,” says listing agent Georgia Chase of Chase International, who represents Clear Creek Tahoe in Carson City, Nevada. In addition to featuring the state’s top golf course, the development also offers hiking, skiing, and boating, plus the safety of living in a secure environment.

Other in-demand attractions are geared to residents of all ages. (Think fully equipped gyms, tennis and pickleball courts, pools, spas, pools, and equestrian centers — not to mention, world-class restaurants and bars.)

“Depending on the community, you can have a robust social life and not go anywhere near the golf course,” Julian Walker, company director with London-based real estate firm Spot Blue International Property told The New York Times.

Shop around.

Ask a lot of questions: Who are the buyers? What are the all-in costs of ownership? How stable are the community and developer? What is the resale market like?

“Do not buy the first thing you look at,” advises Anderson. “Explore competitive communities in the particular market where you’re looking for a property.”

Work with an experienced agent.

“You want an agent who can help you navigate what can be a tricky process,” White says. “A seasoned agent not only has strong connections with the golf communities in their market, but they are also aware of off-market listings that the general public doesn’t know about.”

About the properties:

Old Lighthouse Club. This exclusive property has location on its side — in spades. The private, gated neighborhood within the Quivira Los Cabos resort is situated between downtown Cabo and the beach — where the Sea of Cortés meets the Pacific Ocean at the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula.

In addition to the Jack Nicklaus-designed “World Top 100” course, amenities include three miles of pristine beaches, a beach house, a family activity center, an 18-hole putting course, parks, and gardens. A second Jack Nicklaus Signature course was announced this past January.

Clear Creek Tahoe. Golf is just the start, touts the property website. Along with the nationally acclaimed Coore & Crenshaw golf course, family-friendly amenities include a clubhouse, summit camp, and miles of trails for hiking, biking, and skiing.

Located on the eastern slope of Tahoe’s Carson Range, the property is surrounded by six million acres of national forest. Homesites are as dramatic and diverse as the land itself, offering spectacular mountain views and long alpenglow vistas.

The Cape on Kiawah. In a pristine, last-of-its-kind oceanfront setting on South Carolina’s Kiawah Island, The Cape on Kiawah is a 14-acre, year-round retreat of sea, sand, marsh, and river — and home to just 78 distinctive residences and penthouses within the island’s original West Beach community. This private island community boasts seven world-class golf courses designed by Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Clyde Johnston, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson. The club also offers boating, fishing, swimming, biking, and hiking plus a spa and wellness center.