America's Premier Properties
Best for Resort Lifestyle
Resorts and real estate are no longer separate and distinct the way they used to be. In fact, the line between the two has blurred more than ever in golf, especially as more resort developers and owners are entering the real estate market as a way of increasing revenue.
Residents of many of these communities can really take advantage of the services and amenities of a top resort without the hassles of staying at a large hotel or the inconveniences of a small room. They can stay for as long as they want and enjoy more freedom than the average resort guest.
The golf courses at the following 18 Premier Properties are open to the public. Some may require guests to stay at the resort; some limit public play to certain days of the week. Others don’t have any restrictions. Whatever the case, it doesn’t matter to residents of these properties, who enjoy unfettered access to great golf.
Bay HarborBest for Resort Lifestyle - Bay Harbor, MI
Sitting on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, Arthur Hills' 27-hole layout at Bay Harbor is a can't-miss stop for any visitor to Northern Michigan. The…
Cougar CanyonBest for Resort Lifestyle - Trinidad, CO
Just north of the New Mexico border in southern Colorado, Cougar Canyon is a pioneer for golf living in the area. The 7,669-yard layout sits…
Cuscowilla on Lake OconeeBest for Resort Lifestyle - Eatonton, GA
Acclaimed architecture duo Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore crafted another winner, this time on the shores of Lake Oconee, with well-designed holes that give players…
Ginn Hammock Beach ResortBest for Resort Lifestyle - Palm Coast, FL
Although Florida is surrounded by water, most of the golf courses in the state steer clear of it. Jack Nicklaus' Ocean course is an exception,…
GinnReunion ResortBest for Resort Lifestyle - Reunion, FL
Reunion can boast four of the biggest names in golf-in addition to courses built by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, the resort community…
Homestead PreserveBest for Resort Lifestyle - Hot Springs, VA
Homestead Preserve residents have access to the numerous amenities and services of the namesake resort that is one of the most venerated addresses in golf.…
Kapalua ResortBest for Resort Lifestyle - Kapalua, HI
Kapalua Resort is among the best in the world, with numerous activities and amenities, including the Plantation course, the annual host of the PGA Tour's…
Kingsmill on the JamesBest for Resort Lifestyle - Williamsburg, VA
The Pete Dye-designed River course has been a longtime host of both the PGA and LPGA tours, but there is far more to Kingsmill than…
Ledges of St. GeorgeBest for Resort Lifestyle - St. George, UT
Matt Dye, Pete's nephew, has established his design credentials with a 7,145-yard course that asks for heroic shots at several points in the layout. Those…
New SeaburyBest for Resort Lifestyle - Mashpee, MA
A longtime fixture in the popular summer destination of Cape Cod, New Seabury has 36 strong holes with views of Nantucket Sound and Martha's Vineyard,…
Powder Horn Golf CommunityBest for Resort Lifestyle - Sheridan, WY
Powder Horn's three nines, Mountain, Stag and Eagle, each offer distinct challenges and landscapes, from the open Mountain to the wooded Stag. One quality they…
Red Sky Ranch & Golf ClubBest for Resort Lifestyle - Wolcott, CO
Public play alternates daily between the two layouts, so both members and guests of local hotels and resorts can avoid the fatigue that comes with…
Running Y RanchBest for Resort Lifestyle - Klamath Falls, OR
Oregon's transformation into a major golf destination now extends to the southern portion, where Arnold Palmer's 7,138-yard layout anchors the Running Y Ranch resort community.
Sea Pines ResortBest for Resort Lifestyle - Hilton Head Island, SC
While Harbour Town Golf Links is one of the best courses in the country, Sea Pines' otheramenities-tennis center, beaches-measure up just as well.
Skywater over Horseshoe BayBest for Resort Lifestyle - Horseshoe Bay, TX
Lake living in the Lone Star State doesn't get any better than at Skywater, located in the heart of Hill Country. Residents can access the…
TetherowBest for Resort Lifestyle - Bend, OR
David McLay Kidd has opened two highly anticipated courses in his native Scotland this year. But Tetherow, in his adopted Oregon hometown, just may be…
Treetops ResortBest for Resort Lifestyle - Gaylord, MI
Golf in Northern Michigan starts at Treetops, the state's premier resort. It is also the home of noted teacher Rick Smith, who designed three of…
Villas at the Grand Del MarBest for Resort Lifestyle - San Diego, CA
Fractional share opportunities are available at the recently opened Grand Del Mar, a luxury resort north of San Diego with the area's only layout by…
America's Premier Properties
In the face of a negative real estate market, upscale golf communities have held up better than expected. A large part of the reason is that they provide more than just physical space—America’s Premier Properties lavishes residents with amenities that are impossible to quantify.
And because no community can be everything to everybody, we have made this guide even more useful by categorizing the communities according to amenities or features that may be most important to you. These categories will help narrow your search, whether you are a skiier, sailor or city person. So happy hunting, and best of luck on an exciting journey that hopefully takes you to the most rewarding of ends: your dream home.
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Click on a Category to View Premier Properties
- Best of The Best
- Best for Beaches
- Best for Boating
- Best for Club Life
- Best for Convenience to City Life
- Best for Equestrian Facilities
- Best for Families
- Best for Fractional Ownership
- Best for Golf
- Best for Green Living
- Best for Outdoor Pursuits
- Best for Resort Lifestyle
- Best for Value
- Best for Winter Sports