What’s New at Golf Communities Right Now?
By Bob Dagley Club Membership: All in the Family The “one-membership-fits-all” formula is a thing of the past. From multi-generational memberships to pick-and-choose menus, clubs are trying out new ways to bring more people into the fold. For members, that often means getting more for their dues and/or paying less. John’s Island Club in […]
How Do Older Communities Stay Relevant?
By Graylyn Loomis Older communities have employed any number of strategies to remain successful and relevant over the long haul. The economy rises and falls. The public’s tastes change. Golf goes in and out of fashion, as do other sports and activities. All of which begs the question: How does a real estate community […]
Darren Clarke on The Abaco Club at Winding Bay
By David Desmith One of golf’s most affable stars recharges his batteries at The Abaco Club in The Bahamas. By his recollection, the first few times Darren Clarke encountered sea breezes were when his family left their home in Dungannon, Northern Ireland, to go on holiday at the beaches of Donegal or Portrush. “We were […]
The Cliffs Communities Continue to Grow and Expand
By Bob Dagley For those who have been paying close attention, the private golf community market has changed in the last few years. And for the better. While once builders told buyers what they should look for in a new home and community, these days it’s the complete opposite. “Now, it’s what do buyers […]
Belfair – South Carolina Golf Community
By Graylyn Loomis In 1811 William Telfair and Betsey Bellinger of Savannah, Ga., were married and built a plantation in Bluffton, S.C. They called it Belfair, a combination of their two names. Today, more than 200 years later, that rich history and tradition remain a key part of Belfair—recognized by its half mile avenue of […]
Southern Comfortable: The Virginian Golf Club
By James A. Frank At The Virginian, the atmosphere is relaxed, the surroundings are majestic, and the quality of life at its highest. You can tell a lot about a golf club from its driving range. Not just the obvious things like attention to detail, what the maintenance practices are, and if the players are […]
Does the Golf Course Architect Matter?

Ted Vassallo, a retired civil engineer from Vermont, says the identity of the golf course architect wasn’t a major factor when he and wife Jan were deciding which of the seven communities at The Cliffs to move into. “We originally intended building a house up in the mountains at Glassy, which has a Tom Jackson […]
Blackstone at Vistancia, Arizona
Situated in the rolling foothills of the Northwest Valley near Phoenix, the private luxury golf course community of Blackstone at Vistancia offers a relaxed, family-friendly lifestyle surrounded by the special beauty of the Sonoran Desert—plus the convenience of the big city just a short drive away. Most of the 300 homes sit along the award-winning […]
Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club
When the recession hit a few years back, Superstition Mountain – located in the less populated, more open area east of Phoenix – opened its two dramatic Nicklaus-designed courses to outside play. With the economy improved, the club has returned to private status, and the future is looking bright. “There’s been a big jump in […]
Four Seasons of Fun at Glacier Club
Durango, in southwest Colorado, has been called the top adventure hub in North America for its four seasons of fun. Smack in the middle of this Rocky Mountain playground—and sitting next to three million acres of untouchable national forest—the private Glacier Club offers an active lifestyle designed for families. By next summer, there will be […]