Golf Course Communities in the Tampa Bay Area

The Gulf Coast of Florida in the Tampa Bay vicinity has the most pristine coastline and premium beach real estate that just cannot be duplicated elsewhere. The spectacular, natural landscapes and clear, warm Gulf waters have made this area, also known as the Sun Coast, popular for tourists and for those moving to Florida.

Golf has long been a popular pursuit for Floridians and visitors. Recognizing this, the State of Florida provides a plethora of golfing opportunities throughout its sun drenched territory for golfing enthusiasts to enjoy, and the Tampa Bay area of Florida is no exception.

With more than 70 golf courses located throughout the Sun Coast of Florida, tourists and residents can utilize the wonderful sand and surf to get in a round of golf like none other. The sights, sounds, and scents that surround you will add depth to your golf game, whether you are taking in a quick 9 holes, or enjoying a full 18.

After you’ve had a relaxing round of golf, head to the water’s edge for a refreshing swim in the warm gulf waters. Then catch a game of beach volleyball, either as a spectator, or get in on the fun yourself. The Tampa Bay area of Florida gives you the best of two worlds, with premier golfing facilities and pure beachfront properties.

The influx of golfing enthusiasts, who have relocated to Florida’s Sun Coast, has given birth to several golf communities near these beach communities. This is indeed the uniting of two incredible pursuits in one. Do you like the idea of awakening to brilliantly colored sunrises, leisurely meals, and the excitement of a good round of golf? And then heading to the beach for a sunset? If you do, you might be interested in moving into one of the golf communities conveniently located near the beaches of the Sun Coast.

Here are just six examples of the kind of golf communities that are available to you in the Tampa Bay Florida area. You can choose from these and many other quality golfing communities to find the right place to settle in where you can easily play golf whenever you want, and then choose to spend the rest of the day at the beach relaxing.

Champions Club: The Champions Club, in Trinity, is in the heart of the tri-county area, which encompasses Pasco, Pinellas & Hillsborough Counties. It is made up of seven premier villages, all with a Mediterranean theme. Each village here is entered through their own private gate. The luxury of the Champions’ Club is centered around a $4 million Mediterranean-style club house. More than half of the homes here border the championship golf course at Fox Hollow Golf Club. Fox Hollow Golf Course is the last course designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones.

Cove Cay: As you drive over Bayside Bridge, you will see the magnificently manicured grounds of this beautiful golf community situated along Tampa Bay. This community offers residents condominium living at its finest. 24 hour security is provided at this gated community. You can take in a good round of golf while inhaling the spectacular views provided by the landscaping and the Bay. Residents are sprinkled among four villages and each has its own club house and other amenities. Shopping, Dining, and Entertainment is just minutes from this community.

Crescent Oaks: This Pinellas County gated golfing community is a committed golfers dream come true! Beautiful homes are situated along this community’s Private 18 hole golf course. Residents will also find a pro shop, clubhouse, pool, tennis, and both Fitness and Dining centers on its well-maintained grounds.

Lansbrook: Situated in the East Lake area of Tarpon Springs, Lansbrook is one of the finest daily fee golf clubs offering an exciting and challenging course design. Lansbrook is a first rate golf club surrounded by lush Florida landscaping and some of the most exquisite single family homes in Pinellas County. Visit the Lansbrook Lakefront Park directly on Tarpon Lake after a round of golf and enjoy boating and fishing as well.

Cypress Run: Nestled among Cypress and Oaks, this course is definitely one of the best maintained and designed golf courses in all of Tampa Bay. With extra wide fairways and fast greens, even the most seasoned player will consider a day on this course a challenge. It’s no wonder that two professionals of the PGA Tour (John Huston and Skip Kendall) have memberships here. Homes in Cypress Run can have panoramic views of the golf course that are unmatched in any other golf course community.

East Lake Woodlands: Centrally located between Tampa and Clearwater, East Lake Woodlands is more than just a golf course community. Not only does it offer two 18 hole championship courses but also a full service country club elegant enough for weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and many other formal celebrations. The golf course is broken down into a north and a south course with large fairways and oversized greens. There are also multiple lighted tennis courts and a full service pro shop. Homes in East Lake Woodlands range from condos and villas to large executive style estates on preserve or with golf course wide open views.

Your local real estate agent is available to help you locate and tour the different golf communities and explore golf course real estate in the Tampa Bay area. You are certain to find one to call ….home.

About the Author

Bob Lipply and his team of full time, full service Tampa Bay Realtors, work hard to find the perfect home for their customers. An avid golfer himself, Bob can help you find the ideal golf course community. View available properties at Tampa Bay Real Estate, or you can also call toll free at 1-888-423-5775. We answer all calls promptly.

Golf Course Management

Playing a good round of golf comes with a lot of good golf course management. Sure it is great to know how to have a great golf swing, but if you haven?t got course management, then you haven?t got a game plan.

Have you ever noticed a professional golfer standing beside their caddie in a discussion about the next golf shot at hand? You can rest assured that they were not talking about Larry King live, unless he was in the pro-am the day before and he was leading the tournament. They are discussing the previous results and golf placement on where they hit their golf shot the prior hole before in the practice round or regulation round. Course management is what they are talking about. Every golf shot is tagged to the nearest yard. If you want to play a good golf shot, you have to know your distance and what type of situation you?re up against. This is where good golfers with a good course management excel over their competition.

Taking all the great golfers and great golf swings into consideration, without the proper knowledge about distance, wind, uphill, downhill and all the great earthly weather that is always a surprise at times can be quite demanding to the best golfer at times. If you think that all you need is a great golf swing and a great set of golf clubs, you should rethink your game again. A lot of great golfers fall prey to a golfer with better course management. These same golfers with good course management do not need to out distance their competitor. They just need to place their ball where the next golf shot is a walk in the park.

If you haven?t got a clue about course management, your handicap is going to soar into the high double-digit figures. When you are talking about the shot at hand, you must take in consideration the prior distance and weather condition on your previous shot with the club selection at hand. Was the golf shot uphill with a wind behind you or against you? When choosing a golf club, one must ask a series of questions before making a formal decision. Do I want to play my next shot over a sand trap? Do I want to play my next golf shot with a pitching wedge or a 7 iron? In other words, do I want to fly the golf shot into the green, or place it where I can bump and run the next golf shot into the green?

Course management requires the golfer in paying attention to golf holes that are next to the hole that they are playing. They are constantly looking for good golf position for the next hole before they even tee up the golf ball. They are also checking out greens as far as slope and surrounding sand traps. Knowing where pin placement is, way before you?re sitting out in the middle of the fairway will definitely help on club selection. You may decide to play less club, because of the simple fact of a two-tier green and the pin is sitting on the bottom level. You would never have that knowledge at hand if you did not eye the situation on the prior hole unless you played it once before. It is called course management.

Take a good look at the golf terrain and conditions that you are playing in and pay attention to golf holes that you walk by. Knowing the golf terrain well in advance will make it a lot easier on golf club selection and help drive confidence going forward.

About the Author:

Learned to play golf as a caddie in the mid sixties and continue to enjoy the game today. Now running a discount tee time site at http://www.golfanchor.net and a sister site at http://www.golfanchor.com

Las Vegas Golf Courses, and the “Losers” Who Play Them

It should come as no surprise that some of the most expensive golf clubs in the country are found in and around Las Vegas. It’s just not as easy as you might think to keep a lush green in the middle of a desert! That said, many private golf courses in the area don’t even list rates, so one can only guess how steep the rates actually are. But there are still a number of private and public courses where you can go and play a great round of golf – and still leave the green with some greenbacks in your wallet.

I lost at blackjack last night but I still have $50 left…can I play golf, or should I just head over to the slot machines instead?

Well, I guess that all depends on just how lucky you feel. But if you are tired of giving the casinos all of your money, and want to take advantage of the great golf courses Las Vegas has to offer, then you are in luck…maybe. A growing concern for those wanting to play on the golf courses in the Las Vegas area is the fluctuating rates. Hey, we’re all used to rates changing due to seasons, lighting conditions, reservations…the works. But some of the golf courses in Las Vegas have divided the seasons up in ever-more-imaginative ways, that seem to try and squeeze every last possible dollar out of the green. However (and this is subject to change, so DEFINITELY try to book some green time as far in advance as possible), the following golf courses can be played for $50 or less: Craig Ranch, Los Prados, and Eagle Crest.

I managed to escape the casinos with $100…golf anyone?

If you have been able to squirrel away a Ben Franklin, then a lot of the golf courses Las Vegas offers will gladly put you on the green. Now again, the rates at some golf courses are changing by the day, it seems – so be sure to check before showing up with only Ben. Those officially posting fees of $100 or less during the winter months are: Desert Rose, Las Vegas Golf Club, Painted Desert, Highland Falls, Palm Valley, Las Vegas National Golf Club, and the Rhodes Ranch. Oh, and for those not “in the know”, rates tend to be higher for golf courses in Las Vegas during the winter months, as the heat can be downright brutal during the summer. Oh yeah, Las Vegas is in the middle of a big desert, isn’t it?

I really need to stretch my golfing funds as much as possible…what options do I have?

No worries, my friend – sometimes the cards just aren’t rolling. You can save anywhere from $5-15 by walking golf courses instead of driving the carts. Not a great option during the heat of the summer months, but an option that can help stretch the dollar a little farther.

Twilight rates are another way to save money, but they can be very confusing. What is most confusing about the golf courses Las Vegas has to offer is that their twilight rates are not necessarily offered in the dying light. During the summer months, and due to the extreme heat, twilight hours tend to start in the late morning and early afternoon. In the winter, however, twilight hours occur at the end of the day, and it is not uncommon for golfers to not get in an entire 18 holes.

While Las Vegas does have many exclusive golf clubs, with prices so steep that they refuse to post them, there are a number of reasonably priced golf courses that offer some great greens at prices even the worst of gamblers can afford. Plus, if you are wise and plan accordingly, you can get those low prices even lower – and maybe even get in another round of golf to keep your mind off those lousy cards for a few hours longer! After a great round on the green, I can promise you that you will not leave Las Vegas feeling like a “loser” – even if your wallet tells you otherwise.

About the Author

Albert Medinas has developed and maintains the website Best Golf Courses, which answers the most common questions players have about Golf Courses. Please visit us at http://www.bestgolfcourses.net today.

Classic Lake Tahoe Golf Courses

Lake Tahoe golf courses provide challenging and scenic play for all levels. Though closed during the winter, Lake Tahoe Basin’s gorgeous weather, never too hot, humid, and rarely raining, allows for endless days of hitting the greens and taking in the fresh mountain air during the spring, summer, and fall.

The Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course sits on the southern shore of Lake Tahoe- a stunning setting. Tall Jeffrey Pines dot the landscape around the meticulously landscaped holes. This course hosts the Celebrity Golf Championship, which attracts the likes of Michael Jordan, Mario Lemieux and many others. The final three holes brings the golfer to the edge of Lake Tahoe for a memorable and scenic finish. Edgewood is so popular they take group reservations up to one year in advance.

On the north side of the lake, awaits the Incline Championship Golf Course. This par 72 course carries a course rating of 74.1. Golfers face water challenges on almost every hole among narrow fairways with towering pine trees. This classic course is considered by many to be one of the most pristine and best in the West. The golfer is treated to incredible mountain and lake views as they meet the challenges around the course.

The Northstar-at-Tahoe course in Truckee plays up to 6,781 yards and carries a course rating of 72.4. Play the front nine through a valley and a back nine through the woods. This course offers average size greens and challenging play. The Northstar-at-Tahoe, designed by Robert Muir Graves, rolls with the landscape and the movement of the land. This course has recently changed from a par 72 to par 71.

The Resort at Squaw Creek challenges even the best golfer. This par 71 course sits at the base of Squaw Valley USA, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics. In the middle of the wetlands of Squaw Valley, painstaking care and creative design takes into account the environment and the natural setting. Golf Magazine has called this course one of the “Top ten courses you can play.”

These are just a few of the great Tahoe golf courses in the area. If you are planning a golf vacation then Lake Tahoe is a superb destination. The weather, landscape and natural setting of Lake Tahoe combine to give the golfing enthusiast a vacation to remember for years to come.

About the Author

Alan LeStourgeon operates a vacation rental web site where you can find comfortable cabin rentals, recreational and hiking vacation information and information on Lake Tahoe golf.

Golf Course & Waterfront Living: Live, Play, Relax

With todays planned lifestyle communities, golf and boating enthusiasts have an opportunity to purchase the home of their dreams just a chip shot away from the green or stones throw from the marina.  In addition to an ideal home setting, golf and waterfront community residents enjoy an active and diversified lifestyle experience complete with first-class golf courses, marinas, beaches, spas, clubhouses, recreation areas, fine dining and countless other amenities.

With todays planned lifestyle communities, golf and boating enthusiasts have an opportunity to purchase the home of their dreams just a chip shot away from the green or stones throw from the marina.  In addition to an ideal home setting, golf and waterfront community residents enjoy an active and diversified lifestyle experience complete with first-class golf courses, marinas, beaches, spas, clubhouses, recreation areas, fine dining and countless other amenities.

Out of the 10,000 master planned communities across the United States, over 2,500 are built around golf courses and pristine waterfront property.  Making sense of all the options can be mind boggling.  If you are thinking about relocating to one of these golf and waterfront communities, it is imperative to be able to distinguish one community from the next and more importantly, know what to look for before you buy. 

Community Types

In the past, golf and waterfront master planned communities catered to distinct segments of the housing market, namely middle to upper income empty nesters and retirees.  Things have changed.  Today, golf course and waterfront developments are designed to accommodate budgets of all levels and generally fall into one of two categories: multi-generational and age restricted. 

The construction of multi-generational communities represents a recent trend in planned community home building.   The underlying idea is to attract a diverse population of families including retirees and young professionals of varying income levels and backgrounds in order to establish a robust and vibrant community.  After decades of building age restricted communities, builders and developers have recognized that the traditional elements of planned community living such as security, on-site amenities and low maintenance housing appeal to home buyers of all ages.

Most new communities are multi-generational developments.  Vistancia situated in the beautiful Sonoran desert outside of Peoria, Arizona is a recently opened golf community attracting individuals and families of all ages.  Since home sales began in March 2004, almost 500 families have moved into this scenic development with 1,700 total acres of open space and a 900-acre mountain preserve.

Conversely, age restricted planned communities are developed for the +55 home owner with amenities and facilities for todays discerning empty nester and retiree.  Typically, the age restriction requires one household resident to be at least 55 in order to qualify for home ownership.  Over the last decade, an evolution has occurred with the age restricted community model of yesteryear making way for contemporary activity based developments complete with lavish amenities and world-class recreation areas, not to mention the conventional facilities required by the +55 demographic.

The undisputed leader in age restricted master planned community development is Del Webb.  Since the 1960s, Del Webb has constructed numerous age restricted golf and waterfront communities across the United States.  Del Webbs Sun City developments are arguably the most recognizable line of age restricted communities stretching from coast to coast with Sun City Hilton Head in North Carolina and Sun City Lincoln Hill in California.

 Location

The most important criterion in selecting a traditional home is location and the same is true when deciding on a golf and waterfront community.  The old adage location, location, location aside, one has to consider whether the new property will serve as a primary residence, second home getaway or retirement abode. The final location decision is generally based on three primary factors: home use, surrounding area and local weather. 

For most of us working folk, our primary residence is located within an hour or so of a major metropolitan center.  Dont fret, there are hundreds of golf and waterfront communities centrally located within driving distance from most major metropolitan areas.  If by chance you live near Dallas, you have several options to choose from including Stonebridge Ranch in north Dallas and Black Horse Ranch which is only 25 minutes from downtown.  Washington D.C. commuters are also in luck with conveniently located golf and waterfront communities in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.  Belmont Country Club, a Toll Brothers property, is a mere 40 minutes from Washington D.C. in Ashburn, Virginia.  These examples represent only a fraction of the actual number of suburban golf and waterfront developments.

The location decision is a bit more complicated and not as clear cut when one considers purchasing a second home retreat or retirement residence.  In this situation, other factors come in to play such as the activity and cultural richness of the immediate area and of course, local weather.  If you are looking for a second home, would you like to be nestled in the woods away from the hustle and bustle of the city, located in a more suburban area or some in between?

Climate is also an integral factor to take into consideration when purchasing a home particularly if you are feeling abused by recent harsh winters.  This may clearly point to a direction that takes you out of your home state or even to another part of the country. Conversely, the summers never ending heat may drive you to consider the cooler climates up north.  Fortunately, there are 2,500 golf and waterfront communities spread out across the United States from Minnesota to Texas and California to Massachusetts.   

What is clear in the case of retirement homes is that good local health care and transportation facilities are a must.  For most retirees, living over 60 miles away from the closest hospital or airport is just not an option.  In the end, it comes down to striking a balance between modern necessities and the beauty of the great outdoors.

Amenities

Once you have settled on a geographic location, the next area to focus on is amenities.  These can vary greatly from one golf and waterfront development to the next.  Typically, these expanded goodies fall into two categories: conveniences and lifestyle enhancements.  Conveniences include such things as security services, home maintenance, gardening services, concierge service, on-site retail and office space, cable television and high-speed internet.

Lifestyle enhancements relate to recreation activities and rest and relaxation befitting an enhanced life of leisure.  One can find a mix of facilities at planned communities which support numerous activities like tennis, hunting, boating, skiing, and hiking.  To balance the rigors of recreation, planned communities provide residents with rest and relaxation amenities such as spas, clubhouses, wilderness preserves, pools, beaches and fine dining.

With real estate opportunities for every budget, isnt it about time you looked into moving to a golf and waterfront community that offers unbelievable vistas,  year round activities, low maintenance living and first-class amenities?   

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robert Flournoy is a staff writer for Golf Home Connect.  For additional information on golf and waterfront vacation and retirement homes visit http://www.golfhomeconnect.com

Costa del Sol Golf Courses

The Costa del Sol, recently renamed the Costa del Golf, is an absolute Paradise for golfers of all standards. Offering some world-class golf courses in some beautiful locations combined with the highest number of sunshine days per annum in Europe it is hard to beat. Plentiful and cheap flights to Malaga, Gibraltar and now Jerez make it accessible all the year round and not content to rest on its laurels new golf courses and academies are being opened up on a regular basis which is why so many golfers return here year after year as there are always new and exciting challenges.

The Costa del Sol, recently renamed the Costa del Golf, is an absolute Paradise for golfers of all standards. Offering some world-class golf courses in some beautiful locations combined with the highest number of sunshine days per annum in Europe it is hard to beat. Plentiful and cheap flights to Malaga, Gibraltar and now Jerez make it accessible all the year round and not content to rest on its laurels new golf courses and academies are being opened up on a regular basis which is why so many golfers return here year after year as there are always new and exciting challenges.

Just A Few of the Many Costa del Sol Golf Courses.

Valderrrama, home to the Volvo Masters (1988-96), the Ryder Cup (1997) and the World Golf Championships (1999-2000), Valderrama surpasses its reputation as number 1 in Europe and it has twice received the accolade of Best Golf Club in Europe

La Duquesa Golf Course, designed by Trent Jones has some wonderful Mediterranean views , which could play havoc with your scoring! It is probably the most complete club on the coast offering tennis, swimming pool, squash, gym etc. along with the picturesque Duqesa Port just across the road. There is also an excellent bar and restaurant, and not forgetting of course the world class and demanding golf course itself.

La Caada was designed free of charge by Tent Jones and is the first municipal golf course of the Costa del Sol. Its nine holes are laid out on a hillside and do not present any particular difficulties.

Alhaurin Golf is a little inland from the Costa del Sol but is well worth the trip as the scenery is stunning and the course superb.

La Qinta Golf and Country Club is home to the former World Champion Manuel Piero’s Golf School. It is a technical course that reflects the designer, Manuel Piero’s, own playing characteristics in that it rewards accuracy rather than long hitting.

Alcaidesa Golf is the best and only true links course in Spain. It has recently undergone an extensive programme of re- modelling with fairways being improved and widened and greens levelled off with the result that the layout is now suitable for golfers of all levels.

For further information on some of the best Golf Courses that the Costa del Sol has to offer visit www.costadelsol-vacationrentals.com where you will also find a lovely selection of villas and apartments to rent close to some of the best golf courses on the Costa.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ruth Polak is the owner of http://www.costadelsol-vacationrentals.com which has a good selection of villas and apartments to rent near some great Costa del Sol Golf Courses.