Southeast Retirement Club ?

[Tstiles]

Anybody have recommendations for a " golf club " in the southeast ? Here's my dream club :

- 36 Holes or more ( will consider 18 if everything else is in place )

- Walking and carrying your bag is not just " allowed " it's the way golf is played

- Golf Club vs. Country Club

- Interesting Golf Course Architecture ( Love Historic Courses )

- Good Conditions but not over the top

- Good practice area with short game area

- Modest Initiation Fee

- Modest Dues

- People more interested is golf than impressing everyone with their Bentley / Ferrari / ect.

- Easy to get a game without playing in big money game

- Can play some in the winter

- Regular Club vs. Retirement community

- Not too rural ... Got to be able to get some Mexican food within a 10 minute drive.

 

I'm a low handicap player who wants to play some statewide events , currently in Houston @ Kingwood CC , but looking for something in Southeast.

 

Love to hear about a lot of great clubs.

 

Thanks in advance

[atlanta golfer]

I don't have an answer on this one, but when you find it, please let me know, I want to join too! Geez, seriously, why are there not more places like this?

[BugsyinNC]

The best deal in the country - Pinehurst.

Six golf courses, excellent practice facilities, good competition, knowledgeable players, reasonable housing, year round golf, members only walking club early evenings, members can always walk any course, abundant tee times.

[Tstiles]

Pinehurst ????

 

No kidding ... I had been looking @ Southern Pines area.

 

I'll have to check it out .... I was thinking it was resort only.

 

Who's next with a suggestion ?

 

Anybody know the culture @ Holston Hills ( Donald Ross club in Knoxville ) ?

[atlanta golfer]

The best deal in the country - Pinehurst.

Six golf courses, excellent practice facilities, good competition, knowledgeable players, reasonable housing, year round golf, members only walking club early evenings, members can always walk any course, abundant tee times.

 

Yes but ---- what about the cost? It is just hard to believe that initiation fees and monthly dues would be only "modest" at a place like this. The other thing that might concern me would be, at any course that has private memberships but is also open to public play, you are going to have a fair number of players who are slow, who are not accomplished golfers, and who may not even take good care of the course such as divot repair, etc.

 

I am thinking that to meet the criteria outlined, the choice is most likely to be private only, or at least with a membership situation where member play is the vast majority of the total rounds.

[DLiver]

You might want to check out Long Cove Club in Hilton Head. It has a great golf course (Top 100 in the US), is unpretentious and has a great group of people living there. It is a private community, so you also have a pool, tennis, and a nice marina. It attracts a lot of good golfers (I think there are over 40 men with indexes of 5.0 or lower), but is very low profile (and unpretentious), which is why most people have never heard of the place. Unless you know a member, it can be pretty difficult to get on the course.

 

The annual costs are reasonable (IMO) and cover all the community's facilities (not just the golf).

 

There is no initiation fee, per se, but you do have to own property there to be a member, and part of every real estate transaction has a $15K fee for transferring the membership from the previous owner to you.

[BugsyinNC]

The best deal in the country - Pinehurst.

Six golf courses, excellent practice facilities, good competition, knowledgeable players, reasonable housing, year round golf, members only walking club early evenings, members can always walk any course, abundant tee times.

 

Yes but ---- what about the cost? It is just hard to believe that initiation fees and monthly dues would be only "modest" at a place like this. The other thing that might concern me would be, at any course that has private memberships but is also open to public play, you are going to have a fair number of players who are slow, who are not accomplished golfers, and who may not even take good care of the course such as divot repair, etc.

 

I am thinking that to meet the criteria outlined, the choice is most likely to be private only, or at least with a membership situation where member play is the vast majority of the total rounds.

 

Courses 1-6 (including #2) 12K transfer fee with property that has a membership (most property in Pinehurst has membership), $348/month family rate (no single rate) cart fee $18/round, no minimum food/beverage. Extra fees for #7 membership, #8 is resort only.

 

Members get 50% of tee times/resort gets rest. Rounds are about 4 hours, on #2 and 4 can be 5 hours on weekend (I played #2 in 3 hours walking as a single mid afternoon this past Tuesday). I play as a single with lots of resort folks and have yet to find anyone who I would not enjoying playing with again.

 

This is the best deal in golf anywhere.

[Tstiles]

Pinehurst sounds like a great option

 

The last time I was there was 1978 for PGA biz school , I had a tee time on # 2 ... And it Snowed ... I was heartbroken.

 

Real Estate Looks like a great value , Transfer Fee looks reasonable , Dues are less than my current club.

 

OK , Pinehurst is on the Go Visit List .... Who's Got other Options ?

[golfgoob]

Try Tellico Village in Loudon, Tn and Fairfield Glades in Crossville, Tn. TV has 3 courses, one with a 800yrd par 6 and FG has 4-6 courses. There are several Rarity Communities in E.TN. I'm not sure about Holston Hills. I don't think it too high classed. I hear its as pure as a Ross course there is.

[FATC1TY]

Sea Island.. St. Simon Island, GA.

'Nuff said... Great mix of courses within a short bike ride, in addition to the 3 courses you have access to with SI. All over 7000+ yards as well. Fazio, Davis, and Jones courses.

Also have access to the Learning Center, so you can hit balls next to Glover, Snedeker, Zach Johnson. Get instruction with 3, Top 50 teachers as well.

I believe you have to own property there, and I'm unsure but last time I heard the initiation was $125K, but that has been a while. They are almost beggin people to come to the resort these days.

[hurricanewarning]

Thought about Reynold's Plantation, just dont think the fee's are modest at all.

[FATC1TY]

[quote name='hurricanewarning' post='1919012' date='Aug 28 2009, 01:07 AM']Thought about Reynold's Plantation, just dont think the fee's are modest at all.[/quote]

Reynolds is extremely nice, also has the 1 course only members can play as well. But their initiation fee is $120,000, and it's just over $400 a month in fee's. However, it's equity invested, so it's an okay deal considering the large upfront cost.

Personally, for that area, Cuscowilla is MUCH better. No need to own property there, the initiation is a modest $25,000, and depending on where you claim your residence, can be as low as $250 a month in fee's.

The course is one of the most immaculately kept, that I've ever played on.

[Don Ross]

You are getting the straight scoop on Pinehurst. let me add a few items.

CNN Money just yesterday named Pinehurst as the 4th best place in America to retire. While there is a large portion of the community who are retired, it is not a retirement community.

The healthcare in Pinehurst is fabulous. Pat Robertson chose our local hospital to have his recent heart surgery. He is from Virginia Beach and made the trip here for surgery. He could have gone anywhere.

The housing options here are varied. You can buy a 3 bedroom 2 bath "membership" home for as little as $185,000 or we have homes on #2 for $2-5 million.

The charm of this area is amazing. It is the most golf-centric community in the world. We have over 40 championship courses within the county. Pinehurst is like Disneyland for golfers, not just the golf courses but the community all embrace the history and beauty which makes Pinehurst the Home of American Golf.

The isolation of Pinehurst is a part of its charm. We are 1.5 hours from Raleigh or Greensboro. 2.5 hours from Charlotte and 30-45 from Ft. Bragg. The influx of activity at Ft Bragg has been a wonderful underpinning to our economy. Several major international resorts are currently working on projects around the area (Ritz Carlton & Oceanico ) because of the charm of the area. They however are not in Pinehurst but on the outskirts. The world appreaciates that tis is a world class golf destination.

Come for a visit. I would be happy to help you out with tee times and local insite.

[lovegolfstuff]

[quote name='Tstiles' date='18 June 2009 - 09:03 PM' timestamp='1245373412' post='1765010']
Anybody have recommendations for a " golf club " in the southeast ? Here's my dream club :
- 36 Holes or more ( will consider 18 if everything else is in place )
- Walking and carrying your bag is not just " allowed " it's the way golf is played
- Golf Club vs. Country Club
- Interesting Golf Course Architecture ( Love Historic Courses )
- Good Conditions but not over the top
- Good practice area with short game area
- Modest Initiation Fee
- Modest Dues
- People more interested is golf than impressing everyone with their Bentley / Ferrari / ect.
- Easy to get a game without playing in big money game
- Can play some in the winter
- Regular Club vs. Retirement community
- Not too rural ... Got to be able to get some Mexican food within a 10 minute drive.

I'm a low handicap player who wants to play some statewide events , currently in Houston @ Kingwood CC , but looking for something in Southeast.

Love to hear about a lot of great clubs.

Thanks in advance
[/quote]


Check out Raleigh Country Club. Private and part of McConnell Golf which owns 6 great private clubs in NC and SC that you will have access to. Website is Raleighcc.com. Great community as well. A melting pot of sorts, highly educated, 3 major universities. Affordable living. Can't be beat.

[greyman09]

I really like the Pinehurst area. Long Cove Club is awesome. Great course with a great membership. Also the Hilton Head and Charleston area have amazing courses. Colleton River is my favorite course off the island. Also look at the Aiken South Carolina area. Close to augusta but lots of really good courses.

[sniper]

[quote name='Tstiles' date='18 June 2009 - 09:03 PM' timestamp='1245373412' post='1765010']
Anybody have recommendations for a " golf club " in the southeast ? Here's my dream club :
- 36 Holes or more ( will consider 18 if everything else is in place )
- Walking and carrying your bag is not just " allowed " it's the way golf is played
- Golf Club vs. Country Club
- Interesting Golf Course Architecture ( Love Historic Courses )
- Good Conditions but not over the top
- Good practice area with short game area
- Modest Initiation Fee
- Modest Dues
- People more interested is golf than impressing everyone with their Bentley / Ferrari / ect.
- Easy to get a game without playing in big money game
- Can play some in the winter
- Regular Club vs. Retirement community
- Not too rural ... Got to be able to get some Mexican food within a 10 minute drive.

I'm a low handicap player who wants to play some statewide events , currently in Houston @ Kingwood CC , but looking for something in Southeast.

Love to hear about a lot of great clubs.

Thanks in advance
[/quote]

www.mimosahills.org

Small town about 50 miles east of Asheville, NC.
-Donald Ross Course, only 18 holes
-Can play year round
-Good course conditions
-Great for walking, majority of members walk
-Country Club, has modest initiation and dues
-Can get a non big money game
-No one trying to impress with their vehicles
-Mexican food, but I'm not a big Mexican guy, so can't comment on the quality

[Guest]

You should look into any or the Robert Trent Jones Trail complexes in Alabama. Each has at least 36 holes plus many have an additional "short" course. Courses are as good as any private course you will find and prices are very reasonable. The two best, in my opinion, are the sites in Auburn and Mobile.