The USA is an ideal place to play and watch golf. With 17,000 courses, it’s host to three of the four men’s major championships and home to many of the sport’s finest players.
A recent study entitled ‘Golf around the World’ found that 45 per cent of the world’s courses are in the United States. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Florida occupies the top position boasting over 1,000 golf courses within its borders. Currently, this fact as well as the state’s desirable location for yachting, its white sandy beaches and a private executive airport at Boca Raton Executive Airport, is attracting buyers from around the globe. And, according to Geri Penniman of Premier Estate Properties, they are paying record-breaking prices.
Over in California, Rayni Williams of Williams and Williams, an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, advises that, for the best golf course proximity and views, the ideal areas to choose are Beverly Hills, Bel-Air and Santa Monica. “The Los Angeles market is global,” she says, “prices will always go up, even if we experience a declining market, we aren’t down for long. All the foreign and national wealth that flows into the LA market always drives the market up.”
There are just five prized properties along the famed 18th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California. “Recently we have experienced an increase in demand for such ‘lifestyle’ properties offering the ability to walk to the Beach Club, Lodge at Pebble Beach and Casa Palmero Spa,” says Chris Pryor of Carmel Realty Company. “Ocean front and Pebble Beach golf links frontage is highly sought after. We attribute this to a few key factors, one of which is the proximity to the Bay Area, the health of the economy in recent years and finally the scarcity. Other draws are the dramatic coastline of the Monterey Peninsula, temperate weather year-round and the amazing lifestyle offered whether it be a coastline hike, round of golf, wine tasting, dining or simply relaxing on Carmel Beach.”
Centre of events
Pebble Beach is also a global destination enticing the most discerning buyers, many of whom come from the Bay Area of San Francisco but also from across the world. Annual events include the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the most acclaimed car show in the world, AT&T National Pro-Am and roughly every 10 years the US Open Golf Championship. Pebble Beach Company is also celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2019 and hosting the Nation’s Championship US Open in June, 2019. Pebble Beach will also be hosting the Women’s US Open in 2023.
As for Georgia, the Greystone community in Atlanta is surrounded by golf courses. Within a two-mile radius, there are six golf course communities that range in home prices from $700 to $2 million plus. Alex McGraw of Harry Norman, Realtors, says, “One is able to enjoy a life style that has been rated by Forbes Magazine as the best place to live in the southeast. This is based on the calibre of schools, the amount of available shopping and entertainment, and the overall cost of living as compared to other areas of Atlanta, as well as, other parts of the country. Presently, home prices appear to be stable and are forecast to remain at this level for the foreseeable future.”
