Florida has more golf courses than any other state. There are more than 1,500 golf courses in Florida and most cities have several golf course communities, also referred to as country club communities. Courses can range from fairly modest to extremely upscale. Florida even has a license plate proclaiming it as the “Golf Capital of the World.”
Many Florida golf retirement communities have more than one golf course. A glaring example would be The Villages Florida which boasts more than 30 courses, and this number is growing yearly. There are a variety of golf courses in The Villages, some are 9-hole executive courses and some are 18-hole executive courses. The Villages is certainly unmatched in the golf department especially when it comes to number of holes.
Most golf retirement communities in Florida have at least one clubhouse with such amenities as a fitness center, practice facilities, pro shop, restaurants and bars, banquet facilities, even full service spas, so that you can enjoy a massage after that tough round of golf.
Some golf courses are private, meaning you must be a member or the guest of a member to play there. Membership rates vary among country clubs depending on the location and caliber of the course. Keep in mind that most private courses have a food and beverage minimum, meaning that you have to spend at least “x” amount of dollars in their restaurants and bars within a designated period of time. Thankfully, sometimes purchases in the pro shop can be applied towards meeting your food and beverage minimum. If you lose as many golf balls as I do, you should have no problem reaching your food and beverage minimum.
Many Florida golf retirement communities have equity memberships, which pass from one party to another through the sale of real estate in that community. If this is the case with the home you intend to purchase, be sure that the real estate contract includes the right to the membership. Your real estate agent can help you with this.
Some communities have both a private course and a public course. You can own a home in a community such as this, not be a member and instead choose to play the public course exclusively. Surely, though, if your budget allows you will probably want to be a member of the private course to give your golf game some variety.
Florida retirement communities with a golf course that is always open to the public are also an option. Be aware, however, that public courses tend to be more crowded than private courses, although this can depend on the time of year, the level of the course, and the price you have to pay to play. Some new communities allow the public to use their golf courses until there are enough residents and consequently enough members in the community. This is both good common sense and sound economics.
If you do not play golf, you may want to think twice about buying a home in a golf course community. Many retirees who do not play golf resent the fact that they are sometimes required to help fund its operations through their homeowners’ association dues. Whether or not this occurs depends on how the homeowners’ association and club budgets are set up, so you might want to look into that before you buy.
For more information on golf courses in Florida, visit the state’s official golf resource at http://www.playfla.com.
