Golf continues to explode throughout the United States as avid golfers spend more time working on their games and newcomers are grinding it out to find their game. Regardless of the golfer’s level of play, everyone is searching for the best community that checks all their boxes for the entire family – with two very important boxes being the golf course design and the club’s amenities. Of course, location and home availabilities are important too, but somehow if the golf course and the club are both amazing, the rest of the details seem to work themselves out. From the continental United States and even extending to Hawaii, we have curated this collection of 10 exceptional luxury lifestyle communities with world-class golf that are sure to check all your boxes.
Alpine Mountain Ranch & Club, Steamboat Springs, CO
Nestled in the Yampa Valley, adjacent to Steamboat Ski Resort, Catamount Golf Club, and National Forest, Alpine Mountain Ranch & Club is situated on historic and well-storied land that is grounded in the western culture that is the essence of Steamboat Springs. This 1,216-acre residential development is creating a lot of buzz with its elevated amenities, amazing views twelve months of the year, and luxury residences. The on-site concierge encourages residents to spend their time making memories while on property, with no reservations. From arranging tee times, coordinating airport limo services, pre-stocking preferred foods, and wine and regulating home temperatures prior to owners’ arrival, there is no detail overlooked. The ranch features 63, five-acre homesites, 900 acres of open space, and a wildlife preserve, but it is located only five minutes to downtown Steamboat. Offering on-site equestrian facilities, access to Gold Medal fishing on the Yampa River and membership opportunities at the slopeside, Alpine Mountain Summit Club, Alpine Mountain Ranch & Club is the number one mountain-contemporary community in Steamboat Springs.
Bay Creek, Cape Charles, VA
Located along the sparkling waters of the Chesapeake Bay, Bay Creek is a community where coastal living is defined by a deep appreciation of family, nature, and authentic shore experiences. Distinctly designed homes and neighborhoods are set among hundreds of acres of lush nature preserves, waterways, and interconnected trails. This community is home to the authentic coastal experiences that will shape your family’s future. The focus is the simple pleasure of being in nature, the time to rediscover your passions, and the luxury of living in a place that was made for this. Up your game and satisfy your senses on 27 holes of award-winning golf designed by two of the greatest that ever played the game, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. With several holes directly along the Chesapeake Bay, you will enjoy the views as much as the game. The Life Center is a 10,000 square foot haven for health, wellness, and fun. Inside you will find a members’ lounge with billiards and entertainment, the latest in aerobic, cardio, and weight equipment with soaring windows looking out onto the pool and Bay beyond; and outside, two crystal blue pools are waiting for you.
Champion Hills, Hendersonville, NC
Nestled in the natural beauty of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Champion Hills is a place where Southern hospitality blends with a mountain lifestyle to create an experience that is simply second to none. Some say it is the clear mountain streams, and others might argue that it is the Carolina blue sky or their top-ranked Tom Fazio-designed golf course. Whatever the reason, you are sure to feel right at home at Champion Hills. Imagine a lifestyle steeped in quiet seclusion yet balanced with abundant inclusion. Elegance with an easy, casual ambiance. They offer a variety of membership options to fit your passions and pursuits. The golf club is managed by Troon Privé, the private club operating division of Troon. Through Troon Privé Privileges, members of Troon Privé-managed private clubs receive extraordinary golf and lifestyle benefits throughout the world. Qualified Champion Hills members enjoy access to 100+ Troon Privé golf courses; opportunities to experience more than 150 Troon Golf resort and daily fee locations at preferred rates; access to amenities at participating private clubs (fitness facilities, tennis, aquatics, and dining); preferred benefits at participating Cliff Drysdale Tennis clubs and resorts; and much more.
Kukui’ula, Kauai, HI
Situated on the sunny South Shore of Kauai, Kukui’ula was the first private club community on Kauai, and it has since established itself as the premier new second home community in Hawaii. Kukui’ula’s innovative home offerings boast tropical modern architecture and immediate access to endless activities just steps outside, combined with the community’s exclusive amenities and programming available to owners (i.e. farm access, spa, pools, clubhouse, island pursuits activities, golf, etc.). Tom Weiskopf designed the spectacular 18-hole golf course that Golf Digest called “One of the Best Courses in Hawai’i.” The course winds through 216 acres of undulating terrain, orchards, gardens, and native landscape. Weiskopf’s artistic bunkering filled with brilliant white sand contrasts with the meticulously manicured fairways, which creates one of the most impressive visual layouts in the state. Among members, the challenging 14th hole, sometimes described as “a quintessential Weiskopf par 4,” has become legendary—and not just because of its dramatic ocean views, occasionally populated by spinner dolphins and humpback whales.
Moonlight Basin, Big Sky, MT
A nature lover’s paradise, Moonlight Basin is located in the Big Sky area of Southwest Montana, known as one of the finest outdoor playgrounds in North America. Here, you will be less than one hour south of Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport and less than one hour north of the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The private ski and golf community is 8,000 acres, and conveniently adjacent to Big Sky Resort, where stunning natural beauty, striking homes, and an endless array of alpine adventures blend together. We cannot forget the golf course here, which has garnered a lot of praise this year. The Reserve is the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Course that sits on 1,000 acres of high-elevation terrain; and with an elevation of 7,500 feet, the course offers stunning 360-degree views that include Lone Mountain, Fan Mountain, the Spanish Peaks, and the Madison Valley. Moonlight Lodge includes Moonlight Tavern dining and bar, lounge and family area, fitness center, outdoor pool and hot tub, ski lockers, concierge services, and space for special events. The newer addition of LakeLodge includes Three Forks Restaurant and Bar, retail shop, fitness center, indoor 3-point basketball court, indoor climbing wall, golf simulator, ski and boot storage, outdoor pool, two hot tubs and so much more. As the locals say, this community provides residents with so many ways to carpe so many diems.
Olde Cypress, Naples, FL
Naples is well-established as one of the true golf capitals within the United States, boasting 90-plus 18-hole courses spanning the “Paradise Coast” from North Naples south to Marco Island. At its epicenter is The Club at Olde Cypress, one of the most progressive and vibrant golf communities in the entire region. The club is the centerpiece of this highly sought-after 450-acre gated enclave that features a 34,000 square-foot clubhouse and the P.B. Dye golf course – the architect’s only design in Collier County. Olde Cypress is just completing a multi-million-dollar remastering of the golf course that is sure to impress. The expansive project entailed the resurfacing of all 18 greens, practice green and chipping area; enlarging, leveling, and re-grassing tee boxes; installation of a new subsurface drainage system; and new artificial turf on the driving range. Additionally, the Pro Shop was reimagined with interior design upgrades ranging from color pallets, woodwork, and lighting to countertops, artwork, and flooring. In short, Olde Cypress is perfectly positioned for any golfer looking for a new home in this golfing paradise.
Reynolds Lake Oconee, Greensboro, GA
Situated on 12,000 acres, Reynolds Lake Oconee remains a community with a highly regarded identity of its own. It is a world apart, but never far away. This sprawling community is surrounded by the majestic Lake Oconee and its numerous recreation options that enhance the community’s aesthetic appeal. Members of Reynolds enjoy a caliber of golf excellence that few communities can match. Six courses have been crafted by the most sought-after names in golf course design. With 117 holes draped across natural rolling hills that create subtleties to make each shot unique, there is an endless variety and a rewarding challenge awaiting at every fairway and green. Besides all there is to enjoy on the golf courses at Reynolds, there is plenty to fill time here. Ninety miles of shoreline along Lake Oconee is within the Reynolds Lake Oconee community with great fishing, boating, and swimming. Other amenities include four full-service marinas and The Lake Club Wellness Center and Tennis Center. The mission of Reynolds continues to focus on providing a special place of dramatic natural beauty and recreational possibilities. Here, members have everything they need to create lasting memories, forge new friendships, and cherish family connections.
Santa Lucia Preserve, Carmel, CA
The Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel, California is a private community with 297 homesites situated within 20,000 acres of permanently and privately protected natural California wildlands. The community’s 18-hole Tom Fazio-designed golf course, practice range, putting greens, and clubhouse facilities are part of a National Membership, available to those who do not own, rent, or lease property in the counties of Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, or Santa Clara. Wandering through 365 acres of towering oaks and rolling savannahs, around wetlands, and across seasonal streams, The Preserve Golf Club encounters a full spectrum of nature along with the challenges of a Tom Fazio-designed golf course, framed by the majestic Santa Lucia Mountains. Located a few miles inland from the Monterey Peninsula, The Preserve is dramatically different from its distinguished neighbors on the coastline – Pebble Beach Golf Links, Cypress Point Club, and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. The Preserve does not share any of the surrounding wilderness with any other golf course, competing for attention only with the mountain views, mammoth oaks, and resident wildlife. It has been said many times that playing golf on The Preserve is “like playing golf through a national park.”
Tributary, Driggs, ID
Tributary is a 1,500-acre private residential community located in the heart of one of America’s most celebrated outdoor recreation destinations—due west of the three majestic peaks that give the Teton Mountain Range its name. Inspired by the pristine parklands that surround the greater Teton Valley, Tributary’s residences offer a sense of refined luxury in a sophisticated mountain modern package. Not to be confused with rustic interpretations of iconic western homesteads, these contemporary cabin homes speak directly to the sensibilities of modern convenience and immersion in place. Amenities include a world-class, two-mile, elevated boardwalk for wildlife viewing; an 18-hole David McLay Kidd-designed golf course; a wellness facility with fitness center and spa; a rustic farm-to-table restaurant and bar; a pool and hot tub boasting mountain views; seven fishing ponds; endless trails for cross-country skiing and much more. Most residents find themselves meeting friends and family at The Clubhouse, which has been designed to embrace the surrounding nature while also showcasing the community’s casual and refined lifestyle.
Willowbend, Mashpee, MA
Willowbend is not just a club — it is a lifestyle, which is why Southworth Communities are so often featured among the nation’s finest communities. Here on the shore of Shoestring Bay, members enjoy unsurpassed amenities and experiences across every aspect of club life while creating friendships that are sure to last a lifetime. Regardless of how you and your family choose to relax and have fun, unwavering attention to detail ensures that the Willowbend lifestyle is one of relaxed sophistication and enjoyment. It also offers 27 holes of championship golf on three meticulously maintained nines, along with a full calendar of golf events and practice facilities featuring the Cape’s only Toptracer Range. As the home of the Willowbend Children’s Charity Pro-Am for many years, the course makes the most of its dramatic setting as it winds along Shoestring Bay and through the property’s beautiful working cranberry bogs. Great for families, everyone gathers at the club’s expansive pool areas for seasonal exercise and enjoyment in and out of the water including fun events like outdoor movie nights. The Olympic-sized pool is perfect for swimming laps, and it is also one of the club’s favorite places for the kids.
| All photos courtesy of each golf community