To stay abreast of market conditions, we scan current prices of homes for sale in golf communities we have visited.  We have not inspected the homes and make no representation about their quality.  We list them for the purposes of comparison and to provide our readers with an idea of prices in comparable golf communities we can recommend.  If you would like more information about a particular community listed here, or more information about the coastal North Carolina area, please contact the editor.

 

Ocean Ridge Plantation, Sunset Ridge, NC, 3 BR, 2 BA "garden home" on the 15th green of Lion's Paw Golf Club.  Listed at $439,000

 

St. James Plantation, Southport, NC, 4 BR, 3 BA brick home on 8th fairway of Founders Club.  4 season porch with golf views.  $450,000

 

Rivers Edge Plantation, Shallotte, NC, 4 BR, 3 ½ BA "gallery town home" with views of 10th green on Arnold Palmer course.  $469,900.

 

Brunswick Forest, Leland, NC, 4 BR, 3 BA, brick home with views of protected forest.  New Tim Cate course just opened.  $449,500.

 

Winding River Plantation, Bolivia, NC, 5 BR, 3 + 2 half BA, overlooks 3rd fairway of Ibis course at Carolina National.  $469,000

 

Sea Trail Plantation, Sunset Beach, NC, 3 BR, 3 BA one-story living with swimming pool in backyard and views of Oyster Bay golf course. $449,900

 

Albemarle Plantation, Hertford, NC, 3 BR, 2 ½ BA with views of Sound Links golf course.  $480,000

 

Taberna, New Bern, NC, 3 BR, 3 BA on private cul de sac with views of lake and golf course.  $425,000

 

Porters Neck Plantation, Wilmington, NC, 3 BR, 3 ½ BA on Tom Fazio Drive with golf course views and 1/3 off golf membership.  $487,000.

 

        I have visited all these golf communities.  Please contact me for more information and a recommendation of the best-qualified real estate agents in each area.  My services are always free to my readers.  -- Larry

         If you and a golfing buddy or spouse are 50 or older and have thought about trying out the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama, a mid-December event could be just the encouragement you need.  Silver Lakes, home to three excellent nines, is hosting the Senior Tournament Series on December 15, a two-man scramble (Captain's Choice) event that includes green fees, cart fees, range balls, lunch and prizes, all for just $38.  Before or after the tournament, 26 other layouts are available along the Trail, which runs from the top of the state near Muscle Shoals to Mobile on the Gulf of Mexico.  The Trail is running a special through the winter that includes three days of unlimited golf for $135 (carts, range balls, taxes not included) or lodging packages that start at $154 per day.  See the RTJ Trail web site for details. 

         I played 18 of Silver Lakes' 27 holes a year and a half ago.  Conditioning was near perfect and the routing of the holes interesting and diverse.  The $65 green fees (cart included) were a bargain (see my review here ).  So too is the real estate in the area, but Gadsden, the nearest city, is not exactly San Francisco but has a small city charm that will appeal to many. 

        Unlike the event on December 15, Silver Lakes did not throw in lunch during my visit in 2008, but my "prize" was a round with enough excellent holes to compel me to try out the rest of The Trail someday.