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Although golf course living has long appealed to retirees and wealthy CEOs who can afford a second home in the Valley, today’s younger families are flocking to golf course evelopments. To widen their appeal, these developments now include many amenities. Like so many others, this trend is fueled by the
78 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964. From
1996 to 2011, a baby boomer will turn 50 every eight seconds.
A growing number of people are getting into the
swing: The’re buying a home in one of the Coachella Valley’s many golf communities. These developments appeal to golfers and non-golfers alike, and to a wide range of age groups.
Look for amenities such as swimming pools, baseball and
softball fields, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts,
and hiking, biking and equestrian trails as well as day care centers. Some also feature a recreation center, clubhouse
and restaurant.
The Lure of the Greens
According to the National Golf Foundation (NGF) organization spokeswoman Judy Thompson, the golf lifestyle apparently is big among those who never pick up a club. "I've seen information from developers who state that as many as 70 to 80 percent of their residents do not play golf. But there are others where a larger proportion are golfers," Thompson stated recently.
According to the NGF, approximately 3.7 million, or 15 percent of all golfers, are permanent residents of a golf course community. Another 3 percent of all golfers own a residence on a golf course that they use as a vacation home or rent out as an investment. This number increases every year.
Course development ground to a halt in the 1980s when the state's economy worsened. It has since resumed its growth despite stringent environmental regulations. Ted Robinson, who has overseen some 23 courses in the Coachella Valley, believes it is "probably more difficult to build a course in California than anywhere else in the country."
Questions to Ask Before You Buy
1. Am I buying for pleasure or investment?
2. Do I want to live in a single-family home or a condominium?
3. Do I want to live in a master-planned golf community, or would I prefer to occupy a home convenient to a club or a variety of public-access courses?
4. If buying into a master-planned community, how reputable is the developer?
5. What percentage of residents make the community their primary home, and is there a sufficient amount of golf to meet the community's needs?
6. What is the exact cost of the community's amenity package, and how will it change if the development downsizes or adds more memberships?
7. Is there an architectural review board to ensure design consistency in the community?
8. How many homes will be built per acre in the community's master plan?
9. Is it worth renting for a period of time or swapping homes to get a feel for the immediate neighborhood and surrounding community?
10. Do I have a reliable real estate agent, tax advisor or attorney to guide me through the often-complicated transaction process?
11. What kinds of courses do I like to play, championship or moderately challenging?
12. Do I even play golf, or do I want other attractions?
13. Do I want a community restricted to those over 55, or do I prefer younger families?
14. Who pays for broken windows?
Occasionally, golfers will hook or slice their ball through a window or a screen on the edge of a course. Technically, when a homeowner purchases a home in a golfing community, they assume the risk associated with living there. Most conscientious golfers, however, will do the right thing, offering to pay for replacing of the window.
Adapted from the Desert Sun How-To Guide – November 19, 2003
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