Retirement Community owners (Del Webb), etc (GOLFERS)

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

We have been looking at retirement communities for about 3 years now. We are BOTH golfers----a BIG influence on our choice.

We have learned much of what is good, and not so good about many of them. It (understandably) REALLY is hard to find the 'near perfect' scenario/location/etc. Some are considerably 'UPSCALE' which would not be something we could do.

Some of our visits include The Villages, On Top of the World, Orlando, Mount Dora, St Mary's (GA). It seems like we have about 8-10 priorities, and what we have looked at so far has 1-4 of those.

We now may are pursuing slightly further Southeast, probably South Carolina.

We own 2 weeks of timeshare to still go 'other' places.

BUT, deciding on a Retirement (golf) community with activities, etc. is something we welcome TUGGERS advice on.

Where did YOU choose (south/east US)??

Thanks,
Pat

 

[bogey21]

There are CCRCs and Retirement Communities on and around Hilton Head Island in South Carolina with a lot of nice golf courses in the area. This might be a good place for you to look...

George

 

[Makai Guy]

At the time we were researching where to spend our retirement years we had widowed and aging mothers in FL and IN so we concentrated on places in western Carolinas and eastern Tennessee within a day's drive of both. Aiken SC seemed to be on most top ten lists of retirement communities in the South so we figured we'd best check it out. We fell in love within minutes of hitting town.

We're far enough inland that our nearest city is Augusta, GA,, which is right on the GA/SC border. Because of this,, we're not subject to the hurricane ravages of coastal locations as we get zero tidal surge and coming overland this far greatly reduces storms' intensity. In fact, we've met quite a few people who've moved here after discovering Aiken while evacuating Hilton Head and Savannah as we're right by one of the major coastal evacuatuion routes. Yet we can get to the coast or the mountains in 2 to 3 hour drive. (Our Spicebush timeshare is only 2:25 away.)

Golf was important for us too, so we chose Woodside Plantation, a gated golf community. There are two Country Clubs located on the property, one with two 18-hole championship courses and a 9-hole par 3 practice course, the other with one completed championship course and one being completed. Our club is affiliated with Club Corp of America, giving us three affiliated courses we can play just paying cart fees on Hilton Head, and many many other courses around the country.

Another important item on our checklist was senior educational opportunities. U of S Carolina Aiken has an Academy for Lifelong Learning that we've found to be excellent.

Aiken is also a thoroghbred training center with equestrian activities adding interest to the area. In fact, the horses were brought here a century ago by northern industrialists who found Aiken to be a great place to spend the winter away from northern cold and snow. As a result of their influence Aiken is more sophisticated, with more appreciation of the arts, than you find in many small Southern towns.

We've loved our 14 years here. Southern Living magazine named Aiken Best Small Town in the South this year.

 

[jme]

At the time we were researching where to spend our retirement years we had widowed and aging mothers in FL and IN so we concentrated on places in western Carolinas and eastern Tennessee within a day's drive of both. Aiken SC seemed to be on most top ten lists of retirement communities in the South so we figured we'd best check it out. We fell in love within minutes of hitting town.

We're far enough inland that our nearest city is Augusta, GA,, which is right on the GA/SC border. Because of this,, we're not subject to the hurricane ravages of coastal locations as we get zero tidal surge and coming overland this far greatly reduces storms' intensity. In fact, we've met quite a few people who've moved here after discovering Aiken while evacuating Hilton Head and Savannah as we're right by one of the major coastal evacuatuion routes. Yet we can get to the coast or the mountains in 2 to 3 hour drive. (Our Spicebush timeshare is only 2:25 away.)

Golf was important for us too, so we chose Woodside Plantation, a gated golf community. There are two Country Clubs located on the property, one with two 18-hole championship courses and a 9-hole par 3 practice course, the other with one completed championship course and one being completed. Our club is affiliated with Club Corp of America, giving us three affiliated courses we can play just paying cart fees on Hilton Head, and many many other courses around the country.

Another important item on our checklist was senior educational opportunities. U of S Carolina Aiken has an Academy for Lifelong Learning that we've found to be excellent.

Aiken is also a thoroghbred training center with equestrian activities adding interest to the area. In fact, the horses were brought here a century ago by northern industrialists who found Aiken to be a great place to spend the winter away from northern cold and snow. As a result of their influence Aiken is more sophisticated, with more appreciation of the arts, than you find in many small Southern towns.

We've loved our 14 years here. Southern Living magazine named Aiken Best Small Town in the South this year.

Everything you've said about Aiken is true....it's a delightful town and community, and absolutely an ideal retirement spot.
It's also a great spot for a family to locate no matter what stage they're in. Since we're your nearby neighbor in Augusta,
we drive over often for a half day of shopping and walking around, and we adore having lunch at Betsy's. (I hear Betsy's will be moving a short distance away, look forward to seeing the new spot.) Winters are mild here, too, so that's a big plus.
We also enjoy being within 2.5-3 hours of the coast or the mountains. Because of that, we're constantly traveling to either.

Have a great Thanksgiving, my friend.

 

[rapmarks]

We did that search for several years, many years ago. We ended up in a community that was not age restricted, but de facto senior community. We compromised on the golf course not being as challenging as we wanted, when the cost factor made those communities prohibitive. Now we are happy we did.
Last week, played two rounds of golf with league, attended golf luncheon, played two days in bocce league, went on a ladies group outing, went to book club, and played bridge four times. Not interested in some of the other activities in the community

 

[cissy]

Where did you select?

 

[rapmarks]

We live in the villages of country creek in estero. We decided we wanted the estero/naples/Bonita area. Lots of the communities are very pricy, this was less expensive but still a nice looking community with nice people and lots of activities

 

[Big Matt]

Just a couple things to consider. First, you don't want to bake in the cost of golf into the equation unless you are really keen on playing all the time and until you are old. Don't assume full health, and don't assume that you will want to play all the time. I would look at areas that are golf friendly and then find out how much it costs to join as a senior. Where I like you can get unlimited walking privileges and range balls at a series of state run golf courses for about $1200 per year if you are over 60. You can get out of that at the end of the year if you want.

I love Williamsburg and Hilton Head. Williamsburg has a ton of golf and one good 55 and over community plus places like Ford's Colony. If you are looking at HH, look at Blufton. Great golf there for cheap and housing is way better than on the Island. You could go with Del Webb if you want and there are other over 55 communities

 

[Glynda]

At the time we were researching where to spend our retirement years we had widowed and aging mothers in FL and IN so we concentrated on places in western Carolinas and eastern Tennessee within a day's drive of both. Aiken SC seemed to be on most top ten lists of retirement communities in the South so we figured we'd best check it out. We fell in love within minutes of hitting town.

We're far enough inland that our nearest city is Augusta, GA,, which is right on the GA/SC border. Because of this,, we're not subject to the hurricane ravages of coastal locations as we get zero tidal surge and coming overland this far greatly reduces storms' intensity. In fact, we've met quite a few people who've moved here after discovering Aiken while evacuating Hilton Head and Savannah as we're right by one of the major coastal evacuatuion routes. Yet we can get to the coast or the mountains in 2 to 3 hour drive. (Our Spicebush timeshare is only 2:25 away.)

Golf was important for us too, so we chose Woodside Plantation, a gated golf community. There are two Country Clubs located on the property, one with two 18-hole championship courses and a 9-hole par 3 practice course, the other with one completed championship course and one being completed. Our club is affiliated with Club Corp of America, giving us three affiliated courses we can play just paying cart fees on Hilton Head, and many many other courses around the country.

Another important item on our checklist was senior educational opportunities. U of S Carolina Aiken has an Academy for Lifelong Learning that we've found to be excellent.

Aiken is also a thoroghbred training center with equestrian activities adding interest to the area. In fact, the horses were brought here a century ago by northern industrialists who found Aiken to be a great place to spend the winter away from northern cold and snow. As a result of their influence Aiken is more sophisticated, with more appreciation of the arts, than you find in many small Southern towns.

We've loved our 14 years here. Southern Living magazine named Aiken Best Small Town in the South this year.

Very smart of you not to move to the coast! With the rising waters, we are seeing more storms and more flooding. I watch the MLS listings daily and I have never seen so many waterfront homes on the market before. Flood, hurricane and earthquake insurance are very pricey!

How are your hospitals? I do like that we have MUSC and Roper here.

Mt Pleasant and James Island have excellent city senior centers and of course, we have numerous colleges. The senior centers are a great bargain and wonderful places to take classes and make friends.

 

[Bucky]

Del Webb has a brand new one being built in Myrtle Beach. Great location for golf.

 

[Brett]

Just a couple things to consider. First, you don't want to bake in the cost of golf into the equation unless you are really keen on playing all the time and until you are old. Don't assume full health, and don't assume that you will want to play all the time. I would look at areas that are golf friendly and then find out how much it costs to join as a senior. Where I like you can get unlimited walking privileges and range balls at a series of state run golf courses for about $1200 per year if you are over 60. You can get out of that at the end of the year if you want.

I love Williamsburg and Hilton Head. Williamsburg has a ton of golf and one good 55 and over community plus places like Ford's Colony. If you are looking at HH, look at Blufton. Great golf there for cheap and housing is way better than on the Island. You could go with Del Webb if you want and there are other over 55 communities

yes, Williamsburg Va. seems to be a destination point for golf minded retirees (but it's not cheap)

 

[rapmarks]

I remember when searching for a community, a real estate agency said if we wanted bridge and golf leagues to go knock on doors and invite our neighbors to play with us. The idea of a community with activities for residents was foreign to her.

We obviously looked elsewhere

 

[VacationForever]

I remember when searching for a community, a real estate agency said if we wanted bridge and golf leagues to go knock on doors and invite our neighbors to play with us. The idea of a community with activities for residents was foreign to her.

The sports and social club that serves our community, i.e. only residents of our community may become members, has a ton of activities. Calendar has 10-15 activties everyday, mainly yoga, aerobic, stretching, water exercises, pickle ball, tennis, dancing, free golf clinics, etc.. and for card games, Bridge on Friday and Hand Knee and Foot on Thursday. We use the gym daily unless we are golfing, and we go to Hand Knee and Foot on Thursday. If you buy a new home, initiation fee is waived and it only costs $100 per month. If you buy a resale home where the owner is already a member, the buyer can just take over the membership and pay the $100 per month. If you buy a resale home where the previous owners were not members and want to join now, it is $10K to buy-in.

The investors who bought over alot of unoccupied land, mountain side land, "bankrupted" land, and 2 abandoned golf courses for $180 Million, converted a golf clubhouse to the sports and social club to help sell homes and it is working. They got approval from the city/county and residents as our community is recovering from the real estate bust in 2008.

 

[Makai Guy]

Very smart of you not to move to the coast! With the rising waters, we are seeing more storms and more flooding. I watch the MLS listings daily and I have never seen so many waterfront homes on the market before. Flood, hurricane and earthquake insurance are very pricey!

We didn't even consider the coast. Hurricane and flood insurance had already taken several large jumps before we started our search. Besides we didn't want to have to deal with hurricane preparation and possible repair hassles.

Plus, Makai Gal reacts badly to bites from gnats/sand fleas/no-see-ums with swelling that takes a long time go away. We learned decades ago that going to the southern coast was not a good idea for her in months when no-see-ums are out. We do have pesky gnats inland in Aiken during the summer, but they aren't the biting kind and are mostly out only on dead calm days.

How are your hospitals?

Aiken Regional Medical Center is located here, plus we're only a 20-130 minute drive from Augusta GA which has several good hospitals. Medical College of Georgia is located there - it was part of a merger of several state schools in Augusta several years ago and is now part of Augusta University.

I didn't mention previously that our development is not age restricted, although as word of Aiken and Woodside spread, it has gradually become about 70% retirees.

 

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

The sports and social club that serves our community, i.e. only residents of our community may become members, has a ton of activities. Calendar has 10-15 activties, mainly yoga, aerobic, stretching, water exercises, pickle ball, tennis, dancing, free golf clinics, etc.. and for card games, Bridge on Friday and Hand Knee and Foot on Thursday. We use the gym daily unless we are golfing, and we go to Hand Knee and Foot on Thursday. If you buy a new home, initiation fee is waived and it only costs $100 per month. If you buy a resale home where the owner is already a member, the buyer can just take over the membership and pay the $100 per month. If you buy a resale home where the previous owners were not members and want to join now, it is $10K to buy-in.

The investors who bought over alot of unoccupied land, mountain side land, "bankrupted" land, and 2 abandoned golf courses for $180 Million, converted a golf clubhouse to the sports and social club to help sell homes and it is working. They got approval from the city/county and residents as our community is recovering from the real estate bust in 2008.

And WHAT community is this?

Pat

 

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

At the time we were researching where to spend our retirement years we had widowed and aging mothers in FL and IN so we concentrated on places in western Carolinas and eastern Tennessee within a day's drive of both. Aiken SC seemed to be on most top ten lists of retirement communities in the South so we figured we'd best check it out. We fell in love within minutes of hitting town.

We're far enough inland that our nearest city is Augusta, GA,, which is right on the GA/SC border. Because of this,, we're not subject to the hurricane ravages of coastal locations as we get zero tidal surge and coming overland this far greatly reduces storms' intensity. In fact, we've met quite a few people who've moved here after discovering Aiken while evacuating Hilton Head and Savannah as we're right by one of the major coastal evacuatuion routes. Yet we can get to the coast or the mountains in 2 to 3 hour drive. (Our Spicebush timeshare is only 2:25 away.)

Golf was important for us too, so we chose Woodside Plantation, a gated golf community. There are two Country Clubs located on the property, one with two 18-hole championship courses and a 9-hole par 3 practice course, the other with one completed championship course and one being completed. Our club is affiliated with Club Corp of America, giving us three affiliated courses we can play just paying cart fees on Hilton Head, and many many other courses around the country.

Another important item on our checklist was senior educational opportunities. U of S Carolina Aiken has an Academy for Lifelong Learning that we've found to be excellent.

Aiken is also a thoroghbred training center with equestrian activities adding interest to the area. In fact, the horses were brought here a century ago by northern industrialists who found Aiken to be a great place to spend the winter away from northern cold and snow. As a result of their influence Aiken is more sophisticated, with more appreciation of the arts, than you find in many small Southern towns.

We've loved our 14 years here. Southern Living magazine named Aiken Best Small Town in the South this year.

We will be spending 3 days at Woodside.

 

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

Just a couple things to consider. First, you don't want to bake in the cost of golf into the equation unless you are really keen on playing all the time and until you are old. Don't assume full health, and don't assume that you will want to play all the time. I would look at areas that are golf friendly and then find out how much it costs to join as a senior. Where I like you can get unlimited walking privileges and range balls at a series of state run golf courses for about $1200 per year if you are over 60. You can get out of that at the end of the year if you want.

I love Williamsburg and Hilton Head. Williamsburg has a ton of golf and one good 55 and over community plus places like Ford's Colony. If you are looking at HH, look at Blufton. Great golf there for cheap and housing is way better than on the Island. You could go with Del Webb if you want and there are other over 55 communities

I plan to play MANY rounds of golf. Perhaps 150-200 per year for me, and 75-100 for DW.

 

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

There are CCRCs and Retirement Communities on and around Hilton Head Island in South Carolina with a lot of nice golf courses in the area. This might be a good place for you to look...

George

We will be spending 3 days at Del Webb in Bluffton

 

[VacationForever]

And WHAT community is this?

Pat

It is out southwest and won't work for you. Best place to live in with 2 Jack Nicklaus golf courses, one private and one public in the community. You can PM me for more info. Lots of reasonable price and great golf courses in the whole area.

 

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

It is out southwest and won't work for you. Best place to live in with 2 Jack Nicklaus golf courses, one private and one public in the community. You can PM me for more info. Lots of reasonable price and great golf courses in the whole area.

Do I do that by going to your name, and "Start a Coversation'?

 

[VacationForever]

Do I do that by going to your name, and "Start a Coversation'?

Yes.

 

[rapmarks]

I plan to play MANY rounds of golf. Perhaps 150-200 per year for me, and 75-100 for DW.

You might want to look at At the Legends in Fort Myers. I was told that those that own homes that are deeded as golf course members, there is no additional charge for golf or cart, it is part of homeowners fees, and it is a very nice golf course. From May 1 to October 31, there are great reciprocal rates at great courses.

 

[VacationForever]

You might want to look at Athe Alegends in Fort Myers. I was told that those that own homes that are deeded as golf course members, there is no additional charge for golf or cart, it is part of homeowners fees, and it is a very nice golf course. From May 1 to October 31, there are great reciprocal rates at great courses.

Most golf courses lose money and you pay for it one way or the other.

A quick search yields the following information:
Legends Golf & Country Club
Legends Golf & Country Club is a private bundled golf community. It’s located in Ft. Myers…15-20 minutes from Ft. Myers beaches.

Homes: 1,350
Designer: Joe Lee (1999)
Holes: 18
Maximum Golf Members: 750
Golf Initiation Fee: Bundled
Equity %: None
Golf Dues: $6,236/Yr.
Food & Beverage Minimum: $400/Yr.
Personal Cart: Yes–$25/Yr.!!! Trail Fee
“Tips” Par-Yards-Rating-Slope: 72-6,652-72.5-133
Comments: This is a “bundled” golf community but 600 homes don’t qualify for a golf membership. Social Membership homes pay $3,076/Yr.

 

[rapmarks]

Most golf courses lose money and you pay for it one way or the other.

A quick search yields the following information:
Legends Golf & Country Club
Legends Golf & Country Club is a private bundled golf community. It’s located in Ft. Myers…15-20 minutes from Ft. Myers beaches.

Homes: 1,350
Designer: Joe Lee (1999)
Holes: 18
Maximum Golf Members: 750
Golf Initiation Fee: Bundled
Equity %: None
Golf Dues: $6,236/Yr.
Food & Beverage Minimum: $400/Yr.
Personal Cart: Yes–$25/Yr.!!! Trail Fee
“Tips” Par-Yards-Rating-Slope: 72-6,652-72.5-133
Comments: This is a “bundled” golf community but 600 homes don’t qualify for a golf membership. Social Membership homes pay $3,076/Yr.

We almost bought there 15 years ago but the home we were interested in wasn’t bundled for golf. Glad you posted the fees, because our friends really under stated them.

 

[VacationForever]

I also won't be surprised if there is additional cart/green fees each time you play, hence the option of only paying $25 per year, which is a steal, if you use your own cart. Many of the membership type courses come with not just monthly dues, but also cart fees, with $20-$30 per person per use.