Here in Augusta, we love golf and we love the Masters- it’s what we do. And if you were fortunate to spend even a practice round day soaking in the sunshine at the Augusta National Golf Club a few weeks ago, you probably went home to crunch the numbers and determine exactly how many years are left until you can fulfill your dream of retiring to a golf course community. Did you know, that according to the Golf Research Group, golf course properties are three times as valuable as the average U.S. home?
But WHICH east Georgia community can position you both near the Augusta National Golf Course, as well as mere yards away from a gorgeous golf course on which to wield your clubs every weekend? We’ve compiled a list of 9 golf course communities in and around Augusta, GA to help you decide.
1- Riverwood Plantation, Champions Retreat - Evans, GA
Distance from Augusta National Golf Club: 13.5 miles
Course Designers: Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player
Course: Only club in the world featuring three individually designed private 9-hole courses by the above designers
Home Prices: To build in Bishops Court or Founders Village, homesites start in the $90s. The rest of Riverwood Plantation neighborhoods start from mid $200s
Can you currently build? Yes
Other Available Amenities: A legal golf cart community, community clubhouse, barn pavilion, fishing in Greenbrier pond, the best elementary, middle and high school in Columbia County within walking distance, swimming pool, nature trails for biking and walking
Website: http://www.championsretreat.net/
Community Description: Riverwood Plantation, located just outside of Augusta is a golf-lovers dream and both pedestrian and golf-cart friendly. So much so, that many homes are built with golf cart garages and residents can be found driving to the neighborhood grocery store or picking up kids from school in their golf carts. While the bulk of the Riverwood Plantation neighborhoods in the master planned community are open, Champions Retreat, along with the 3 golf courses, is located behind a secured gate.
2- Hammond’s Ferry, The River Golf Club - North Augusta, SC
Distance from Augusta National Golf Club: 7.5 miles
Course Designers: Jim Fazio
Course: The River Golf Club is an 18-hole course
Home Prices: From $350k and above
Can you currently build? Yes
Other Available Amenities: The North Augusta Greeneway, a bicycle and pedestrian route, Brick Pond Park, Boeckh Park on the riverfront
Website: http://hammondsferry.com/
Community Description: Both Hammond’s Ferry and Shoreline Drive are adjacent to The River Golf Club, just across the river in North Augusta, SC. Described as a “new urbanist” neighborhood, there are a range of housing types positioned among shops & restaurants: large and small single-family homes, live/work houses, apartments, and town-homes. All are designed for easy maintenance and feature porches, balconies, verandas, or broad entries within “conversation distance” of the sidewalk.
3- Reynolds - Greensboro, GA
Distance from Augusta National Golf Club: 77 miles
Course Designers: Bob Cupp’s, The Landing and Plantation courses; Jack Nicklaus’ Great Waters course; Tom Fazio’s 27-hole National course; Rees Jones' The Oconee course; and Jim Engh’s Creek Club course
Course: Six different golf courses of varying lengths
Home Prices: $399k to $1.7 million
Can you currently build? Yes, in multiple neighborhoods
Other Available Amenities: Lake Oconee lakefront homes, nine unique culinary venues, tennis courts, fitness center, 21 miles of biking and walking trails, and 40 diverse social and athletic clubs
Website: https://www.reynoldslakeoconee.com/
Community Description: Featuring the Ritz-Carlton Hotel as its centerpiece, Reynolds Lake Oconee boasts four marinas on the lake. You can visit for a weekend getaway, or make it your primary residence with Lakefront, Golf, Plantation Homes, and Homesites for Sale.
4- Harbor Club - Lake Oconee, GA
Distance from Augusta National Golf Club: 77 miles
Course Designers: Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish
Course: 18-hole
Home Prices: From the mid $400,000s
Can you currently build? Yes, home sites
Other Available Amenities: 15,000 square foot refurbished clubhouse with fitness center, golf shop and restaurant, swim and tennis center, marina and boat storage and access to 19,000 acres of freshwater lake
Website:
http://www.harborclub.com/
Community Description: A gated community surrounded by 1,600 acres of wooded hills and bordered by 9 miles of Lake Oconee shoreline.
5- West Lake – Martinez, GA
Distance from Augusta National Golf Club: 5.9 miles
Course Designers: Donald Ross protégé Ellis Maples from Pinehurst, NC
Course: Water features on seven of its 18 holes and tee options ranging from 5,289 to 6,857 yards
Home Prices: Mid $300s to $2 million
Can you currently build? No
Other Available Amenities: Spa and Fitness center, tennis courts, restaurant on site
Website: http://www.westlakecountryclub.com/
Community Description: West Lake is an upscale golf community located between Steven's Creek Road and Fury's Ferry Road. Its a gated neighborhood and is the oldest golf community in Columbia County, GA. The course opened first in 1969 on a 700-acre site.
6- Jones Creek - Evans, GA
Distance from Augusta National Golf Club: 7.6 miles
Course Designers: Rees Jones, renovations by design architect Tom Fazio
Course: 18-hole
Home Prices: Mid $200s to $1.25 million
Can you currently build? No
Other Available Amenities: Dining area, social activities, large pool, tennis courts and the Jone’s Creek Golf Center, a premier golf training facility
Website: http://jonescreekgolfclub.com/
Community Description: Located in Evans, GA, just outside of Augusta, Jones Creek is a community centered around the passion for golf. The course features award winning course features beautiful dogwoods, azaleas, elevation changes, and Tif EagleBermuda greens.
7- Forest Hills Golf Club - Augusta, GA
Distance from Augusta National Golf Club: 4.2 miles
Course Designers: Originally designed by Donald Ross and was renovated by the Arnold Palmer Company in 2004
Course: 18-hole
Home Prices: Mid $200s to $700k
Can you currently build? No
Other Available Amenities: Driving range and practice facility, a bar & grill, and banquet facility
Website: http://www.theforesthillsgolfcourse.com/
Community Description: The Forest Hills Golf Club was established in 1926, with the oldest homes in the community having been built in the early 1940s. The Forest Hills neighborhood in Richmond County is considered a popular choice for working executives and active retirees.
8- Goshen Plantation – Augusta, GA
Distance from Augusta National Golf Club: 19 miles
Course Designers: Ellis Maples
Course: Par-72, measures over 7400 yards
Home Prices: Low $100s to upper $100s
Can you currently build? No
Other Available Amenities:
Website: http://www.goshenplantation.com/
Community Description: There are multiple homes that back up to the Goshen Plantation Golf Course, just south of downtown Augusta, GA.
9- Bartram Trail - Martinez, GA
Distance from Augusta National Golf Club: 14.9 miles
Course Designers: Robbins and Associates International
Course: 6700-yard par 72 with five par 5s and five par 3s
Home Prices: $230k to $400k
Can you currently build? No
Other Available Amenities: Community Pool, Community Clubhouse
Website: http://www.bartramtrail.com/
Community Description: This planned community was built along portions of the original trail taken by the first American botanist and naturalist, responsible for cataloging virtually all of the native plants, trees and wildlife in the Southeastern United States, William Bartram.
