Westhaven sells memberships; Laurel Cove, Stillwater in the works
By JONATHAN LONG
Staff Writer
TheTennessean.com
Link to article online
To build a golf course, the obvious necessities come to mind: grass, water, sand and land. However, with a nationwide saturation of new golf courses during the early to mid-1990s, another item has been added to the list: homes.
While Williamson County lost two standalone courses in the past five years — the Country Club of Franklin and Through the Green — three new courses that are part of existing or new subdivisions — Westhaven in Franklin and Stillwater and Laurel Cove in the rural southeast corner of the county — are under development.
"No one is building (standalone courses) right now, because there is no demand for them," said Dick Horton, executive director of the Tennessee Golf Association. "In the mid-'90s there was a call to build a course a day to anticipate the perceived demands of new golfers. However, the number of new golfers declined significantly.
"We are still seeing the effects of that now. In 2006, more courses closed in the U.S. than opened for the first time ever. And I'm pretty sure 98 percent of those courses were standalone courses."
Out of Williamson County's 12 existing and planned golf courses (13 if you add King's Creek Golf Club just across the Maury County line), eight are or will be within residential developments: Brentwood Country Club, The Governors Club, Nashville Golf & Athletic Club, Old Natchez Country Club, Temple Hills Country Club, Westhaven, Laurel Cove and Stillwater.
Though living in a golf course community may not be as glamorous as in the past, it still can be a great investment, especially to those residents who move to the county from areas that are accustomed to golf course communities.
"It's an issue of scarcity," said David J. Weissman of Brentwood, an attorney and real estate agent with RE/MAX. "There are a number of wonderful homes in the Williamson County area, but for those people looking to live in a golf course community, they don't have as many choices."
Weissman, 42, lives in The Governors Club. He spent most of his life in West Palm Beach, Fla. In areas such as south Florida, golf course communities are almost as common as McDonald's restaurants. While residents still pay a lot, they have a wide variety of choices, he said.
Weissman said he believes Williamson County will grow to have many more of these communities, especially considering the area's demographics.
"I read in USA Today on the Fourth of July that in terms of spending per citizen, Williamson County ranks 18th in the country," Weissman said. "That's definitely what you look for when you build a golf course community."
Famous names add value
When it comes to appreciation and housing value, certain names — such as professionals Greg Norman, who will design the 18-hole course at the 800-lot Laurel Cove community, or Arnold Palmer, who designed The Governors Club course — demand a higher pricing premium than others.
"In this area, a Greg Norman signature course adds approximately $50,000 to $60,000 to the selling price. And any developer is going to explore that option," said Philip Jones of Tentara Partners, Laurel Cove's developer.
Norman, a two-time British Open champion who has 20 PGA Tour victories on his résumé, was in Franklin in May for Laurel Cove's groundbreaking.
But from a potential homebuyer's perspective, the financial value of the investment may come in second to the simple desire to live in a golf course community.
"Having a golf course in my backyard was absolutely a big selling point in where I moved to. It was either near a golf course or on the water," said Tim Blount, 46, who bought in The Governors Club after relocating from Memphis. "It's one of those things that I'd never thought I'd have the opportunity to do."
It's that allure that makes golf courses a popular feature and selling point for many developers. However, building a course is not cheap, and making the numbers work is not always easy for a developer.
In the late '90s through 2001, David Terry — the original developer of Franklin's Legends Ridge subdivision — sold buyers on a residential community that was to include a golf course. Buyers lined up.
But the golf course was never built. Legends Ridge had several problems and eventually residents were fed up with Terry's inability to produce a finished product. Charging that Terry wasn't moving fast enough, 67 of the residents signed a petition demanding amenities and repairs to the property, including the still-empty golf course site. Terry next was belted with several fines from the state Department of Environment and Conservation for erosion problems at the unfinished site.
Legends Ridge was purchased from Terry in 2002 and is now almost complete — without a golf course.
New members line up
The Stillwater development is planned for property previously owned by country music star Tanya Tucker. Her 22,620-square-foot home reportedly will be remodeled and used as the clubhouse.
Gary Benz, 52, of Franklin has played golf for about 20 years, yet only recently has he had the urge to live in a community that put a course in his backyard.
Two years ago he moved into Westhaven, the Southern Land Co. development in west Franklin, to be closer to his son and daughter. While admitting that the development's new golf course wasn't the major draw for his move, it was something that excited him about his new living environment. Benz was one of the first people to sign up for a membership for the 18-hole Westhaven course, designed by Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates, when memberships were made available earlier this month. A groundbreaking for the course is planned in August.
"I don't play a lot, probably about nine to 10 times a year," Benz said. "But since it's right outside my back door, I'm sure I'll be playing a lot more now."
Benz moved to Westhaven from Princeton Hills in Brentwood. Though he said he enjoyed living in Princeton Hills, he fell in love with Westhaven's smaller yards, recreational activity and the variety in ages of the residents. It was a move that he believes many more will soon make.
"Many people have started to get back into living in the community settings," Benz said. "Having everything right there, including their golf course."