There’s no shortage of beautiful golf courses in the Lowcountry, especially those surrounded by neighborhoods that offer gorgeous homes overlooking the links. Living on a golf course used to imply a certain level of luxury and prestige. These days, neighborhoods that surround golf courses offer homes of varying sizes, styles, and price ranges, opening the door to homeowners of all types. There are some great advantages to living on a golf course, but there are also plenty of disadvantages. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of life on the links.
VIEWS
Pros
Obviously, a prime reason for wanting to live on a golf course is the pristine landscaping with gorgeous views. Most courses offer views of rolling greens, mature trees, ponds, fountains, and even wildlife.
Cons
Close proximity to a tee or fairway means a golf ball could fly into your yard or right through your window at any moment. Be sure that your homeowners insurance will cover any damage done by errant golf balls. Immaculate landscaping of a golf course also typically entails regular usage of pesticides and fertilizers. Be sure to ask about the lawn care products used by the grounds maintenance crew before buying a home on a golf course, especially if you have children and/or pets.
PRIVACY
Pros
Overlooking a golf course means you’re not peeking into a neighbor’s back yard, and they’re not peeking into yours. Instead of staring at someone else’s overgrown lawn and mildewy siding, you get a view of the greens.
Cons
On the other hand, privacy isn’t always guaranteed. Depending on how close you are to the fairway, you could have golfers and errant balls invading your space all day long. If the golf course in question hosts large tournaments, car and foot traffic on tournament days could be an annoyance.
NOISE
Pros
Luckily, golf is a daytime game. That means once the sun goes down, you’re free to enjoy your privacy, peace, and quiet all evening long. Golf is usually a pretty quiet sport as well, which is a major pro.
Cons
If you’re not a morning person, you might not enjoy living on a property that borders a golf course. Mowing and other maintenance typically happens very early in the morning. If noise is an issue for you, make sure your future home isn’t close to a tee or cart path, as these tend to be the noisier parts of the course.
AMENITIES
Pros
If you’re a golfer, living on a golf course could be a dream come true. You could wake up in the morning, have a cup of coffee while admiring the rough or fairway outside your home, and then hop into your very own golf cart and meet up with your buddies for an early tee time. Golf course communities also usually include tennis courts, swimming pools, clubhouses, restaurants, and other great amenities.
Cons
Many courses have restrictions on where you can walk, hike, especially when it comes to cart paths and official landscaping. Since the community is centered around golf, that is the first and foremost concern for those in charge. Those extra amenities can come at a premium as well. Even though homeowners are sometimes offered discounts on club memberships and greens fees, dues and fees could be pretty steep depending on the community.
HOA RESTRICTIONS
Pros
Golf course communities often have notoriously strict covenants, conditions, and restrictions. Living under a homeowners association comes with its own long list of pros and cons. The number one advantage to a strict HOA is beautifully maintained houses and landscaping.
Cons
Sometimes HOAs can really put a damper on your desire to put a personal touch on your home. The number of home improvement projects you can complete without prior approval is usually very limited. Some HOAs even have restrictions on allowable types of holiday decorations, vehicles in driveways, visible sports equipment, and more. HOA dues can also be pricey in golf course communities.
Honestly, it all comes down to personal preference. You might consider some of the cons in this list to be pros, and vice versa. Every prospective homebuyer must take the time to make their own list of pros and cons about each house they’re interested in to make their final decision.
