Golf/fairway homes pro and con (Phoenix: 2013, apartments, townhome)

[volosong]

I owned a golf course home for fourteen years just prior to my retirement. Have to warn you, there are some really BAD golfers out there. Thought we were safe, being located about 1/3 the way from the tee to the 6th hole.

So many broken windows! Eventually spent $6,000 for a 25-foot tall net fence along one edge of the property, (two-story house with 10-foot ceilings on both floors). Before I could sell, I had to replace 54 roof tiles that were broken by errant balls. They would bounce off my neighbor's one-story house onto the roof of my house.

Golfers in the yard was not an issue as we were fenced off from the course and it was closed at night. Golfers signed a release before playing stating they would not go into homeowner's yards.

However, it was a beautiful house and view. It was nice not having back-yard neighbors and the view across the course to the distant mountains was spectacular. Watering the course in the evenings really made the temperatures go down. Kinda a bummer listening to the lawnmowers in the mornings, but one gets used to it. You get the wafting of that "freshly mowed lawn" smell throughout the neighborhood.

Would I purchase another golf course home??? Probably not. Unless it was right at or just before a tee.

[take57]

Originally Posted by volosong

I owned a golf course home for fourteen years just prior to my retirement. Have to warn you, there are some really BAD golfers out there. Thought we were safe, being located about 1/3 the way from the tee to the 6th hole.

So many broken windows! Eventually spent $6,000 for a 25-foot tall net fence along one edge of the property, (two-story house with 10-foot ceilings on both floors). Before I could sell, I had to replace 54 roof tiles that were broken by errant balls. They would bounce off my neighbor's one-story house onto the roof of my house.

Golfers in the yard was not an issue as we were fenced off from the course and it was closed at night. Golfers signed a release before playing stating they would not go into homeowner's yards.

However, it was a beautiful house and view. It was nice not having back-yard neighbors and the view across the course to the distant mountains was spectacular. Watering the course in the evenings really made the temperatures go down. Kinda a bummer listening to the lawnmowers in the mornings, but one gets used to it. You get the wafting of that "freshly mowed lawn" smell throughout the neighborhood.

Would I purchase another golf course home??? Probably not. Unless it was right at or just before a tee.

I live on a course and my biggest problem is despite having restrooms at the tee & green of the parallel holes I'm on, so many of these honorable sportsman feel no hesitation in urinating right outside my backyard. Mostly entitled old men and bros pouring down gallons of beer. I'm just at the tee, so it has to be a horrific opening shot to plink my house. So far in six years the windows have escaped damage.

Aside from that frustration, you're right about having a nice expanse outside the windows, the watering cool down and nothing beats the fresh cut grass smell. If I were to buy another place on a course I'd be a little more selective about where it sits.

[Hal Roach]

The clubhouse, 18th hole with lake at el caro, northcentral, after the "investors" came.

[grmi66]

Originally Posted by Hal Roach

The clubhouse, 18th hole with lake at el caro, northcentral, after the "investors" came.

When I first moved to Phoenix 20 years ago I walked my dog around that course every night. It was never anything fancy, just a 9 hole "businessman's course" for sneaking in a quick round at lunch with your clients.

But what it's turned into the last time I saw it was awful.

[longviewJoe]

I would look for a popular golf course. Lots of golf courses are closing around the country. I have enjoyed living on a course but definitely not a guarantee forever.

[Hal Roach]

Originally Posted by grmi66

When I first moved to Phoenix 20 years ago I walked my dog around that course every night. It was never anything fancy, just a 9 hole "businessman's course" for sneaking in a quick round at lunch with your clients.

But what it's turned into the last time I saw it was awful.

It was always an 18 hole, executive course. Palo Verde was a 9 and driving range.

[grmi66]

Originally Posted by Hal Roach

It was always an 18 hole, executive course. Palo Verde was a 9 and driving range.

I stand corrected, not a golfer. Either way, still sad that it closed and now is an eyesore. When I still had to live in an apartment it was a nice break to be able to just walk around the course at night to take my dog out.

We were out house hunting near South Mountain park a few years ago and it was a similar story. Found a nice house with a view over a closed golf course across the street. Didn't want to put in an offer on the off chance it became an apartment complex.

[JohnZ963]

With the decline in the game of golf, and the possibility of greater restrictions on water use in the future, I'd be very hesitant to buy a home on a course that wasn't owned by a strong community association with a captive group of golf-crazy citizens like one of the Sun Cities or Pebblebrook. Even then, I'd probably only buy in a location on the course that is completely out of play for the worst golf shots. Probably either behind a tee box, in an area with a pond between the house and the fairway, or directly behind a green AND elevated above it.

Any course owned by an investment group is likely at high risk for redevelopment or reduction in the coming years. Even if the land is deed restricted against development, they could still just close it down.

[Printmeister]

Thank to all for replying. It's gratifying to learn that my fear and avoidance of south/westerly and straight west exposed backyards is justified, specially if we think of the "last home" we'll ever own (?).....

[smoochaz]

Originally Posted by grmi66

I stand corrected, not a golfer. Either way, still sad that it closed and now is an eyesore. When I still had to live in an apartment it was a nice break to be able to just walk around the course at night to take my dog out.

We were out house hunting near South Mountain park a few years ago and it was a similar story. Found a nice house with a view over a closed golf course across the street. Didn't want to put in an offer on the off chance it became an apartment complex.

K Hovnanian bought the golf course by El Caro I believe and is building a community there - supposed to open this summer >> https://www.khov.com/find-new-homes/...homes/23-north

I see many provided good info/experiences on having home by the golf course - another is to please check on who owns and deed restrictions - many in the Phoenician area bought because of the open view/golf course only to have the property building/built townhomes.