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Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Why high-net-worth individuals are moving to golf-front homes
Nestled in the golf district of Dubai South, Discovery Dunes is shaping up to look like the blueprint for ultra-luxury golf communities in the UAE. Here, renowned American golf course architect Tom Fazio designed his first 18-hole private layout in the region, with wide fairways, recessed bunkers, and native ghaf trees woven into the desert in a way that feels intentional, understated, and remarkably quiet. Spanning nearly 27 million square feet, Discovery Dunes — developed by Discovery Land Company — includes 340 residences, with 84 per cent of the land preserved as open space. With the value of plots reaching approximately Dh183 million, Discovery Dunes isn't just selling homes — it's selling exclusivity. One of the latest deals, in April 2025, closed at Dh33 million for a 52,000-square-foot plot, underscoring just how much buyers are willing to pay for space and seclusion. The 600-acre development offers three types of land plots — Estate, Signature, and Lifestyle — ranging in size from around 22,000sqft to over 73,000sqft. Beyond golf, residents enjoy amenities like the Lakehouse — a farm-to-table restaurant overlooking the 11th hole — equestrian facilities, wellness centres, and even 'comfort stations' stocked with gourmet snacks. Buyers are required to purchase a membership for access to the amenities, reinforcing a focus on quality over scale. Even though homes that overlook golf course estates typically have a 10-30 per cent price premium, golf-front homes in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have steadily carved out their place in the market over the past two decades. Not for the sport, but for what they offer: green views, fewer neighbours, and a sense of calm that's getting harder to buy. 'There's always been an association globally between green space and golf communities and privacy and exclusivity,' says Ghada 'GG' Benitez, the CEO of GG Benitez International, a luxury real estate company that operates under Prime Capital Realty in Dubai. She also runs the affiliate offices in California and in Spain's Costa del Sol. 'When you have exclusivity, particularly, that equates most times to additional value.' Benitez, who also hosts The Dubai Connect Podcast where she discusses real estate trends in the UAE, launched her property firm in Dubai a little under three years ago but works with her strategic partner, who has operated in the market for over two decades. 'Dubai is a vertical city... It's not as prevalent to find open green areas.' She said that as part of the UAE's Master 2040 plan to develop more green spaces for residents, golf communities are in line with the government's long-term goals. To understand what's driving demand for golf communities, Benitez says you have to look at who's actually moving in. She notes a rise in high-net-worth individuals relocating from the UK, the US, Canada, Russia, and India, with most of her clients coming from Europe and North America. In those parts of the world, golf is already tied to luxury, she notes. But the group to really watch, she says, is families. 'As more families move to Dubai, they're looking for more villas and townhouses,' she explains, adding that they are looking for greenspace. UK families are a big one. The GEMS Education report Exodus & Education: Why British Parents Are Moving to the UAE found that over a third of UK parents with children in private schools are considering relocating abroad due to rising education costs — with many drawn to the UAE for its tax-free income, strong schools, and family-friendly lifestyle. That shift in who's buying is shaping the kinds of spaces people want. It's not just about luxury — it's about liveability. Many of the golf communities are gated, offering privacy, greenery, and a quieter environment that's well-suited for raising families, Benitez explained. 'Because it's green, it lends to that serenity and greenery, and recreational walkways that are associated with more desirable, luxurious, higher value,' Benitez says. It's a clear contrast to typical tower living and speaks directly to the growing number of families choosing to relocate to Dubai. Of the highest rated communities, Dubai Hills Estate topped villa searches in Q1 2025 — and it's easy to see why. It's massive, central, and built with families in mind. At 2,700 acres, it's Emaar's largest community to date, anchored by an 18-hole championship course and filled out with schools, parks, and enough green space to feel like you're not in the city. Prices have climbed fast, according to a Dubai Housing investment guide — Sidra villas, which once went for Dh3.2 million, are now hitting Dh6.6 million, and Maple townhouses have nearly doubled in value. Still, agents say the market hasn't peaked. Kunal Gaur, an economist writing for Dubai Housing, claims it's not too late to invest. 'When you compare Dubai property prices to places like Singapore, the US, or the UK, they're still pretty reasonable, especially when you factor in that whole tax-free thing,' Gaur wrote. That optimism is reflected in the numbers. According to Provident Real Estate's Q1 2025 market overview, villa communities built around golf course amenities dominated market share. DAMAC Hills 2, home to the Trump World Golf Club Dubai — an 18-hole championship course designed by Tiger Woods — led the segment, capturing a 5.8 per cent market share. Emirates Living, which offers views of both Emirates Golf Club and the Address Montgomerie, followed with 5.2 per cent, while DAMAC Hills held 5 per cent. Jumeirah Golf Estates (JGE) came in close behind with 4.7 per cent. Total sales volume for JGE for Q1 reached Dh882 million, with the average price across listed JGE properties being approximately Dh14 million. That performance tracks with the broader luxury villa market. The Provident Real Estate report also noted a 13 per cent price jump in the luxury villa segment this quarter. Most of the sales happened in the premium range, particularly among four-bedroom villas priced over Dh3.2 million. In total, 1,183 transactions were recorded, with the average sale price hitting Dh11.83 million. Four-bedroom homes made up the bulk of activity, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of all sales. Even within golf communities, supply is tight. 'You have to understand that whether it's Dubai Hills, Jumeirah Golf Estates, or Emirates Hills, the number of homes that actually sit on the course is very limited,' says Tahir Majithia, a Dubai-based real estate agent with over 20 years of experience and managing partner at Prime Capital. Originally from Mumbai, Majithia has seen first-hand how exclusivity and location within these communities can drive demand. Even in newer communities being launched by other developers, you're not seeing many new golf courses, Majithia says. 'When you talk about a golf course, you need a lot of land for it... Obviously, land has become expensive.' Because golf communities are expensive, they don't necessarily dominate overall sales. They tend to sit in the luxury or high mid-market range, which naturally limits how many people are buying in. Over the past five years, only 7.6 per cent of all residential transactions in Dubai happened in golf-focused communities — and more than half of that came from Dubai Hills Estate alone, according to Dubai Residential: Par for the Course, a report by GCP Group and REIDIN. When asked how golf-front homes compare to waterfront properties, Majithia didn't hesitate: ' You would get much better value for money if you're buying on a golf course. You would get a much bigger plot... you'd probably get somewhere around 70-80 per cent more space for the same amount of money.' 'Waterfront has historically performed better than non-waterfront. But again, how much more waterfront is there going to be in Dubai? And in the UAE in general,' Benitez adds. 'You're still going to find that for short-term rental, which tends to provide, let's say, on average 3 per cent higher rental yields than long-term, that there's still that desirability of being in the middle of the city or on a waterfront. Whereas you would see more of the family wanting long-term rental, the larger units, you'll see that in golf communities.' Looking at buyer psychology and investment behaviour, Majithia said most buyers to purchase in golf communities are end users wanting a lifestyle and long-term hold, meaning people who are purchasing homes are actually living in them, not flipping or renting them. There are a few people who are still buying as an investment, despite inventory tightening in prime golf communities. He explained that end user buying in this real estate category has increased because of the increase in demand for the lifestyle affiliated with golf communities. Importantly, Majithia noted that five to seven years ago, demand for golf-facing villas wasn't nearly as strong. The recent surge, he said, aligns with the influx of ultra-high-net-worth individuals relocating to Dubai. Looking forward, Benitez believes that golf-facing villas and real estate will remain a top-tier asset class. 'It's here to stay and it will become the new, what we talk about waterfront,' she said. If you look at what's still available along the waterfront, the options are starting to narrow. 'There's Palm Jebel Ali, Maritime City, La Mer, Rashid Marina — but inventory there is limited.' Then you have Dubai Islands, and that's pretty much it, she explained. As coastal land gets built out, the city is naturally pushing inward, and golf-front living is starting to fill that space in the luxury market. It's a shift that's not just about views and square footage, but about what comes next. 'With healthcare and lifestyle clubs, you're going to see that as more retirees are looking where to retire around the world, golf communities in Dubai are going to be a play,' Benitez said. With long-stay visas, rising healthcare standards, and a growing appetite for wellness-led living, golf communities may end up offering something the city hasn't quite figured out yet: a soft landing for the people who've built their lives here and want to stay.
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The Green Mile lives up to billing at Quail Hollow
The Green Mile lives up to billing at Quail Hollow At a combined 1,246 yards – 514 yards short of its popular moniker – the Green Mile at Quail Hollow Club might not live up it to its name in distance. But the three closing holes in this year's PGA Championship still strike fear with plenty of length and even more water. As calculated by average score over the past three Truist Championships (formerly the Wells Fargo Championship, among other names) at Quail Hollow, the closing three holes are the most difficult on the course. Come Sunday, no lead will be safe on the Green Mile. No. 16 is a 529-yard dogleg par 4 that was rerouted by architect Tom Fazio in recent years. The hole tees off toward a lake before bending right around a menacing bunker, playing to a green perched above the water's edge. In Thursday's first round of the PGA Championship, No. 16 played to a 4.41 average with only four birdies, 50 bogeys and nine doubles or worse. It ranked as the hardest hole on the course in that round. In Thursday's marquee grouping of Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler, each player made double bogey on No. 16. No. 17 intimidates at every angle. The 223-yard par 3 crosses the lake to a firm green with water at the front, left and back. The safe miss is to the right, but a subtle mound at the green's edge forces players who bail out to play up and over to a green that slopes away to the water. No. 17 played to a 3.37 average Thursday with 10 birdies, 52 bogeys and seven doubles or worse, making it the second-toughest hole of the round. At 494 yards long, No. 18 features a narrow creek that ambles up the left side all the way to the green. Players must challenge the water to set up the best angle into the green – for a creek that many players could leap over, it gobbles up plenty of golf balls. And most dramatically, it plays with the mind on the tee shot and the approach. No. 18 gave up 15 birdies in Thursday's first round against 42 bogeys and 11 doubles, adding up to a 4.31 average and a relatively gentle ranking of fourth hardest hole on the course for the day. To see everything the contenders are up against, check out this video of the Green Mile at Quail Hollow.
New York Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Why this year's PGA Championship venue, Quail Hollow, is the Kardashians of golf courses
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It's the great Quail Hollow debate: Players rave about it when they come every year, but for the course architecture heads and the peripheral golf community, the glass is very much half empty on this week's PGA Championship venue. So why is the divide so stark? What is it about a major coming to Quail Hollow that elicits such a visceral reaction? The answer is a bit like explaining reality television's appeal. Advertisement 'I guess I would say Quail Hollow is like a Kardashian,' six-time PGA Tour winner Hunter Mahan said. 'It's very modern, beautiful and well-kept. But it lacks a soul or character.' Name another major championship venue that can be so sensibly compared to a family of meme-able celebrities who always seem to be the center of the pop culture news cycle. You cannot. Quail Hollow is a staple on the PGA Tour for a reason. Founded by Jimmy Harris in 1959 on pasture land inherited by his mother, Quail Hollow gradually established itself as a place of note in the professional golf community because of its internal efforts to become one. The expansive parkland layout was originally designed by golf course architect George Cobb, best known for building Augusta National's par-3 course. Arnold Palmer helped modify four holes in the late 1980s, and soon after, Jimmy's son, Johnny Harris — dubbed North Carolina's 'Ambassador of Golf' — took over as the president of Quail Hollow. That's when the real work began. Tom Fazio came in to complete a full redesign of the routing in 1997. By 2003, Quail Hollow was primed to begin hosting its annual PGA Tour event, originally called the Wachovia Championship, then the Wells Fargo, and now the Truist. Quail Hollow hosted its first major in 2017 — Justin Thomas won the PGA Championship — and a Presidents Cup in 2022. 'Arnold Palmer said to the founders, 'If you build a golf course and you put up enough money, the best players in the world would play down Independence Boulevard,'' Johnny Harris said. 'From the beginning, we always wanted to build a course that would attract the best players in the world.' That it did. Harris, an Augusta National member, has never been shy about his aspirations. Stepping onto the property, you're immediately met with a sense of grandeur. A stately white clubhouse. Towering pines. Twisting fairways and gigantic bunkers. The course's closing stretch, Nos. 16-18, was dubbed 'The Green Mile' by esteemed golf journalist and Charlotte native Ron Green Jr. and played at 488 shots over par during the 2017 PGA Championship. Advertisement The Southern-style grounds do emulate a certain course in northeast Georgia. 'Mr. Johnny Harris and the membership here have a vision to be the No. 1 course in the country behind only Augusta National,' Keith Wood, Quail Hollow's Director of Green and Grounds told the Winston-Salem Journal when he was poached from Sedgefield's staff in 2015. It tends to be a common observation among those who visit Quail Hollow for the first time. NBC's Johnson Wagner, a Charlotte resident and club member, used his Korn Ferry Tour credential to attend the Wachovia Championship the first year it was played. 'I immediately fell in love,' Johnson said. 'It was May in Charlotte, the flowers are blooming and the course is overseeded. I was like, oh my gosh, this place is like Augusta.' It's just you & the green. 223 yards. What's your club? ⛳️#PGAChamp — PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 12, 2025 Since its inception, Quail Hollow has been nipped and tucked to Harris and the membership's liking. There's a sense that the place is constantly evolving and attempting to transform into one of the country's premier major championship destinations. A man-made stream was added to the 18th hole for increased drama on the closing hole in 1996. Fazio shaped the 16th into a drivable par-4 in 2013. Three years later, the final pairing in the Wells Fargo tournament wasn't even in the clubhouse before the architecture team ripped apart the beginning stretch of the front nine. The greens have been redone multiple times, and not always to acclaim. In 2010, Phil Mickelson told the Charlotte Observer that the putting surfaces are some of the worst on the PGA Tour: 'Even though they're in immaculate shape, I would say that No. 18 would be the worst green we have on tour, except it's not even the worst green on the golf course. Twelve is.' Advertisement In true Quail Hollow fashion, those surfaces have since been remodeled. The changes to the actual holes at Quail Hollow have all occurred side-by-side to expansions to the land itself, making room for hospitality tents, roads and other logistical necessities. 'It seems like every design change we make is to make it a better venue for the public and for infrastructure, rather than for the golf course,' Wagner said. Despite the club's ambitions, neither Golf Digest or ranks the course among its top 100 in the United States. Yet, former PGA Tour pro and current practicing architect Davis Love III says it passes another test. 'Is it going to be exciting on TV? Oh yeah. It's going to be awesome.' Jordan Spieth reportedly called the venue 'Rory McIlroy Country Club' last week. That's because McIlroy can overpower the majority of Quail Hollow's holes by blasting it over the fairway bunkers with his driver. He's won here four times, including by five shots last year. Harris is already considering making some changes in an attempt to counteract the prowess of the career Grand Slam winner and a select group of other pros who can bomb it into oblivion. 'Last year, before Wells Fargo, we flipped the bunkers on No. 16, the first hole of the Green Mile, which is the hardest three holes in golf. We were sure nobody's gonna knock it over. Well, the first day of the tournament, Rory McIlroy flew it over the bunker, stood in the fairway, looked back at the camera and gave me a nod,' Harris said. The result of all this tinkering is a property that is extremely well-suited for a major championship-sized crowd. But does that mean Quail Hollow is fit to provide a major championship-caliber test? Last week, former U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover mentioned Quail Hollow as he spoke of the admirable Philly Cricket Club, a golden-age A.W. Tillinghast design that the PGA Tour visited for the first time last week as a fill-in venue for the Truist. Advertisement '(Tillinghast) gives you so many choices. At Quail Hollow, we'll all be hitting it to pretty much the same place,' he said. The same sentiment was shared by several players about last year's PGA Championship venue, Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. A course becomes instantly less interesting when players can hit it anywhere and still find success. There's a belief among architecture experts that Quail Hollow rewards aggressive play because the design is simply not demanding enough to place a premium on extreme accuracy. Plus, several inches of rainfall early this week in Charlotte might create softer-than-ideal conditions for what Harris and his membership envisioned. Scoring at Quail Hollow ranges from a borderline birdie fest to a stern, but fair 72 holes. McIlroy won the Wells Fargo at 17 under last year. Thomas won the 2017 PGA at 8 under. Kerry Haigh and the PGA of America's championship team will set up the golf course with thick rough and strategic pins in hopes of making it play more like a major than a PGA Tour event. 'Quail Hollow is a good modern test, but it lacks the substance to be a great test,' said Andy Johnson of The Fried Egg, a popular independent golf media company specializing in architecture coverage. 'Venues such as Augusta National demand players to not only be in the fairway but certain places in the fairway to take advantage of great scoring opportunities. At Quail Hollow, simply finding the fairway is the goal.' That's part of the reason why the pros seem to love it so much. It's all right there in front of you. There's ample data to be extracted from past tournaments. The holes are indeed difficult. But it's familiar, and never cruel. 'The golf course is very challenging, but it's not tricked up,' said Webb Simpson, a PGA Tour player and Quail Hollow member. 'Guys love being challenged in the right way. Not tricked up, but real tough golf holes and Quail has a great variety of them.' It doesn't hurt that the course is known for supreme treatment of pros and caddies, from dry cleaning delivered at valet parking to five-star dining in the clubhouse. The players rave about Charlotte as a hub for professional golf fans, and many of them have close personal relationships with Harris, who is ever present during tournament weeks. The crowds will show out this week. Massive build-outs give spectators multiple options for viewing the closing stretch should the Green Mile deliver a finish anything like what we saw at last month's Masters. 'Major championships go to places that have room for major championships,' Love said. As an annual stop on the PGA Tour, Quail Hollow is top tier. As a big stage for a big golf tournament, it's first-rate. As a major test? It leaves many wanting more. 'If we pick the top 20 architecturally significant places to host a PGA Championship, well yeah, maybe Quail Hollow doesn't make that top 20,' Love said. 'But if you pick the top 20 places to host a big tournament, it's in the top 5.' (Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; top photo of Rory McIlroy: Andrew Redington / Getty Images)
Time Business News
30-04-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Mexico's Coastal Golf Resorts See 60% Spike in Bookings as Digital Nomads Blend Work with Wellness
As remote work changes lifestyles worldwide, Mexico's coastal golf resorts are unexpected winners. This year's 60% jump in bookings shows digital nomads are finding destinations that balance productivity, wellness and leisure. With its pristine beaches, championship golf courses and wellness offerings, Mexico is redefining what a 'workspace' is. The Future of Wellness: Driven Remote Work. The global trend toward remote work started out as necessity but has become a preference for millions. Environments that support mental and physical fitness and work-life balance are priorities for workers today. Golf resorts on Mexican coastlines from Cancun to Los Cabos are responding by turning into wellness destinations. Many have full-service spas, organic dining, guided meditation and fitness centers so guests can stay fit while working remotely. A survey by the Global Wellness Institute found that 68% of remote workers consider wellness amenities important in selecting a place to work. Golf resorts are the new remote offices. Many professionals are finding traditional office settings less appealing. They are replacing them with luxury resorts that combine Wi-Fi access, business centers and flexible areas. Private workstations, conference facilities and quiet lounges are being added at Mexico golf resorts. Digital nomads can spend the afternoon on tropical fairways after virtual meetings wind down. And some resorts combine extended stays with 'workation' packages that include unlimited golf, spa credits, and wellness workshops. With this blend, Mexico's golf resorts have become the base for those who will not compromise career for lifestyle. Why Mexico is Leading the Trend. For several reasons Mexico is unique worldwide. Access from North America, affordability, and a large choice of golf courses make it a top pick. The iconic destinations like Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta, and Baja California offer much more than just greens. They create experiences of culture, gastronomy and adventure. Mexico has over 200 golf courses – many designed by Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio and Robert Trent Jones Jr. Unlike most tropical spots Mexico also has stable connectivity, top-end amenities and plenty of activities – from cenote diving to Mayan ruins. Interest in 'Mexico golf holidays' is growing, and more travelers are finding that a professional life can coexist with leisure and exploration. New Trends in Extended Stays and Healthier Travel. The longer duration of stays is one major trend reshaping the industry. Digital nomads prefer stays of one to three months instead of short vacations. And golf resorts have adapted with weekly rental discounts, long-term wellness programs and residential-style lodging with private kitchens and living areas. Also on the list for travelers is health and wellness. By 2027, wellness tourism is expected to reach USD 1.4 trillion worldwide – and Mexico's resorts are tapping into that with holistic wellness retreats including golf, spa treatments, meditation classes and nutritional counseling. No longer are travelers content with relaxation only. They want to come home feeling renewed mentally and physically. Expert Travel Providers Make It Simple. The search for the right golf resort can be overwhelming. This is where experienced travel providers step in. Some luxury golf holiday companies like Chaka Travel curate packages to Mexico's top golf resorts. With their expertise, travelers can find resorts that fit their personal and professional needs – a quiet haven for working or a social hub with plenty of entertainment and wellness activities. These thoughtfully tailored experiences ensure that guests not only unwind along Mexico's stunning golf coastlines but also enjoy the happiest vacation of their lives. The Allure of Mexico's Signature Golf Courses. The quality of the courses is what really attracts Mexico's golf resorts. It's an incredible variety – from oceanfront fairways in Los Cabos to jungle-lined greens in Riviera Maya. Courses like El CamaleonMayakoba, home of the PGA Tour, have natural settings and are challenging. Others offer world-class design and amenities like Vidanta New Vallarta. Such destinations attract golfers of all levels so that guests can enjoy the greens as much as they challenge them. Some remote workers are finding the opportunity to tee off at sunrise and take conference calls by sunset irresistible. Looking to the Future: Sustainable Luxury and Growth And as demand has increased, sustainability has become an important issue for many of Mexico's top golf resorts. Water conservation, renewable energy use, and wildlife protection are becoming commonplace. Many of the best golf courses in Mexico are now leading this eco-conscious shift. At the same time, resorts are upgrading technologies to better serve a mobile workforce. Looking ahead, Mexico is poised to merge remote work, wellness travel, and luxury golf experiences. For digital nomads searching for balance, health, and inspiration — the fairways of Mexico are calling more than ever. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
USA Today
27-03-2025
- USA Today
Expansive California club offers a perfect drive, a Tom Fazio course and so much more
Expansive California club offers a perfect drive, a Tom Fazio course and so much more Show Caption Hide Caption Preserve Golf Club at Santa Lucia Preserve The Preserve Golf Club serves up serious scenery at Santa Lucia Preserve in California. The Santa Lucia Preserve is a 20,000-acre community in California with a focus on conservation and natural beauty. The Preserve features a Tom Fazio-designed golf course ranked among the top private courses in California. Amenities include an equestrian center, sports center, lake club and a Hacienda offering dining and accommodations. The Preserve emphasizes a relaxed lifestyle while also prioritizing wildfire prevention and environmental sustainability. There are grand golf course entrances, and there is Santa Lucia Preserve. The approach to Preserve Golf Club begins some four miles inland of the Pacific Ocean, within half an hour's cruise of golf heavyweights such as Pebble Beach and Cypress Point. From there, the private road's tight two lanes wander away from town, topping ridges and skirting several microenvironments. Past redwood trees and wild animals. Along drop-offs with incredible views of valuable terrain that has, implausibly, been mostly left to nature. From the guarded gates at the northern edge of the sanctuary, this drive to the clubhouse is 9.5 miles and nearly half an hour of twists and turns – a perfect way to leave everyday worries in the rearview mirror. Don't even try it in a hurry, because several turnouts invite you to pull over and take it all in. That drive is a perfect introduction to the private 20,000-acre Santa Lucia Preserve, where conservancy is more than a word or just a fleeting nod to a big idea. Once home to the Rumsen Ohlone Tribe then a series of working cattle ranches for much of the 1900s, the 31 square miles came under the care of the Santa Lucia Conservancy and Preserve Community in the 1990s. Some 18,000 of the Preserve's acres have been permanently protected as natural habitat. The remaining 2,000 or so acres of Santa Lucia Preserve haven't exactly been overburdened by the hand of man. The Preserve offers just 297 homesites, with amenities including a ranch club, equestrian center, sports center, lake club, swimming pools, 100 miles of various trails, a timeless Hacienda servicing the club with old-school-cool accommodations and upscale dining. And for those so inclined, a Tom Fazio-designed golf course that is ranked by Golfweek's Best as No. 17 among all private courses in California and No. 111 among all modern courses in the U.S. Most residential communities would seem packed with such a wide array of offerings. At Santa Lucia Preserve, such lifestyle accoutrements are frequently overshadowed by the setting. This isn't, in any way imaginable, a typical residential golf community. 'The people who are drawn to the Preserve are drawn here because of this wild, natural beauty,' said Jen Anello, Santa Lucia Preserve's senior director of sales, marketing and resident/member experience. 'It is a place that just happens to have this incredible golf experience. It's not a community that's centered around the golf experience. The golf is a piece of what draws people here, but you don't have to be a golfer. People are drawn here by whatever their interests are, and I think that is something that sets it apart from your typical golf community.' Much more than golf This is a golf magazine, and you surely want to know more about the golf course. Don't fret. We'll get there soon enough. To wrap your head around Santa Lucia Preserve takes time. Arriving late in the evening after a two-hour drive south from San Francisco International Airport, I checked into the nearly vacant Hacienda. Almost a century old, the building has been converted into a dining and accommodations oasis that serves members and guests of Santa Lucia Preserve's Ranch Club. Members of the separate Preserve Golf Club have access to the dining, and national golf members are able to stay at the Hacienda depending on availability. My room was one of those lost-in-time affairs that was bigger than any golfer needs, perfectly appointed for the Hacienda motif with a sitting area and fireplace. I was just upstairs of the main bar, where I returned each night to chat with various members before turning in early. Every conversation included at least one tale of that unforgettable entrance drive to the property. My trip coincided with the Preserve Golf Club Collegiate, a top-tier event won by UCLA. I wouldn't play for two days, first watching 13 men's teams tackle what looked to be a most difficult golf course in absolute prime condition. In the afternoons I cruised the property, checking out as many amenities and natural wonders as possible. A favorite was the stand of redwood trees visible from portions of the golf club. Several specimens rise more than 300 feet, rare to be so tall in the Santa Lucia Mountains. One tree is estimated to have sprouted sometime around 1300, nearly 200 years before Christopher Columbus arrived in North America. Walking the grove with Anello was a quiet experience, our voices set to almost a whisper so as to not disturb the scene, not that such trees should care what we have to say. They've experienced it all – fires, droughts and other natural stresses are marked on the trees, which tower over other adjacent species. To stand among them, the light dappling their crowns so far above, is humbling. The equestrian center, sports center and Moore's Lake amenities are just minutes from the Hacienda. Fewer than 150 of the 297 available homesites have been built out with some 30 more under construction – nothing ever feels crowded. Existing homes available for resale at the time of my fall visit ranged from $5.4 million to $16 million. Some 40 undeveloped lots were available for resale by owners. Those ranged from half a million dollars to more than $2 million, with the spacious lots well separated in various environments. 'We were a best-kept secret for a long time,' Anello said. 'We didn't do much outreach until about five years ago. . . . It's important to understand how special and different it is compared to other places, other communities with golf. Maybe we just think we're cooler than we really are, but this really is a special place.' Anello said there also are holding costs to consider, as well as building-approval processes that focus not only on aesthetics but the prevention of wildfires and subsequent property damage, which of course is a rising concern in California. The Preserve addresses these very real worries with best-in-class risk-mitigation efforts that stretch beyond homeowners and include far-reaching land management efforts to remove natural fuels and other threats of flare-ups. A simple example: Even on the golf course, cart paths are edged with string trimmers because blade trimmers might cause a spark. It all adds up to a seriously enviable lifestyle with an incredibly relaxed vibe, right up until you watch a golf ball land on one of those Tom Fazio golf greens only to be rejected by those devilish slopes. Tom Fazio at his finest The nature of these greens was revealed early my first morning on property. One player in the college event was short-sided and out of position after two shots on the par-5 17th, the green of which is perched high above a run-off area to the right. The player tried a difficult flop and made a good swing, only to watch his ball bound across into native scruff beyond the green. He took a drop, then played ping-pong back across the green on his way to an 8. Counting the penalty drop, that snowman included six shots within 20 yards of the flag. So I knew what I was in for when I finally teed off two days later alongside a club member. Fazio is a master of designing residential courses, with 43 of the top 200 Golfweek's Best residential courses bearing his name. Few of his efforts, however, separate the golf from the homes as decisively as at Preserve. A smattering of houses overlook the course, but none are realistically in play. This is core golf through sometimes heaving terrain with long views meant for photographs. Which is good, because nobody had to watch from their patios as I kept missing greens. Fazio is known for building greens that reject substandard approach shots. The edges of the Preserve's putting surfaces tend to turn down and away, forcing wise players toward the center of the greens instead of directly at tucked flags. Combining firm bounces with elevated green speeds, these superior playing surfaces presented by course superintendent Kyle Butler and his crew are among Fazio's trickiest. Butler chuckled over lunch as I recounted the player who bit off more than he could chew on his way to an 8 at No. 17. 'With the Fazio greens and how fun they can be when they're a little quicker, the challenge of the golf course is in the greens and the false fronts and some of the pin locations we can set,' said Butler, who came to Preserve Golf Club in 2016 as an assistant after having worked at the nearby Links at Spanish Bay and Carmel Valley Ranch. 'Having a little bit faster greens accentuates all the features.' The Preserve converted to Bermuda grass fairways in 2016, which allowed for a 15-percent reduction in irrigation water needed for the golf course in the arid environment, Butler said. He and his crew have taken many other steps to save water, too, such as covering a holding pond with thousands of plastic discs that reflect sunlight and slow evaporation. 'Every single drop matters,' he said. The greens are bent grass, and the rough is predominantly rye and sticky. The Preserve doesn't receive an overwhelming volume of play, just 12,000 to 13,000 rounds per year, and Butler has all the playing surfaces dialed in. The course begins with a downhill par 4 playing to what starts as a wide fairway that is later pinched by trees in the landing zone for longer hitters, making players think from the start. That strategic requirement of thought is repeated over and over: Where do I want to be in this fairway, and what club gets me there? In general there is plenty of room off the tee for a cautious play, and ample challenges for the aggressive line. Thoughtless approach shots, in particular, are penalized on this course that surely takes more than a few rounds to even begin to figure out. And that's perfect for a residential layout. As the flags move about the greens, strategy shifts, always presenting a different challenge from the day before. In other words, you could play this course often and never feel that it's repetitive. Many of the golf club's members are also fortunate enough to play at the nearby and famous coastal courses such as Cypress Point and Monterey Peninsula Country Club. The Preserve is very different in conditioning, environment and challenges presented. It's amazing how the whole scene changes from the coastal panorama just over the mountain range, and that's not a knock on the Preserve. Here, among these 31 square miles of protected habitat with a scattering of extremely well-heeled residences, life is exceptionally good. Each day can begin with expectations as high as those redwoods, the opportunities rolling out in front of you like that grandest of entrance roads through the mountains.
