Advantages & Disadvantages of Living on a Golf Course

By Robert Lee
Some people are attracted to golf course living because of beautiful landscaping.
Some people are attracted to golf course living because of beautiful landscaping.

For some homeowners, the serenity of living on a golf course may be interrupted by the sound of a golf ball crashing through a window. Possible damage from errant tee shots is one of the biggest disadvantages of living on a golf course, but there are also some advantages.

Flight Path

"The New York Times" reported in 2007 that thousands of homes built on golf courses are subject to wayward shots. Part of the problem is an improvement in golf club technology. Today's drivers allow some weekend players to hit the ball 250 yards or more, and balls hit off line can easily end up going through a bedroom window.

Older golf course homes once out of reach of tee shots are now reachable because players are hitting the ball farther. The Times reported that one woman living on a golf course collected 1,800 balls that landed on her property.

Prestige

Not every home on a golf course is in the way of errant tee shots.

Some developers build homes far enough from fairways and greens that even the wildest shots can't reach houses.

Homeowners in that situation are more likely to get what they want -- beautiful views of a manicured golf course, and in some cases, the prestige of living in an upscale development. Homes surrounding a popular golf course, especially in elite country club communities, may retain resale values.

Privacy

A loss of privacy is sometimes a disadvantage of living on a golf course. A home built adjacent to a tee box may offer a beautiful view.

It may also allow golfers standing on the tee box to peer into your den or bedroom window.

That could mean keeping curtains or blinds closed. Even then you may overhear off-color jokes and banter from the golfers.

Access

Not every homeowner living on a golf course plays golf, but for those who do, easy access to the course may far outweigh most disadvantages. A golfer living on a golf course could leave his house and be at the clubhouse in less than five minutes.

Some people in golf communities may keep their own golf cart and drive right to the first tee. Living on the course gives an avid golfer more time to practice and play.

The Economy

A down economy can prove devastating for an entire golf course community, especially if the golf course fails. "The Philadelphia Inquirer" reports that more than 200 golf courses went out of business from 2009-2012.

A failed golf course could cause abandonment of the facility, creating an eyesore and declining property values. .

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