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America’s Top 100 Golf Communities | 2008

Courtesy of Pronghorn Courtesy of Pronghorn

Photo: Courtesy of Pronghorn

History repeats itself

The master plan for Oldfield, a golf community in Okatie, South Carolina, included funds for a landscaped berm to run the length of Oldfield's frontage on Highway 170. Historical Concepts (historicalconcepts.com), a land-planning and architecture firm in Peachtree City, Georgia, suggested an alternative.

"Instead of a walling off the community with a berm," says Aaron Daily, a principal in the firm, "we had the idea to run a white rail fence along the road and graze some horses in that acreage, then build a country store a quarter-mile in from the highway." Visitors turn onto a simple road and soon encounter the security station, disguised as a country store and post office—both fully operational. Down to the vintage gas pumps out front, the Greeter's Store was designed with the passion for authenticity Historical Concepts brings to all its work.

Golf communities in the Southeast are coming to rely on Historical Concepts for infusions of architectural character and spot-on period detail. Spring Island, Chechessee Creek and Palmetto Bluff are also graced by private homes and/or common buildings that spring from the company's antiquarian spirit.

"Anything we create begins with the question of what views do we have and what's growing there," says Daily. "On some projects we'll get three-dimensional imagery of the trees, so we know the location and even the width of every limb." Jim Strickland, founder of the firm, encourages staff members to travel old Dixie roads, stopping to take notes and photos of pre–World War II buildings. According to Daily, Strickland is thrilled whenever someone points to one of his finished structures "and says how nice it is the developers were able to save that old house."—David Gould

The Rim Golf Club, Payson

Along with the small-town atmosphere, residents find a big-city service culture. Everything from personal grocery shopping to secretarial services can be ordered with a phone call at this Crescent Resources development seventy-five minutes from Scotts­dale. Golf: 18 holes (Jay Morrish/Tom Weiskopf). Recent Home Listings: $1 million to $2.7 million. Contact: 800-311-5370, therimgolfclub.com.

Seven Canyons, Sedona

Ball-beating rises to a state of aesthetic bliss at this community's Practice Park, set amid red-rock mountainsides and soon to be enhanced by a studio providing on-site club fitting. Golf: 18 holes (Tom Weiskopf). Recent Home Listings: $2.5 million to $3.5 million. Contact: 866-694-8844, sevencanyons.com.

Silverleaf, Scottsdale

See Top 25. Golf: 18 holes (Tom Weiskopf). Recent Home Listings: $1.5 million to $10 million. Contact: 480-502-6902, silverleaf.com.

Stone Canyon, Oro Valley

Poised at three thousand feet alongside cleft-rock walls and boulder-strewn bumps, the golf course is a visual knockout. A 44,000-square-foot clubhouse is in the works. Golf: 18 holes (Jay Morrish). Recent Home Listings: $1 million to $4 million. Contact: 877-219-9100, stonecanyon.com.

Superstition Mountain, Gold Canyon

Plans are set for continued hosting of the LPGA Tour's Safeway event and construction of an expanded sports club (to open in 2009), with space for personal training, spa treatments and a pool. Golf: 36 holes (Jack Nicklaus). Recent Home Listings: $599,000 to $2.5 million. Contact: 877-983-3300, superstitionmountain.com.

California

The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Santa Fe

This is the sort of place where Marvin Hamlisch provides evening entertainment and a cadre of boutique vintners shows up to offer private tastings. Members and culinary staff recently teamed up to build an organic herb garden. Golf: 18 holes (Robert Trent Jones Jr.). Recent Home Listings: $2 million to $7 million. Contact: 858-756-8700, thebridgesrsf.com.

The Crosby At Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Santa Fe

A hushed enclave of tile roofs, white stucco and well-tended palms. A forty-three-residence neighborhood is due to open next year across from the sports club. Golf: 18 holes (Fred Couples/Schmidt-Curley). Recent Home Listings: $1.2 million to $5 million. Contact: 858-759-7220, thecrosby.com.

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