Changing The Landscape With Florida Golf Courses
"North of Tampa" is suddenly one of the hottest phrases in golf course development circles. Not only have Pasco and Hernando counties been discovered, but there are strong indications that within five years the once sleepy, overlooked home of pastureland will be a member of the Florida golf course big leagues.
"Northern Pasco and Hernando is considered the best ground in the state of Florida from a topography standpoint, from a soil standpoint and from a tree standpoint," said Matthew McIntee, vice president of development for Crown Golf, based in Glenview, Ill., and holder of local properties that include The Bayou Club. "The ground you have in Pasco and Hernando is just spectacular."
McIntee is not alone in his thinking.
Elevation changes produced by rolling hills and the yesteryear beauty of stately oaks trees that dominate the "North of Tampa" landscape have been recognized as a significant break from the traditional flat, water-hazard-heavy Florida golf courses that overpopulate. The Veterans Expressway has brought northern Pasco and Hernando to within a 50-minute drive of Tampa. The Tampa Bay area's population continues to grow, and even with the threat of a cooling real-estate market, private, upscale golf remains the game's lifeblood.
Southern Hills Plantation another Florida golf course, designed by celebrated course architect Pete Dye, opened earlier this year in Brooksville as part of a LandMar Group development. A project by Avila developer Bob Sierra to be known as Hickory Hills is moving forward on a tract of Hernando ranchland and anticipates a Jack Nicklaus course design.
Just down S.R. 52 from Lake Jovita, which boasts 36 holes and has attracted national attention since it opened seven years ago, an Arnold Palmer signature design will be part of a planned community to be called Bella Verde. Going further north into Hernando, where World Woods' Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks courses designed by Tom Fazio rank among the top public Florida golf courses in the country, developers are studying property that was once the site of the Florida Rock and Stone Quarry.
"Visually, it's just different up here," Lake Jovita director of golf Chris Brandt said.
And the golf world is starting to see that.
"The topography and land we were able to get up there not only had movement, the property is just covered with great old oak and magnolia trees," said M.G. Orender, president of Hampton Golf, an affiliate of the Southern Hills development company. "It's just a stunning piece of property, but if it had not been for the new road system, we probably would not have done the deal. But now, literally, you can walk out of Tampa International Airport, get in a car and from the time you crank the engine, 35 minutes later you are out on Highway 41 in front of the development."
A recent study by the National Association of Realtors estimates Americans bought more than 1 million vacation homes in 2005, a record for the second consecutive year. Also, it was reported that golf played a deciding factor in nearly a third of those second-home purchases.
Considering such factors as cost of living, number of quality courses in the area, playable days per year and nearby shopping and social diversions, the consensus opinion by many in golf is that "North of Tampa" is quickly developing into the best bargain in the game's real-estate market for full-time and getaway residences.
"Even the top private clubs and top public courses in the Tampa area are nowhere near the national price scale," Crown Golf's McIntee said. "I don't believe there is a $100,000 private club in Tampa, while you've got $300,000 per membership clubs in Palm Beach and Naples.
"The appeal to people nationally is that Tampa Bay is really still affordable."
"Northern Pasco and Hernando is considered the best ground in the state of Florida from a topography standpoint, from a soil standpoint and from a tree standpoint," said Matthew McIntee, vice president of development for Crown Golf, based in Glenview, Ill., and holder of local properties that include The Bayou Club. "The ground you have in Pasco and Hernando is just spectacular."
McIntee is not alone in his thinking.
Elevation changes produced by rolling hills and the yesteryear beauty of stately oaks trees that dominate the "North of Tampa" landscape have been recognized as a significant break from the traditional flat, water-hazard-heavy Florida golf courses that overpopulate. The Veterans Expressway has brought northern Pasco and Hernando to within a 50-minute drive of Tampa. The Tampa Bay area's population continues to grow, and even with the threat of a cooling real-estate market, private, upscale golf remains the game's lifeblood.
Southern Hills Plantation another Florida golf course, designed by celebrated course architect Pete Dye, opened earlier this year in Brooksville as part of a LandMar Group development. A project by Avila developer Bob Sierra to be known as Hickory Hills is moving forward on a tract of Hernando ranchland and anticipates a Jack Nicklaus course design.
Just down S.R. 52 from Lake Jovita, which boasts 36 holes and has attracted national attention since it opened seven years ago, an Arnold Palmer signature design will be part of a planned community to be called Bella Verde. Going further north into Hernando, where World Woods' Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks courses designed by Tom Fazio rank among the top public Florida golf courses in the country, developers are studying property that was once the site of the Florida Rock and Stone Quarry.
"Visually, it's just different up here," Lake Jovita director of golf Chris Brandt said.
And the golf world is starting to see that.
"The topography and land we were able to get up there not only had movement, the property is just covered with great old oak and magnolia trees," said M.G. Orender, president of Hampton Golf, an affiliate of the Southern Hills development company. "It's just a stunning piece of property, but if it had not been for the new road system, we probably would not have done the deal. But now, literally, you can walk out of Tampa International Airport, get in a car and from the time you crank the engine, 35 minutes later you are out on Highway 41 in front of the development."
A recent study by the National Association of Realtors estimates Americans bought more than 1 million vacation homes in 2005, a record for the second consecutive year. Also, it was reported that golf played a deciding factor in nearly a third of those second-home purchases.
Considering such factors as cost of living, number of quality courses in the area, playable days per year and nearby shopping and social diversions, the consensus opinion by many in golf is that "North of Tampa" is quickly developing into the best bargain in the game's real-estate market for full-time and getaway residences.
"Even the top private clubs and top public courses in the Tampa area are nowhere near the national price scale," Crown Golf's McIntee said. "I don't believe there is a $100,000 private club in Tampa, while you've got $300,000 per membership clubs in Palm Beach and Naples.
"The appeal to people nationally is that Tampa Bay is really still affordable."
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