With the pandemic easing off, we have something to look forward to is the upcoming golf season. Due to the pandemic, many unexpected sports and activities have been popularized and lucky for us golfers, our sport is booming!
For those who absolutely love golf, there’s nothing better than having your home located right on the course where you can step out and enjoy your favourite sport. If you’re not much of a golf player, the view of the beautiful greenery outside your windows may be the reason you choose to live in a golfing community. There are many pros and cons to real estate in a country club, we’ve put together a list to help you decide whether living on a golf course is for you.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Living on a Golf Course
1. Property Value
Pro: Living by a golf course adds prestige, respect, and value to the neighbourhood. Real estate located on golf courses increases property value and demand. The view of the course comes with a price and that is reflected in the value of the home.
Con: Golf courses can always undergo construction and redevelopment, that being said, it could be possible that a golf course could be converted into a residential community in the future. While this does not imply that residential housing is going to significantly drop the value of your property, it is something to consider for a long term investment.
2. View and Landscaping
Pro: Having your property on a large golf course means you will never have to worry about accidentally looking into your neighbours backyard. Instead, you’ll be able to enjoy the view every time you look outside. In addition, golf courses are always really well maintained, this is definitely another bonus.
Con: While maintenance can cause some interruption as courses are usually mowed early in the morning, if you’re a morning person this might not be a big issue for you. Moreover, maintenance requires the use of pesticides and fertilizer which could be harmful to pets. Make sure you’re aware of what is being used on your lawn in order to keep any pets safe from toxic materials.
3. Noise
Pro: Golf is most commonly played during the daytime, nonetheless, it’s a pretty quiet sport compared to many. This means that you’ll be able to enjoy quiet and peaceful nights.
Con: When investing in real estate on the course, make sure you consider where the house is located exactly. Too close to specific locations on the course, such as a cart path, it can get quite noisy at times as this is where people tend to group. It’s important that before you buy and commit, you consider any popular points where people may gather and cause disturbance.
4. Amenities
Pros: Waking up on a golf course would be a dream for many. After your morning coffee, you can just as easily hop into your own golf cart and get your day started with a quick game of golf. Not only are you able to easily access a golf court, but golf communities tend to come with pools, tennis courts, restaurants, and trails. These amenities will allow you to live your best life everyday.
Cons: Since a golf course is developed, there might be restrictions on where you’re allowed to walk, bike, or even walk your dog. Leisure can be limited and restricted on a golf course to ensure its maintenance. While a golf course does come with many amenities of its own, make sure you consider what is important prior to buying a house.
5. HOA Restrictions
Pros: Maintenance can be regulated by a Homeowners Association (HOA) in the golf community. This helps to ensure that the neighbourhood is looking the best to keep the value up.
Cons: A Homeowner Association can also come with rules and regulations that must be followed. These can restrict what changes you can do to your property and limit your home improvement projects.
What if there are damages to my property due to living on a golf course?
Of course, living on a golf course comes with positives and negatives. One thing to consider is the possibility of damages occurring to your windows, yard, and car. This is a very real possibility and a major concern for many individuals thinking about investing in a golf course home. Depending on where you live on the golf course and where your home is located in relation to any flying golf balls, golf balls flying into your yard and windows can be common. For this reason, it’s important to understand the possible risk that comes with golf course living.
Moreover, if damages do occur to your property or car, there is a limited legal protection for homeowners. While this is unfortunate, it does not mean that it is impossible to receive compensation for damaged property.
Below is a list of golf courses located in Calgary.
Below is a list of golf courses located near Calgary.