2023 GCH Annual Index – The Year’s Top 10 Communities – Favorite Amenities & Homes
~ 2023 GCH Annual Index ~
Year-End Double Issue
> The Most-Visited Communities – Where Buyers Want to Live
> The 2023 GCH Community of the Year
> 2023’s Most-Wanted Amenities – The Top 10
> The Most Popular Community Types, Lifestyle
> 2023 Top Search Categories
> The Most Search-For States
> The Golf Retirement Planner
> New Communities & Coming Soon in 2024
> The Most Popular Homes of 2023
Happy New Year! Welcome to the 2023 GCH Annual Index–an in-depth look at all the year’s activity on the Golf Course Home Network.
This year’s Index is the 12th consecutive edition, featuring the year’s new communities, most-visited communities, retirement advice, top amenities, most popular homes and more.
The real estate year has been challenging, especially if you had wanted to buy using a mortgage. And cash buyers, like all buyers, have faced stubbornly high prices while searching through low home inventories.
Next year appears it will be better with mortgage rates finally beginning to fall. If inventories start to grow, it could be a banner year for real estate. (Lead photo: Callawassie Island, SC)
Golf Grows Again
Reynolds Lake Oconee, GA: Six world-class golf courses, 117 golf holes.
The National Golf Foundation reported that 41.1M Americans (age 6+) played golf both on-course and off-course in 2022 (the most recent statisical year), up nearly 10 percent from the previous year’s strong number.
In addition, 3.3M people played golf for the first time in 2022, the third year in a row that figure topped 3 million–yet more signs that golf is continuing to grow.
Prior to the pandemic-boosted totals of recent years, the previous recorded-high of 2.4 million new players was set in 2000, when Tiger Woods was at the height of his popularity.
That rising participation in the sport helped Golf Course Home surpass last year’s visitor total. Use the links below to see a review of all the activity GCH enjoyed in 2023 and use it to help plan your searches in 2024.
New Communities & Retirement Focus
Trilogy at Rio Verde, AZ: Gated, 55-plus community near Scottsdale.
Concurrent with the rising number of new golfers and increased play is the sustained interest in purchasing in a golf community.
Our 2023 stats show that the continuing No. 1 reason someone visits GolfCourseHome.com is to find a home for their retirement.
To help you in that search, see below for links to the GCH Golf Retirement Planner, as well as links and summaries of the year’s activity.
And finally, thank you, our subscribers and visitors, for continuing to make Golf Course Home–now entering its 29th year since its founding in 1995 and its 25th year online–a part of your journey to a new home and a new chapter in your lives. It continues to be our privilege to serve you. Stay safe and healthy in 2024!–David Lott, Founder & Publisher
2023 GCH Annual Index
The Year’s Most-Visited Communities
Savannah Lakes Village, SC: 2023’s 2nd most visited.
The Top 10 Most Visited Communities for the year earned their spots by consistently ranking high all year long. The list features two new entries–Moss Creek, SC, and Grand Haven, FL–and two that made significant moves upward.
In all, 22 different communities enjoyed at least one stint ranked amongst a month’s elite 10, and four different communities topped at least one month as the most visited community.
Savannah Lakes Village, SC, new to the ranking list last year, made a good run at the top spot with two wins as the monthly No. 1.
Florida the Top State
The state of Florida placed four communities in the Top 10 list of most-visited communities, further confirming its corollary position as the most-searched-for state. South Carolina followed with three communities, Georgia with two and Arizona with one.
The Field Club/Boathouse in Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard, MA, again ruled the summer months, grabbing the No. 1 spot in both July and August.
A Consistent Favorite
Harbour Ridge, FL: Golf, yacht club, marina & fine homes.
Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club, Palm, City, FL, was once again the most-visited community for the year, claiming the top position in seven months out of 12 and was a Top 5 member or better throughout the year.
Savannah Lakes Village made its first full year on GCH a good one with a strong second-place showing.
Other communities that claimed a monthly first-place ranking were The Field Club/Boathouse, MA, and Winding River Plantation, NC. See the full ranking list below.
2023 GCH Annual Index
The List – Most-Visited Communities
Moss Creek, SC: Lowcountry living with golf, equestrian & more.
1. Harbour Ridge Yacht & CC, Stuart, FL
2. Savannah Lakes Village, McCormick, SC – Up from No. 9
3. The Club at Quail Ridge, Boynton Beach, FL
4. The Club at Ibis, West Palm Beach, FL – Up from No. 8
5. Sun City Riverbend, Bluffton, SC
6. Osprey Cove, St. Marys, GA
7. Reynolds Lake Oconee, Greensboro, GA
8. Trilogy, Rio Verde, AZ
9. Moss Creek, Hilton Head Island, SC – New to Top 10
10. Grand Haven, Palm Coast, FL – New to Top 10
Honorable Mentions: These communities were also strong performers, landing just outside the Top 10, earning a well-deserved Honorable Mention: The Landings, Savannah, GA; Lake Arrowhead, Waleska, GA; The Field Club/Boathouse, Edgartown, MA.
2023 GCH Annual Index
COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
Harbour Ridge, FL: Riverside & golf course living equal No. 1.
Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club, Palm City, FL, is the most-visited community for 2023, a designation it earns for a record seventh time.
Longevity and familiarity must have something to do with it as the community has now been featured on GolfCourseHome.com for 23 consecutive years.
The community has made numerous investments in its amenities, headed by its magnificent clubhouse.
Thirty-six championship golf holes bring in the golfer and a beautiful racket sports layout that includes tennis and pickleball, a relaxing spa and a marina on the St. Lucie River complete the picture.
Having a marina and water access rate high on GCH visitors’ list of desired amenities–another reason the south Florida community engenders so much attention.
Add in still affordable prices for real estate options and the result is a winning combination.
2023 GCH Annual Index
Most-Wanted AMENITIES
In the past 24 months, most all communities added pickleball.
Retirement communities and guarded gates were the top two priorities for buyers searching for a community in 2023.
A desire to be near water, lakes especially, along with access to a marina remained a Top 5 desire as in past years. A pet friendly community was close behind.
The most noted change in the Top 10 Most Wanted Amenities was the jump 24-hour security made from No. 10 to No. 7.
New to the Top 10 was Olympic-size pool which returns after a hiatus of one year. Walking and biking trails, fitness centers and children’s camps/activities all hovered just outside the first 10.
A special mention goes to pickleball, the fastest growing sport in the U.S., for which a majority of GCH communities, in an attempt to meet demand, have added the sport in the past 24 months.
See the complete Top 10 below, with links connecting to a list featuring all communities with the stated amenity.
2023 Top 10 Amenities
1. Retirement Communities
2. Gated Communities
3. Marina
4. Pet Friendly
5. Lake
6. Rentals – Up 3 spots
7. 24-Hour Security – Up 3 spots
8. Equestrian
9. Olympic-size Pool – New
10. Boating
Special Mention: Communities with Pickleball.
2023 GCH Annual Index
Top 5 Lifestyle Locations
Hammock Dunes, FL: Oceanfront living is the No. 1 choice.
Options for living on the water made two of the top three choices for lifestyle locations for GCH visitors. Heading the chart was oceanfront living with lakeside living coming in at No. 3.
Military communities, such as Indian River Colony Club in Melbourne, FL, was the second-ranked choice.
Top 5 Locations/Lifestyle
Links go to a list of all communities featuring the stated location/lifestyle:
- Oceanfront Communities
- Military Retirement Communities
- Lake Communities
- Mountain Communities
- Island Communities
- Desert Communities
2023 GCH Annual Index
The Most Searched-for States
Woodside, Aiken, SC: Helped South Carolina jump to No. 4.
Florida continues to be the No. 1 most-searched-for state for Golf Course Home visitors with Georgia second, moving up from third last year. South Carolina jumped two places to No. 4. See complete list below.
- Florida
- Georgia
- Arizona
- South Carolina – Up from No. 6
- North Carolina
- Texas
- Virginia
- Massachusetts
- Delaware
- Pennsylvania
2023 GCH Index
The Golf Retirement Planner
Lake Arrowhead, GA: Its No. 1 reason: top-notch quality of life.
The Golf Retirement Planner features a number of guides that give top 10 reasons for retiring to a specific community or location. See a sampling of the guides, below. Go to Golf Retirement Planner for the full list of articles.
- Top 10 Reasons to Retire to Lake Arrowhead, GA READ MORE
- Top Five Reasons to Retire to Woodside, SC READ MORE
- Retire Melbourne FL: Top 10 Reasons to Choose Indian River CC READ MORE
- Top 10 Reasons to Retire to Delaware (& Heritage Shores) READ MORE
- Retire Savannah: Top 10 Reasons to Retire to The Landings, GA READ MORE
- Top 10 Reasons to Retire to Grand Haven FL – Video READ MORE
2023 GCH Annual Index
Top Search Categories
The Landings, GA: Dock your boat here and catch the breeze.
Here are some of 2023’s most-searched-for categories featuring all the posts related to the search phrase.
- Things To Do – Volunteer Drives, Clinics, Events & More to Make Community Life More Meaningful
- 2023 Newsletters – 12 Months of GCH Newsletters tell the story of 2023
- 2023 Golf/Waterview/Preserve Homes for Sale – Every home Featured for Sale in 2023
- Discovery Visit Packages – Visit Packages to Experience the Country Club Lifestyle
- Best of the Best – All articles relating to the Top 20 Golf Communities in North America in one place
- The Golf Retirement Planner – Questions & Answers about Special Places for Retirement
2023 GCH Annual Index
New Communities
St. James Plantation, NC: Newest member w/ golf & a marina.
Golf Course Home welcomed new member communities from North Carolina and Virginia in 2023 and will welcome additional members from South Carolina and Virginia in January 2024. See a brief description and links to the communities below.
New Communities
St. James Plantation, NC – Private, gated golf and marina community set on the North Carolina coast. Covering 6,000 acres, this family focused community offers a wide selection of prime real estate, championship golf, private beach club and full-service marina. READ MORE
Winding River Plantation, NC – A luxury, coastal golf community set in Brunswick County near Oak Island, the port town of Southport and historic Wilmington. Resort-like amenities include 27 holes of golf, oceanfront beach club with pool, tennis courts, social clubs and much more. READ MORE
Ford’s Colony, VA – Located just minutes from Colonial Williamsburg, Ford’s Colony is a 3,000-acre, private, gated community featuring 54 holes of championship golf, fine dining and world-class amenities. READ MORE
Kingsmill, Williamsburg, VA – A private, gated, golf and waterfront resort community set on the James River near historic Williamsburg, VA. Covering 2,900+ acres, Kingsmill offers three championship golf courses, tennis, indoor & outdoor swimming pools, riverfront marina, tennis/pickleball/racquetball courts, spa, four restaurants and more. READ MORE
Coming January 2024
Colonial Heritage, Williamsburg, VA – A gated golf community for adults 55 and up with clubhouse, fitness center, tennis, swimming and more.
Governors Land, Williamsburg, VA – A private golf and waterfront community with Harbor & Marina Village, tennis, fitness, swimming and much more.
Riverton Pointe, SC – Is a new, master-planned community in Hardeeville, SC, featuring a Nicklaus Design golf course, pool, clubhouse, tennis, pickleball, fitness center and new construction homes.
2023 GCH Annual Index
The Most Popular Homes
Grand Haven, FL: This month’s most viewed home.
For the third year in a row, the Editors have identified the Most Popular Golf and Water View Homes featured on Golf Course Home during the year.
Each week–Monday through Thursday–we post new homes and condominiums for sale on the GCH homepage and feature them in our e-newsletter which goes out three times a week.
Thus, each home enjoys up to 10 days in the spotlight on the homepage and in the newsletter.
See below, in order of the most number of views received, our most popular homes.
2023 GCH Annual Index
The Most Popular Homes
Dataw Island, SC: A villa with a water view is the most viewed.
1. Dataw Island, SC – Villa, 3 BR/2 BA – $425,000 – READ MORE
2. Harbour Ridge Y & CC, FL – 3 BR/2 BA – $285,000 – READ MORE
3. Sea Trail Plantation, NC – 3 BRs/2.5 BA – $575,000 – READ MORE
4. Grand Haven, FL – 3 BR/3 BA – $565,000 – READ MORE
5. Sea Trail Plantation, NC – 3 BR/2.5 BA – $415,000 – READ MORE
6. Lake Arrowhead, GA – 4 BR/2 BA – $439,900 – READ MORE
7. Harbour Ridge, FL – 3 BR/2 BA – $325,000 – READ MORE
8. Savannah Lakes Village, SC – 3 BR/2 BA – $285,000 – READ MORE
9. Woodside, SC – 3 BR/3 BA – $524,990 – READ MORE
10. Grand Haven, FL – 3 BR/2 BA – $458,500 – READ MORE
The GCH Annual Index through the years, every edition from 2011 to 2023, click here.
