Residents experience resort life by the Ritz

With more than 16,000 golf course communities around the country and more than 1,000 in Florida alone, developers are finding new ways to set their golfing communities apart. One recent trend has been to truly put the “resort” in resort-style community.

In 2002, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples opened within the Tiburón community in North Naples. Developed by WCI Communities, Tiburón was named one of the best communities with one of the top clubhouses in the southeastern U.S., while the Ritz-Carlton was named the top resort in Florida and 25th in North America by Golf Digest Magazine in 2004.

Medallion and Signature Members of the Tiburón Golf Club receive special access to the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort including use of the Har-Tru tennis courts, heated outdoor pool as well as preferred reservations and charging privileges at both The Ritz-Carlton, Naples and Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples.

“We purchased our property in Norman Estates in 2001 because we knew the Ritz-Carlton was going to open,” said Lynn Fulton, a resident of Tiburón since 2002. “We love the social aspect of having the Ritz in our neighborhood.”

“Not only does a Ritz-Carlton enhance the value of real estate within the communities they enter, but also the choice of options the residents enjoy from dining and tennis to the use of our pool amenities,” said Michael McMahon, hotel manager of the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples. “The Ritz-Carlton becomes an extension of the residents’ lifestyle within the community.”

Tiburón features 36 holes of Greg Norman-designed golf and is also the home of The Franklin Templeton Shootout and Golf Magazine’s 2005 Dream House.

Upon buildout, Tiburon will have approximately 700 homes with a variety of living options from single-family residences to luxury mid-rise tower units and villa homes.

Fulton, a Realtor with John R. Wood Inc., said while there are still new neighborhoods being developed, few resales are available. Within the gated Norman Estates, a neighborhood of Mediterranean-inspired villas, current resales range from $1.5 to $2.5 million. One such listing features 3,248 square feet of living space with three bedrooms/three bathrooms, plus half bath for $1.9 million.

In addition to the Ritz-Carlton amenities offered, residents of Tiburón enjoy a state-of-the-art athletic and fitness center, tennis courts, a member concierge, a golf clubhouse with formal and casual dining, a golf shop, fitness center, lounge, member locker rooms, the Rick Smith Golf Academy, luxury beach services with complimentary towels, sunscreen, bottled water and chairs and beach transport service to nearby beaches.

Another bonus to having a Ritz-Carlton in your back yard during a major golf tournament is the company they keep. A majority of the players at the annual Franklin Templeton Shootout each November lodge at the Ritz.

The Ritz-Carlton has ventured into other upscale resort communities across the United States with much success.

While the first residents moved into the community in 1996, the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas didn’t open its doors until February 2003 as the first Ritz-Carlton in Nevada. This marks the same year the resort reported record residential real estate sales of more than $118 million.

Lake Las Vegas Resort is on a privately-owned 320-acre lake 17 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. Within the 3,592-acre master planned resort are residential offerings including custom homesites, waterfront and golf villas, resort condominiums and executive homes. The Mediterranean-inspired destination also features a collection of three golf courses, spas, casinos, full-service marinas with watercraft rentals and yacht cruises and MonteLago Village, an enclave at the center of Lake Las Vegas Resort, offering water’s edge restaurants and cafes, boutiques and the 40,000-square-foot Casino MonteLago.

This Ritz-Carlton features 349 guest rooms including 35 suites, the 30,000-square-foot Spa Vita di Lago, meeting and function space, and an award-winning restaurant, Medici Café and Terrace.

“Our residents are afforded full access to all of the Ritz-Carlton’s amenities including its world-class spa,” said Kenyatta Robinson, sales manager for Amland Properties. “This is truly a resort destination and we have experienced tremendous sales success through purchasers buying that second home property.”

Amland’s residential offerings include condos, townhomes and single-family homes priced from $641,000 to more than $1.7 million. The company’s Vila di Lago community has sold out and they are now developing their Prima neighborhood collection.

“It’s a great place to live — sometimes it’s a month before I find I have to leave the community,” said Marcia Leeman, an Amland client and resident of Lake Las Vegas since 2003. “Friends have visited and stayed at the Ritz, and I’ve enjoyed using their amenities including the spa, as well.”

Through the years, Leeman has purchased a number of units within the community for investment and currently has a two-bedroom/two-and-a-half bath unit overlooking the Reflection Bay golf course on the market for $1.2 million.

Back on the country’s east coast, Reynolds Plantation featuring The Ritz-Carlton Lodge (opened in 2002) was named the “Best of the Best” golf community by the Robb Report. Located on Georgia’s historic Antebellum Trail, the quiet retreat of the Reynolds family once known as Linger Longer is now a golf and lake community.

Reynolds Plantation’s 99 (or 81) holes of world-class golf were designed by the world’s finest architects — Jack Nicklaus, Bob Cupp, Rees Jones and Tom Fazio. Five world-class golf courses, available exclusively to Reynolds Plantation members and to guests of The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, offer a range of memberships.

The Ritz-Carlton Lodge sits on a secluded peninsula overlooking Lake Oconee and includes just 251 guest rooms and suites, including six private golf cottages, The Presidential House, a 26,000-square-foot Native American-themed spa, private beach, and a choice of fine, casual and lakefront dining. Golf Club members not only enjoy access to the world-renowned spa and dining venues, but also discounts on accommodations, dining, shopping, spa services and memberships.

First developed in 1987, real estate opportunities at Reynolds Plantation include home sites with woodlands, golf or lakefront views, as well as maintenance-free communities, including family town homes, villas, condos and cottages. Golf Magazine’s first-ever Dream House debuted here in 2004. New homesites and residential products are still being developed within the community. Current resales range from $535,000 to more than $4.4 million.

“Selling properties here has been fun,” said Judi Dunn, a 30-year real estate veteran who has been selling properties in Reynolds Plantation for the past two years.

Dunn, a resident of the community herself and agent with Coldwell Banker, said Reynolds Plantation has an arrangement with the Ritz-Carlton Lodge enabling visiting prospects to stay at the resort while previewing the community and considering a home purchase.

“The program has been very successful. People love the Ritz and the community is just such an incredible resort atmosphere they love everything about it here.”

“Our sales have been tremendous with pre-retirees or the younger baby boomers. We have enjoyed four consecutive record sales years,” said Bill Houghton, vice president of marketing for Reynolds Plantation. “Having a lodge-style Ritz-Carlton has been fantastic for our residents to enjoy that special night out and it has been tremendous in terms of giving our prospects a true feel for this community through our Discover Reynolds Plantation program.”

Additional Ritz-Carlton hotels are being constructed in more U.S. residential communities. In September 2005, Jack Nicklaus reviewed the construction progress of his latest golf course to be built alongside The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Creighton Farms, a 180-home golf community that will grace the rolling landscape in historic Aldie, Va. about 30 miles west of Washington, D.C.

Apparently, the communities and residents sharing space with the Ritz-Carlton resorts are not the only ones prospering from the new “resort” environment.

“The Lowe’s hotel chain will soon begin construction on their new hotel adding to Lake Las Vegas Resort’s other offerings,” said Karin Hagstrom, information specialist for Lake Las Vegas Resort. “Obviously, if the Ritz-Carlton was not successful, Lowe’s would not be coming here.”