Luxury on the Riviera Maya: Mayakoba in Mexico takes luxury to a higher level

The Riviera Maya on Mexico's east coast has been one of the top tourist destinations for more than a decade. While all the golf courses here are public, there is only one private residential community: Mayakoba. Residential offerings here aren't cheap, but your dollar gets you a much higher level of luxury and facilities than in similarly positioned U.S. developments, Larry Olmsted writes.
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Spring Island gets high marks as another super master-planned community in South Carolina's Lowcountry

Just 35 minutes from Hilton Head and Savannah -- in the heart of South Carolina's famous Lowcountry -- Spring Island is an exclusive 3,000-acre private community that is limited to just 410 families. What's the selling point of Spring Island? It's a luxurious and private respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But it doesn't come cheap, Larry Olmsted writes.
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Jack Nicklaus is right at home at Creighton Farms in northern Virginia; you will be, too

It's taken a few years for Creighton Farms to get its feet steady as a viable first- and second-home golf community in the heart of Virginia's horse country. But for the exiting homeowners and buyers who are taking a look, it seems like it may have been worth the wait. Even Jack Nicklaus is building a house here. Larry Olmsted has more on Creighton Farms.
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Toscana Country Club centers one of the hottest second-home golf communities in the Palm Springs region

Jack Nicklaus made his return to the golf-rich Palm Springs region with two designs that anchor the Toscana Country Club community, which is quickly positioning itself as the hottest second-home golf community in the area. If you can afford it, Toscana is certainly worth a look, Larry Olmsted writes.
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Despite economic downturn, things are looking up at the PuntaCana Resort & Club in the Dominican Republic

Despite growing steadily for four decades, the PuntaCana Resort & Club in the Dominican Republic has never received a ton of exposure. Yet it offers three top-notch golf courses and a full slate of resort amenities, and it continues to expand and sell homes despite the economy, Larry Olmsted writes.
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Second-home options on the Riviera Maya in Mexico are hot, hot, hot

Mexico's Mayan Riviera, an 80-mile stretch of coastline on the Yucatan Peninsula, has been among the world's top tourism hotspots for more than a decade, and the same is true for second homes in the district. The reasons are endless, Larry Olmsted writes.
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Puerto Rico's Dorado Beach has a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and so much more

There are lots of golf resorts and communities throughout the Caribbean, but there is only one Dorado Beach. It's the largest golf development in the islands, with four 18-hole courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The resort has had some ups and downs, with several changes of ownership, but now it's enjoying a renaissance. It's become one of the premier golf communities in the Caribbean Basin and offers something for almost every second-home buyer.
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Scotland may be the birthplace of golf, but two new real estate developments show it's keeping up with the times

Scotland is the birthplace of golf, but that does not mean there isn't anything new going on. In fact, there are two new developments that would be of interest to any golf lover in a position to consider real estate on the Old Sod: Hamilton Hall in St. Andrews, and The Village at Machrihanish Dunes in Argyll and Bute.
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Austin area's Teravista offers golf course views

At Teravista, the no. 1 selling non age-restricted community in the Austin area, residents can enjoy stunning golf course views even when they're not playing on its award-winning 18-hole course. "Teravista is all about lifestyle and value, and the beautiful Teravista Golf Club is one of our flagship amenities," said Vaike O'Grady, marketing director for the Austin division of Newland Communities.
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Oregon's Black Butte Ranch offers something you won't see at Bandon or Chambers Bay: homes for sale

The Pacific Northwest has been the hotbed of great golf for the past decade or so. And while not as famous as Bandon Dunes and Chambers Bay, Black Butte Ranch in Oregon has something its top 10 counterparts can't match: homes for sale. There are 1,251 homes at Black Butte Ranch and a wide array of real estate opportunities, ranging from one-quarter share ownership opportunities in private homes to full-ownership, single-family homes.
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Mayacama: Fractional ownership lets you enjoy a vintage paradise in the heart of California wine country

The private Mayacama gated community in Santa Rosa boasts the best golf course in California wine country. Because of the value of land in the area and the environmental requirements, however, there are a limited number of homesites inside Mayacama's gates. There is an easier way to own a piece of Mayacama paradise, though. The club has developed 31 casitas and villas, run as sort of a destination club, all sold in 1/10th fractional ownership shares.
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In an area with several standout golf course communities, Rio Verde Country Club in Arizona stands out

There's no shortage of golf course communities in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. But even with an impressive selection, Rio Verde Country Club stands out. If you're looking for a second home in one of the most reliable winter climates in the nation, or a place to retire to without spending a fortune or living in a resort, Rio Verde is worth a look, Larry Olmsted writes.
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Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club near Tampa, Florida: A wide-open, laid-back lifestyle at an affordable price

While there is an endless stretch of pricey gated golf communities around Naples, the wealth epicenter of the west coast of Florida, the majority of golfers looking to grab a slice of this wide-open, laid-back lifestyle need look to no further than Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, a large resort community in Pinellas County. Larry Olmsted has more on Innisbrook.
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Hilton Head Island, South Carolina: The first master-planned community in the U.S. -- and maybe the best

Hilton Head Island in South Carolina is not just another master-planned resort community. It was the nation's first. Strict covenants were enacted to preserve as much of the island in a natural state as possible, and these have been maintained to this day in all 11 communities. Larry Olmsted has more on Hilton Head Island.
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Looking for a great second home in a golf resort development? Gulf Shores, Alabama is a sure bet

For those looking for second-home options in Alabama, look no further than Gulf Shores. There are several golf resort developments -- including Kiva Dunes, Craft Farms and the Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club -- that combine great golf with the state's tiny stretch of coastline and white sand beaches that are sure to satisfy. Larry Olmsted has more.
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