So you've just won the mega-billion Powerball. Money is no longer a concern, so you can afford just about anything you want.
And because you're reading this, chances are good you're also passionate about golf, which means you can probably buy your own golf course, or maybe better yet, a few homes at several of America's best clubs.
Fortunately, there's no shortage of golf course real estate, but finding the right golf course estate or villa isn't always easy. Location, location, location is a big factor as well as square footage. And you’re going to want to entertain, so whatever you get has to come with great indoor/outdoor gathering areas.
To help you along, we've picked out a few, from some modest offerings (the ones in Georgia are actually pretty good values) to the absurd. But hey, if you've got a billion dollars coming to you, you don't even have to ask what the price is. So check them out, and be sure to click on the links of these homes if you want to see dozens of additional pictures.
Pebble Beach, Calif. - $16.9 million
This isn't the most expensive home for sale at Pebble Beach, but this home for sale is still well out of our price range. With views of the 16th fairway of the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links as well as Stillwater Cove, this five-bedroom Meditarrean villa has ocean and golf course views. At just over 6,000 square feet, this fabulous estate includes a spacious grand room, bar, wine cellar, courtyard with pool, patio with fire pit and theater room. And it's a just a few minutes walk to the Lodge and tennis center.
TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. $6.9 million
How about an acre on the second tee of the TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course? That's what you get for $6.9 million (recently reduced), and it includes a 5,163-square foot home with five bedrooms, six bathrooms, covered lanai with summer kitchen, outdoor fire pit, refinished pool, four-car garage and something they call a "mud room."
Kiawah Island, South Carolina, $10 million
This Mediterranean-style oceanfront home sits on 1.87 acres and even offers hurricane protection with its stucco-over-insulated-concrete construction. At just under 8,000 square feet, the home offers Atlantic Ocean views from its private balconies and 5,000 square feet of outdoor living space. With five bedrooms and eight baths, there's plenty of room for guests, and plenty for them to do. A media room with a 130-inch screen as well as a game room and magnificent pool highlight the entertainment options. And while it's on the shoreline and not the golf course, the owner of this estate is eligible for membership at the exclusive Kiawah Island Club.
Gleneagles Village, Perthshire, Scotland, $2.1 million
Looking for a place in Scotland? Maybe this 3,700 square-foot contemporary home overlooking the first hole of Gleneagles' Queen's Course would fit the bill. Originally built in the 1970s and recently refurbished, this open-plan one level house has five bedrooms with four full baths as well as a music room, theater room, garden and roof terraces.
Bel Air Country Club, Los Angeles: $65 million
Looking for brand new? How about this mega-mansion above the sixth fairway at Bel Air Country Club in Los Angeles? Designed by the famed architect Paul McLean, this 27,000-square-foot estate has eight bedrooms, a bar, wine cellar, guest quarters, home theater, cabana and billiard room, just to name a few of the amenities. Plenty of marble, too, of course. It's perfect for entertaining all your celebrity friends.
Pinehurst No. 2, North Carolina, $2.98 million
You can get a piece of golf history here if you can come up with nearly $3 million for this 1898 "Original Schoolhouse" that's been painstakingly renovated. It's also located off the first fairway of Donald Ross' famed No. 2 Course. With more than 6,500 square feet, it has a main house and a carriage house, five bedrooms, four full baths, sweeping verandas and state-of-the-art modern appliances and security system.
Bay Harbor, Michigan, $9.45 million
With multiple water views, it doesn't get much better than this near 10,000-square-foot home with five bedrooms and eight baths. Redesigned and rebuilt in 2014, the house features looks of both Lake Michigan and Bay Harbor Lake. Highlights include a home theater, exercise room, game room, first floor private master wing and lakeside brick patio. Plus, while you may not be right on the golf course, some of the best golf in Northern Michigan, including the 27-hole Bay Harbor Golf Club, is just minutes away.
Shinnecock Hills, Southampton, NY, $3.95 million
This is one of the smaller homes on our list at 4,600 square feet, but this just-the-right-size dwelling is on one of the most famous golf courses in the world, located just off the 15th hole at Shinnecock Hills, site of this year's U.S. Open, won by Brooks Koepka. It has six bedrooms and six full baths, a master suite, a junior master suite, large pool and front and rear porches as well as a gourmet kitchen.
Hualalai Resort, Big Island Hawaii, $10.9 million
This golf course home in Paradise overlooks the Tom Weiskopf Course at Hualalai Resort as well as the Pacific Ocean. The 6,400-square foot house is a contemporary open design with five bedrooms, 5.5 baths, a lanai (of course), climate controlled wine room, private study, oversized windows and outdoor and indoor entertaining and dining areas.
Reynolds Lake Oconee, Greensboro, Georgia, $3.95 million
With spiral staircases, a balcony overlook, six bedrooms, seven full baths, five fireplaces (plus an outdoor fireplace) and a 10,000-bottle wine cellar, this near-10,000 square-foot home has a lot to offer for the money. There's also a game room, home theater, library, and exercise room, plus the owners are making their Lake Oconee club membership available to the buyers. There are also views of both Lake Oconee and The Oconee Course's 18th hole.
The Estancia Club, Scottsdale, Arizona, $6.5 million
Situated on two lots, this 9,982-square-foot home has a great view of the 17th hole at The Estancia Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. Designed by Allen Tafoya, this house has four bedrooms in the main house, an upstairs office and game room and a separate guest wing with three full suites as well as a dedicated fitness room, formal and casual dining rooms and a butler's pantry.
Omni Barton Creek Resort, Austin, Texas, $10.75 million
This 13,686-square foot Texas estate features seven bedrooms and 11 bathrooms and overlooks the Fazio Foothills Course at Barton Creek Resort. This castle, constructed of Hill Country limestone, has a resort-style pool, boules court and a covered outdoor living area, perfect for hosting your own wedding or personal corporate outing.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, $6.8 million
Located in the golf-rich Punta Cana Resort area of the Dominican Republic, this 15,000-square-foot, seven-bedroom, seven-bath elegant estate has everything you want in a tropical paradise. Located on the Tom Fazio-designed Corales Golf Club, the home has a beautiful pool perfectly positioned to enjoy views of stunning natural cliffs and bays of the Caribbean Sea.
Chateau Elan Golf Club, Braselton, Georgia, $2.2 million
With nearly 20,000 square feet you get a lot of bang for your buck with this incredible home located off the 14th green of the Legends Course at Chateau Elan. This corner-lot, all-brick house has everything – a saltwater pool, basketball court, five-car garage, elevator to all three levels, wine cellar, gym, sauna, bar and seven bedrooms and eight baths.
Muirfield Village, Dublin, Ohio, $6 million
Situated on 2.5 acres, this 21,573-square foot estate has just about everything, including great views of the fifth and sixth holes on Jack Nicklaus' famous Muirfield Village Golf Club. The first floor overlooks an indoor Olympic size pool. There's a billiard room, conference room theater room, four bedrooms, seven full baths and even a concert room on the third floor.
We won't be able to buy the home on Lake Oconee but we did buy a lot for our own home on #5 of the Creek Club. Will be excited to host you next time you are at Reynold's, Mike.
Terrific news, James.... Would love to come see you out there!
Lovely abodes. I would have no $ left for golf gloves!
This is your Galveston County Sheriff (ret.)/ Galveston Daily News golf columnist tuning in to say I enjoyed the piece on golf mansions. Hope you got to play each of those courses!
Thanks for the comment... Ironically, I have a Galveston Daily News connection. Was sports editor there in the late '80s. Fortunately, I've played a good many of the courses on this list, but there are three I'd love to get out to someday: Bel Air CC, Gleneagles and Shinnecock.
The semi-private scale, bundled membership, nice-enough version of this life would suit me just fine.