When most people shop for the home of their dreams, they may look for a house with a back yard, or somewhere for their children to frolic, or a place to relax or hold a barbecue, or a nice view.
Until the last decade, few could envision peering out their windows and seeing a golf course, with beautifully manicured fairways surrounded by trees and clear-blue lakes. Then, golf course communities-resident ial communities consisting of a golf course surrounded by homes-began sprouting throughout the nation, including in Chicago`s northern and western suburbs.
Now, it`s the southwest suburbs` turn. Four golf courses surrounded by residential lots have been completed in the past three years.
Some people are moving to these communities because they love golf. Although all don`t play golf, they like the pastoral lifestyle and the high value of land as close as 50 feet from a golf course.
”Before 1988, there was a significant undersupply of golf course communities (in the southwest suburbs),” explained Tracy Cross, a real estate analyst for Northfield-based Tracy Cross & Associates. ”With the success of Crystal Tree (in Orland Park) and some other golf course communities in the northern suburbs, others proceeded posthaste.”
During the early 1980s golf community boom, residential/golf course projects were built in Aurora, Lake in the Hills, Naperville, North Barrington, and St. Charles. Yet, the Prestwick development in Frankfort remained the only full-scale golf course community in the south suburbs (The Oak Hills townhouse community in Palos Heights, built in 1976, has a 9-hole golf course).
Then, construction began at the Crystal Tree development in Orland Park in 1988. Builder Eugene Corley of Northbrook-based Corley Real Estate Corp. said his firm sold 104 townhomes in the first two weeks lots were on the market.
By 1991, there were 340 townhomes priced from $225,000 to $350,000, 100 single-family homes priced from $650,000 and $1.5 million, and a private golf course. Corley estimates 80 percent of single-family homeowners and 40 percent of townhouse owners belong to the golf club.
In the wake of Crystal Tree`s success, other developers began salivating. In 1989 and early 1990, plans for four other golf course communities were presented to south suburbs. All were approved.
Outside Romeoville, Lake Worth, Fla.-based Cenvill Development Corp. conceived a plan for the Midwest`s largest retirement village. Carillon was designed as a $1 billion project encompassing 1,477 acres and including 8,100 single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums for 15,000 people over the age of 55, a 27-hole golf course, a 400,000-square-foot shopping center, and a 150,000-square-foot clubhouse.
In Tinley Park, Orland Park-based Inter-Continental Real Estate & Development Corp. proposed building Odyssey Club-an 18-hole public golf course, 231 townhomes priced from $150,000 to $230,000 and 145 single-family homes ranging in price from $350,000 to $450,000.
In Lemont, Robert C. Ranquist Co. of Burr Ridge unveiled a plan to build Ruffled Feathers-an 85-acre, 18-hole private golf course, a 30,000-square-foot clubhouse, and 224 single-family homes worth from $450,000 to $1 million.
In Lockport, Wheaton-based Robin Hill Development Co. received permission to build Broken Arrow-a private 27-hole golf course, 630 single-family homes worth between $150,000 and $300,000, 480 apartments, 236 coach homes, 148 townhouses, and a 120-room hotel/conference center.
Then the recession hit.
At Carillon, only 18 golf holes and 500 homes were built before construction stopped because of the owner`s financial problems. Nothing has been built at Broken Arrow due to problems with financing and easements.
Home construction at The Odyssey Club and Ruffled Feathers has begun only in the last two months, though both golf courses are open for play.
Even if the ecomony rebounds, some doubt whether five south suburban golf course communities can succeed.
Cross believes there is a limited market for communities that are just for retired people, such as Carillon, or only have ultraexpensive homes, such as Ruffled Feathers. Corley`s assessment is that successful communities must be within five miles of municipalities inhabited by thousands of older people with adult children, because he believes people are unlikely to leave their families and friends in numbers great enough to sustain a far-flung community. None of this analysis seems to faze those living at area golf course communities.
Many residents said they love golf so much that they play at least a few times a week-and hate to wait on a public course line to play. Several of the wives interviewed have learned golf so they can play with their husbands. A significant number of people said they were willing to spend thousands more for a house just because it was next to a golf course.
The 24-hour private security and year-round home and yard maintenance services are also appealing. And all this is meant to provide pleasure only, as few folks interviewed think an opportunity to make business contacts is important.
At Crystal Tree, there seems to be an obsession with golf. It`s early Friday afternoon and clubhouse restaurant patrons are watching a golf tournament on cable television while the game goes on in person just outside the window. For residents Mary Jo and Ray Luth, golf is more than a game. Prior to their 1988 marriage, they dated on golf courses. A townhome on the 18th hole was a natural.
Others, such as Harold and Patience Teehan, moved to Crystal Tree because their winter home at golf course communities in Florida were so enjoyable.
”This is the type of lifestyle we want,” Patience Teehan said. ”We enjoy watching the golfers. It`s very picturesque.”
Joseph Miroballi Sr. moved here with his wife, Frances, because it was close to his business and then persuaded Joseph Jr. to buy a nearby home.
David and Sande Isabelle chose Crystal Tree after moving from Dallas because they would have had to wait for years to get into a non-residential private golf club.
At Carillon, it`s not much different. They`ve got men`s leagues, women`s leagues, couples leagues, friendships based on golf-and an attitude.
”I hope they don`t build another house,” said Burt Fry of the development`s cloudy future. ”As long as they build the golf clubhouse.”
