I lived on the 17th hole at Halifax Plantation in Ormond Beach, Florida a number of years ago. It was a nice house and a nice community with just one problem - I didn’t play golf at the time.

I know a lot of people who live in golf course communities. Most live in these communities for the membership. For instance while Halifax Plantation is semi-private, the courses just a mile away at Plantation Bay are private. Living in the community gets you a much better price of admission than living outside of the community and buying a membership.

If you are an avid golfer, then it makes sense to consider a golf course community. There’s something to be said for hopping in your own cart and heading to your tee time. However, in the Daytona Beach area, there are 30 courses within a half hours drive. The same holds true for many other areas in Florida. You don’t need to live on a course to be just a few minutes from the first tee.

If you’re like me, I like to play different courses. Even if I lived in a golf course community, I would be getting in the car once or twice a month to play other courses. Oh, and it’s better for your game. When I was a member of Riviera Country Club in Ormond Beach, my scores suffered at other courses because I played my home course too much. It hurt my short game and putting more than anything.

When you play the same greens every time, you know how the putts are going to break and the speed of the greens. You are no longer reading greens. Instead, you’re playing strictly by experience. I hate to say it, but I got lazy and suffered when I played other courses.

Now, I’m a golfing vagabond. I play where I feel like playing. It helps my putting, but it’s still very difficult playing a new course for the first time.

Where you choose to live is a very personal decision. I hope this rambling little post sheds a little light.