Savannah Quarters

Georgia is becoming a popular retirement destination for young executives and recent retirees who want easy access to their families back North. The Savannah area is extremely desirable and offers both beach and inland recreational opportunities.

The Club at Savannah Quarters and its private 18-hole golf course in*Pooler, Georgia, are a short 45-minute drive from either the sandy beaches of Tybee Island to the south or Hilton Head Island to the northeast. This private, gated, golf community offers resort-style living that the entire family can enjoy. Although best known for its award-winning Greg Norman golf course, Savannah Quarters has all kinds of wonderful amenities including a 29,000-square-foot clubhouse, tennis courts, fitness center, and the largest outdoor pool in the Savannah area.

The golf course at The Club at Savannah Quarters is considered one of the best in the area and was voted Best of the Best by the Savannah Magazine. This picturesque layout welcomes players into the peaceful Lowcountry setting as it winds its way through groves of towering cypress and oak trees, natural areas, and lagoons. Savannah Quarters' signature 15th hole features an island green that sits in a serene lagoon surrounded by natural wildlife.

The scorecard for Savannah Quarters shows seven different yardages, so there's a distance for everyone no matter how good or bad your game is. The Championship tees measure 7,005 yards and carry a course rating of 74.4 and a slope of 137 while the Family Tees play 4,271 (62.5/110). I found the Member Tees (6,271/70.8/128) proved to be a good test of golf and still let me leave with a little dignity.

The golf course features a number of memorable holes but none more so than 3 - 5. It's a testy par 3 sandwiched between two par 5's. The par 5, 3rd plays 513 yards from the Member Tees and features water down the left side off the tee. Be sure to stay away from the fairway bunker on the right with your tee shot, but don't worry, there's plenty of room. Once you get past the lake, the hole opens up on both sides. There's another fairway bunker on the right that needs to be avoided on your layup shot and a couple more on your approach to a long, two-tiered green. It's an easy two-club difference between a front and back pin placement.

Trees line the right side on the 152-yard, par 3 4th hole, and with all of the bunkering around the green, you'll probably need to carry the green off the tee. The putting surface is slightly elevated and is a lot longer than it is wide. Par is a great score here.

Number 5 is a dogleg right par 5 that plays 522 yards. As you can tell from all of the construction, houses will soon form the boundary on the right side. The fairway bunker on the left is reachable off the tee and if you hit your shot over the hill behind the bunker, you will probably never see that ball again! The new construction on the right gives way to a pond, which is a good reason to play your layup shot down the left side. Two good shots will leave a short pitch shot into the green.

Holes 8 and 11 are a couple of risk-reward par 4s, and if you have a good short game, you may be able to get back a few strokes. Number 8 plays 261-yards with woods all down the right side and strategically placed bunkers in the landing area short of an elevated green. Number 11 plays 258 yards with wetlands on the left side to carry off the tee. Can't drive the green? Play something off the tee that leaves you a manageable distance and rely on a good short game and a one-putt.

In addition to a well-stocked golf pro shop, golfers will find a full-length driving range where you can hit every club in the bag. There's a good-sized practice putting surface to acclimate yourself to the speed of the greens. If you want to take your game to the next level, take a lesson from one of the club's professional instructors who use the latest technology to help you groove your swing.

In the event golf isn't your game, Savannah Quarters has a host of other amenities. The Fitness Club at Savannah Quarters offers everything you'll need to get your heart pumping. This 4,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility features Matrix cardio and weight training equipment complete with virtual coaches to take help you get to the next level. Or enjoy regular exercise classes taught by some of the area's best yoga and aerobics studio; personal trainers are also available.

For tennis lovers, play a set or two on their Har-Tru tennis courts which are lit for night play. The tennis staff at Savannah Quarters can help fix your game and your equipment; they can even update your tennis gear and your look on the court with the latest in apparel. Each year they field SATA and USTA competitive teams and play against other clubs in the area.

The pool at Savannah Quarters was recently voted Ideal Living's Best Community Pool. There are two interconnected pools that hold over 270,000 gallons of water including a family pool with a massive waterslide and a zero-entry wading area as well as a junior Olympic lap pool.

Savannah Quarters' clubhouse is the epicenter of activity; here you'll socialize with other members and enjoy the club's exclusive calendar of member-only events and activities. And there is no better venue to host your event, regardless of size.

The Membership at Savannah Quarters is made up of a diverse group of people and includes young professionals, seasoned executives, recent graduates, and retirees, all with a single common thread: Living in an exclusive private golf community with amenities the whole family can enjoy.

Savannah Quarters offers memberships to both residents and non-residents; full golf memberships will be capped at 300. Being a member is a great way to meet new friends and play in member-only events. Three types of memberships are offered: Recreational, Classic Sports, and Full Golf. Recreational members enjoy all of the benefits of a full social member: full use of the two interconnected pools, as well as the fitness center, four lighted Har-Tru tennis courts, Club dining rooms, and special events. Classic Sports members receive all of these benefits as well as unrestricted use of the 11-acre practice facility and newly renovated short game area and putting greens. They also are entitled to the equivalent of twelve 18-hole rounds of golf each year and the opportunity to play in the club's three majors: the Club Championship, Member-Guest, and Member-Member Tournaments including practice rounds.

A Full Golf Membership entitles you to all that the club has to offer; basically, everything that's already been mentioned and unlimited, unrestricted use of the golf course. You'll receive invitations to all Golf Member events and participation in Summer League, Couples Golf, and home and away Member outings. You'll also be a part of golf's premier reciprocal program, Troon Prive. Troon Prive members receive exclusive access to other Troon Prive-managed golf courses and private clubs around the world as well as opportunities to experience their resort and daily fee locations at preferred rates. Plus, all members of Troon Prive Clubs receive benefits with Avis Rental Cars, Ship Sticks, and more.

If you're looking for a new private golf community with resort-style amenities to call home, look no further than the Club at Savannah Quarters. The website has several real estate opportunities if you're interested in moving there. You can visit them online at www.savannahquarters.com or give them a call to schedule a visit at 912-450-2300.