By Bill Huffman & Joe Passov
Heritage at Asante
Lennar’s latest idea will feature putting links ‘Seven’ makes its debut at Desert Mountain GC
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hat could be the future of active adult golf communities — a putting course rather than a country club — is getting ready to make its debut later this month in Surprise. No surprise, really, considering the number of rounds played on golf courses throughout the U.S. has been down in 14 of the last 15 years. At least that was part of the logic when Lennar Homes, the nation’s largest homebuilder, decided to feature an upscale nine-hole putting course instead of a traditional 18-hole country club as its chief amenity at its new Heritage at Asante community. Lennar’s latest edition, which also will offer an option to purchase a private membership at nearby Briarwood Country Club, will have its grand opening on Feb. 22. Mike Dowell, a senior vice president 38 | AZ GOLF Insider | PREVIEW 2020
of sales and marketing for Lennar, is the man in charge of what could be a game changer for future communities that offer golf. Dowell, who grew up in the golf business in Wisconsin and Georgia, calls the putting course “an interesting solve” to some of the challenges that face today’s homebuilders. “First of all, the land consumption is only one acre for the putting course versus 90 to 100 acres for an 18-hole championship course,” Dowell pointed out. “Second, it will probably take less than an hour to play versus four-plus hours for a normal round of golf. “But most of all, it’s going to be special, with all the bells and whistles. We see it as championship putting course that people can enjoy with their children and grandchildren, as well as having lots of fun with friends.” With a price tag of $300,000, this isn’t your father’s putt-putt course. Remember those popular putting layouts made of green indoor carpeting and cement, and found in bowling alleys? Asante’s putting course, which is played on a tight artificial grass surface, has replica holes of some of the nation’s most well-known links. Or as Dowell noted, new homeowners will “almost feel the sea air” at the replicas of Pebble Beach’s seventh and 18th holes. They’ll also “feel the excitement” of holes 16, 17 and 18 at TPC Scottsdale. Other holes you might recognize include Augusta National’s testy 12th hole, and the iconic
island green at TPC Sawgrass’ 17th. “It’s going to be awesome, with real water, trees and vegetation flowing throughout,” Dowell said. “We’ve also got some beautiful bridges like the ones that go over Rae’s Creek (at the Masters).” Membership fees for the yet-to-benamed putting course are included in the homeowner’s HOA fee ($180 a month), which also includes a recreation/ fitness center, resort swimming pool/ Jacuzzi, pickle ball/bocce courts, dog park and trailheads surrounding a 50-acre park. For those who want to belong to Briarwood Country Club, a 10-minute commute away, Lennar is offering a 60-day unlimited membership, with fees ranging from $450 to $850 for those who ultimately join the club. Since 1954, Lennar has built literally thousands of communities. But this is the first-ever golf community anchored by a putting course with an option to belong to a course outside of the community. Part of the reason Lennar took this strategy, Dowell added, was because at Lennar’s Verrado community that also is located in the West Valley and includes two championship courses, less than 10 percent of the active adult homebuyers actually joined the golf club. “I think it’s going to be the right decision, because even without a golf course, we’ve had over 1,000 people join our waiting list (to purchase homes in February),” he said. “We are certainly excited by the interest.” www.azgolf.org
COURTESY LENNAR
MOVERS&SHAKEUPS
