My Game is Back!

Hey… To all the frustrated golfers of the world… everyone wants to improve their game …but not everyone can…and they haven’t a clue as to what is wrong with their game…they take lessons, practice and join the team of ‘range rats”...let me share my experience with you.

I was invited to join The Rating Committee for the Golf Association of Florida. Not only have I become a member of a fabulous hard working team of woman and men but, I’ve taken at least five strokes off my handicap…!!!

Allow me first to give you a brief but comprehensive definition of what goes into rating a golf course.

According to the USGA, a golf course rating is “the evaluation of the playing difficulty of a course for scratch golfers under normal course and weather conditions. It is expressed as strokes taken to one decimal place, and is based on yardage and other obstacles to the extent that they affect the scoring ability of a scratch golfer.”

An individual course does not determine its own course rating. That is done by more than 100 district, state and regional golf associations in accordance with procedures standardized by the USGA. When a golf course rating is required, a rating team is assigned to evaluate a yardage rating based on overall course yardage and effective playing length of a course given the amount of roll received on a tee shot, elevation changes, the number of doglegs that force lay-up shots and the prevailing wind.

The rating team also scores the obstacle on a golf course on a scale of 0 to 10, given the hindrance encountered by both a scratch player and a bogey player. Some of these obstacles include the topography of a course and the difficulty of stances required, the effective width of a fairway landing area off the tee, the size, shape and slope of the greens given the expected length of the approach shot, the difficulty involved in recovering from a shot in the rough. Also evaluated are bunkers, water hazards, trees and out-of-bounds and their effect on normal play. A final ingredient factored into the course rating stew is the mental effect on the player created by the existence of such obstacles.

The course rating is the scratch yardage rating modified by the obstacle factors represented numerically. The USGA also calculates a Slope Rating from the course ratings based on the performance of a bogey golfer….. Many calculations and a lot of consideration goes into golf course ratings which serve to make golf matches as fair as possible for golfers traveling from course to course.

Now I’ll tell you how the great experience of rating golf courses had affected my game.

I was a respectable golfer before I began to rate golf courses and I’ve not paid too much attention to my game however, now that I look ay golf courses differently, and with a more analytical eye, the years I have spent on the golf course has come to a new height. I play golf the smart way, not the super macho way!!!

After rating approximately eight golf courses, I now see when I play at my home course how my game has drastically changed. Why? Well, for example when the average respectable golfer plays what I call golf ‘for it golf’ you simply become this ‘train –wreck’ and ‘masterful destructionist’ on the golf course… all 18 holes you’re struggling to make that par.

Having analyzed almost every blade of grass on so many courses, I am amazed to see why as amateurs we need to play this game so conservatively. We should not go for it but rather lay-up and don’t use a driver on every hole. You know you can’t make it over the water anyway…our egos get smack in the center of our choices and there we strike out…and then until the end of the eighteenth hole, we struggle and struggle, hoping until that last putt that we’ll make a par !!!

This is NOT only called ‘golf course management’ but it’s called smart golf, and more importantly, playing every shot… shot by shot… never look at playing the entire hole.

Step up to the tee, look around and see what’s ahead of you. Analyze….hit 3 wood or driver? Then the next shot, the same routine, what do I do…and sometimes you need an iron shot on a par five as your second shot… well do it and figure it out…remember …shot by shot!!!!

You will see your scores will diminish its way to an amazing score. Just try this once and remember to play conservatively.. Become a smart golfer; allow your brains to play this game, not your ego!!!! Then let me know how you feel!

Bye for now and have a fun time … remember we’re not professionals…even a scratch golfer is not a professional. But the scratch golfer plays the game very differently than the bogie golfer…and that’s pretty darn good!!

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Barbara Levine
Golf Real Estate Professional

Ask the right information to a broker, before you make out that ‘chunky” check!!!

I recently had a couple referred to me who were searching for property in a golf club community. The broker they had been working with only knew about the houses in the golf communities, not the clubs themselves. So a mutual friend who knows I specialize in Golf Community Real Estate referred them to me.

The question they had but the other broker could not answer: “Was the community they were considering a corporation or an equity club?”

An excellent question from a financial perspective.

If a community is a corporation, owned, for example by 'Company ABC', then your dues go directly to operating costs dictated by the corporation. You are not responsible for major investments. The corporation also has the right to dictate when the club /golf course is opened and when it is closed… and sometimes at the last minute….you, the homeowner has no say in the matter!!!

If, however; the community is an equity club, you and your fellow homeowners are in control, thus a Board of Directors are elected by the homeowners. That Board is the decision making body for the club; and for anything else club related the homeowners are responsible for. Also, if the items are not included in their budget, decisions regarding assessments are made by the Board of Directors.

When a new community is ‘built out’ (all the master plan of homes built is fulfilled) the club, the builder and the homeowners negotiate a list of demands from the builder. Then the golf course and community are ‘turned –over’ to the homeowners who are responsible for all assessments, decisions , etc. going forward. at that time a Board of Directors is elected from among the homeowners.

Some communities, such as Ibis Golf and Country Club are still after years of existence is still a Corporate club ... Whereas, Frenchman’s Creek is entirely equity....and each community is very different...the ideal situation is to buy a home in an equity community, ask for full financial reports ,to make certain the community is in the best financial position..

Ask as many questions as possible, as the last thing you want to do is move into a community in a bad financial position... a homeowner’s nightmare!!!!

As a buyer’s broker (I do not have listings in any golf communities, thus my objectivity is never compromised). I would rather advise my client to rent, and ultimately buy, and keep the client, rather then sell a client a multi-million dollar home and have then fined out, the financial position is not exactly what was understood…the worst possible professional position a broker can end up!!!!

Buying a home in a South Florida golf community is an undertaking that should not be taken lightly or without expert guidance.

Call me. As a life-long member of equity golf clubs I know the answers relating to the communities and clubs. And as a Palm Beach area realtor/broker for over 17 years I certainly know the homes and lifestyle my clients are looking for.

A great day at play and work at Ibis Golf & Country Club

My husband and I were invited to Ibis Country Club this past weekend for a round of golf, some real estate discussion, and some house hunting…my kind of great day in the country!

I always give at least 20 minutes to range work before I play every round; it’s both mentally and physically therapeutic for the muscle memory of my golf swing.…but this day was the pits!!!!

This is the most difficult game I have ever played. But, that day at Ibis, our friend happened to be watching me warm-up, while waiting for his wife to finish her golf lesson.

He said he admired the way I came onto the range very enthusiastic, armed with my various irons and woods, only to begin looking like I’d never hit a ball in my life. He was impressed with how I slowly worked my self out of my “rut” and starting hitting the ball straight and far… he was clearly aware that I was being patient as I got into the swing.

Serious golfers like me all work hard on our game and it’s my amateur opinion that the best pros on this earth can’t teach you secrets, it’s all reinforcement, patience and confidence.

So practice with confidence…be patient on the range, and do not get psychologically overwrought if you miss a shot on the golf course.

By the way, I sold a lovely property at Ibis; our friends were ready to upscale their home, but wanted to stay in the same community so I came prepared with all the homes for sale there. So after our game on the Jack Nicklaus designed Legends Course, our friends made an exquisite purchase.

They love the community and I know why. It has several large courses, a lot of golfers – both men and women - large dining facilities and a wonderful social agenda. I’ve had the pleasure of playing there frequently and have always enjoyed the courses and the atmosphere.

If you’re looking for a large golf community, I’d be pleased to show you all the delights that make Ibis Golf and Country Club a wonderful place to live your life on the links™.

Finding the right Golf Community in South Florida

The typical first-time South Florida golf and country club buyer looks in the classified section of the Palm Beach Post or online MLS, searches for a house with the number of bedrooms and baths they want and a price range. They then call the listing agent with a long list of questions about the house, the membership fees and general specs about the community.

Big mistake!!!

A tour of the house and the community is arranged but the most critical components in the purchase of a house in a golf community are never addressed: LIFESTYLE and the GAME OF GOLF.

A homebuyer looking for a golf community must know more than the age of the clubhouse and dress code on the course. Any real estate agent with a spec sheet can provide that information.

As Broker/Agent who has played the game her entire life, belongs to an equity club and is on a PGA committee that rates South Florida courses, I know the details. I know as much about the condition of the courses as I do the pros that teach and organize the games. I know what amenities and features builders are providing and I know what courses would suit your game.

And for those who enjoy life beyond the golf course, I know how well the tennis courts are maintained, the types of social programs that are run and even what clubs have private dining rooms and guest accommodations.

Life on the Links™ is more than a round of golf. It’s how you live your life from morning through evening. Call me to arrange a tour of South Florida golf communities from a golfer’s perspective.

Barbara

The Luxury of Casitas at Old Palm Golf Club, Palm Beach Gardens

As a very passionate golfer, I see each community so very differently; each has a personality of it’s own, the golf course the club house, the amenities….and of course the location.

For example, do you know what a casita is…other than a vacation spot on an island??? In Florida golf communities, Casitas are private guestcottages belonging to the club, and one of my several loved communities,“Old Palm Golf Club,” located in Palm Beach Gardens, has the most luxurious casitas I have ever seen. One must see them to believe it!!

When visiting Old Palm to look at a home, you may be booked in a casita for the night (if I could, I would live in one permanently !!), with all the amenities of a vacation…you can play on a top rated golf course and have meals in a glorious dining room. I love to show the surrounding homes with the graciousness and allure of an old world Mediterranean back drop, wherever you turn including waterfalls in the back of homes. Real estate buyers fall in love with the architecture and the golf course as much as with the personal service and regal staff.

Yes. It is indeed true you can’t fall in love with a home…as I’ve yet to see walls kiss me!!! The feeling of relaxation, comfort, convenience and sheer luxury is something my clients just rave about.

I am an objective consultant/broker when it comes to my clients’ needs. If one community doesn’t fit your lifestyle I know which ones will. Some realtor/brokers are employed by the community that the buyers walk into…they give their pitch only about that one community. And most do not even play golf. Not only do I play golf, I have been involved lately at rating golf courses!

Whether you wish to relocate, retire or purchase a second home where golf will part of your life, Palm Beach Real Estate doesn’t have to be confusing. Life on the Links™ is my passion; both as a realtor and a player. It’s my pleasure to share that passion with you. Call me any day of the week for objective help in finding your home on the links.

- Barbara

Palm Beach Real Estate is an investment.

It is a well-known axiom that location is one of the most important elements in the value of a property. Let’s take that one step further. A good investment buy would be a sound property in an area that will increase in value in the future.

Buying into an area that is strongly on the comeback is one way of having a successful real estate investment.

Trend is everything. The trick is to get in so that you are one of the earliest pioneers. It is safer to buy into an area after the restoration trend is unmistakably established.

What are some of the factors to consider when evaluating properties as good investments? A neighborhood that is a good candidate for restoration must have an intrinsic location advantage and also good basic homes. Some neighborhoods have a certain distinction that attracts buyers, but there are other factors to take into account.

A house in a good location may have a few points subtracted if it is located on a busy street. Houses located on busy streets may represent some of the best buys in terms of space and amenities for the price. However, some buyers who are very sensitive to noise or concerned about small children or pets may automatically rule out houses that are located on busy residential streets. Other buyers don’t share these same concerns, and will find many benefits to a house in these types of location.

Another factor to consider: if the sellers have made pricing concessions on the property based on its location, then you may have to pass on a similar price break to the next owner.

There are some buyers who would like to be close to schools, shopping, and churches, but don’t want to live across the street from these facilities, or may want an easy commute to their job, but would not consider a location close to the main road. A location close to an airport would be convenient for frequent travelers, but might make it difficult to sell even the most wonderful house.

As you balance all of the factors, remember that a location liability, which gets you a great house at a “basically” reasonable price, will probably require you to pass a similar savings on to future buyers.

Traditionally, there is a strong correlation between the consumer confidence index and real estate sales activity. Currently, many consumers feel that the safest, most steady place to invest your money is in real estate. Investors say that homes have durable benefits,
which have little to do with market cycles. Therefore, almost anytime is a good time to buy a home. Homes provide their owners with a significant hedge against inflation. As a tangible asset, houses have tended to appreciate most rapidly when inflation flares up.

Even if inflation remains low, a house can still serve as an important means of wealth building, as equity grows with the monthly mortgage payments. Paying for a home also enhances the buyer’s credit standing and secures an asset that can be used later to finance business ventures, children’s college tuition, or retirement. And while it may be argued that paper investments, such as mutual funds, never have to be painted, insulated, or protected from fire or weather, you cannot live in them either!

As a Palm Beach real estate broker for so many years, I have very substantial knowledge of comparative real estate markets, as our clientele is world wide and has very diverse needs….

Allow me to find you a perfect investment and a perfect winner!!!

A Golfer's Paradise in Georgia

Golf is an amazing sport. With all its difficulties, you can have fun, relax, and be with those you enjoy the most….though it’s the toughest game I have ever played in my life and I am considered an athlete…!!!!

I must tell you about my fabulous birthday weekend at Sea Island Golf Resort. In Sea Island Georgia, considered Number One golf resort in the world!!!!!!!! My golf professional of nine years Todd Anderson introduced me to Sea Island when I booked a lesson after he left Palm Beach and moved to Georgia.

When I arrived at Sea Island I thought frankly I was going to this ‘musty’ place that was just ‘golfie’.. Shocked and pleased when arrived to see this most exquisite resort, owned by an older Americana family, older homes characteristic old English Tudors…and beautiful. Spacious homes built with the most exquisite taste. You must experience at least a weekend at Sea Island …you will become a regular as we have!!!!!!. Also, they have the Cloisters which is exquisite and only a ‘chauffeured ride’ away. Very, very children and family friendly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

December 8th was my birthday and so we invited our entire family, and just as a nice touch,they upgraded us to a suite, which I promptly extended to my daughter who has three children. Additionally, they put up a decorated Christmas Tree. We all gathered around in this beautiful parlor room, lit a fire in the fireplace and opened our many gifts…we were 11 altogether, as proudly I have two other grandchildren from North Carolina.

I was so very honored by their exquisite service …and ……..last but not least,their gorgeous golf courses are courses you will have permanently in your memory bank….

Call me at 561-346-8863 and I’ll give you more details ..or call them direct at1-800732-4752..ask for Kevin Campbell and tell him Barbara Levine sent you…he’s a sweet person and so very accommodating..