5 Luxury Home Upgrades Every Golf Course House Needs

Secluded in a private community with carefully manicured landscapes, golf course homes can provide a peaceful escape with incredible views. While golf course communities offer impressive benefits and amenities like clubhouses, restaurants, and pools, adding private additions can help take any golf course home to the next level. Keep reading to discover five private amenities every golf course home needs.

A Golf Cart Garage

Golf carts are essential for navigating the course's longest fairways and offer a laidback way to traverse the neighbourhood. What better way to store that trusty vehicle than a dedicated golf cart garage? Golf cart garages can provide a safe place away from the elements for golf carts and other golfing equipment, like clubs.

Many shed providers offer pre-built and custom golf cart garages. These sheds come equipped with flooring strong enough to withstand the weight of golf carts and other vehicles and a ramp allowing easy access.

While some less expensive models have roll-up doors, fancier golf cart garages feature garage doors like those seen in home garages. Golf cart garages can also come in many sizes, with some just large enough to fit one vehicle and others large enough to accommodate even more. Other bonus features might include a walk-out door on the side, windows, or electricity connections.

A Hot Tub with Fairway Views

One of the best perks of living in a golf course community is the outstanding fairway views. A hot tub overlooking the fairway provides a great place to relax while enjoying vistas of undulating greens and beautiful lakes. Better yet, a hot tub offers a warm retreat from frosty winter weather.

It's possible to install a hot tub indoors or outdoors, but an outdoor tub will likely provide better views of the green. As most golf course communities have a homeowner's association, it's imperative to consult with the covenants, conditions, and restrictions to ensure the hot tub meets the HOA's requirements. For example, some HOAs require the tub's colour to match the home's colour or have guidance on where and how to install hot tubs.

All sorts of bells and whistles can improve a hot tub. Water jets, air jets, and waterfalls can provide a relaxing massage. Meanwhile, heated towel racks can ensure warm towels or bathrobes are available when it's time to head back inside.

A Backyard Putting Green

While many golf communities offer practice facilities, there's nothing like having a customizable, private putting green for practicing golf right in your backyard. Backyard putting greens are easy to install, a breeze to maintain, and might even result in a rebate from the community's HOA.

Putting green kits are highly customizable and come in various shapes and sizes to fit almost any space. It's possible to place cups and obstacles anywhere on the green, allowing for just the right level of challenge.

Once set up, the green is easy to maintain due to its artificial turf, which doesn't need to be trimmed, watered, or fertilized. Converting part of the yard into a putting green can help cut down on water bills and creates a space where the HOA does not need to worry about how tall or green the grass is. Some HOAs in especially dry areas may even offer rebates for replacing all or part of the lawn with artificial turf.

A Cozy Firepit

Few things compare with cozying up to a warm fire on a cold evening after a day on the course. A firepit provides a welcome retreat from the cold, a relaxing space for observing the community's golf course, and a convenient place to toast marshmallows. However, city bylaws and HOA regulations may limit the size of firepits and fires, the firepit's material, and the types of material burned. There may also be restrictions on when and where fires can take place. After determining what's allowed, it's time to explore the varied world of fire pits!

Firepits come in various shapes and sizes, from small, round bowls to long, linear fires. Depending on the firepit's material, it may be customizable with different colours or other features like cut-out designs. Fuel sources might include natural gas, propane, or even wood, although it's worth noting there may be added restrictions on wood-burning firepits, such as the need for mesh screens.

When using a fire pit, fire pit safety practices are essential. Fires should never be left unsupervised, and a water source should always be on hand to extinguish the flames. Furthermore, it's good practice to ensure smoke from the firepit doesn't enter neighbours' yards to prevent disturbing them.

An Outdoor Kitchen and Entertaining Area

After a round of golf, an outdoor kitchen provides the perfect place to grab a bite to eat and entertain guests. Outdoor kitchens are highly customizable, with plenty of options available for appliances, storage, and decor.

Multi-use spaces may benefit from a movable kitchen equipped with a portable grill and a rolling cart. If there is enough space to create a more dedicated outdoor kitchen, investing in more permanent fixtures may be better, but it will likely require a permit.

While building the kitchen along one wall is budget-friendly, it requires a separate dining area. Meanwhile, L-shape and U-shape configurations and islands can provide seating and cooking options in the same space.

Outdoor kitchens can accommodate numerous appliances. Most outdoor kitchens can benefit from a grill, sink, and refrigerator, but specialized appliances like pizza ovens, deep fryers, smokers, and icemakers are great additions to many outdoor kitchens too.

Pergolas, awnings, and umbrellas can provide much-needed shade during the warmer months, while an outdoor heater can help keep the space toasty during the winter.

Getting the Most Out of a Golf Course Home

Living in a golf community comes with numerous benefits, like easy access to the golf course, beautiful landscapes, and various amenities. Adding private amenities can make the experience of living in a golf course home even better by creating a secluded space to relax in after a long day on the course.