Good stuff, gentlemen. Keep it coming. Any specific communities?
I started this thread for personal interests primarily, but also because I thought that a number of participants here may be in a similar situation of planning for the second half of their adult lives. Despite my constant whining about how bad I am playing, golf will always be an important part of my life in one way or another. One of the great things about the game is that it can be enjoyed in so many different ways and places. It even helps those with some gypsy in them because as soon as you get in a friendly club, you are no longer a stranger.
My hope is to buy or build an ultra low-maintenance residence, probably no more than 2,000 S.F., and $300m, give or take $50m. Privacy is more important to me than living on a course, though I would want to ve within a few minutes of the club. Some nice views would be nice, but not essential.
I don't want to play at a real busy place, preferring to pay more for a player's club that is not exclusive for its own sake, but selective in terms of having members that love golf and are not assholes. I also don't want to be nickeled and dimed to death or forced to take a caddie or ride a cart either by club rules or peer pressure.
In regards to Austin, TX, it is one of the prettier places in the state, but I have not found the golf there to be particularly good. Spanish Oaks is a very nice course, and I still hear mixed reports about Austin GC (the CC is not high on my list). Austin has terrible traffic problems and it can be hotter than hell. The cost of living is okay, with housing ranging from very affordable to exhorbitant, depending where you want to live.
Waco, TX with Ridgewood CC and a Nicklaus affiliated design course is an interesting recommendation. I'll be heading down there in the next week or so, though it is still way too hot for my taste and pretty strictly cart golf.
For a rural type location in TX, Glen Rose and its two county courses designed by Jeff Brauer and John Colligan is a place worthy of consideration. Due to a nearby nuclear power plant, the tax base is great so the rate is quite low. I think that county residents pay like $7 to $10 to play the courses at Squaw Valley. The lake that cools the twin reactors also has very clear water and some very unusual fish (just kidding).
Regarding the genteel Ms. McBride, I have no illusions that she can be turned away from the dark side. The only time we met, early in the year of the last election, she made sure I knew of her background as a "yellow dog" Dem and wore her X-large Kerry button on a place where it could not be missed. She seemed so happy and pleasant that disuading her from her fantisies would just be too cruel. Hopefully her very ingratiating manner has not been undermined by the harsh realities and outcome of the election. I am sure that if we were ever partime neighbors, that we would get along famously. Now, Ace is altogether a different proposition.
Tiger, as one of your boys one said, "a tiger does not change his spots". Really, if I can be the lone innocent lamb at a dinner with a pack of wolves and still enjoy the experience (and live to tell about it) isn't that a good sign that we can all get along? You see, Sandbox Gracely had it right when he called me "The Great Unifier". From west of Panama City to Pensecola along the coast, I am sure that I can find a little place for my double-wide. I could be happy at Camp Creek, and something under 35' docked not too far from there. Alternate the summers between the UK, northern US, and Canada.
As Martin suggested, I'd enjoy spending an extended stay at or near St. Andrews. I've visitied Aberdour, best know for its fine American resident, author, and contributor to this site, the incomparable Rihc Goodale, and that little village with its train station would make a great seasonal base. Something like this and a season in Dornoch are definitely under consideration with a high likelyhood of happening. Ditto for a season or two in Oz and NZ.
North Carolina appears to be a great place for a home base. The Chapel Hill idea intrigues me, as does the Pinehurst and Charlotte area.
I've recently visited Knoxville and very much enjoyed Holston Hills. Proximity to airports and a cold and wet winter season along with hot and wet summers are concerns.
Again, thanks for the suggestions.