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Above All
April 15, 2007
For golfers throughout the country who are becoming painfully aware of the meaning behind the phrase “Hotter Than July,” it’s easy to wistfully drift off into dream-like visions of golf under stunningly blue skies, soothing sunshine (read: not oppressive) and, most importantly, temperatures that make playing 18 holes a delight rather than an ordeal. Add to that vision soaring mountain views on every hole, emerald green fairways and gently swaying hardwoods that are as old as the hills and you’ll just about have a picture of virtually every golfer’s dream course for a mid-summer round. Golfers wipe the sweat off your brow and take heart!
There is a place in North Carolina where the mountains tower over lush valleys, where the average summer temperature is a cool 74 degrees, and spectacular vistas stretch for miles. That place is Linville Ridge, a private mountaintop golfing experience created by The Lutgert Companies, an internationally recognized developer of luxury properties.
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Linville Ridge offers views that soar beyond the imagination. This spectacular community features a collection of residences and amenities designed to satisfy those with sophisticated tastes. But it is the beauty of the golf course and the cool summer temperatures that set Linville Ridge apart.
“The North Carolina Mountains surrounding our golf course makes it one of the most beautiful settings for golf in the Southeast,” said Kurt Thompson, Golf Pro at Linville Ridge. “Guests of our members often comment on the views that are visible from each hole.”
“I’ve never seen anything as pretty as Linville Ridge golf course,” said Linville Ridge member Bob Moser of Greenville, South Carolina. “Other courses in the area can compare with the condition of the course at Linville Ridge, but the beauty of the place, they just can’t touch it. We love it here and we love living here.”
“Linville Ridge is one exciting place. I never get tired of playing it,” said Ed Sharp, a member and homeowner since 2001. “We went to all of the clubs in the area and played all of the courses and we always came back to Linville Ridge. It’s beyond a doubt the greatest thing up there.”
Created by George Cobb, the Linville Ridge Golf Course is the highest golf course east of the Rockies, soaring on the fourth hole to an elevation of 4,950 feet. Naturally lush, the course is as widely acclaimed for its playability as for its spectacular views of Grandfather Mountain and the Linville Valley.
“When George Cobb designed this course, he kept players of every skill level in mind,” said Thompson. “The fairways offer generous landing areas. Each approach shot offers a different look, and will often leave the higher handicap player some room for missed shots. The highly skilled player can take advantage of their length off the tee and have the best opportunity to score with precision iron shots. With the consistently fast bent grass greens, players are happy to walk away with a two putt.”
“It’s a very fair but challenging golf course,” said Moser. “The greens are the most challenging part of the course. You don’t need to be long off the tee or play your long irons well, but you do need to be able to chip and putt in order to score well. It rewards good shots and penalizes bad shots just like a good golf course should.”
“You just need to keep it in the middle of the fairway and have a good short game. Putting is very important because of the way the greens are sloped,” said Sharp. “The greens just slope away from you and it’s all down hill. You have to learn to read the greens and you have to learn the speeds.”
A long time resident of Clearwater, Florida, Sharp appreciates Linville’s cool summer temperatures.
“Linville is spectacular in the summertime. It’s cool,” he said. “I live on a golf course on the water in Clearwater. In the summertime you go out to play and within 20 minutes you’re soaking wet. You don’t get that at Linville Ridge.”
After owning a home in the Charlotte area for many years, Moser agrees.
“Usually there’s a 20 degree differential between here and Charlotte in the summertime,” he said. “A lot of times in Charlotte, it’s just still. A still 98-degree day with 90 percent humidity is awful. You don’t get those here. It’s 70-75 degrees, nice breeze blowing and it’s wonderful.”
The Linville Ridge Golf Course has been honored by Golfweek Magazine as one of the 50 most distinctive development courses in the Southeastern United States and as one of the favorite courses in the Carolinas by the Golf Reporter. Headquartered in Naples, Florida, The Lutgert Companies has been creating extraordinary experiences in luxury living for more then 40 years, including 17 prestigious high rises on Park Shore Beach in Naples, the high rises at Bonita Bay and Estuary at Grey Oaks, home to the Florida Golf Course of the Year.
The amenities at Linville Ridge reflect the prestige of the community. Three culinary options are offered. The 30,000 square foot Clubhouse, with its breathtaking surroundings and spectacular views, features formal and relaxed dining settings. The Belvedere outdoor pavilion and The Sandwedge offer the finest in casual dining. Each venue features an innovative menu and extensive wine list.
Spa and fitness centers are located in the Clubhouse. The 7,000 square foot spa features stunning views from the treatment rooms and salon area. The High Country’s finest professionals provide massage, facial, hair and nail services.
The 6,000 square foot fitness center offers steam, sauna, a complete line of cardiovascular equipment, a group fitness area, and strength training equipment. Services are tailored to meet the health and fitness goals of each individual.
Eight Har-Tru tennis courts are open May through October. Members and their guests are afforded unlimited use of this outstanding facility as well as immediate access to the professional teaching staff.
Golfers and tennis players enjoy Linville Ridge's separate golf and tennis pro shops. Each pro shop offers a wide variety of apparel and accessories as well as state-of-the-art equipment.
Linville Ridge features two world-class croquet courts with a teaching pro and a vast inter-club program with area clubs. A heated swimming pool is open from June to September. Children's swimming programs are offered from mid-June through mid-August.
First time visitors to Linville Ridge often find the unexpected beauty of the community overwhelming. Troubles melt beneath the Carolina blue sky and life takes on an inexplicably joyous quality. Homesites range from one acre to over twenty acres. Lot prices start at $250,000.
Luxury Custom homes and cottages throughout Linville Ridge offer incomparable views of Grandfather Mountain. Babbling brooks and majestic trees surround these 2,600 to 3,600+ square foot residences. The Cottages feature stacked native stone fireplaces, glass window walls, dramatic decks and state-of-the-art amenities. Luxury homes are priced from $950,000 with a minimum of three bedrooms and three baths.
The Town Homes at Cranberry Cove feature views from Blowing Rock to Beech Mountain and the Virginias. Open floor plans and walls of windows invoke the feeling of being "one with nature." Partially covered decks are perfect for entertaining. Some residences include detached guesthouses. These town homes range from 4,000 square feet with prices from $1,300,000.
The Club at Linville Ridge offers custom designed estate homes perfect for mountain living. These residences include an outstanding array of amenities. Split Rock Estates features estate homes from 5,000 square feet on minimum 8-acre sites. Split Rock offers the most spectacular sunsets on Linville Ridge and views that stretch for more than 100 miles.
Within Linville Ridge, there is a place unlike any other - The Summit. The Lutgert Companies created The Summit for those who deserve the absolute best. This private mountaintop enclave of prestigious home sites offers incomparable vistas that extend as far as the horizon. The Summit features luxurious Estate Homes designed with appointments to satisfy the most discriminating homeowner.
Linville Ridge is an extraordinary place to enjoy the very best in casual elegance. Rental opportunities are available. Rental properties are private homes ranging from condominiums to Estate sized residences. Rates are determined by size and location of the rental property. There is a one-month minimum rental period with priority given to long-term leases. All rental properties are furnished and equipped for basic housekeeping.
In addition to opportunities for new home construction, The Linville Ridge sales team has a variety of resale properties available in virtually every property category. Homebuyers will enjoy working with the sales team and will benefit from their extensive mountain property experience. Contact the Linville Ridge on-site sales office toll-free at (800) 898-5150 or (828) 898-5151 for more information or call Premier Sotheby's International Realty in Naples at 239-261-6161. Visit Linville Ridge online at www.Linvilleridge.com.
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