Rub a dub, dub. Three men in a tub...

[ndabunka]

Well, two aren't EXACTLY men yet but I thought this would get you in here!  A few pics of wamer days I found on my hard drive of me and the boys from about a while back...

[Chad]

Great pics! We have the same color combo on our tubs. 8-) It looks like you live in a very nice neighborhood.
How come you didn't post the pics in the All You Critters thread?

[Tman122]

I'd say a privacy fence is in order.

[MostlyLurkingGal]

How come you didn't post the pics in the All You Critters thread?

I think your last post there broke that thread Chad......

[Tatooed_Lady]

boy, this pic is a HUGE relief! I saw the topic, and had to wonder how big and funky the 3 dudes in the tub would be......these are actually cute!

[Chad]

I think your last post there broke that thread Chad......

Come on now.... It's not ALL my fault.

[vlady]

Great picture ndabunka - cute kids.

[ndabunka]

Thanks for the comments all.  Evev I didn't realize how old that picture was until I read the post about the privacy fence.  We put a row of Leyland Cypress & Emerald Arbivitums up about two years ago to function as a privacy fence.  A formal fence over 4 feet tall is not allowed in the rear of our yard because we are on the 8th hole/green of a golf course (I know, tough life, right?) but the "natural" barrier of these trees now does a fairly good job.  I'll have to take some more pics of the updates.  As for the "all you critters" thread... I haven't even been to it yet but it does look like I may have missed a good thread so I'll wander over there now that I'm eating lunch...

[drewstar]

Nda,

Not being a golfer, I never really  understood the whoel living "on a golf course" thing.  Are the houses along the fair way? How close to the actual course and gameplay are you? By living there, do you have automatic, free membership in the course (or at a reduced fee?)

What are the benifits to all this golf comuniteis that I hear so much about lately?

Oh yea...Is it common for golf balls to be in your yard?  (can you keep them if theydo  go in your yard?  )

[ndabunka]

The moniker is actually also golf related... If you've ever played golf, you too have probably been "In the bunker".  I shortened to 7 digits to fit older computer naming technologies of years past translates into N-Da-Bunka.

I use to live on the largest man made lake east of the mississippi, Lake Norman and although it was nice, the prices simply keep on going up and up and to get a larger house DIRECTLY on the water was going to be a LOT of dough (over a million) so my next choice was a golf course lot.

The Reason - Many people in suburbs now live in homes that "back up" to each other.  Look out your window on either side of your house and you see your neighbors home less than 20 feet away.  Look out the back and after 40 feet of your own backyard, yours neighbors back yard begins and each evening you can see what they are watching on TV.  NO THANKS!  Living on a golf course GAURANTEEs that NOBODY will EVER move in behind you.    There is a small premium paid for the benefit but IMHO it's worth it as the number of golf course lots in any planned commuinty is limited. Once they are gone, their gone and anyone who wants to be in this area (major suburbia within 15 minutes of a major hospital and shopping yet not in the city) will be willing to shell out big bucks simply for a Golf Course lot (see "costs" below)

Another attraction to this neighborhood is that there is far more than Golf. A central park that is only 3 houses away from my home.  Private tennis facilities also played a factor in our decision as I am also an avid  tennis player and help run a number of USTA tennis leagues and very few neighborhoods actually have high quality clay courts or a staffed Tennis Pro.  The Swim facilities rival any YMCA or waterpark with 165 foot tall water slides, Kiddie aquatic park, Olymic sized lap pool separate from the regular pool, etc  Here's a link to the neighborhood website that will tell you more than I can about why people want into these types of communities...
 
The Neighborhood...
http://www.skybrook.com/

The Golf Course itself...
http://www.skybrookgolf.com/view.asp?id=169&page=2806

Swim Club...
http://www.skybrook.com/SwimRac.html

Cost/Price - Most "golf Club" communities of any real quality are generally private resorts.  Price of admission is usually between $30K and $50K for an equity membership and then you spend $300/month on dues and usually also have another $200/month in meal fees so "country club" living can be pretty expensive (The representation in the movie Caddy Shack isn't REALLY so far off).  But, for us mortal folks, a public/private course is a good compromise.  Dues are $180/month and no food requirements.   Initiation is $10K but was included as part of the home when I bought it but becomes a real monetary asset when I go to sell the house.  I also pay a $15 cart fee whenever I decide to ride a cart on the course.  If I walk the course, there are no fees to play beyond the monthly dues.  Some private courses allow the residents the added benefit of using their own carts but ours does not yet permit that.  Values in this neighborhood have increased about 25% in the short four years I've lived here.  Median home price is around $500K for a 3,400 square foot home.  2,800 sq ft town homes are going for $300K, the largest 6,500 sq ft homes are around $750K. If/when the course does "go 100% private", the land values will increase another $50K or so (to bring them in line with the other private resorts in this area).  I consider all of my real estate properties as "Investments" and although I have no immediate plans to move, it's nice to know that the current values will continue to increase as time goes by.  I think there are only like 4 more Golf course lots left in the community anymore and they are asking an $80K premium (on top of the regular home price) for those lots.  I paid a $20K premium for my lot 4 years ago so the lot value itself has quadrupled in that time YAHOO!

My particular lot is set well back from the green on a par 5. This means that the odds of players inadvertantly hitting into my yard are pretty slim (they would have to hit a 270 yard 3 wood AND pull it about 50 yards to get into my back yard or else be a left hander hitting an approach shot from 150 and shank it off the hosel to get here.  Needless to say, having knowledge of golf played a role my my decision of lot selected).  If you do find a ball in your yard, it's yours to keep.  So, while the balls don't normally end up in my yard, there is some significant rough between my yard and the course which seems to have an endless supply of golf balls embedded into it at any time of the season so I've got more than a few extra in the garage.

[Chad]

What are the benifits to all this golf comuniteis that I hear so much about lately?

A better question would be - What don't you benefit from when living on a golf course? All I see are advantages besides maybe a golfball or two in your yard.
It would be the ultimate way to go for me if I had the money.  Less noise, traffic, pollutants, neighbors.....I could go on for 10 minutes. It also drastically raises property value...atleast here in Missouri.

[drewstar]

A better question would be - What don't you benefit from when living on a golf course? All I see are advantages besides maybe a golfball or two in your yard.
It would be the ultimate way to go for me if I had the money.  Less noise, traffic, pollutants, neighbors.....I could go on for 10 minutes. It also drastically raises property value...atleast here in Missouri.

 Oh. I could go on for ten minutes on why I wouldn't want to live on a golf course.    

But thanks Ndabunker. I appreciate your response.  

[galen]

Now now MLG, I told you you are invited to the hot tub party!

[MostlyLurkingGal]

I'm sooooooo there....but why did you delete the neat pictures Galen?