You may not think that golf has a significant impact on real estate, but here in the Hamptons, they go together like surfboards and sandy toes. We have the highest density of iconic, and some say, most elite golf courses in the country, tracing their roots back to the 1890s with the introduction of Shinnecock Hills (1891/clubhouse1892) and Maidstone Club (1891). The Hamptons is also home to iconic real estate. But which came first, the array of pristine courses or the epic properties that sell in the multiple millions?
As we have seen median prices of homes increase, we have also seen that reflected in the number of applicants, cost, and availability of golf course membership. Pat Gunning, head pro at Noyac Golf Course, affirms, “We have seen an increase in applicants that traces back to the Covid boom. But, with a finite number of courses and slots available, course memberships are cherished. We plan on keeping the standards of our club and access to our members high, it’s our top priority.”
What does this mean for a current or future Hamptons homeowner? In a word, Opportunity. Look at what your house offers and use it to your benefit. Do you own a luxury home that you only use a few months a year? Connect with an agent that can put it in front of the right people and get it rented to a golfer during the spring and fall shoulder seasons or prime summer months. Do you have a more modest investment property? Extended season rentals are always in demand for golf professionals who travel along the coast throughout the year. Matthew Koncelik, an East Hampton native and full-time golf professional who travels the country, has this to say about East End golf and why he returns every year. ”The courses and golf community are head and shoulders above the rest of the country. I not only have the opportunity to play the best courses in the country but also the chance to meet and engage with some of the most successful people in the country, if not the world. The Hamptons golf scene is the only place this happens.”
Last but certainly not least, look forward. Every season poses its own unique set of outings and tournaments. The Hamptons is home to massive returns on future opportunities. For example, The Ryder Cup is happening here this summer and in 2025. In addition, three US Opens are scheduled to play out here over the next 12 years, most notably, Shinnecock Hills will host men’s and women’s Opens back-to-back in 2036, an unbelievable event that will swarm the Hamptons rental and sales market with new buyers and tenants.
Now is a perfect time to buy your investment property and use its income stream to reinvest in the house to make it as desirable as possible for renters looking to attend special events such as these. All of this happens while your home appreciates.
As golf course amenities and desirability increase and major tournaments continue to be hosted here, so does the demand for seasonal and extended season housing for members, tournament attendees and golf club staff. We see these trends happening in areas around the country that are host to PGA courses, but the Hamptons has its own real estate trajectory boosted by this very special luxury amenity in our community.
Providing something that few places can, the Hamptons’ golf course market rates with the best in the nation. From picturesque water views to playing the same holes as Tiger, Rory, and Scottie (sometimes on the same day), The Hamptons’ golf scene is where all the action is during our classic Memorial Day to Labor Day season.
For more information about how to make your real estate work for you, reach out to me anytime tmiller@saunders.com and @tahlia.miller.re
