Recreational golf is booming in the United States, growing 41% over the last six years and reaching record-high participation levels in 2025, with numbers on track to climb even higher in 2026, according to the National Golf Foundation. And with the Masters underway this week — one of the sport’s most-watched and most-celebrated events — golf is back in the spotlight, reminding both longtime players and newcomers why the game continues to surge.
Golfers are homeowners too, and the game's growing popularity is shaping how new homes are designed and built.
Interest in golf soared during the pandemic and has stayed strong, drawing younger players, more women, and a more diverse audience, expanding demand for course play, off-course opportunities, and ways to enjoy the social and wellness benefits of the game.
For golf-loving homeowners, there’s a range of ways to embrace the lifestyle: create a golf-focused space at home with a simulator or practice area, live in a master-planned community with access to golf and other resort-style amenities, choose a home with fairway views, or combine all three for the ultimate golf experience.
Bringing the Game Home — Literally
While more recreational golfers are hitting the links than ever, many are looking for off-course options. This has fueled a rise in golf entertainment centers and at-home setups such as simulators, backyard putting greens, and practice areas for chipping and short-game work.
New builds make it easier to accommodate a golf simulator because structural elements — ceiling height, window placement, natural light, and location within the home — can be addressed during construction.
Perhaps the most important factor for golf simulator design? “Ceiling height,” says Tony Pimentel, account executive with Virtual Tee.
“You can get away with nine-foot ceilings, but 10-to-12 feet is your golden number,” depending on factors such as the golfer’s height, and what type of clubs they are swinging.
Width matters too, says Pimentel, and available space may affect whether the simulator can accommodate both right and left-handed golfers, or just a single hitting direction, an important consideration if you want the simulator for personal training only, or to share with family and guests.
Light control, window placement, and coverings are crucial to a good golf simulator experience as well.
“You want to have the least amount of light, so you don't get white-out conditions.” Pimentel suggests dimmer switches, blackout coverings for windows, and proper projector placement to minimize shadows.
While basements are the most popular location, Pimentel says that homeowner golfers are placing simulators throughout the home, from garages to in-law suites.
“The key is to place them where there is swing clearance, and Wi-Fi connectivity matters too.”
For new-build homeowners, a trending floor plan feature is the flex room, which, depending on its design, may lend itself naturally to a golf training and family fun zone at home.
Outdoor space can also be designed with golf in mind, with backyard putting greens and dedicated chipping and short-game areas that extend practice and play beyond the simulator.
Resort‑Style Living With Golf at the Center
For golfers seeking a more immersive environment, new master-planned communities with golf courses and other active amenities stand out.
Part of the appeal is simple: it’s all about access.
“Living steps away from a championship course means waking up every day with effortless access to the game you love, no tee time hassles, no commute, just golf when the mood strikes,” says Peter Dennehy, principal, advisory with Zonda Home, NewHomeSource’s parent company.
He notes that owning a home in a golf community is as much an investment in lifestyle as it is a home purchase.
Dennehy adds that these communities typically offer other resort-style amenities, like walking trails, tennis, pickleball, and more. Together, with golf courses at the center, they enhance the benefits that are drawing so many new players to golf right now: health and wellness, and a built-in social scene around a shared passion.
“Living in a golf community creates a strong sense of camaraderie among residents,” he says.
Fairway Homes: For Homeowners Who Want a Front‑Row Seat to Every Shot
For golfers who want to live the game every day, a home with fairway views is the dream. Beyond the obvious design benefits, such as natural light, sweeping views, and features that make indoor-outdoor living and entertaining a breeze, there’s a financial upside too.
“Some research shows that just having a view of the course can boost property values between 15 and 30 percent,” says Dennehy, making these homes as smart as they are beautiful.
Here are tips for designing a fairway home to emphasize an indoor-outdoor connection and frame fairway views.
Look for open floor plans, expansive windows, sliding glass doors, or retractable walls to bring in natural light and promote views unobtrusively.
Orient the main living spaces toward the course to make views a focal point.
Choose light and airy color palettes and natural materials for a more authentic indoor/outdoor connection.
Prioritize indoor outdoor connection with patios, terraces, or covered outdoor rooms.
Use low-profile landscaping to preserve sightlines without sacrificing privacy.
Layer outdoor living zones for lounging and entertaining with direct views of the fairway.
Of course, living in a golf community isn’t without its challenges, but for homeowners aiming to prioritize lifestyle and keep their swing sharp, the trade-offs are usually worth it, explains Dennehy.
“HOA fees can be substantial; fairway-adjacent homes may occasionally deal with errant golf balls or early-morning maintenance noise; and strict Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&R) rules govern landscaping and exterior modifications.
“But for golfers who genuinely want to center their life around the game, those costs are often seen as a worthwhile exchange for living in what essentially amounts to a permanent resort.”
Bottom Line
Golf is shaping the way people live, build, and buy. The demand for spaces that support the game—on and off the course—is only growing, and homeowners are designing their lives around it. This is one trend that’s not fading on the back nine.
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