They may not fit the "typical" golf course community owner
profile, but that doesn't stop 31-year-olds Jeff and Lynn Smaka from enjoying
the lifestyle that such communities provide. After living a mile down the road
from Oakhurst Golf and Country Club in Clarkston, Michigan, for several years, the pair decided
to purchase a new 3,100-square-foot detached condo there in 2002.
"We didn't even look anywhere else," recalls Lynn, a
homemaker with two young sons. "When they started building, we knew we liked
it." Its location in the northern suburbs of Detroit was particularly attractive for the
Smakas, who are in close proximity to the city and to their families, yet far
enough away to enjoy the more rural environment of a country club.
An avid golfer and financial advisor, Jeff grew up playing
the sport and living in a similar community. Together with his wife, he hits the
links at least three times a week, and enjoys swimming in the community's pool,
working out in the fitness center and participating in events like "casino
night."
Although there aren't many young families in the community,
Lynn says she
likes the club's activities and camaraderie. She also likes the fact that
someone else handles the lawn maintenance and snow removal for the
three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath condo, which has two floors.
"We looked at homes and condos, and really liked the layout
of this one, particularly because it has a master suite on the first floor,"
Lynn explains.
"Plus, all of the outside work is done for us, and that's been a nice plus."
Lynn and Jeff also like having a golf course in their
backyard, ready for play at any time. "At first I thought I wouldn't really like
playing the same course over and over," says Lynn, who with Jeff has taken part
in the club's golf events, "but once I did it—and once I got to know some of the
other golfers—I really started to enjoy it."
For young professionals like the Smakas, country-club living
also provides another perk: the ability to scale up, yet stay in the same
community. As their family grows, the couple says they may purchase a
single-family home with more space and rooms to accommodate the growing
brood.
