Golf Course Homes in Big Canoe, GA | Neighborhood Guide #2
Golf Course Homes in Big Canoe, GA | Neighborhood Guide #2
Neighborhood Guide #2 — by Wanda Stewart, Associate Broker, RE/MAX Five Star
Some buyers tell me they want "a golf course home," and what they really mean is a view: that long ribbon of green framed by hardwoods, with the mountains stacked up behind it. Others want to walk out the back door and be on the first tee in five minutes. And a few, once they've stood on a back deck while a foursome putts out 40 yards away, realize it's not for them at all.
All three are good answers. My job is to help you figure out which one is yours before you buy. This is the second in my series of Big Canoe neighborhood guides, following Lake Living in Big Canoe.
The Three Nines: Creek, Choctaw and Cherokee
Big Canoe's 27 holes are played as three nine-hole courses, and each one has its own character. That matters when you're choosing a home, because the setting around each nine is different too.
Creek
The original nine, designed by Joe Lee in 1972 and renovated by Bill Bergin in 2021. Four holes wrap around Lake Sconti, and the finishing hole sits just below the clubhouse. Homes along Creek tend to put you closest to the heart of the community: the clubhouse, the lake and the social calendar.
Choctaw
Also a Joe Lee design, opened in 1974 and renovated by Bill Bergin in 2024. It starts out following Blackwell Creek, then climbs uphill and finishes with a dramatic downhill par-3. The mix of creekside and hillside holes means you'll find everything from level, wooded settings to elevated lots looking down the fairway.
Cherokee
The newest nine, designed by Rocky Roquemore in 1992 and known for big elevation changes, including tee shots that drop around 200 feet. The terrain that makes Cherokee exciting to play also creates some of the most dramatic home sites in Big Canoe, as well as some of the steepest.
"Golf Course Home" Can Mean Three Different Things
When you look at listings, the words "golf" and "golf course" get used loosely. It helps to know which kind of property you're actually looking at.
On the course. The lot borders a fairway, green or tee box. You get the most open view and the most interaction with play.
Golf view. The home looks over the course from across a road or from higher up the ridge. You keep much of the view with more privacy and fewer stray golf balls.
Near the course. The home is a short drive or cart ride from the clubhouse, but doesn't see the course. It's the choice for people who want to play often without living on a fairway.
None of these is better than the others. They just suit different people.
What People Love About Living on the Course
Open, maintained views. In a heavily wooded community, a fairway gives you long sight lines and sunlight that many Big Canoe lots don't have.
No one builds behind you. The course is common ground, so the view you buy is the view you keep.
Easy access to the game. For regular players, being minutes from the first tee changes how often you actually play.
A built-in social life. Leagues, couples' events and the clubhouse make it easy to get to know neighbors.
The Honest Trade-Offs
I'd rather you hear these from me now than discover them after closing.
Golf balls. Homes along the right side of a fairway, where a right-handed golfer's slice tends to land, see more stray balls. Look for dents in siding, chips in windows, and whether neighbors have added screening.
Less privacy. Golfers and carts pass within sight of your deck and back windows during playing hours.
Early-morning maintenance. Mowers and course crews start early, especially in the growing season.
Steep lots. Some of the best views, particularly along Cherokee, come with sloped lots and steep driveways. Think about winter mornings and getting in and out as the years go by. (More on choosing a home for the long term in Retiring to Big Canoe: The Complete Guide.)
Golf costs are separate. Playing privileges and fees aren't the same as your regular POA assessment. Ask the POA for current golf membership and fee options before you budget.
For a full breakdown of what owning in Big Canoe costs, see Big Canoe POA Fees & True Cost of Ownership.
What to Check Before You Buy a Golf Course Home
Visit during tee times. See and hear the property on a busy Saturday morning, not just on a quiet weekday afternoon.
Stand where the golfers stand. Walk to the tee box behind the house and look at the home from there. You'll see right away whether it's in the landing zone.
Look at the view in winter, too. Leaf-off season can open up long-range mountain views that are hidden in summer. Ask for photos from both seasons if you can't visit twice.
Check the elevation above the fairway. A home set well above the course usually gets the view with fewer stray balls and more privacy.
Ask about screening and easements. Find out what landscaping or netting is allowed under the POA's architectural standards before planning changes.
Drive the route to the clubhouse. Time it, and notice how steep the roads are between the home and the places you'll go most.
Confirm the county. Big Canoe spans Pickens and Dawson Counties, which affects property taxes and senior exemptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many golf holes does Big Canoe have?
Big Canoe has 27 holes, played as three nines: Creek, Choctaw and Cherokee.
Is golf included in Big Canoe POA fees?
Golf has its own membership and fee options, separate from the regular POA assessment. Contact the Big Canoe POA for current rates.
Do golf course homes in Big Canoe cost more?
Homes directly on the course or with open fairway views often carry a premium over comparable wooded homes, but it varies a great deal by the specific lot, view and condition of the home. I'm happy to pull recent comparable sales for any property you're considering.
Which side of the fairway is better?
In general, homes on the left side of a fairway (from the tee) and homes set well above the course see fewer stray balls. Always look at the specific lot in person.
Thinking About a Golf Course Home in Big Canoe?
I live here, and I know which lots see the most golf balls, which ones have the best winter views, and which driveways you'll love and which ones you'll dread in January. If you'd like to see what's available along the Creek, Choctaw or Cherokee nines, let's talk.
Call or text Wanda Stewart at 706-299-9515, or email [email protected].
Wanda Stewart is an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Five Star, focused exclusively on Big Canoe and the North Georgia mountains. Course history and details are from the Big Canoe POA; golf fees and amenities are subject to change, so please verify current information with the POA.
