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Golf & Country Club Communities
Four distinct clubs, four very different memberships. Choosing the course is really choosing the community.
The market, briefly
What this costs at Smith Mountain Lake
Wide range — from condos in the low hundreds at Mariners Landing to multi-million-dollar estates at The Waterfront.
Figures reflect publicly reported Smith Mountain Lake area activity and are for general orientation only — they are not an appraisal. Ask us for current numbers on your specific segment.
The Waterfront Country Club
Roughly 750 acres in Bedford County with a 7,000-yard championship course and a 22,000-square-foot clubhouse. The most exclusive address on the lake, with deeded covered slips and electric lifts on the waterfront homes.
Mariners Landing
A sprawling resort community on Craddock Creek with a Robert Trent Jones Sr. course, three restaurants, a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and a beach. The widest price range of any lake community — condos start well under $200K. Short-term rentals are permitted.
The Water's Edge
A large country club community near Penhook on the Blackwater side, with an 18-hole championship course and — unusually — a full equestrian center. Appeals to a specific buyer who wants both.
Copper Cove at Westlake
A semi-private 6,511-yard Russell Breeden course near the lake's commercial hub. The most convenient of the four for everyday life.
Membership is a separate purchase
At most of these, buying the house does not buy the golf. Initiation fees, dues tiers, and whether membership is mandatory or optional differ by community and change over time. Ask before you budget.
Use this
Questions to ask any agent about this
Ask these of whoever you end up working with — us, someone we introduce you to, or an agent you found yourself. A specialist answers them easily. Everyone else gets vague.
- Is club membership mandatory, optional, or bundled with the HOA?
- What is the initiation fee and the current annual dues?
- Is there a waiting list, and are there different membership tiers?
- Does the property include a boat slip, and is it deeded?
- How does the club handle guests and reciprocal play?
Communities that fit
A starting point. Details change — always verify current rules with the HOA and the county.
| Community | Where | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| The Waterfront Country ClubGolf · Waterfront | Moneta, Bedford Co. | Roughly 750 acres with a 7,000-yard championship course and a 22,000 sq ft clubhouse. Deeded covered slips with electric lifts. |
| Mariners LandingGolf · Resort · Condos | Huddleston, Bedford Co. | A large resort community on Craddock Creek with a Robert Trent Jones Sr. course, several restaurants, indoor and outdoor pools, a beach and a spa. Short-term rentals permitted; slips leased. |
| The Water's EdgeGolf · Equestrian | Penhook, Franklin Co. | A large country club community on the Blackwater side with an 18-hole championship course and — unusually for the lake — a full equestrian center. |
| Copper Cove at WestlakeGolf | Westlake, Franklin Co. | Semi-private 6,511-yard Russell Breeden course near the lake's commercial hub — the most convenient golf community for everyday life. |
Where to look for this on the lake
Union Hall & the South Shore
Newer, larger, quieter. The upscale planned communities of the Blackwater side, with golf, equestrian, and gated entries.
Explore this areaWestlake & Hales Ford
The center of gravity. Groceries, the clinic, Bridgewater Plaza, and the bridge everyone crosses — plus the lake's densest cluster of condos and townhomes.
Explore this areaMoneta & the North Shore
The classic lake side. Cottages and chalets tucked into wooded coves, the State Park, and the county where short-term rentals are permitted.
Explore this areaOr maybe you're really after…
Waterfront Homes
True deeded waterfront where the dock is yours. The most sought-after — and the most technically complicated — thing to buy at this lake.
What to knowOff-Water & Water Access
Lake life at a fraction of the price — if you understand exactly what "water access" does and does not include.
What to knowCondos & Townhomes
Lock the door and go. The lake's lowest-maintenance path to the water — and often the easiest one to rent out.
What to knowLooking for golf communities?
Tell us the specifics and we'll introduce you to an agent who does this every week — not one who does it occasionally. Free, and no obligation whatsoever.
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