The broker
Rob Holland has been the general sales manager and broker at the Marsh Landing Golf and Country Club for 1996.
AS A GENERAL SALES MANAGER AT A GATED GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY, WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE SHOULD LIVE THERE?
“I think it offers the semblance of piece of mind. You get more of a feeling of safety out of living in a golf course community. It makes people feel safer. It’s a deterrent to bad situations, it stops solicitors and creates an environment of safety. I don’t think of it as a golf course community, but as a recreational amenitized community. It is a total lifestyle package. There are people that live here that do not play golf, but they have purchased for the lifestyle.”
WHY MANAGE AT A GATED GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY RATHER THAN A NON-GATED GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY?
“It’s what I know. I started at an amenitized golf course community when it became gated, so I’ve worked in them ever since. It adds one more level of understanding and one more piece of criteria to take into account in the marketing and sales. For example: How do I handle open houses and large parties? It brings a whole other level of coordination and understanding that runs from advertising to functions that we have.”
ARE THEY THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE, WILL PEOPLE NOT BUY A HOME UNLESS THERE IS A GATE AND A GOLF COURSE?
“No, I don’t think that will ever be the case. Variety is the spice of life. Every purchaser, whether they know it or not, is moving through their checklist of what is important for them when looking for a home. Some people buy due to location, others buy based on the school system and others buy depending on the amenities that is important to them. The checklist varies for everyone.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT MANAGING IN A GATED GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY?
“It’s a pretty environment to work in and there is a relaxed air about it. You get to conduct business in a social environment sometimes. You can possibly dress a little more casually and it’s not so high pressured.”
WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE ABOUT MANAGING IN A GATED GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY?
“The economy and the stock market not cooperating with me. I don’t like the things that are out of my control.”
HOW DO YOU MARKET A GATED GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY TO THE PUBLIC?
“You talk about the assets that the community has and you try to hit as many hot buttons on their checklist as possible. Keep adding and adding to make their list. Some people that don’ t play golf wouldn’t care that you have a golf course, the dining package and tennis facilities would be important to them.”
WHEN PEOPLE DON’T BUY IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WHAT DO THEY GIVE AS A REASON?
“It’s their checklist, you can’t be everything to everyone. What is important to one person might not be important to someone else.”
— by Michele Newbern Gillis