After spending time last year at The Landings Club, Real Estate Scorecard enjoyed the chance to experience what life is like at the island community. The scenic waterways, tidal marsh, and majestic old oaks draped in Spanish moss were mesmerizing as the colors of the sky changed throughout the day. They found the slower pace of life in the Lowcountry soothing and is may be why their readers believe the Lowcountry is one of the ideal places to live in the south. Property owners confirmed their consensus by sharing over new 200 raving reviews about life at The Landings during the annual Bliss Award voting process which takes in December.

Spread across 4,566 acres, the island community is tucked between the Wilmington River and the Little Ogeechee River in Savannah. Due east, between it and the Atlantic Ocean, is the 10,053 acre Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge, a protected island accessible by boat that includes beaches with rolling dunes, maritime forest, and vast salt marshes. Tybee Island is about 30 minutes to the north, Georgia’s most popular beach.

Over the years, Real Estate Scorecard has watched the growth of the gated community in awe, a vision that began in 1972. Following the popularity and appeal of resort-style master planned communities, The Landings club brilliantly became an amenity rich Savannah neighborhood catering to golfers, boaters, tennis enthusiasts, and fitness buffs. Property owners often compare living at The Landings to life spent living year round on vacation. With six 18-hole championship golf courses, a 48,000 square foot wellness center, 2 deepwater marinas, 5 swimming pools, 40 miles of trails, a 32 court tennis facility and tennis academy plus 6 pickleball courts and 4 bocce courts, they can see why.

Folks who enjoy kayaking, bike riding and being outdoors have an incredible variety of places to explore on and around the island. If you’d rather fish, there are 70 freshwater lagoons on the island stocked with fish. The Landings is golf cart friendly, making it easy to get around.

Inside the gates, residents have several restaurants to choose from at the community’s clubhouses, differently designed golf courses to play, an enormous tennis center, two deepwater marinas and more. Just beyond the gates, The Village at Skidaway Island is home to a Publix, more restaurants, professional offices and banks. The Landings club is only 16 miles south of downtown Savannah, where folks can easily step into one of the World’s Best Cities steeped in culture, exciting nightlife and a tasty foodie scene.

Even though The Landings is one of the largest master planned communities in the south, Real Estate Scorecard likes the fact that it’s not a cookie cutter development filled with zero lot-line homes and track housing. They’ve built all types of homes with a variety of price points. Buyers can chose from a small footprint villa under $200k to estate homes exceeding $1 million in one of the ideal places to live in the south. Approximately 4,000 homes have been built to date of the 4,400 planned. As large as it is, the community still feels quiet and cozy.

Originally attracting retirees and second homeowners, The Landings has been transforming itself into a bedroom community, naturally. Folks can’t help but feel a sense of safety with the minimal amount of automobile traffic and visitors to the island.

One property owner describes the neighborhood as having “such a great mix of older couples and young families. Everyone gets along, and enjoys being a part of the community. The Club really tries hard and is very successful in providing many wonderful activities for both the older couples and young families. A great, safe place to raise children and retire!” Another says “We call the Landings "camp skidaway" because there is so much fun to be had!”

There are over 100 self-organized groups sharing all kinds of hobbies and interests providing endless ways to meet people and have fun. Folks are not required to join the club.

The Landings Club is well managed. One property owner confirmed our observations when saying “the golf courses, club, and staff are phenomenal. The amenities are all well run and operated professionally by staff that genuinely care. The maintenance of the grounds throughout The Landings is well executed. A really remarkable place to live.”

Real Estate Scorecard honors The Landings with the 2016 Bliss Award for Best Georgia Community of the Year for the incredible island lifestyle they offer its residents. To schedule a guided tour of the island, write [email protected].