The Dominican Republic has long been known for its world-class cigars, rums, and professional baseball players. Now, with a growing number of upscale resort-style developments, the DR is becoming recognized as one of the Caribbean’s top destinations for luxury real estate. A relative newcomer is Google software engineer Spencer Kimball. Unlike numerous celebrities gravitating to the DR’s popular Punta Cana and Casa de Campo resort communities, Kimball is content on the Costa Verde coastline along the north.

Specifically, Kimball has his little piece of heaven in the gated community of Orchard Bay, where he offers his luxurious Caribbean casa as a rental villa when he is back at home in his multi-million dollar New York City loft. Located less than 10 miles from Playa Grande, the Aman Resort-anchored golf course community, Kimball’s Casa Kimball villa is a sleek, 20,000-square-foot estate comprised of eight bedroom suites, an outdoor bar and rooftop lounge, a state-of-the-art media and entertainment center, cliffside terraces, gardens, and more.

Designed by New York City architect Jasmit Rangr, Casa Kimball is an elegant transformation of a three-acre footprint that features unique surface textures and sightlines, giving this stack of “minimalist boxes” a combination of architectural confidence and retro-like style. Casa Kimball’s most popular spots are the 156-foot infinity pool that spills out to the sea.

“It is an escape to a completely different world with all the services and modern amenities expected,” says villa manager Monica Bouwmeester. “I’ve had a lot of clients research us and a lot of other high-end places, and when they walk in through our doors, they’re just blown away. It’s surreal.” $3,000-$4,000 per night; $18,000-$35,000 weekly, 888-766-4640, casakimball.com.

Story by Scott Kauffman. Photos by Paul Warchol

From exclusive Corales, with just 126 homesites and a private golf club, to Arrecife, which overlooks the ocean and the back nine holes of La Cana Golf Course, there is a community and an ambiance in the Estates for everyone.

$450,000 to over $2 million, 809-959-7325, puntacana.com.

Next, we’ve got our annual “Top 25 Ocean Homes in the US.” We’ve dug through the listings, contacted the real estate agents, and put together the most lavish homes for sale on the ocean from coast to coast, including Hawaii. Finally, we have a story about the man who singlehandedly started the anti-virus software business, John McAfee. While McAfee once owned a dozen properties around the world, including the Molokai home that we feature in the story which is currently on the market, he is dumping it all in favor of a life on the sandy shores of Belize. We hope you enjoy the story.

Also be sure to check out all the great new items we’ve posted in our Sea Life section, as well as some new interviews with a few key players in oceanfront developments. On top of that, we’ve updated our Exclusive Agent program to include new listings by some of the top ocean home real estate agents in the country. Just click on “Exclusive Agents” for more.

Please let us know what you think right here on this blog. Your comments are welcome. In the meantime, put a new layer of sunscreen on and enjoy the ocean breeze.

Despite the troubled economy, there are areas of the world where the real estate market continues to thrive. The Dominican Republic (or the DR as it’s commonly known), just 90 minutes from Miami and three hours from New York, is one such spot. Aesthetically, it is a beautiful country, boasting lush mountain ranges and stunning beaches, as well as a variety of microclimates that range from warm and tropical to arid and temperate. Improvements to the infrastructure are ongoing, and land is cheap and easy to come by. The DR remains as Christopher Columbus described it upon discovery: “a beautiful island paradise with high forested mountains and large river valleys.”

The bottom line: The DR is no longer the budget vacation spot or sleepy Caribbean backwater it was long thought to be. Ritz-Carlton, Starwood, and Four Seasons have all signed on to build or manage luxury hotels and residences here in the next few years, while major real estate players (think Donald Trump) are spending hundreds of millions to create luxury developments from the ground up. One local realtor says he’s seen more new construction during the past few years than in the previous 18, while another estimates that more than 20 new condo projects are taking place along a 30-mile stretch of coast near Puerto Plata.

A colorful tapestry of Spanish, French, Haitian, and African influences woven by a rich and storied history, the DR offers an exciting and unique cultural experience that goes far beyond the typical sun, sand, and sea of neighboring destinations. From exotic cuisine to merengue, premium cigars to world-class baseball, the DR will likely surprise even the most seasoned traveler or home buyer.

And, of course, there are the golf courses and beaches that have put the destination on the map. Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Robert Trent Jones, Gary Player, Tom Fazio, and Nick Faldo have all left their imprint for golfers to enjoy, while no less than 1,000 miles of sand create the perfect complement to the greens in the form of beautiful beaches. The island is also known for its vibrant nightlife. Dancing is a way of life on the island and is viewed by Dominicans as an art; they take pride in sharing their native movements with others.

For its part, the east coast region contains the most popular and fastest-growing tourist area in the country, namely Punta Cana/Bavaro (known best for having some of the most picturesque beaches in the world). Fortunately for luxury home buyers, this region of the country is offering new opportunities. Take, for example, the new Roco Ki development which features the Faldo Legacy Course, the Westin Roco Ki Beach & Golf Resort, Heavenly Spa by Westin, and the Fairmont Residences, all with 3.2 miles of beachfront at your doorstep. Beachfront residences include thatched-palm roofs, infinity pools, tropical shower gardens, and much more, starting at $2.7 million while beachfront lots are available from $1.3 million. Visit www.rocoki.com or call 888-476-2654 for more information.

Donald Trump has put his stamp on this tropical paradise with the new Trump Farallon at Cap Cana, one of several luxury resort communities currently being developed as part of the $1.5 billon Cap Cana master plan (68 lots starting at $3 million each). Over the next decade, this 30,000 acre site (located just 10 minutes from the Punta Cana International Airport) will feature more than 5,000 residences including villas, condos, and town houses, and no less than four luxury hotels. Other stand-out amenities at Cap Cana include a huge marina with 1,000 slips (many for megayachts), and five golf courses (including three designed by Jack Nicklaus). The first such course to open, Punta Escada, has already been selected by Golf Digest as one of the 100 best non- U.S. golf courses in the world. Cap Cana’s second golf course, Las Iguanas, is due to open shortly. For more information, call 800-785-2198 or visit www.capcana.com.

One of the more exclusive enclaves on the eastern edge of the DR is the Punta Cana Estates at Corales, located within the Punta Cana Resort and Club. Oscar De la Renta and Julio Iglesias (both of whom are involved in the development of the area), as well as Mikael Barishnikov own properties here and it’s not hard to see why. Only 140 homes are being built, some along the new Tom Fazio golf course, and each with a minimum of once acre of land with prices ranging from $1.8-$3.3 million. For more information visit www.puntacana.com or call 888-442-2262.

Also in Punta Cana, the Punta Perla Caribbean Golf Marina and Spa is a new development that caters to the yachting and golfing crowd. The development features penthouse apartments in its private 400-berth marina or golf villas right on the fairways of the Colin Montgomerie signature course. Properties include bungalows, apartments, golf villas, and more as well as multi-million dollar beach-side mansions. Visit www.puntaperlasales.com or call 845-604-1208 for more information.

Just north of the Punta Cana region, lies the Samana Peninsula. It is here, tucked into lush hillsides overlooking the ocean, where you will find Terrazas de Coson, a new development by Swiss firm Valman, S.A. The first phase of development sold out in less than four weeks and now Phase Two has begun, with 52 villas for sale starting at $1.7 million. Benefits include a private beach and restaurant, membership to a private spa, as well as the option of putting your villa into the hotel inventory should you choose to rent it out. The development overlooks white beaches and turquoise waters and is minutes from the new Samana International airport as well as the nightlife of Las Terrenas. Visit www.terrazasdecoson.com or call 800-701-8414 for more information.

South of the thriving tourist-filled area of Punta Cana is a completely different scene: the environmentally-forward Bayahibe. This area not only contains one of the most celebrated national parks, but has also received two awards for its conservation efforts in tourism. With golf courses designed by Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, and Nick Faldo, this region features some of the country’s most unique golfing experiences. Another popular east coast destination is La Romana. More than just a luxurious resort frequented by many celebrities, the city of La Romana is also historically important, especially for baseball fans, and worth a visit. One of the more popular developments here is the 7,000 acre Costasur Casa de Campo with golf and oceanfront villas ranging from $925,000 to $5.4 million. Initially owned by Paramount Studios, this development is home to many socialites from around the globe and features four golf courses and over 20 restaurants and bars. Visit www.casadecampo.com or call 800-877-3643 for more information.

The south central region anchored by Santo Domingo and its three million residents, is arguably the Caribbean’s most diverse and vibrant destination. As the oldest city in the New World, Santo Domingo features the first cathedral, first university, and first hospital of the Americas, yet it is a very modern city. There are sophisticated restaurants serving cuisine from around the world, highend boutiques and major fashion designers displaying their wares, plus a wealth of museums, galleries, and theaters.

If the Dominican Republic has one very well-kept secret, the western region of the country is it. This scenic region includes the area west of Santo Domingo, and it is still largely undiscovered. The farthest part of the region is only about a three-hour drive from Santo Domingo or Santiago airports.

Although the Dominican Republic provides a change of scenery at just about every turn, this region is the most diverse ecologically. Two salt water lakes, one being the largest in the Caribbean, provide a haven for massive populations of birds and reptiles. And while some sections of the area are mountain rainforest, other parts are pine forest and arid desert.

Local real estate and tourism attorney Letvia Arza Goderich, who has practiced law in the Dominican Republic for 20-plus years, says the island’s hospitality and real estate industries are undergoing the biggest boom in the Caribbean. “Once known for its sugar cane plantations, the Dominican Republic is reinventing itself,” says Goderich. “Most people know that Oscar de la Renta is from the Dominican, but they may not know Leonardo DiCaprio has recently looked at real estate in the region, and Robert DeNiro filmed several movies here. Investors are sinking more money into the area every year because they know they’ll see a return on their investment in just a few years.”

Local realtors say steady growth has actually been enjoyed in the Dominican Republic since the international airport opened at Puerto Plata in the 1970s, but it is only in recent years that the country has gained the interest of so many savvy buyers actively seeking a luxurious, but affordable, second home. If there is any doubt about the level of interest in this red-hot destination, consider this: Trump recently sold $368 million worth of real estate for his Cap Cana project. – Stacy H. Small

Video: Susi Mai kiteboarding in the Dominican Republic

The villa was designed by the same architect responsible for the World-Famous Case Colonial Hotel.

The Dominican Republic vacation rental villa sits on a rock cliff about 20 feet about one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, which is where you’ll probably spend most of your time while you’re down here.

A stunning collection of charming Bali-style structures make up the intriguing architecture and design of this Caribbean luxury villa rental destination. The villa is comprised of a Main House featuring a master suite, plus three adjacent habitations (separate buildings) containing five additional bedrooms, all with air conditioning and all in suite. The lush grounds that surround the Caribbean villa provide ample hideaway spots which beckon for reading, resting, or romantic seclusion.

The Main House at the villa serves as the centerpiece for your ideal Caribbean family vacation and features a host of indoor and outdoor living spaces. The great room itself is nearly 2,000 sq ft, and is complemented by a dining room which seats 14. There are two large verandas, one that overlooks the sparkling pool and hot tub, while the other boasts a full-service bar. There’s also a billiards room.

Th0e Laziest Pool in the Caribbean is found down the steps at the back of the Main House. The villa rental features its own zero-entry beach style pool, so you simply walk in and out, rather than climb in and out. Even more effortless, the relaxing, party-sized hot tub awaits. Nearby, you’ll find the romantic yet spacious outdoor or catching a siesta just about anytime. If there is anything you’d like to eat or drink, just mention is to one of the dedicated and highly trained staff, and they will bring it right to your chair.

Go for a snorkel. Have a picnic. Enjoy Caribbean deep sea fishing or some excellent, Dominican Republic golf. Play a friendly game of volleyball, or just mellow out and lay back in the sun. When you’re ready for another drink, ask one of the staff what they suggest and they will cheerfully bring you an ice old Presidente.

www.signatureresidencesworldwide.com

For more information please contact:
Brian Brinkers
info@casadecamporesort.com
La Romana, Dominican Republic
Office 1-978-535-6600

Construction completed in December 2006 on this Casa de Campo 7,000 Sq Ft Luxury Villa, which consists of 7 bedrooms with 8 full baths & sleeps 13 or more in 3 King Beds and 7 Double Beds.

For more information please contact:
Brian Brinkers
info@casadecamporesort.com
La Romana, Dominican Republic
Office 1-978-535-6600

Brand new construction of this 11,000 square foot gorgeous villa shows extraordinary detail throughout. Direct frontage on “Teeth of the Dog”, Casa de Campo’s premier golf course. Custom mahogany woodwork and travertine marble throughout. Large private pool with waterfall.

For more information please contact:
Brian Brinkers
info@casadecamporesort.com
La Romana, Dominican Republic
Office 1-978-535-6600

For more information please contact:
Brian Brinkers
info@casadecamporesort.com
La Romana, Dominican Republic
Office 1-978-535-6600

Royal Island, Bahamas
This new private-island retreat comes complete with celebrity caché, as Hall of Fame athletes Roger Staubach and Jack Nicklaus are involved in the plans. Led by Cypress Equities—the development arm of Staubach Company—and real estate investor Behringer Harvard, Royal Island is a 430-acre island about four miles west of Eleuthera and 50 miles northeast of Nassau. Indeed, one of the development’s highlights is the first Jack Nicklaus Golf Club of the Bahamas, featuring an 18-hole, Nicklaus-designed signature course with 14 oceanfront holes and a 20,000-square-foot oceanfront clubhouse. The Royal Island course has been selected as a participating club in the exclusive and global Jack Nicklaus Golf Club, which calls for as many 25 Nicklaus-branded clubs around the world (including New Zealand, The Bahamas, St.Lucia, Anguilla, and Argentina’s Patagonia region). Besides the golf course, scheduled to open in 2010, other planned amenities are a 200-slip, deep-water marina; a marina village with restaurants, shops and a customs and immigration office; beach; a children’s clubs and more. Montage Hotels & Resorts (which currently operates properties in Laguna Beach and Beverly Hills) will manage Montage Royal Island, the island’s oceanfront destination resort expected to open in 2011, and provide exclusive residential services for the private community. The master plan calls for approximately 270 residences at completion, including 95 custom home sites and 150 villas ranging in size from 2,000 square feet to 5,000 square feet. The villas are priced from $3 million to $7 million, with home sites going for $2 million to $9 million. 888.512.2050, www.royalislandbahamas.com

Kukui’ula, Kauai, Hawaii
PGA Champions Tour and British Open winner Tom Weiskopf, designer of the exclusive Keolu Golf Club at Hualalai on the Big Islandis now putting his imprint on Kauai’s first private golf club development, the 1,000-acre, low-density Kukui’ula community. The par-72, eco-friendly course sits on 200 acres overlooking Kauai’s sunny south shore and popular Poipu beaches, surrounded by tropical flowers, native Hawaiian plants, and fruit, macadamia and coffee trees. The golf course and clubhouse are expected to be completed in 2010. “The finishing sequence of holes is among the most dramatic in all of Hawaii,” says Richard A. Holtzman, president of Kukui’ula Development Company (LLC), a partnership of Scottsdale based DMB Associates and Alexander & Baldwin of Hawaii. “Dictated by the footprint of this extraordinary piece of land, these holes provide a challenging experience that seasoned golfers will certainly appreciate.” To complement the incredible ocean views, each hole of the course will also have its own unique landscape feature. “We are planning an amazing landscape that is tropically lush and full of indigenous plant life,” says Kukui’ula golf project manager Phil Wycoff. “The course will mirror the living garden concept of the entire Kukui’ula community, and will be set amidst thousands of Hawaiian plants, a complete contrast to Tom’s other highly regarded course on the Big Island.” For example, macadamia nut trees will shape the second hole and line the pathway to the third hole, which will integrate a garden theme. The fourth will be set within rainbow-hued shower trees while the fifth and sixth holes, appropriately called the “Lei Garden” holes, will feature up to 800 plantings of scented plumeria, pikake and other floral species. Edible lychee and star fruit, kukui nut and dwarf citrus trees, coffee and pineapple crops and a majestic coconut grove will also be incorporated. 808.742.0234, www.kukuiula.com

Hoakalei, Oahu, Hawaii
In January, Hawaii’s main island of Oahu opened its first new private golf club in 30 years. The golf course development on Oahu’s southwest coast, Hoakalei Country Club, also represents the first course designed in Hawaii by South African golf star Ernie Els. Upon opening, the 18-hole layout will also mark the official unveiling of Oahu’s latest master-planned resort-style community. Located in Ewa Beach about 20 minutes from downtown Honolulu, Hoakalei Country Club will be the centerpiece of Hoakalei, a 726-acre development billed as “Hawaii’s Marina Resort.” When completed by Japan’s Haseko, which has been developing real estate on Oahu since 1973, Hoakalei will feature a full-service marina, hotel, resort spa, resort residences, exclusive beach and canoe club, and a waterfront commercial district. These amenities will make Hoakalei Country Club the only private resort-based country club on Oahu. Ka Makana is the first section of the property being developed for housing, comprising 900 golf and marina residences at build out. Prices start at $500,000 for single-family homes and range up to $1 million. The par-72, 7,400-yard golf experience at Hoakalei promises to be unforgettable, with expansive vistas of the Ewa coastline throughout the 248-acre layout and water features on most holes. Playability is an important part of Els’s design philosophy with multiple tee boxes accommodating players of all levels. Hoakalei Country Club will be managed by Dallas-based ClubCorp, one of the country’s leading owners and operators of private clubs.

Punta Cana Corales, Dominican Republic
This venerable resort-style community that first put Hispaniola on the tourism map 40 years ago is about to welcome its first private golf and oceanfront community, Corales. The secluded and exclusive development features a Tom Fazio designed layout, and homeowners such as entertainer Julio Iglesias and designer Oscar de la Renta. Set between rocky cliffs and coral reefs, Fazio’s first soon-to-be-opened course in the Dominican offers awesome ocean views, including a striking 18th hole that features a dramatic carry over the rocky Bay of Corales. In addition to playing the Corales course, residents of the 625-acre development will have access to a second P.B. Dye-designed course when it opens in late-2009 at Punta Cana’s new Hacienda community. Of course, Corales club members also can enjoy all the activities and amenities that the 15,000-acre Punta Cana Resort has to offer, including the main 355-room hotel and a boutique villa hotel with interiors designed by de la Renta. Corales encompasses just 126 homes, all of which feature magnificent views of the golf course, Caribbean Sea or lush, palm forest just steps from the new Corales Clubhouse. Home sites are priced from $330,000 to $2 million. 809.959.7325, www.puntacana.com

Roco Ki, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Another golfing gem that opened earlier this year in the Punta Cana region is Nick Faldo’s Legacy Golf Course. As part of the new Westin Roco Ki Beach & Golf Resort scheduled to open next year, Faldo’s first course in the Caribbean is already collecting worldwide accolades for its mix of thrilling holes and memorable landscapes. (The Association of British Travel Agents named it one of the world’s top 10 new resort courses, second only to storied St. Andrews in Scotland.) The first tee of the 7,075-yard layout starts with a panorama of the course, including the headlands, ocean and mountains beyond. Two holes later, Faldo’s routing takes travels down into a tropical sanctuary where centuries-old mangroves line the fairways. Then, golfers continue over a sawgrass plain and return to the captivating cliffs of the Caribbean at the 15th hole.Arguably, the highlight of the round is the 104-yard, par three 17th that plays across an ocean inlet from the back tees; it is a hole many are comparing to the classic par three seventh hole at Pebble Beach. The final hole is also full of action, with two shots over the crashing cliff side surf. “Roco Ki is a course designer’s dream,” says Faldo, the 2008 Ryder Cup captain and six-time major championship winner. “There is so much variety across the 18 holes leading up to an absolutely stunning finish. It was a thrill to build.” In addition to this new world-class layout, Roco Ki offers three miles of beachfront Westin resort accommodations and a variety of luxury residential opportunities, including beachfront residences and home sites. EcoDream Villas, 6,285-square-foot, four-story residences with wraparound porches and private rooftop terraces, are under construction and priced from $2.25 million. A future phase of the 2,500-acre resort-style community will feature a Fairmont hotel and luxury condominiums. 888.476.2654, www.rocoki.com

Santa Barbara Plantation, CuraÇao, Netherlands Antilles
Esteemed golf course architect Pete Dye, who was recently enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame, is about to add Curaçao to his long list of golf course locations. Scheduled for a fall 2009 opening, the course is taking shape on the naturally contoured site overlooking the Caribbean Sea and the sheltered harbor known as Spanish Water, aptly named centuries ago after the Spanish sailors who came ashore to fill their freshwater casks. Measuring 7,200 yards from the championship tees, the course will be complemented by an 8,000-square-foot clubhouse featuring a fully stocked golf shop, locker rooms, restaurant and lounge. “The ambiance is what makes it special,” says Dye. “First you see the Caribbean, then the bay and the boats, then that big mountain. This land is incredible—the contours, the views, the ruins, the setting. Here the topography has enough movement; you don’t have to create it.” The golf course development is part of Santa Barbara Plantation, a 1,500-acre, resort-style community under development just 25 minutes from Curaçao’s capital city of Willemstad. Besides the course, the other main element of Santa Barbara’s initial phase is the 350-room Hyatt Regency Curaçao Resort & Spa, also scheduled to open this fall. Already in operation is the 120-slip Seru Boca Marina, which is capable of accommodating vessels up to 80 feet in length within Spanish Water. In addition to the golf course and marina, Santa Barbara Plantation will feature recreational amenities, such as a beach club for homeowners and their guests, fine and casual dining, a tennis center, business center, outdoor swimming pools and boutique retail shops. By late spring, Santa Barbara Plantation should have Terrace home models available for viewing, priced from $1.1 million. Single-family home sites priced from $450,000 to more than $1 million will feature similar golf course or ocean views. The Marina Village, a 27-unit residential community overlooking Seru Boca Marina, consists of two- and three bedroom patio homes ranging from 1,700 to 2,100 square feet with pricing from $726,000. 877.740.0567, www.santabarbaraplantation.com

Punta Brava, Mexico
Tiger Woods and oceanfront golf. Need we say more? Actually,this private golf and ocean club, located near Ensenada 65 miles south of San Diego, represents the first oceanfront golf course project for Tiger Woods Design. Situated at the tip of a peninsula that extends seven miles into the ocean on Mexico’s Pacific coast, Punta Brava (which translates to Wild Point), is being developed by the San Antonio, Tex.-based Flagship Group, whose co-founder is Texas billionaire Red McCombs. “My goal is to design a collection of amazing golf courses around the world,” said Woods at a December event for Founders Club members and invited guests. “To do this, I try to pick the best sites, find the best partners and create exceptional course designs. This project is a great fit for me because the site is amazing, the Flagship Group is a fantastic partner and we’ve created an exceptional design. Adds Woods: “It is a rare opportunity to be able to put 17 greens or tees on the ocean and have eight shots playing over the Pacific. Couple that with views of the ocean from every hole and you have a place that’s pretty special.” Besides Woods’ par-70 oceanfront course, which is scheduled to open in early 2011, Punta Brava will also feature a private clubhouse, ocean club, wellness center and spa, multiple dining venues, and recreational activities for the entire family. The residential component is comprised of 39 estate lots (three-quarter acre to three acres), 99 villa residences (4,500 to 7,000 square feet) and 14 club casitas for the residents’ guests. Prices range from $3 million to $12 million. 866.619.8090, www.puntabrava.com

Wyndansea, Vancouver Isl and, Canada
Located on the island’s wild, west coast near Long Beach and Pacific Rim National Park, the Wyndansea Ocean Golf Resort is part of the elite Jack Nicklaus Golf Club network. At the 370-acre Wyndansea, the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club of Canada will be a stunning oceanfront signature course designed by Nicklaus, joined by a future luxury resort and spa, and deep-water marina for yachts and seaplane service. Nine holes of the 18-hole course have already been cleared, including the signature par three 15th, where visitors and prospective buyers are invited to hit range balls across a vast expanse of coastline to a cliffside green site, the churning Pacific’s soothing soundtrack in the background. Membership in the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club of Canada includes Wyndansea resort privileges and golf amenities for the entire family (multi-generational). It also comes with associate member status at Jack Nicklaus Golf Clubs worldwide, which includes complimentary accommodation at any Nicklaus Home and golf privileges and exclusive club amenities at any Jack Nicklaus Golf Club around the world—without any dues or initiation fees. Members also enjoy golf privileges at the Golden Bear’s two home clubs, The Bear’s Club in North Palm Beach, Fla., and Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio; fractional access to Citation private jets; and an oceanfront home site in Wyndansea’s Signature Circle, an enclave of 30 oceanfront and semi-oceanfront estate lots adjacent to the course. Price for this ultimate Wyndansea real estate/club package: $2.2 million. Additionally, 1 Hotel Vancouver Island, the 370-acre resort and condominium development developed by Starwood Capital Group and Marine Drive Properties Ltd., will boast a host of amenities, including a full-service spa, fitness facility, deep-water marina, and a restaurant and wine bistro. 888.898.8568, www.wyndansea.com

Trump International Residences & Golf Club, Puerto Rico
The newest Trump-branded project on the Atlantic Ocean in Rio Grande is positioned to set a new standard of design and luxury in Puerto Rico. More than 75,000 spectators got a taste of The backdrop of Trump International Residences & Golf Club in Rio Grand, Puerto Rico this reborn style of haute living when the $600 million development recently unveiled its model residences during the first-ever PGA Puerto Rico Open last March. Situated in the quaint village of Rio Grande (only 20 minutes from the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport), Trump International Residences and Golf Club is spread over 1,000 lush acres and positioned at the foothills of the El Yunque Rainforest. The eco-diverse community is the first of its kind on the island and will showcase 500 residences at completion. The first residents will become part of the Founders Club, an exclusive community that will allow its residents to enjoy distinct benefits, such as preferred tee times, and access to elite services, such as a private jet, helicopter and limousine service. The project will feature an array of residences, from condominiums to estate homes, with prices ranging from the $600,000s to $5 million. Among the amenities planned are a family-friendly beach club, an intimate spa, state-of-the art fitness centers, tennis courts, a fully equipped business center and more. The Trump Organization’s partner on this project is Puerto Rican construction conglomerate Empresas Diaz Inc. 877.4TRUMP5, www.trumpgolfclubpuertorico.com

Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club, Abaco Islands, Bahamas
Nestled between the turquoise Sea of Abaco and the Atlantic Ocean on Great Guana Cay, Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club is a private 585-acre community being developed by Scottsdale, Ariz.- based Discovery Land Company (which also developed the ultra-exclusive Kukio community on Hawaii’s Big Island). Just a short ferry ride from Great Abaco island, Baker’s Bay features a Fazio-designed, 18-hole golf course with fabulous ocean views, a 165-slip deep water state-of-the-art marina, which accommodates yachts up to 250 feet, a lively commercial marina village, and two private clubhouses for members and their guests scheduled for a spring 2010 opening. The Baker’s Bay residential offerings will comprise a blend of oceanfront home sites, luxurious island cottages and colorful beach bungalows that blend perfectly with the cultural heritage of the Bahamas. Prices for the private retreat range from $2 million $12 million. 561.833.9590, www.bakersbayclub.com