Enjoy a laid back lifestyle where your day might begin with a stroll to the clubhouse for breakfast, maybe playing a round of golf, and after lunch, head over to the rec center for a leisurely swim or sauna. Experience the resort in a lush setting, impeccably planned to take advantage of the natural beauty in the area.

Many golf communities are situated within a reasonable distance to larger centers, which provide a large variety of restaurants, shopping, schools, medical facilities and easy access to many cultural activities, museums and entertainment. You can relax at night, as most of these neighborhoods are gated with 24 hour security.

You don't have to be a golfer to enjoy this type of life, but if you are, you are in for a treat. The Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater area, alone, has almost 2,700 holes of golf to choose from, in the event you get bored playing the courses within your community.

Other recreational facilities are readily available and depending on the area may include swimming, tennis, volleyball, basketball courts, hiking and biking trails and horseback riding. If you're a boater or a beach lover, rest assured as many of these resorts are located on or near Tampa's beaches and marinas.

Here are some of Tampa's foremost golf communities:

Tampa Palms - With close to 7,000 acres, Tampa Palms is the largest golf community in New Tampa. It also contains a multitude of recreational facilities, miles of walking and biking trails and has easy access to schools and I-75.

For the golf lovers, this community boasts the prestigious Tampa Palms Golf and country Club, along with its Arthur Hills designed golf course.

Purchase prices range from high $100,000's upward to the millions for an estate in The Reserve. The average price in 2005 for a single family home was $452,550.

Hunter's Green - This community is comprised of more than 1,000 acres and contains one of the area's top golf courses. Although it is private, as a resident you are not required to join the club. With miles of walking trails and parks, the area has a very private feel, but it is close to I-75 as well as local schools.

Purchase prices range from mid $100,000's to over $1 million.

Heritage Isles - This is a unique area, in that a public course is actually woven throughout the community. It has a well-equipped Clubhouse along with a pool, typhoon water slide, children's area, lap pool, sand volleyball court, roller blade rink, basketball and tennis courts. Who could be bored living here?

Heritage Isles has easy access to I-75 and I-4 as well as Hillsborough County Schools.

Purchase prices range from $100,000's to the high $700,000's for a home right on the golf course.