Every passionate golfer finds it hard to resist the siren call of one of America’s most challenging golf courses. It’s a feeling that high-profile lawyers and avid golfers Julie Soloway and Brian Facey know well. When the couple bought their home in Jupiter, Fla., they were drawn to it not for its size (at 2,200 square feet it has a relatively modest footprint), but for its location: it’s set in The Loxahatchee Club, a private, 154-hectare, residents-only golf club community.
The club was founded by Gordon Gray and the late Brian Magee, two Toronto-based developers and real-estate giants who wanted to build the greatest golf course in Palm Beach County. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the challenging course is the centerpiece of the club, which combines a luxe golf community with low-key elegance and plenty of old-school Florida charm. Today, it’s the vacation home of many high-profile Canadians and Americans. “We thought of it as an escape — a respite from city life and a gathering place for our family,” says Julie of the 34-year- old house set on a quiet cul-de-sac along with five other homes originally built as golf cottages for seasonal members of the club. The house is just five kilometres from the beach, a short golf cart ride from the course, pool, gym and clubhouse, and a world away from their home in midtown Toronto and summer cottage on Crowe Lake, Ont.
Since the family only comes here for brief visits and school holidays like Christmas and March break, practically every moment is spent enjoying the club community. “A typical day for us involves a sunrise walk on the beach followed by a visit to the gym and maybe a yoga or Pilates class,” says Julie. “Then, of course, there’s golf, followed by dinner out at one of the local waterfront restaurants. It’s perfect,” she says, laughing at the mere idea of more renovations. “Now it’s time to enjoy it!”