The Few Who Did It Anyway

By Editorial Team

Owning a golf course isn’t just about deep pockets: it’s about deep commitment.

It’s high-capital, high-maintenance, and high-stakes. You need land. Lots of it. In a scenic area. With water rights, maintenance crews, greenkeepers, zoning approvals, and preferably no swans with attitude.

You’re not just buying real estate. You’re buying a living landscape. One that needs daily care, seasonal renovations, and a five-year plan. Which is why most celebrities stay on the soft side of golf: endorsement deals, club memberships, maybe a design collaboration if they’re feeling architectural.

Golf is niche. A rare breed would say, “Actually, I’d like to own the whole thing.” These are the few who did it anyway. For the love of the game, the land, and sometimes, the legacy.

Michael Jordan and The Grove XXIII, Florida
Michael Jordan didn’t just build a private golf course, he built a myth. The Grove XXIII, located in Hobe Sound, Florida, is invitation-only, ultra-modern, and designed for peak exclusivity. Members whisper about drone-delivered drinks and a layout that gives competitive players a mental workout. It’s engineered for precision and discretion, just like Jordan’s post-NBA empire.

They call it “Slaughterhouse 23” for a reason. This is where billionaires and tour pros come to test their swing and their nerves. Of all the celebrity-built golf spaces, Jordan’s is the one that truly rewrites the rules.

Justin Timberlake and Mirimichi Golf Course, Tennessee

Back in 2009, Justin Timberlake took his hometown course in Millington, Tennessee, and turned it into something special: an eco-luxury golf destination called Mirimichi. It was one of the first in the U.S. to earn Audubon Classic Sanctuary status, with sustainable design, solar-powered facilities, and a strong local impact. Long before “green” was a branding buzzword, JT made it his mission.

Though he eventually sold the course in 2014, his vision shaped how golf could look and feel for a new generation. A little bit pop star, a little bit conservationist, and a whole lot of Memphis soul.

Mark Wahlberg and his own backyard golf retreat, Beverly Hills

Mark Wahlberg doesn’t do things halfway. Known for his famously early workouts and near-daily golf habit, Wahlberg transformed the backyard of his former Beverly Hills mansion into a full-blown private golf facility. Multiple tees, pristine greens, and even his own staff of groundskeepers; it was part training ground, part personal sanctuary.

While not open to the public, the space became legendary among friends, celebrity guests, and golf pros alike. It’s exactly what you’d expect from someone who treats a tee time with the same intensity as a film shoot.

Tiger Woods designs with TGR Design

Tiger Woods may not be known for owning in the same way some do, but his influence in golf real estate is hard to overstate. Through TGR Design, he has lent his vision, brand, and philosophy to courses around the world, courses built more as expressions of his taste in play than mere real estate bets.

From Payne’s Valley in Missouri to El Cardonal in Mexico, his hand is in layout, aesthetics, and strategy, making these courses carry his signature. People hint at his obsession with walkability, visual drama, and playable risk-reward holes. That kind of design influence means that even if he doesn’t appear on the deed as owner, the course feels like his.