John Schroeder

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If your cable or phone company also provides internet services, you're probably already well aware of the practice of"bundling", or offering you a deal on multiple-services from one carrier, usually at a pretty good savings.

But bundling golf into your new home?

If you've looked at a home in a golf course community, you're well aware that many developers offer great golf courses within their gates, if you'll buy a separate equity membership with separate initiation fees and monthly dues. But a number of Naples area golf developments, including Heritage Bay, Forest Glen and Cedar Hammock, have a different idea.

They give it a fancier name than bundling. They call it "Membership Included," but it gets back to the basic premise of the bundling of golf memberships and other amenities into the total cost of the home, at great savings for the buyers. Any fees and dues are paid as part of your regular community expenses, meaning that at some clubs, you can play pretty much all the golf you want, when you want, fort cart fees only.

It's also not unusual to see other community amenities like tennis, the fitness centers and billiard rooms, the business center and country club dining room access all blended in with your monthly community association fees. Besides being much simpler, there's a significant cost savings usually associated with this practice by spreading out the costs of the amenities over the entire resident base.

You were probably drawn to a particular neighborhood by the golf and other amenities that make it feel like home more than any other. "Membership Included," or the bundling of amenities, can give you all the more reason to enjoy them, without making an extra payment.

It is called "value," and there's no doubt you'll always appreciate a little more of that while you're making the big decision of where you want to enjoy your dream-of-a-lifetime golf course home lifestyle.